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Post by soxcentral on Jul 5, 2014 9:36:24 GMT -5
No one seems to mention Steven Wright when potential spot starts and future plans are concerned, but he's back from injury and pitching very well once again.
Since returning to AAA this year he's holding opponents to a .215 BA and .614 OPS in his first 50 innings. He had another strong start last night, going 8 IP giving up 2 runs on 5 hits and only 1 walk.
Yes he's 29, but throws a pitch that typically takes more time to harness, and now has 3 consecutive seasons where he has consistently put up good numbers.
Should Wright get the call on Wednesday despite being on 3 days rest?
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Post by johnsilver52 on Jul 5, 2014 9:47:40 GMT -5
Let me thing about it..NO..
RDLR, Ranaudo, Webster. Let's have a spot starter with someone not relying on a trick pitch. RDLR's PawSox hammering could be the cause of being demoted last time around, much like Workman's was when he got demoted in a couple of his earlier in the season. It can happen when a team sends one down and a kid looks at the parent team and sees guys who are worse staying.
Let's hope it's RDLR back and this time for good.
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Post by soxcentral on Jul 5, 2014 9:51:48 GMT -5
Personally, I think all 4 are worthy of getting the call. My point is that only 3 seem to ever get mentioned despite the 4th being both incredibly effective and consistent.
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Post by chavopepe2 on Jul 5, 2014 10:07:40 GMT -5
In most years (for most teams) Wright would be the 7th or 8th guy on a teams SP depth chart coming out of Spring Training. The Red Sox are just in an incredibly unique position with Lester, Lackey, Peavy, Buchholz, Workman, Doubront, Webster and Ranaudo all ahead of him; Barnes arguably right there with him; and Owens and Johnson right behind him and gaining.
I like Wright but he's clearly after that first group of eight guys. He's someone who is a lot more likely to get a chance on another team.
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Post by iakovos11 on Jul 5, 2014 10:14:19 GMT -5
I think it's time. This year is a perfect year to see what we really have in Wright. I think he has the potential to a VERY solid 5th starter for years - at minimum money.
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Post by chavopepe2 on Jul 5, 2014 10:21:15 GMT -5
I think it's time. This year is a perfect year to see what we really have in Wright. I think he has the potential to a VERY solid 5th starter for years - at minimum money. That might be true, but isn't it even more important to see what we have in Webster, Ranaudo, De La Rosa, and Workman? With the majority of the starting rotation potentially in flux for next year, those are the guys we need to have out there proving themselves.
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Post by soxcentral on Jul 5, 2014 10:26:47 GMT -5
Shouldn't the order of call ups be based more on who has the least to gain in AAA by improving their command and pitch offerings before hitting the spotlight of Boston? Its not like whoever gets called up is going to turn this season around.
In that light it seems there's nothing left for Wright to gain by being down. I'm of the same opinion with Workman in that he is what he is now, and its good that he's up and getting an extended look.
For the others its RDLR, Ranaudo, then Webster in that order to me that have the most left to work on in AAA. But as you said Chavo, this is a rare case when all of them really are ready to a large extent.
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Post by iakovos11 on Jul 5, 2014 10:36:29 GMT -5
I think it's time. This year is a perfect year to see what we really have in Wright. I think he has the potential to a VERY solid 5th starter for years - at minimum money. That might be true, but isn't it even more important to see what we have in Webster, Ranaudo, De La Rosa, and Workman? With the majority of the starting rotation potentially in flux for next year, those are the guys we need to have out there proving themselves. Agree. But I think Wright should be there, too. They don't all have to have a regular turn in the rotation the rest of the year. Starts can be split up so they all get several + starts and are still pitching consistently between Boston and Pawtucket. And as I have said before, I think Workman is an 8th inning BP guy
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Post by Chris Hatfield on Jul 5, 2014 15:39:57 GMT -5
I agree that Wright is in the conversation, but I agree with jmei. The upside with Webster is so much better than it is with Wright, and I'm not down on Wright either.
If something came up and you needed a short-term starter and it made sense, I'd be cool with using Wright. For example, in this instance, Webster is lined up on the day they need a spot starter - Wednesday - so to me it's kind of a no-brainer. If, instead, it was Wright, I'd be fine with using him on his normal schedule.
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Post by terriblehondo on Jul 5, 2014 16:07:03 GMT -5
I think Wright is decent and deserves a shot somewhere. The problem is you have to have someone who can catch him. The last time he was up I was listening to the game he got knocked around in the first inning. Alan Ashby was crucifying Lavarnway saying Wright had a great knuckler but Lavarnway was terrible. I do not know if Ross can catch him. I am pretty sure AJP can't because he stinks with a regular pitcher. To me there is a lot of value having a guy that can eat innings, pitch on short rest and give a totally different look.
