I don't think Rodon is a viable option, he can't stay healthy. Seems to me the entire pitching staff needs a re-build.
Live in central Ohio so I don't see many games, so I wonder have the Sox quit?
They put in a great effort to "spoil" the Indians last night, nearly taking 4 runs off Brad Hand and 6 runs in the 9th. So no, they ain't quit.
Moncada and Anderson look great and are good to all-star level infielders with plus speed. All around packages.
Abreu is still the best hitter on the team, despite some decline and minor compared to some shift effect. He can still get hot and has been hot in August.
Jiminez has shown the potential to surpass his bat, and certainly the power stroke is evident. He begins his career at a veteran Schwarber level of impact.
Robert is a wizard with the bat and has not been slowed down yet. The latest he will debut is may if the Sox want to justify the year lost to the press and players union, as they can't make a baseball case not to promote him.
They have a definite core that can at least swing the bat. Play defense? IDK, might need some tweaking but the ammo is there for a line-up.
The problem is even with the blessing of an all-star Giolito emerging, with absolutely zero veteran stability or support on the pitching staff he comes up and is teaching the youth a year into his career. lol.
No matter...the time to spend that money was not now. Its an empty cubbard. The team will not compete until they have 3-4 pitchers capable of dominating consistently. Even then, you are probably lucky if 2 finish the season strong and give a club an actual playoff shot. So the target should always be 2 finishing strong, and in my mind, teams like the Sox have to think bigger and find a way to acquire 5 or 6 of them. Then maybe 3-4 have good seasons, and a good chance 1 or 2 are healthy and going strong at the end of one.
They got lucky in 05' that a staff 4-5 strong appeared out of nowhere. You have to be thinking 6-7 every year, like the Red Sox, especially in the American league absorbing an additional run per game. Attrition is normal, and constant...the only way they can absorb some innings and preserve their young guys from carrying these loads is to go buy some stability and start collecting 6-7 guys that can get a baseball game going.
Giolito is one.
Cease looks like he could be one.
Rodon and Kopech are risky hopes. You hope you get 1 back that counts.
Nova and Lopez are guys. Fillers, but ok for now.
So lets say a rating of "7" is where Rask thinks a team should be to deal with 9 innings 150+ times.
I'd say this is a 2.5-3. And buying 4 more veterans is the minimum. 2 good ones, an upside guy, and a prayerful recoverer.
Then add that to what they have, and it will sustain through the year and come out about right with 2-3 guys rolling ok and a playoff hunt.
Thats probably all it is now...just time to buy some pitching. But they have to accept they won't get it done without outside reinforcements or some trades.
Sign one, acquire one, dig a few more holes, and hopefully raise one.
