Clayton Richard ready to fight for rotation spot

[southsider2k5]

http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/news/artic...sp&c_id=cws

 

CHICAGO -- Clayton Richard received a pop quiz on Thursday. A reporter asked him how many days remain until pitchers and catchers report.

 

His answer?

 

"I'm not that good at math," the 6-foot-5 left-hander joked.

 

Beginning in mid-February, about 65 days from Thursday, the White Sox will be counting on Richard to answer another question: Who will step up and fill out the back end of the starting rotation?

 

Up until December, it looked like a fill in the blank. Now, it's multiple choice. With last week's trade of Javier Vazquez, Chicago needs not one, but two new starters behind Gavin Floyd, John Danks and Mark Buehrle.

 

In Spring Training, Richard, 25, is expected to battle fellow youngsters Lance Broadway (25), Aaron Poreda (22) and Jeff Marquez (24), who was acquired from the Yankees in the Nick Swisher deal. Richard has eight Major League starts under his belt, Broadway has two and Poreda and Marquez haven't pitched in the big leagues yet. GM Ken Williams could sign a veteran or two to throw into the mix as well.

 

The Vazquez trade may have boosted Richard's odds exponentially, but he isn't getting excited.

 

"I try not to look into it too much," Richard said Thursday while helping out at the White Sox holiday party for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago. "I'm just working out in the offseason, doing what I can to control what I can control. All that other stuff, leave it up to the guys that make those decisions."

 

In other words, let his pitching do the talking. Richard's performance in the American League Division Series said a whole lot. In two long-relief outings, he tossed a combined 6 1/3 innings, giving up one run for a 1.42 ERA and striking out six. He did all he could, but the White Sox still fell to the eventual AL champion Rays in four games.

 

Hot Stove

 

Manager Ozzie Guillen pointed to Richard's emergence as one of the reasons why the club felt comfortable letting go of left-handed reliever Boone Logan in the Vazquez trade.

 

"I was lucky enough to get an opportunity to be put into those types of [playoff] situations and did fairly well in those situations," said Richard, who may replace Logan in the bullpen if he doesn't make the rotation. "I think it's something that just helps me going into the offseason and into the next season as something to work off of."

 

Pitching well under playoff pressure padded an up-and-down rookie season for Richard, who was first promoted in July and spent most of the second half in Chicago. An eighth-round pick in the 2005 Draft, Richard compiled a 12-6 record and a 2.47 ERA between Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte in 2008. He started the Futures Game for the U.S. squad.

 

He made a forgettable Major League debut on July 23, giving up five runs in four innings in a 10-8 loss to the Rangers. In fact, his first three starts were clunkers (13 innings, 15 earned runs). However, his next two were of the quality variety -- six shutout innings against Seattle and six innings of three-run ball at Baltimore -- for his first two victories. Still, they weren't enough to rescue his stats. He finished with a 2-5 record and a 6.04 ERA.

 

If you do the math, a strong finish to 2008 added to a steadier start to '09 could equal a spot in the rotation. Richard knows what he must work on.

 

"Being more consistent with all my pitches, being able to throw them for strikes and attack the strike zone," he said. "No big secret, just getting a little bit better at everything."

[bmags]

I like Richard's make up. I hope he finds success in this league, or else we're kind of screwed too I guess.

[daa84]

at bare minimum he will be a lefty specialist....long term im not sure if he's ever gonna be more than a 5th starter, but considering we pay him nothing have him under control for alot of years, and considering we drafted him in the 8th round the guy could have some serious value to our team whether its out of the rotation or pen in the forseeable future

[MO2005]

We have no choice!

[bmags]

If we get 10 wins out of CR that would be a good sign next year. I would not throw a shoe at him.

[daa84]

FWIW clayton is another guy (along with Marquez) who has just ridiculously good HR rates in the minors, which should help translate in our ballpark....even during his time in the majors he only gave up 5 in almost 50 IP...which translated to a full season is roughly 20 given up, damn good as a rookie....i hope KW realizes the value of a good defensive shortstop with ground ball pitchers....i also hope he realizes Alexei likely won't be a good defensive SS (based on his subpar metrics at 2b)....

 

btw i wonder how much better clayton's starts would have looked in the box scores if the dude could field his position at all....i hope to god he works/has worked on that

[scenario]

The key to Richard's season is going to be how well he commands his changeup at the major league level. The other pitches were coming around.

 

If he comes into camp with the changeup looking as good as it did in the minors last year, he's going to surprise some people.

 

But if he struggles hitting his spots with it, he'll be in the pen.

Edited December 15, 2008 by scenario

[elrockinMT]

Richard will get his chance. Maybe the Sox will sign the likes of Jon Garland as the #4 starter for the team in 2009? I see no reason not to give him another go with the team

[caulfield12]

Richard will get his chance. Maybe the Sox will sign the likes of Jon Garland as the #4 starter for the team in 2009? I see no reason not to give him another go with the team

 

If he wants $12-13 million per season for 3 years, that's the exact same contract we got out from under with Vazquez.

 

I'm fine with Garland to "hold down the fort" for 2 seasons at $10 million per season, but nothing above that makes financial/payroll/economic sense for the White Sox, at least in their current mode of doing business.

[Jordan4life_2007]

No thanks@Garland. We're much better off giving Richard/Marquez an opportunity.

[elrockinMT]

If he wants $12-13 million per season for 3 years, that's the exact same contract we got out from under with Vazquez.

 

I'm fine with Garland to "hold down the fort" for 2 seasons at $10 million per season, but nothing above that makes financial/payroll/economic sense for the White Sox, at least in their current mode of doing business.

 

After the marquee players got all that money I am guessing sanity returns to the salaries given out

[Steve9347]

Wow.