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Post by mgoetze on Jul 5, 2014 17:18:58 GMT -5
Well, it's not true that he never gets mentioned. Just three weeks ago I wrote: And I know y'all hate knuckleballers, but Steven Wright might be much higher on the depth chart than some of you want him to be. I do agree that getting someone like Webster or Ranaudo a(nother) look in the majors is probably a good idea. But I would be neither surprised nor unhappy if Wright got the spot start instead.
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Post by adiospaydro2005 on Jul 5, 2014 19:39:37 GMT -5
The games are tough to watch as is, so adding a knuckler and watching Pierzynski miss every other pitch would make any game in which Wright pitches unwatchable.
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alnipper
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Living the dream
Posts: 619
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Post by alnipper on Jul 5, 2014 19:45:56 GMT -5
I'd trade him for something we don't have, but lets have his value go up a little more 1st.
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Post by iakovos11 on Jul 5, 2014 19:46:45 GMT -5
I'd trade him for something we don't have, but lets have his value go up a little more 1st. Who?
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Post by jimed14 on Jul 5, 2014 19:48:54 GMT -5
The games are tough to watch as is, so adding a knuckler and watching Pierzynski miss every other pitch would make any game in which Wright pitches unwatchable. I hear the cops are driving Mirabelli from the airport to Fenway.
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ericmvan
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Post by ericmvan on Jul 6, 2014 9:14:13 GMT -5
I may possibly be Steven Wright's biggest fan on this board* ... and I'll point out that this stretch of consistently good and often excellent pitching is only 17 or 18 starts long, going back to last June. Being consistent, and not losing your feel for the knuckler for multiple-game stretches, is the key to long-term success for a guy like Wright. Ideally, I'd like to see a year's worth of that.
I would keep him in Pawtucket until September, and he has a real chance to position himself as the first call-up for rotation holes in 2015, and an outside chance to be in the running for an MLB roster spot. More consistency next April and May and he'll force himself onto the staff or be a worthwhile trade chip.
*In two different ways. As I believe I've mentioned once before, I just looked at Wright's numbers at b-ref ... and they had all been replaced by exact duplicates.
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Post by okin15 on Jul 7, 2014 10:17:02 GMT -5
This board would go nuts if a knuckler won a rotation spot out of ST next year... especially if he replaced Lester. I don't know one knuckle-ball from the next, but I loved Wake and love the pitch. I think he'd be a great option for the rotation next year, and similarly, a spot in the rotation this September.
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Post by jimed14 on Jul 7, 2014 10:25:28 GMT -5
I cannot stand the catching problem with a knuckleball pitcher. And I hate giving a roster spot to someone with such a useless skill, because it's usually a player who can only do that.
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Post by okin15 on Jul 7, 2014 10:51:59 GMT -5
What if that spot went to Vasquez who has caught Wright at least his last three starts?
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Post by sarasoxer on Jul 7, 2014 11:05:39 GMT -5
What if that spot went to Vasquez who has caught Wright at least his last three starts? Didn't Vasquez lead the world in passed balls last year with something like 23? I'm sure that he has improved but is this a match for gasoline?
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Post by jimed14 on Jul 7, 2014 11:09:28 GMT -5
What if that spot went to Vasquez who has caught Wright at least his last three starts? Didn't Vasquez lead the world in passed balls last year with something like 23? I'm sure that he has improved but is this a match for gasoline? I did look up his 3 starts and he had just 1 passed ball. But I think that's wishful thinking. Even the best knuckle ball catcher can't throw anyone out. It's worse than with Lackey pitching.
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Post by okin15 on Jul 7, 2014 14:02:59 GMT -5
Only other time he V caught W in 2014 was on June 12. No PB that night either. That makes 1PB in 28 innings, which might start to alleviate at least slightly our worst fears. Would also think that if Wright is pitching around the zone, rather than outside of it, V should be better at least at blocking the ball if he can't catch it. And I think Wright was less around the zone in previous years.
ADD: Don't get me wrong though, I'm not fully convinced by his (Wright's) 7 good starts in 2014, I just think he's intriguing, and certainly is a sufficient 7th starter plan for 2015... just possibly more.
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Post by iakovos11 on Jul 7, 2014 14:14:23 GMT -5
Only other time he V caught W in 2014 was on June 12. No PB that night either. That makes 1PB in 28 innings, which might start to alleviate at least slightly our worst fears. Would also think that if Wright is pitching around the zone, rather than outside of it, V should be better at least at blocking the ball if he can't catch it. And I think Wright was less around the zone in previous years. ADD: Don't get me wrong though, I'm not fully convinced by his (Wright's) 7 good starts in 2014, I just think he's intriguing, and certainly is a sufficient 7th starter plan for 2015... just possibly more. Can I interest you in his 2nd half of 2013 as well? Would you be more convinced? Since mid year last year he has been consistent and damn effective. He's pitched well in his 2 (I think?) opportunities in Boston, as well.
