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I agree. They should have made pitching more of the priority. Lengthening the bullpen was a good start. As many said once the CBA was agreed to, the shortened spring training would place an emphasis on pitching and if you look around the league, not just with the Sox, pitchers are dropping.

Yep. They were using him for depth originally. Unfortunately they may need to depend on him.

That's fine you can do that. Again I wouldn't take the chance on someone like Rodon and his injury history.

Any pitcher that pitched 150 innings or more last year. I don't know who was available for traded, Manea was obviously.

They all have access to the information. The problem is the records only show much. Imaging shows structure but not necessarily function. For example, they've done studies of people wit no history of back pain and did MRI on them. Depending on the study 40-60% we're diagnosed with an disc herniation. Working with someone on a daily basis tells you more than medical records.

They didn't need top of the rotations guys though. They couldn't really afford the large multi-year deals and with Giolito, Lynn, Cease and Kopech that isn't the best use of resources. They just needed a dependable 3-4 or 4-5 guy to give them innings to not stress everyone else.

You aren't talking FO here though. It's the medical team.

The problem with a 6 man rotation is that it throws all of the pitchers off for their between start workouts. Pitchers need to work more to maintain between starts because of the way they throw with maximum effort now. They really can't afford that time between. A better solution would probably to skip a start while continuing the work between or just shorten the innings per start and make the bullpen longer.

Should have acquired another pitcher or 2 instead of an RF. Use the resources where the greater need was. A longer bullpen will help as well. They don't have many trade pieces without subtracting from the MLB club. Kimbrel was one of them.

I agree with the overall premise except for the 135 innings. His limit will probably be closer to 120 due to his lack of innings over the past few years. If he pitches 135 he will be useless at the end of those. They need him for the playoffs.

I understand it. And it could very well be true. I just wouldn't take that chance. History us not on his side.

Some of this depends on defense vs. offense. Do they sit Grandal for poor defense. Same with Jimenez. That's losing a ton of offense. Can they afford to pull a pitcher early with who is available? I think it's more important for good coaching decisions during the season to make sure the pitchers are ready for the postseason. The pitchers ready for the postseason may dictate if someone can be pulled early in the postseason game.

It wasn't so much of a question as it is a comment. Because I'm not sure what they need to do other than monitor innings and make sure they are ready. I'm in the camp of not trusting Rodon to be available for the postseason. But they need to make sure their starters are prepared for the postseason.

More of a focus than this is the performance in playoffs. The pitching staff as a whole was awful. Is there something they can do to put the staff in a better position for optimal performance in the playoffs?

We finally agree on something.

Stuff has really jumped at age 30?

Wasn't there talk of them moving Tatis to the OF to protect his shoulder issues?

Of course everyone can. Doesn't mean people can't express their opinion about it as well.

Oops.

Showcasing him against minor leaguers for a possible trade?

How about the complainers complaining about the non-complainers?

Isn't it nice to say usual exit IN the playoffs instead of going a decade between playoff appearances.

I was just using his number as an example. All starting pitchers are throwing less. Hence the importance of bullpen pitchers.

Unfortunately if he did top out at 165 innings, he wouldn't be available in the postseason unless the skipped 6 or 7 starts for him during the season.

Muscle mass isn't bad as long as you maintain the flexibility. That would be what you need to check with him and Robert.