In this post-PEDs era, pitchers are thriving and I see no need to go all in for that special pitcher to combat anemic lineups. ML quality depth should be priority one
Here's why I wrote the line above...
In 2013, AL teams scored an average of 703 runs for the season
In 2014, AL teams scored an average of 677 runs
In 2013, AL teams allowed an average 3.99 runs/game
In 2014, AL teams allowed an average 3.72 runs/game
In 2013, the Sox's ERA was 3.79....6th best in the AL
In 2014, the Sox's ERA was 4.01.....11th best...a rise of .22 runs/game .
Factors that raised this ERA.....Lester was traded, Bucholtz reverted, Peavy and Dubront were given 37 starts, minor league tryouts. In other words.....the Sox pitching staff ran a lot of garbage out to the mound and team ERA rose only .22
In 2013, the Sox scored 853 runs....1st in AL
In 2014, the Sox scored 634 runs....11th in AL
Thanks to an aggressive front office that went Cuban shopping and hit the FA market with gusto......the worst hitting outfield of 2013 has been replaced. The black hole at 3rd has been filled nicely. With a healthy 1st baseman, a better solution at lead off (Betts...I pray they keep him) than Sizemore, Holt, Bradley.....In other words, this team should be a plus hitting team again vs the anemic product that found its way on the field last year.
To summarize....Sox pitching added .22 runs/game while Sox batters created 1.34 less runs/game in 2014....Where the problem is is fairly obvious.
My ultimate point....in 2014 the Sox relied on too many minor league caliber bats and garbage starters....and all have or will be replaced (except Bucholtz). Sure losing a low ERA guy like Lester is a challenge and must be counterbalanced by back end starters that perform at a higher level than Peavy, Doubront, and the minor leaguers they trotted out.
One final stat to emphasize the diminishing hitting skills in MLB...In the AL last year there were 42 starters who pitched 100 innings or more and had lower than league average ERA's (3.72)....and many were not household names.Only 30 AL starters were sub 3.72 in 2013.
My point......more pitching options exist today to defeat these anemic offenses and the Sox need not panic because Lester has left the building. Remember...the Sox were failing miserably with Lester and Lackey in the house last year....there problems were with the stick....and these problems look to be more than solved
