Cotts

[kapkomet]

I, for one, would be happy to find out how these guys would fare in the playoffs because that means the Sox would have GOTTEN THERE.

And before anyone starts with the "oh, you're just happy to get there?" business, you DO have to get there before you can advance, and I'm not going to put the cart before the horse.

Do I like our 1 through 3 pitchers? Yes.

Would I like a better #1 to push our current 1-3 down to 2-4? Yes.

Do I think the Sox will get a better #1 ( or even a #2 ) to do that? No.

 

Given the situation and the well-documented "financial restraints", the most I expect is a trade for a #4 or 5 guy at best. Anything more than that would be a VERY WELCOME surprise....come on Kenny and Jerry.....SURPRISE ME!!!

You do have a point. Who would have thought that Dontre Willis, Beckett, Penny, etc. would have fared as well as they did for Fla. last year?

 

I just don't have a warm and fuzzy about our starters in a playoff situation, then again, as they say, "anything can happen, it's a new season". I just would feel a whole lot better with a proven #1...

 

I think this team is capable of winning the central, it's a WEAK division. I just can't see how they go further, but September is not here yet, and until we get there, we really don't know, it's all speculative.

[EvilJester99]

The only other guy I think I would consider bringing up at this time would be Josh Stewart....if he his fully healed up. He did ok when he came up last year but got s*** run support. He didn't seem too overly nervous like most of the first timers did. Just a thought. I would much rather trade for a #1 or #2 Horse and push everyone else down a spot in the rotation though.

[aboz56]

I think if Buehrle keeps pitching this way, you can call him a legitimate 1.

 

You then look at Garland/Loaiza in the 2/3 slot and Show at the 4.

 

While I don't think this would be a competitive enough rotation to win everything, I think it's good enough to win the division and compete in the first round of the playoffs...A true legitimate sure fire ACE would sure be nice, but for now, I'd rather get a guy who can pitch decent out of the 5th spot so it stops becoming an automatic L.

[BrandoFan]

He wasn't pitching smart he was throwing offspeed pitches with 2 strikes on the hitters when he should be throwing high fastballs that no one can catch up to.

I think it's hilarious when people say things like that. "You can't speed his bat up....."

 

As if....Even guys with slowest bats can turn that fastball around if they're looking for it in that location. Or they might not swing at it at all if it's not a strike.

This is Major Leagues, remember?

 

Cotts needed all 3 pitches to be working as a starter; he needed to change speeds and locate well. How else do you think the worthless Glendon Rusch was able to dominate the potent Cardinal line-up on a day when the wind was howling out?

 

Cotts failed in just about every department. He threw a quality pitch to Lew Ford to start off the ballgame and it just went downhill from there.

 

Twins knew he was on a strict pitch count. They knew he would come right at them. They knew with his deceptive delivery, they'd be stupid to sit on a breaking ball which he has a hard time throwing half the time anyway. So...Ford, Guzman, Menkevic, LeCroy, Hunter, Cudayer just SAT on the #1 up in the zone, and Cotts ended up pitching right into their hands.....Compare it to the way 40yo Mike Jackson completely baffled them with nothing more than a mediocre change-up and a good slider and good location....

 

Neal didn't suck because he wasn't stretched out, either. He simply couldn't handle the pressure - lost sharp control and confidence in his off-speed stuff.