Valaika called up

[Backtobanks]

2013: Boston: 14th in ERA

2012: Giants: 7th in ERA

2011: Cardinals: 12th in ERA

2010: Giants: 1st in ERA

2009: Yankees: 11th in ERA

2008: Phillies: 6th in ERA

2007: Boston: 2nd in ERA

2006: Cardinals: 15th in ERA

2005: White Sox: 4th in ERA

2004: Boston: 11th in ERA

 

So, half the time the world series winner is not even in the top 10 in pitching. Only once did the leader in pitching actually win.

 

2013: Boston: 1st in Runs

2012: Giants: 12th in Runs

2011: Cardinals: 5th in Runs

2010: Giants: 17th in Runs

2009: Yankees: 1st in Runs

2008: Phillies: 8th in Runs

2007: Boston: 4th in Runs

2006: Cardinals: 14th in Runs

2005: White Sox: 13th in Runs

2004: Boston: 1st in Runs

 

Three times, the team that led in runs won the world series.

 

But "Pitching Always Wins"

 

Obviously, you need both offense and pitching to get to the World Series. When one is totally out of balance with the other a lot could depend on the stadium. Obviously, Boston isn't going to lead the league in ERA (or probably any other pitching stat), so you have to build a team based on offense. That being said, you do play half your schedule away from Fenway and it helps to have starters like Lester, Lackey, and Bucholz in 2013 or Schilling, Martinez, Wakefield, Arroyo, and Lowe in 2004. We seem to be well on our way to having a solid offense, but we can't be serious with Arrieta, Wood, and 3-4 question marks.

[sneakypower]

You don't see many teams overpaying for some scrap-heap OF that had a few good months.

Dilson Herrera immediately comes to mind

[Guest]

Obviously, you need both offense and pitching to get to the World Series. When one is totally out of balance with the other a lot could depend on the stadium. Obviously, Boston isn't going to lead the league in ERA (or probably any other pitching stat), so you have to build a team based on offense. That being said, you do play half your schedule away from Fenway and it helps to have starters like Lester, Lackey, and Bucholz in 2013 or Schilling, Martinez, Wakefield, Arroyo, and Lowe in 2004. We seem to be well on our way to having a solid offense, but we can't be serious with Arrieta, Wood, and 3-4 question marks.

Let's look at the five primary starters Boston had in 2013...

 

• Lester was awesome
• In 2011, Lackey had a 6.41 ERA (4.71 FIP). He didn't pitch in 2012. He was as far from a sure thing going into 2013 as you could get.
  
• Dempster was a dumpster fire for Texas at the end of 2012, but was a decent bet for a mid-rotation guy.
  
• Doubrant was good in 2012, but is the same guy you are completely dismissive of heading into next year.
  
• Buchholz had a 4.56 ERA (4.65 FIP) in 2012 and sucks again this year. He's basically Hendricks who lucked into an amazing half season.
  
• They acquired Peavy, who is a shell of his former self, but is a solid back half of the rotation guy.
  
• They got 13 horrible starts from Allen Webster and Alfredo Aceves.

Their pitching going into 2013 was nearly as bad as ours is heading into next year...before we add anyone in the offseason. Was Boston serious heading into 2013?

 

If you build a great offense, you can patch a staff together and win it all. Obviously, you would prefer to be awesome on both sides of the ball.

 

btw - I think we're going to be "too young" next year. While I love the potential of our guys, some are going to struggle to adapt to the majors. I'm enormously excited about next year to see these guys against major league pitching. I think we will be much, much better next year. I'm still in favor of spending our available cash on Maeda and another rotation upgrade just in case we get lucky with how fast they adapt. But I think it will be 2016 when we become awesome.

[jersey cubs fan]

Obviously, bottom line

[Backtobanks]

Obviously, you need both offense and pitching to get to the World Series. When one is totally out of balance with the other a lot could depend on the stadium. Obviously, Boston isn't going to lead the league in ERA (or probably any other pitching stat), so you have to build a team based on offense. That being said, you do play half your schedule away from Fenway and it helps to have starters like Lester, Lackey, and Bucholz in 2013 or Schilling, Martinez, Wakefield, Arroyo, and Lowe in 2004. We seem to be well on our way to having a solid offense, but we can't be serious with Arrieta, Wood, and 3-4 question marks.

 

 

If you build a great offense, you can patch a staff together and win it all. Obviously, you would prefer to be awesome on both sides of the ball.

 

btw - I think we're going to be "too young" next year. While I love the potential of our guys, some are going to struggle to adapt to the majors. I'm enormously excited about next year to see these guys against major league pitching. I think we will be much, much better next year. I'm still in favor of spending our available cash on Maeda and another rotation upgrade just in case we get lucky with how fast they adapt. But I think it will be 2016 when we become awesome.

 

I think we agree that you need some kind of balance between offense and pitching to win it all. I think the converse of your statement (in bold) is also true - If you build a great pitching staff, you can patch together an offense and win it all. My point is that it looks like we're headed in the direction of a great offense, but we need more than a little help to patch together a decent enough rotation to have a chance. I agree that next year might be a struggle for the young players to adapt to ML pitching, but it certainly will be more enjoyable watching them than watching place holders.

[Guest]

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[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Bad luck, Valaika. Gets his own thread, and no one even talks about him.

[seanimal]

unsubscribe

 

lol

[Guest]

Bad luck, Valaika. Gets his own thread, and no one even talks about him.

Who are you talking about?

[Thed Hoyerstein]

Bad luck, Valaika. Gets his own thread, and no one even talks about him.

Who are you talking about?

 

Is that you, Javy?

[Little Slide Rooter]

Bad luck, Valaika. Gets his own thread, and no one even talks about him.

Who are you talking about?

 

Is that you, Javy?

 

They should change the title to "That guy who used to bat between me and Kris Bryant, but I haven't seen him around much lately, I don't know, maybe he got fired or something" Thread.