 

Can't wait.

[klaus kinski]

I just worry about 3 left handers instarting rotation

[RockRaines]

How many sidearm lefty starters are in the league today? Randy Johnson and........

 

Clayton's biggest weapon is his arm angle and the deception in his delivery. That combination screams LOOGY to me.

 

.274 BAA with lefties

.320 BAA with Righties. All 5 HR he gave up were to righties. 1.70 WHIP against Righties. 41 hits in 29.1 IP.

 

Put him in Boone's vacated spot and let him excel there.

[scenario]

How many sidearm lefty starters are in the league today? Randy Johnson and........

 

Clayton's biggest weapon is his arm angle and the deception in his delivery. That combination screams LOOGY to me.

 

.274 BAA with lefties

.320 BAA with Righties. All 5 HR he gave up were to righties. 1.70 WHIP against Righties. 41 hits in 29.1 IP.

 

Put him in Boone's vacated spot and let him excel there.

 

Gotta keep in mind the small sample size in his time with the Sox last year.

 

In the minors in 2008, in 330 at-bats, righties batted only .202 against Richard.

 

(Lefties batted .228 in 161 at-bats)

Edited December 15, 2008 by scenario

[RockRaines]

Gotta keep in mind the small sample size in his time with the Sox last year.

 

In the minors in 2008, in 330 at-bats, righties batted only .202 against Richard.

 

(Lefties batted .228 in 161 at-bats)

I saw the minor league stats, but I feel that a pitcher like him who relies on his unorthodox delivery that minor league hitters have exponentially more trouble with picking up the ball. I wanted to only use his major league stats because of that circumstance.

[scenario]

Oh, I am familiar with the sample size. Since I have no idea where you found that stat, what was the BAA against lefties and also the at bats? I can only see the IP.

 

One of my favorite sites...

 

www.minorleaguesplits.com

 

 

[RockRaines]

One of my favorite sites...

 

www.minorleaguesplits.com

Ha, you are quick, I found that right after I posted. I could only find IP on the other site I was looking at as well as WHIP splits.

[greg775]

Why no thanks to Garland? He was pretty damn good here and probably would love

to be reunited with Cooper. We need an inning eater. The f***ing Red Sox keep Wakefield ever year to eat innings. We need one.

I'm glad that article said KW may sign one or two veterans to throw in the mix.

[Jordan4life_2007]

Why no thanks to Garland? He was pretty damn good here and probably would love

to be reunited with Cooper. We need an inning eater. The f***ing Red Sox keep Wakefield ever year to eat innings. We need one.

I'm glad that article said KW may sign one or two veterans to throw in the mix.

 

He was pretty damn good one season. I want no part of JG for 10 million or more a year.

 

[Jordan4life_2007]

I was a Richard hater during the season. I admit I was being kinda ignorant, as I didn't know a whole lot about him. But I've done my homework and I think the kid's got a future. Scenario, what do you think would be the most realistic, best-case scenario (no pun intended) for Richard in 2009?

[scenario]

I was a Richard hater during the season. I admit I was being kinda ignorant, as I didn't know a whole lot about him. But I've done my homework and I think the kid's got a future. Scenario, what do you think would be the most realistic, best-case scenario (no pun intended) for Richard in 2009?

 

Best case? Tough call.

 

I'd be very happy if he wins 10 games, wins more games than he loses, pitches >150 innings, has better than league average ERA (4.50ish), and consistently goes 6 innings or more. That would be good production for a #5 starter. (Think Glen Perkins).

 

I think that's fairly realistic. But who knows? I will be reasonably happy if he just doesn't suck, pull a Boone Logan, and forget how to throw the ball across the plate without getting killed. That would be bad unless other guys really step up.

 

My dream scenario is that he comes to camp with a cutter and better command of the changeup. If he does, he could be the #4 starter in the rotation rather than 5. In that case, I'd want to see 12 wins, 175+ innings, ERA in the low 4.00's (4.30 or lower). I think that is possible, but optimistic. (Think Nick Blackburn.)

 

Of course, anything better than those numbers would be outstanding. But I think would be too much to hope for from a first year starter.

Edited December 15, 2008 by scenario

[ptatc]

Best case? Tough call.

 

I'd be very happy if he wins 10 games, wins more games than he loses, pitches >150 innings, has better than league average ERA (4.50ish), and consistently goes 6 innings or more. That would be good production for a #5 starter. (Think Glen Perkins).

 

I think that's fairly realistic. But who knows? I will be reasonably happy if he just doesn't suck, pull a Boone Logan, and forget how to throw the ball across the plate without getting killed. That would be bad unless other guys really step up.

 

My dream scenario is that he comes to camp with a cutter and better command of the changeup. If he does, he could be the #4 starter in the rotation rather than 5. In that case, I'd want to see 12+ wins, 175+ innings, ERA in the low 4.00's (4.30 or lower). I think that is possible, but optimistic. (Think Nick Blackburn.)

 

Of course, anything better than those numbers would be outstanding. But I think would be too much to hope for from a first year starter.

 

With that lower arm angle a cutter should work real nice for him. I hope he can get the feel for the grip because I'm sure they'll work on it with him. Especially with those RH hitters stats against him. LETS BUST SOME BATS!

 

[scenario]

One thing I really like about Richard... he's shown the willingness and ability to throw hard stuff inside to people and back them off the plate to set them up.

 

Not something you often find in young pitchers who tend to nibble around the edges rather than get after people.

 

 

[EvilJester99]

I like the kids moxie... but he still needs to learn another pitch. Maybe Buehrle will teach him a cutter or something.

Edited December 15, 2008 by EvilJester99