Exactly. Eovaldi against the Yankees for sure. Probably against the Jays, too; they’re heavily right-handed.Does it matter who they’re playing?
Sale against the Jays scares the crap out of me.Eovaldi has been a stud all year. Sale against a righty heavy team like the Yankees would be a big risk.
Who WOULDN’T scare the crap out of you against the Jays? (Apart from peak Pedro)Sale against the Jays scares the crap out of me.
What's the point of winning the wild card game if Martin Perez has to start a playoff game because you used both Sale and Eovaldi to reach the ALDS?Both. Pitch Sale as long as he can go and let Eovaldi finish it. Don't touch any of the dreck in the bullpen.
What's the point of winning the wild card game if Martin Perez has to start a playoff game because you used both Sale and Eovaldi to reach the ALDS?
To eliminate the MFY'sWhat's the point of winning the wild card game if Martin Perez has to start a playoff game because you used both Sale and Eovaldi to reach the ALDS?
Because you can still win game 2 of the ALDS, tie the series, and have home field advantage in the last 3 games? Where if you lose the wildcard game the season is over?What's the point of winning the wild card game if Martin Perez has to start a playoff game because you used both Sale and Eovaldi to reach the ALDS?
Right, it’s especially curious to assume we couldn’t possibly win a game against the #1 seeded Rays in Tampa where we started ERod and they started their ace McClanahan considering… that happened two weeks ago? https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/TBA/TBA202109020.shtmlBecause you can still win game 2 of the ALDS, tie the series, and have home field advantage in the last 3 games? Where if you lose the wildcard game the season is over?
Third this. Eovaldi if the opponent is righty dominant ...Exactly. Eovaldi against the Yankees for sure. Probably against the Jays, too; they’re heavily right-handed.
Right there’s just too many scenarios to predict things right now.The way things are going we have to consider the possibility that there's a tie breaker/ play in game and then the WC game.
Of course, but for purposes of *this thread*, he asked who you'd line up anyone you want who would it be.The way things are going we have to consider the possibility that there's a tie breaker/ play in game and then the WC game.
I disagree. With the extra off days, they absolutely can lineup their starters for the remaining games and for the WC game. One such exercise on The Athletic showed Sale and Evo getting additional starts and pitching Game 162 and the WC, respectively.Again, I don’t understand this thread. There is basically no way the Sox have a WC spot locked up prior to the Nats series. This is all a moo point. You know, like a cow’s opinion. Moo. It’s akin to me starting a What Should I Do If I Win The Lottery thread.
Having it line up somewhat coincidentally and purposefully lining it up are totally different ideas. Lining up their starters for the WC game would mean pitching whoever you want in the WC game starting on Thursday 9/30 so that starter would have normal 4 days rest for the WC game, and it would also likely mean only having them throw 50-70 pitches. If the Sox are roughly tied for the WC heading into the final weekend, I sure as hell don't want them holding out Sale or Eovaldi for a potential WC game. They're going to need to win at least one game that weekend, and possibly two, maybe even three, just to make the playoffs. Maybe the rotation order shakes out so that one of Sale or Eovaldi can go Monday or Tuesday. But that will not come at the expense of holding one of them out over the weekend. They're going to need those wins.I disagree. With the extra off days, they absolutely can lineup their starters for the remaining games and for the WC game. One such exercise on The Athletic showed Sale and Evo getting additional starts and pitching Game 162 and the WC, respectively.
Edit: extrapolating this out, it would go:Here's a useful breakdown from Chad Jennings at the Athletic. The only issue I see is that Sale doesn't pitch against the NYY in that 3 game series but that might be the way the math works at this point.
- Thursday: Off day
- Friday: Sale
- Saturday: Rodriguez/Pivetta
- Sunday: Eovaldi
- Monday: Off day
- Tuesday: Rodriguez/Pivetta/Houck
- Wednesday: Sale
- Thursday: Off day
- Friday: Eovaldi
- Saturday: Rodriguez/Pivetta/Houck
- Sunday: Rodiguez/Pivetta/Houck
- Monday: Off day
- Tuesday: Sale
After next Tuesday, the Red Sox will have exactly five games left, which lines up nicely for one last turn through the rotation, with Sale on normal rest for Game 162 (which might be a must-win) and Eovaldi fully rested for a potential wild-card game (which certainly will be a must-win).
