MLB

[elliseamos]

top 30 is elite.

[BigRedLedbetter]

You guys are overvaluing Porcello a bit. I like the guy, but he's a 4.

He's over 9 fWAR the last three years, which puts him in the top 30 in the league, right around guys like Samardzija and Cueto and Latos, less than one WAR behind Bumgarner.

In a normal rotation, I think he's a solid guy to have in the 2-3 spot. Most teams don't have a bunch of guys like Scherzer and Verlander and Price and Fister to stack in front of him.

WAR is cumulative though.. So in his case a lot and of his value comes purely from his durability, which is not going to be perfect forever

Oh absolutely. But that's why I didn't label him a #1 even though he's in the top 30. There are less durable guys who are better than he is, but there's value to being a good pitcher who can be counted on to throw a lot of innings.

On a somewhat related note, I remember discussions a few years ago about whether Porcello or Romero was better. Heh.

Man I loved me some Ricky Romero. Saw him pitch in the College World Series when he was with Fullerton. He was great in 2011.

[numbers]

Numbers and Chud....

What would you guys give up for Hamels? Something like Hamels for Swihart, Cecchini and Ranaudo gets it done I think. I have read the Phils love Cecchini and Ranaudo grew up like an hour outside Philly. Good fit for both teams.

I think Hamels ends up in Boston. If he does a top 4 rotation of Hamels, Porcello, Masteron, Miley is pretty solid and stated above yes lots of ground balls.

I wouldn't want Swihart(or is it Suihart) in the deal, just because I'd like to know for certain that Vazquez is the guy first. If that's what it takes though, so be it. As long as Betts and Owens aren't in it I can't really complain. I'm not wild about the idea of trading for Hamels, but there aren't many other ways to get a front line guy right now. They cannot win a World Series with 5 number 4's.

[Norah]

The Red Sox really fucked up that negotiation with Lester. You have a proven lefty who can pitch in the playoffs and survive in the AL East and you fail to get a deal done prior to free agency? That shit $70 mil offer they tossed his way probably made up his mind. Best of luck to him. Beats cancer, wins the WS, and now he's wicked, wicked rich. Funny to see Theo stick it to Larry.

Let's stop the pitch in the all east nonsense. The al east has been a mediocre division for years now.

[Norah]

And Porcello is a solid 3.

[numbers]

The Red Sox really fucked up that negotiation with Lester. You have a proven lefty who can pitch in the playoffs and survive in the AL East and you fail to get a deal done prior to free agency? That shit $70 mil offer they tossed his way probably made up his mind. Best of luck to him. Beats cancer, wins the WS, and now he's wicked, wicked rich. Funny to see Theo stick it to Larry.

Let's stop the pitch in the all east nonsense. The al east has been a mediocre division for years now.

The lineups have still been strong, it's the pitching that took a nose dive in the division.

[BigRedLedbetter]

The Red Sox really fucked up that negotiation with Lester. You have a proven lefty who can pitch in the playoffs and survive in the AL East and you fail to get a deal done prior to free agency? That shit $70 mil offer they tossed his way probably made up his mind. Best of luck to him. Beats cancer, wins the WS, and now he's wicked, wicked rich. Funny to see Theo stick it to Larry.

Let's stop the pitch in the all east nonsense. The al east has been a mediocre division for years now.

Agreed. There is not a 95-100 win team in that division. Still a division the Sox can win this year. Nobody will run away with it. I'd make a bet it's the last division to me clinched. I think the Jays and Red Sox both have a great shot.

Again I still think the Sox end up with Hamels. I would not be shocked to see the Red trade Cueto as well.

[@SkitchP]

And Porcello is a solid 3.

You're probably right. I backed off.

[Norah]

And Porcello is a solid 3.

You're probably right. I backed off.

I'm not going as far as Phil and comparing him to Cueto.

[@SkitchP]

And Porcello is a solid 3.

You're probably right. I backed off.

I'm not going as far as Phil and comparing him to Cueto.

Thats the mistake I made, I read the first half of his post before responding.

the 2nd half (about relative to the tigers rotation) and decided maybe he was right.

[numbers]

The Red Sox brass has their employees in the BBWA trying to convince us all that Porcello is going to break through and become a #1 next year.

[Lament]

Did the White Sox win the World Series yet?

[Coach]

The Red Sox really fucked up that negotiation with Lester. You have a proven lefty who can pitch in the playoffs and survive in the AL East and you fail to get a deal done prior to free agency? That shit $70 mil offer they tossed his way probably made up his mind. Best of luck to him. Beats cancer, wins the WS, and now he's wicked, wicked rich. Funny to see Theo stick it to Larry.

Let's stop the pitch in the all east nonsense. The al east has been a mediocre division for years now.

Last year, yes, it didn't stack up in terms of runs scored.

Still, my point was that he can do both: pitch in the AL East and pitch in the playoffs.

[BigRedLedbetter]

Not sure if Porcello misses enough bats to be an ace. Just my 2 cents.

[@SkitchP]

The Red Sox really fucked up that negotiation with Lester. You have a proven lefty who can pitch in the playoffs and survive in the AL East and you fail to get a deal done prior to free agency? That shit $70 mil offer they tossed his way probably made up his mind. Best of luck to him. Beats cancer, wins the WS, and now he's wicked, wicked rich. Funny to see Theo stick it to Larry.

Let's stop the pitch in the all east nonsense. The al east has been a mediocre division for years now.

Last year, yes, it didn't stack up in terms of runs scored.

Still, my point was that he can do both: pitch in the AL East and pitch in the playoffs.

Anyone can pitch in the AL East.

[BigRedLedbetter]

The Red Sox really fucked up that negotiation with Lester. You have a proven lefty who can pitch in the playoffs and survive in the AL East and you fail to get a deal done prior to free agency? That shit $70 mil offer they tossed his way probably made up his mind. Best of luck to him. Beats cancer, wins the WS, and now he's wicked, wicked rich. Funny to see Theo stick it to Larry.

Let's stop the pitch in the all east nonsense. The al east has been a mediocre division for years now.

Last year, yes, it didn't stack up in terms of runs scored.

Still, my point was that he can do both: pitch in the AL East and pitch in the playoffs.

Anyone can pitch in the AL East.

Except Jake Peavy.

[numbers]

Stfu

[Coach]

The Red Sox really fucked up that negotiation with Lester. You have a proven lefty who can pitch in the playoffs and survive in the AL East and you fail to get a deal done prior to free agency? That shit $70 mil offer they tossed his way probably made up his mind. Best of luck to him. Beats cancer, wins the WS, and now he's wicked, wicked rich. Funny to see Theo stick it to Larry.

Let's stop the pitch in the all east nonsense. The al east has been a mediocre division for years now.

Last year, yes, it didn't stack up in terms of runs scored.

Still, my point was that he can do both: pitch in the AL East and pitch in the playoffs.

Anyone can pitch in the AL East.

Right now, but it's only a matter of time before the Yanks, Sox, Jays, start really loading up again on offense. It's already happening with some of those teams.

I'd prefer going with a pitcher, who excelled during a difficult time to pitch in the AL East - in this case Lester vs. anyone else on the market, aside from Scherzer.

[@SkitchP]

Hey Coach... MLB is changing, and pretty quickly. NO ONE is loaded up with hitting.

[BigRedLedbetter]