Cali Posted March 4, 2004 Share Posted March 4, 2004 Sox's Rauch faces tall order Here's one part I really agree with: Here's an unsolicited suggestion: Pick five starters and stick with all of them, at least until September. Stop skipping the fifth starter's spot when the schedule allows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CSF Posted March 4, 2004 Share Posted March 4, 2004 I think if he is given a chance, Rauch could live up to the hype that was bestowed upon him a couple years back. With JM gone, the reins should be loose, and should build up the confidence of the entire pitching staff. Plus, leaving those starters in a little bit longer won't exhaust the hell out of our bullpen, like it's been for the past couple years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YASNY Posted March 4, 2004 Share Posted March 4, 2004 The thing is, with JM gone, all these guys get the opportunity for a new beginning. Garland won't have the spectre of JM's quick hook hanging over him now. Danny Wright can put last year behind him an work to impress Ozzie and move forward. Hopefully, one or two of these guys will take advantage of the opportunity a new manager presents, and step up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
upnorthsox Posted March 4, 2004 Share Posted March 4, 2004 Rogers makes some excellent points. Like: Like Dan Wright, Rauch is a reminder of how dangerous it is to build pitching plans around guys without track records. But it's too early to write off either of them. And: For Guillen to succeed where Manuel failed, he needs to improve the production at the rear of the rotation. Mike Porzio, Stewart, Wright and Cotts combined to go 3-11 with a 6.75 ERA in 27 starts from the No. 5 spot a year ago. And: There's a social awkwardness to Rauch that suggests he has a chip on his shoulder as big as the oversized wrap Bartolo Colon wears after extended outings. But Rauch has no desire to return to Charlotte for a fourth consecutive season, this time at 25, so he's not going to hurt his chances to win a job by criticizing the Sox. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elrockinMT Posted March 4, 2004 Share Posted March 4, 2004 Catch-22 kind of situation. Darned if you do, darned if you don't when it comes to pitching matchup decisions in the late innings. But, there were many times when JM made decisions last year to remove someone that had us scratching our heads that's for certain. You need to allow pitchers, especially the young guys, the opportunity to step up and get themselves out of a jam, or close out the game they have started, etc, but then again you don't want them out there tired and throwing junk when you have a good bullpen to go to. I would like to see some more 7-8 inning and ocassional complete games from our starters. How many times last year did our #5 starter only go 5 innings? The mindset to pitch longer and also to allow the pitchers that opportunity startds in ST and it sure seems that is happening in Tucson this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C.Rector Posted March 4, 2004 Share Posted March 4, 2004 The thing is, with JM gone, all these guys get the opportunity for a new beginning. Garland won't have the spectre of JM's quick hook hanging over him now. Danny Wright can put last year behind him an work to impress Ozzie and move forward. Hopefully, one or two of these guys will take advantage of the opportunity a new manager presents, and step up. Yes, a new beginning ending in unnecessary injuries due to overuse. JM erred on the side of caution. Looks like Buehrle's already fading career might come to an end this season and all that $18 Mil will be wasted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1549 Posted March 4, 2004 Share Posted March 4, 2004 I think if he is given a chance, Rauch could live up to the hype that was bestowed upon him a couple years back. With JM gone, the reins should be loose, and should build up the confidence of the entire pitching staff. Plus, leaving those starters in a little bit longer won't exhaust the hell out of our bullpen, like it's been for the past couple years. But leaving the starters in will exhaust the hell out of Jon Rauch. He is not durable enough to pitch 185 innings at this point. I remember watching him throw the ceremonial first pitch at the Sox last regular season game in 2000. He was fresh off of a 16-1 gold medal season. I don't think he will ever live up to the expectation I had then. But, if he sticks as a 3rd-4th starter in his career, I would be blown away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baggio202 Posted March 4, 2004 Share Posted March 4, 2004 the better the bullpen..the faster i want it in the game...it depends on this bullpen comes together...if everyone in it has era's of under 4 and they have good hold and save percentages then gimme 6 from the starters and turn it over to the pen...if they pitch like last year's pen..with marte really the only guy consistant all year long (gordon and wunsch did well too) then we will need our share of CG to hang in the race Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knightni Posted March 5, 2004 Share Posted March 5, 2004 Looks like Buehrle's already fading career might come to an end this season and all that $18 Mil will be wasted. Was that supposed to be green? Why would Buehrle be starting to have a fading career all of a sudden? Because he had a rough first half last year? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CSF Posted March 5, 2004 Share Posted March 5, 2004 But leaving the starters in will exhaust the hell out of Jon Rauch. He is not durable enough to pitch 185 innings at this point. I remember watching him throw the ceremonial first pitch at the Sox last regular season game in 2000. He was fresh off of a 16-1 gold medal season. I don't think he will ever live up to the expectation I had then. But, if he sticks as a 3rd-4th starter in his career, I would be blown away. But letting him pitch beyond the 4th and 5th innings could boost his confidence and help him be more effective down the line. If you notice during JM's entire reign as mgr, about the only pitcher that he trusted going deep in games was Colon. Buerhle would get as far as the 7th (and sometimes 8th) and Manuel was ready to yank him. I'm not talking 4 complete games in a week, but at least let some of the younger guys go into the 7th. In the case of Rauch, how 'bout 6 innings at least? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witesoxfan Posted March 5, 2004 Share Posted March 5, 2004 Was that supposed to be green? Why would Buehrle be starting to have a fading career all of a sudden? Because he had a rough first half last year? His numbers have been in decline over the past 3 years(with the exception of the win totals...those have varied). His career is not "fading quickly", in fact, I wouldn't even call it fading. But that fact that his numbers have declined is a scary thought to ponder, and we can only hope it turns around, and personally, I expect it to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YASNY Posted March 5, 2004 Share Posted March 5, 2004 Yes, a new beginning ending in unnecessary injuries due to overuse. JM erred on the side of caution. Looks like Buehrle's already fading career might come to an end this season and all that $18 Mil will be wasted. What did I say that led you to that conclusion? Garland was spooked by JM's quick hook. Let him get into or through the 7th if he's pitching well. I don't think that will translate into overuse type injuries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ninetyfour Posted March 5, 2004 Share Posted March 5, 2004 Buehrle's already fading career might come to an end this season The guy has 50 wins, and he's only 25. What, do you think that arm injuries are imminent? He doesn't throw hard. Buehrle's intelligence, control, and gold glove caliber defense are his keys to success, not his fastball. So he had a s***ty first half. Big deal. Every great starter that I can think of right now has experienced turmoil at some point. He's a much better pitcher now than he was in his 19 win season because of it. Put down that fantasy baseball guide that ranks him below guys like Hideo Nomo and Vincent Padilla simply because he had a s***ty first half. It's ridiculous. And even though it's irrelevant to this discussion, Mark Buehrle is perhaps the coolest guy on the team. Frank shouldn't have dissed him like that at the casino. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.