I know we've been talking about the playoffs in a few threads, but I don't see a thread dedicated only to the playoff roster. Now that the Sox have officially clinched a playoff spot (at least in the one-game playoff...hey it still counts) maybe we can talk about the entire playoff roster.
Some big questions are:
1. Who is the starting rotation?
2. Who are the last few guys in the bullpen, assuming Kimbrel, Reed, Price, and Kelly are automatic?
3. If Nunez is healthy, he gets a spot, but does he get a start?
4. Who is the DH between Nunez, Hanley, and Devers (most likely candidates)?
5. What does the bench look like?
For me, as of this moment, understanding that a lot can change in the next 10 days, here's how I'd do it:
Rotation: Sale, Pomeranz, Rodriguez, Porcello
Bullpen: Workman, Reed, Scott, Price, Kelly, Smith, Kimbrel
C: Vazquez, Leon
IF: Moreland, Pedroia, Bogaerts, Nunez, Devers
OF: Benintendi, Bradley, Betts, Davis
That's 22 spots. Need 3 more. The people under consideration would be:
- Hanley: bad Hanley isn't worth having on the roster, but a hot Hanley absolutely is a game-changer for this lineup
- Holt: defensive flexibility all over the field - that could come in real handy even though he can't hit
- Marrero: outstanding IF defense - could be key defensive replacement at the end of a game
- Young: veteran RH bat in the OF, generally tough on lefties, decent power
- Travis: more power in a RH bat, but limited in the field
- Lin: basically a lefty version of Marrero - solid defensive IF but hits lefty
- Swihart: may never need a 3rd C, but Vazquez and Leon could actually be used as a quality PH option, which might mean it would be handy to have a 3rd C off the bench; could also pinch run
- Fister: long man out of the pen if needed
- Abad: a LOOGY option to put in the bullpen
- Barnes: he's been a bullpen mainstay all season
- Hembree: he's also been a bullpen mainstay all season, could also throw multiple innings
- Maddox: new kid on the block has been outstanding in relief
- Boyer: he's been pretty dependable actually in the pen
How would you guys construct the playoff roster?
Some big questions are:
1. Who is the starting rotation?
2. Who are the last few guys in the bullpen, assuming Kimbrel, Reed, Price, and Kelly are automatic?
3. If Nunez is healthy, he gets a spot, but does he get a start?
4. Who is the DH between Nunez, Hanley, and Devers (most likely candidates)?
5. What does the bench look like?
For me, as of this moment, understanding that a lot can change in the next 10 days, here's how I'd do it:
Rotation: Sale, Pomeranz, Rodriguez, Porcello
Bullpen: Workman, Reed, Scott, Price, Kelly, Smith, Kimbrel
C: Vazquez, Leon
IF: Moreland, Pedroia, Bogaerts, Nunez, Devers
OF: Benintendi, Bradley, Betts, Davis
That's 22 spots. Need 3 more. The people under consideration would be:
- Hanley: bad Hanley isn't worth having on the roster, but a hot Hanley absolutely is a game-changer for this lineup
- Holt: defensive flexibility all over the field - that could come in real handy even though he can't hit
- Marrero: outstanding IF defense - could be key defensive replacement at the end of a game
- Young: veteran RH bat in the OF, generally tough on lefties, decent power
- Travis: more power in a RH bat, but limited in the field
- Lin: basically a lefty version of Marrero - solid defensive IF but hits lefty
- Swihart: may never need a 3rd C, but Vazquez and Leon could actually be used as a quality PH option, which might mean it would be handy to have a 3rd C off the bench; could also pinch run
- Fister: long man out of the pen if needed
- Abad: a LOOGY option to put in the bullpen
- Barnes: he's been a bullpen mainstay all season
- Hembree: he's also been a bullpen mainstay all season, could also throw multiple innings
- Maddox: new kid on the block has been outstanding in relief
- Boyer: he's been pretty dependable actually in the pen
How would you guys construct the playoff roster?