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Post by jmei on Jul 7, 2014 14:50:15 GMT -5
In the last calendar year (since 7/1/13), here are Wright's stats:
124.2 IP, 18.5% K (6.71 K/9), 8% BB (2.89 BB/9), 0.43 HR/9, 2.02 ERA, 3.43 FIP (.275 BABIP)
That's pretty great, but it's still not a huge sample, and the peripherals (which are still pretty good, but no longer spectacular) don't match the shiny ERA. Knuckleballers are in the class of pitchers who can sustainably outperform their peripherals, but it's hard to filter out the noise in such a small sample. Plus, Wright gave up a ton of unearned runs during this stretch-- if you include those (some of which may be sustainable due to a knuckleballer's proclivity for WP/PBs), his RA9 rises to 2.67.
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ericmvan
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Post by ericmvan on Jul 7, 2014 16:28:07 GMT -5
Here's the opponent-adjusted TAv allowed by everyone in the organization (full-season leagues only). Lvl is 3 = low-A, 7 = MLB, with fractions for guys pitching at multiple levels. Data include rehab stints, which are too time-consuming to get rid of.
This is essentially an ERA without sequencing luck, inherited runner support or lack of same, and runs being charged as unearned or earned unfairly.
You can see how good Wright has been, suggesting that the low ERA does not include sequencing luck (pitching out of jams). He has a GDP skill as well as a BABIP one, I think.
NAME Age BFP Lvl TAv Joe Gunkel 22 254 3.23 .181 Koji Uehara 39 146 7.00 .185 Tom Layne 29 167 6.02 .191 Henry Owens 21 390 5.00 .199 Andrew Miller 29 134 7.00 .199 Noe Ramirez 24 163 5.00 .202 Jonathan Aro 23 215 3.00 .207 Raynel Velette 23 125 3.00 .212 Steven Wright 29 192 5.90 .213 Dayan Diaz 25 123 4.00 .214 Brian Johnson 23 354 4.69 .218 Jose Valdez 24 153 5.00 .220 Daniel McGrath 19 195 3.00 .221 Junichi Tazawa 28 142 7.00 .221 Justin Haley 23 313 4.00 .224 Rub. De La Rosa 25 369 6.34 .224 Taylor Grover 23 122 3.00 .225 Aaron Kurcz 23 96 5.00 .225 Pete Ruiz 26 93 3.28 .226 Robby Scott 24 160 5.00 .229 Jac. Dahlstrand 22 244 3.00 .230 Jon Lester 30 497 7.00 .232 Migu. Celestino 24 126 5.05 .233 Mike Adams 23 150 3.00 .234 Anthony Ranaudo 24 415 6.00 .236 Rich Hill 34 165 6.02 .238 Allen Webster 24 429 6.00 .243 Chris Hernandez 25 285 6.00 .243 Chris Resop 31 163 6.00 .243 Burke Badenhop 31 179 7.00 .244 Dalier Hinojosa 28 149 6.00 .245 John Ely 28 112 4.90 .247 Simon Mercedes 22 190 4.00 .250 Kyle Martin 23 228 4.00 .252 Austin Maddox 23 87 4.00 .252 William Cuevas 23 296 4.00 .253 Luis Diaz 22 392 4.26 .253 John Lackey 35 490 7.00 .254 Corey Littrell 22 344 4.00 .255 Bra. Villarreal 27 18 6.00 .256 Te. Stankiewicz 20 361 3.00 .258 Brandon Workman 25 348 6.53 .260 Madi. Younginer 23 171 4.00 .261 Matty Ott 24 93 4.88 .261 Keith Couch 24 322 5.00 .262 Chris Capuano 35 156 6.92 .262 Micha. McCarthy 26 298 5.00 .265 Patrick Light 23 344 3.80 .265 Michael Olmsted 27 141 5.00 .266 Cody Kukuk 21 296 3.68 .269 Jake Peavy 33 454 7.00 .279 Craig Breslow 33 153 6.93 .280 Mike Augliera 24 405 5.00 .282 Felix Doubront 26 301 6.77 .282 Alex Wilson 27 138 6.09 .283 Wilfredo Boscan 24 136 5.10 .285 Jose Valdez 31 109 5.32 .285 Myles Smith 22 290 3.00 .290 Matt Barnes 24 287 6.00 .291 Edward Mujica 30 134 7.00 .291 Nathan Reed 26 162 4.41 .291 Kyle Kraus 24 226 4.06 .296 Miguel Pena 23 275 5.00 .296 Jeremy Kehrt 28 155 5.98 .297 Jamie Callahan 19 356 3.00 .300 Sergio Gomez 20 207 3.00 .302 Clay Buchholz 29 338 6.88 .303 Trey Ball 20 233 3.00 .305 Ty Buttrey 21 62 3.00 .314 Mario Alcantara 21 224 3.00 .318 Drake Britton 25 169 6.00 .321 Kyle Stroup 24 134 4.00 .356 Ellis Jimenez 22 32 3.31 .386
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