June 27, 200916 yr http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/wh...soxnt27.article Ozzie states pretty clearly the sox are willing to go through the pains of having Richard in the rotation for 2009, with the belief that he'll be far improved for 2010, ala the first years of Danks and Floyd in the rotation. Now if Richard next year can come close to what John and Gavin did in their 2nd years, 2010 will be pretty solid. This is good to see, that they believe Richard can be a long term part of the rotation, not just a trade peice or a bullpen guy. I haven't been completely sold on Clayton in the rotation. And he still may need to be moved to the bullpen later this year, and work on things in the offseason to be fully prepared for 2010. But that the sox view Richard as a key building block for the rotation, bodes well for the sox success next year and beyond. I can see Contreras being signed to a reduced, market value contract for 2010 [provided he continues throwing quality starts], such as a 1 year deal, $6 mill, with a team option for 2011. Then late 2010, a few young arms may be ready to help in the rotation, such as Poreda, Daniel Hudson, Ely or Shirek. That the sox view Richard as a SP also means the sox can spend money/ make trades to add position players and the bullpen, if need be. This is good news, even if Richard can't make it past the 4th inning in any more starts this year, and makes only a few more starts in 2009.
June 27, 200916 yr i like what i've seen out of Richard. I think he can be a legit #2 or #3 starter down the road. He's like alot of young pitchers that will throw 4 good innings and then get dinged. He'll start making the adjustments as he gets more experience. The rotation is looking like a strength for the coming years as these guys continue to mature.
June 27, 200916 yr Do you think it could be bad if we had 4 lefties in the rotation? If we had Buehrle, Danks, Richard, and Poreda....
June 27, 200916 yr It's smart to position Richard as a starter, whether it's to keep him or to trade him (50-50 odds at this point). Lefty starters have alot of value in MLB (above market norms for pitchers). Stick him in the pen the rest of the year and you kill his trade value. Get a few more starts like we saw from him earlier this year (around the time of the Peavy rumors) and he has MUCH more value. Edited June 27, 200916 yr by scenario
June 27, 200916 yr QUOTE (Cali @ Jun 27, 2009 -> 11:04 AM) Ugh.... Poreda = The Future Richard = Middle Relief Clayton should be able to become a solid back of the rotation starter. Nothing special, but there's nothing wrong with having a young, cheap, solid left handed starter at the back of your rotation.
June 27, 200916 yr Author QUOTE (Lemon_44 @ Jun 27, 2009 -> 03:53 PM) i like what i've seen out of Richard. I think he can be a legit #2 or #3 starter down the road. He's like alot of young pitchers that will throw 4 good innings and then get dinged. He'll start making the adjustments as he gets more experience. The rotation is looking like a strength for the coming years as these guys continue to mature. I'm thinking he'll be more of a 4 or 5th SP myself. I just don't think his stuff is that outstanding, unless one of his breaking pitches improves or he learns a new pitch--like Danks learned the cutter.
June 27, 200916 yr Author QUOTE (Cali @ Jun 27, 2009 -> 04:04 PM) Ugh.... Poreda = The Future Richard = Middle Relief I'd be happy if one of the two at least becomes part of the rotation. Then the sox only need 1 more arm for the rotation.
June 27, 200916 yr Author QUOTE (Markbilliards @ Jun 27, 2009 -> 04:03 PM) Do you think it could be bad if we had 4 lefties in the rotation? If we had Buehrle, Danks, Richard, and Poreda.... I doubt it. But if they could all get outs, and not have big splits between LHB and RHB, why not.
June 27, 200916 yr Author QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Jun 27, 2009 -> 05:16 PM) Clayton should be able to become a solid back of the rotation starter. Nothing special, but there's nothing wrong with having a young, cheap, solid left handed starter at the back of your rotation. Getting him to be a solid SP is key. then they could move him if a guy from the minors is ready
June 27, 200916 yr QUOTE (beck72 @ Jun 27, 2009 -> 11:26 AM) I'm thinking he'll be more of a 4 or 5th SP myself. I just don't think his stuff is that outstanding, unless one of his breaking pitches improves or he learns a new pitch--like Danks learned the cutter. This team always seems to have guys coming up with new pitches. Anyone think they'll have Clayton with a cutter before long?
June 27, 200916 yr QUOTE (beck72 @ Jun 27, 2009 -> 11:29 AM) I'd be happy if one of the two at least becomes part of the rotation. Then the sox only need 1 more arm for the rotation. And the Sox have at least 1-2 guys who look like they're on the race track heading up to the big leagues, if they stay healthy.
June 27, 200916 yr QUOTE (bmags @ Jun 27, 2009 -> 01:26 PM) how far away are carter and friend? By Friend...I'm assuming you mean Hudson, who is just destroying our system this year? Right now, he's looking like he's on the path McCarthy was on in 2004. He could easily impress in ST next year and make himself an option for the big league team at some point next year.
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