The only caveat being that there may be a game 163 that proceeds a WC game. Damn, it's even possible there will be a game 163 and 164 that proceed a WC game!I disagree. With the extra off days, they absolutely can lineup their starters for the remaining games and for the WC game. One such exercise on The Athletic showed Sale and Evo getting additional starts and pitching Game 162 and the WC, respectively.
I think Eovaldi can go 6 or 7 possibly followed by Houck and Whitlock. Save Sale for the ALDS first game.It's interesting that most of the comments say Eovaldi, but the vote is going to Sale.
The silent majorityIt's interesting that most of the comments say Eovaldi, but the vote is going to Sale.
That was the right decision.Pete Schourek.
Or maybe they've seen Sale's last couple of starts and question his ability to get swings and misses once he gets to two strikes. Or that if you start Eovaldi you can bring Sale out next and then either Houck or Whitlock so that you're attacking the lineup R-L-R. Certainly, if the opponent is the MFY, Eovaldi seems clearly to be the better choice. Toronto may be a closer call.That was the right decision.
Everyone who says anything but Sale in this case is radically overthinking things.
Look at that Sox lineup in support of Pattin:
That’s pretty aggressive sounding. I think if it’s the Yankees…. I cautiously would start Eovaldi. Against anyone else… it’s cautiously Sale.As I sit here and type this, I trust Eovaldi more than Sale against a playoff-quality opponent.
Sale has a 4.26 FIP. In his two starts against a playoff offense - both Tampa - he's given up 16 hits, walked 3 and hit 2 in 9.2 innings. Is he currently a "great" starter? Not based on what I've seen. Don't get me wrong, he's been good, but I think he's pretty clearly our second best starter right now -emphasis on "right now." Obviously, I hope he quiets my concerns about him in his next couple of starts.That’s pretty aggressive sounding. I think if it’s the Yankees…. I cautiously would start Eovaldi. Against anyone else… it’s cautiously Sale.
I like that it’s 2 great starters this year.
I’m less confident with Erod than I thought I would be 6 months ago. He’s been so inconsistent.
Pivetta as the 4th starter I’m okay with…. But not as a 3 replacing Erod
Edit- a good 6 innings tonight would boost my confidence
They were playing all the scrubs because they had been eliminated the night before, it was game 162 and why make distraught -- and possibly hungover veterans -- like Yaz, Rico and Harper play.Look at that Sox lineup in support of Pattin:
2B John Kennedy, career BWAR - (minus) 2.9, batting leadoff.
3B Phil Gagliano, 14 lifetime home runs in 12 seasons, batting cleanup.
C Vic Correll, career BWAR -0.6 and total plate appearances of 4 (that game only) for the Sox, batting eighth.
It will be a long time before I complain about a Red Sox lineup again.
Sox won that game 4-1.
Oh, that late of a date and that record I thought they'd still be in it.They were playing all the scrubs because they had been eliminated the night before, it was game 162 and why make distraught -- and possibly hungover veterans -- like Yaz, Rico and Harper play.
Or maybe they've seen Sale's last couple of starts and question his ability to get swings and misses once he gets to two strikes. Or that if you start Eovaldi you can bring Sale out next and then either Houck or Whitlock so that you're attacking the lineup R-L-R. Certainly, if the opponent is the MFY, Eovaldi seems clearly to be the better choice. Toronto may be a closer call.
These are prime examples of overthinking it. If two games can change your mind, you're overthinking it.Sale has a 4.26 FIP. In his two starts against a playoff offense - both Tampa - he's given up 16 hits, walked 3 and hit 2 in 9.2 innings. Is he currently a "great" starter? Not based on what I've seen. Don't get me wrong, he's been good, but I think he's pretty clearly our second best starter right now -emphasis on "right now." Obviously, I hope he quiets my concerns about him in his next couple of starts.
We're in complete agreement that our best pitcher should start. We disagree about who that is right now. What have you seen from Sale this year that makes you think that? Sale would have been the obvious choice in 2018 and 2019 and hopefully will be in 2022 and afterwards. But I don't see how anyone could take his body of the work this year, compare it to Eovaldi's, and conclude that Sale is clearly the better pitcher today.These are prime examples of overthinking it. If two games can change your mind, you're overthinking it.
Chris Sale is our best pitcher. If he's healthy and ready to go for the Wild Card Game, you start him. It might not work, and even if it does work, we might not win the game (see Pete Schourek game) but it's the right decision.