The Boston Red Sox just gave HUGE money to their #3 starter- Rick Porcello. The hurler and club agreed to a four year, $82 million extension. That’s mad cheddah! So the Sox make this move, which is more money than what they offered Jon Lester, who leaves to become the #1 Opening Day starter with the Chicago Cubs.
Where’s the logic here?
ESPN MLB analysts Curt Schilling and John Kruk (Sunday Night Baseball) participated in ESPN’s MLB Opening Night/Opening Day media conference call earlier this week. During the call, Kruk talked about how unimpressed he was with the Red Sox opening day starter Clay Buchholz, and Schilling directly called him out; with authority.
He said Buchholz doesn’t want to be an ace. (full transcript here).
Obviously Buchholz heard that, and truly shut Schilling up with his performance today- 7 shutout innings, 1 BB, 9K. Maybe the Red Sox do have an ace? Or co-Aces with Porcello and Buchholz.
On Boston Red Sox pitcher Rick Porcello
JOHN KRUK: “Well, again, he fits in with pretty much every starter they have right now. He’s a legitimate No. 3 guy, possibly a 2. We talked about it earlier on this call, that they really don’t have a No. 1. Whoever pitches opening day, I guess they announced Buchholz was going to pitch opening day. I think that’s just because he’s been there longer than anyone else. I don’t think it’s a reward for great performance from the past.”
“And again, I think Rick Porcello, I love the fact that he turned the corner last year. His changeup was a lot better, secondary pitches were better. I think any time ?? you can say what you want about any ballpark, but a guy who keeps the ball down in the strike zone, a sinkerball pitcher has a better chance in Fenway than I think ?? Curt was an anomaly because he was a high fastball power pitcher who could pitch in any ballpark with his stuff because he trusted it so much. ”
“I think a guy like Rick Porcello you have to have that great sink on his ball, but he did start elevating the ball last year with a four?seamer that was one to watch because it was unexpected, but I think he’s going to put up another strong year because he’s going to get a lot of offensive support from the Red Sox’ offense like he did in Detroit.”
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and writes The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with Fox Sports Digital. You can read Banks’ feature stories and op-eds in the Chicago Tribune RedEye newspaper and hear his regular guest spots on numerous sports talk radio stations all across the country.
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