Red Sox need a healthy Eduardo Rodriguez for the playoffs
By Rick McNair
The Boston Red Sox playoff rotation will soon become a topic of interest. Just who will be the fourth starter? I go for Eduardo Rodriguez.
Is it too early for the Boston Red Sox to devise a pitching rotation for the playoffs? At this point in time, the sands in the hourglass of the schedule are slowly drifting the New York Yankees into a Wild Card mentality while Boston just continues to carve through their schedule like locust to a Kansas wheat field.
The rotation certainly has guarantees and that is Chris Sale, Rick Porcello, and David Price. All three are in a position that cries out for redemption after previous playoff disappointments. Price certainly made some inroads last season with his playoff relief efforts, but he’ll start. But what about the fourth starter?
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Nathan Eovaldi has one genetic prerequisite that could give him an arm up on the selection process – he tosses right-handed. Just as political parties balance their tickets, baseball managers like to balance a rotation and the Red Sox do have a lefty-heavy rotation. With Eovaldi, his first two games were stunning demonstrations of pitching competence especially against the dreaded Yankees, but the good news is often followed by bad news.
The Baltimore Orioles – a dreadful composition of youthful talent and vastly underperforming veterans – brought the Eovaldi bandwagon to a screeching halt. Historically, Eovaldi is average at best with nothing really reaching out statistically to make him a must. Maybe he’ll freshen up in his next few starts and get back on the rails?
That brings us to the most advantageous choice who currently resides in his second home – the disabled list. Left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez was cementing his status as the most none-Sale reliable starter on the staff. The “numbers” certainly project that with an 11-3 record and a 3.44 ERA. E-Rod also had a 2.8 BB/9 and 9.5 K/9 in his 104.2 innings.
The knock on Rodriguez is pitch count and that certainly is valid since despite his relatively low BB/9 Rodriguez seems to go full counts on everyone. This is reflected in 17.9 pitches per inning that are third highest in the American League. Consequently, Rodriguez’s 4.21 pitches per plate appearance are second highest in the AL.
The Red Sox bullpen will be shortened in the playoffs as an 11 man bullpen may be implemented. The starters will be given less time as managerial patience lessens in the playoffs and a quick hook is often in the works. The bullpen selection process will most certainly be dissected on BSI and elsewhere ad finem, but that process will also extend to Rodriguez and any other worthy competitors for the playoff rotation.
The showcase for Rodriguez will soon take place as his DL excursion will end and live pitching will take place. Rodriguez will have something to prove since it will be all about what have you done for me lately with pitching. The very good news for Rodriguez is the standings and the schedule are his new best friends. Time to see if the mechanics spiffy and the twisted ankle is in pitching condition.
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The Red Sox are as a team 16-3 with Rodriguez on the mound and that is a telling statistic since a Rodriguez start means an enhanced opportunity for a win – pitch count or not. If Rodriguez eventually returns to his pre-injury form he’ll deserve to be in the playoff rotation.