Rodon back with Sox

[DeployEloy]

It's the loss of his slider. He was hitting 98 in relief. He never lost the ability to throw hard, he throws less hard in starts. The problem is that he isn't throwing 98 in starts, and he doesn't have that devastating slider he was drafted with to play up that mediocre fastball.

He might work out as a lefty reliever. It depends on how he uses his slider, because it's a lot more hittable now. But what he'll never be is a starter. Not unless some miracle occurs and his slider returns to 2015 and previous form.

If it happens to work out that way, I’d love to see that too. While it possibly slows them looking for another back-end type, I think they still could benefit from an Archer type as well. Even if far removed, a few of these guys still likely have something special to check up on at least. You are absolutely right that Rodon without a working slider is not a very functional SP in this league. Hopefully it comes back.

[ChiTownTrojan]

Healthy Rodon still isn't a major league starter. Healthy Taillon is the best pitcher on both ours and the Yankees roster. That's the difference.

Statements like this are why you get so much backlash all the time. Two of the three best pitchers in the AL are on these two teams, and Taillon is not one of them.

[ChiSoxNationPres]

Statements like this are why you get so much backlash all the time. Two of the three best pitchers in the AL are on these two teams, and Taillon is not one of them.

Yeah this is a wild statement out of left field even for munch. Really adds to the level of quality discussion here!

[vegandork]

Statements like this are why you get so much backlash all the time. Two of the three best pitchers in the AL are on these two teams, and Taillon is not one of them.

Nobody in either rotation has the stuff that Taillon has, even Cole. I stand by the statement. If he's ever healthy for a full year he's a Cy Young lock. His problem has been a lot of injuries, some arm, some health, some fluke. Dude has had two TJS, an appendix surgery, and non-hodgkins lymphoma in a span of five years.

[rdivaldi]

Nobody in either rotation has the stuff that Taillon has, even Cole. I stand by the statement. If he's ever healthy for a full year he's a Cy Young lock. His problem has been a lot of injuries, some arm, some health, some fluke. Dude has had two TJS, an appendix surgery, and non-hodgkins lymphoma in a span of five years.

Wait what? I like Taillon, but in no universe is he anywhere the pitcher Gerrit Cole is. It's not close. He has neither the stuff, the durability, nor the arsenal Cole has. His injuries have kept him from being a pitcher of Giolito's stature, not Cole's.

[Tragg]

The Sox don't need a lot out of Rodon, but they do need something out of him: at least a dependable #5 or above average middle reliever. Anything less and he's a liability and needs to be cut (same with any pitcher on the staff). The starting pitching is going to be iffy all season (after the first 3) and bullpen needs to be elite to compensate...the top 5 need to be absolutely lockdown and 6-8 need to be very good and dependable.

[ChiTownTrojan]

Oh really. Want to make a bet?

You heard it here first - Jameson Taillon is the first pitcher to be a Cy Young "lock" since Cy Young.

[DeployEloy]

The guy won't pitch to a pitcher after every 8th batter. His numbers will likely inflate somewhat. In my opinion, he's much more likely to get injured again than he is to earn a CY in a brand new league. Honestly, I don't even think he will reach enough IP this year to qualify. If the yankees decide to ride a guy hard coming off a second TJ surgery, they would be absolutely stupid.

[vegandork]

Oh really. Want to make a bet?

Sure. If he makes 30 starts and doesn't win the Cy Young? A case of Hamm's?

[DeployEloy]

30 starts... that's ballsy .

[ChiTownTrojan]

Sure. If he makes 30 starts and doesn't win the Cy Young? A case of Hamm's?

I'll take that bet, but I don't want a case of Hamm's. I just want you to admit that you were wrong for once.

[vegandork]

I'll take that bet, but I don't want a case of Hamm's. I just want you to admit that you were wrong for once.

Hamm's it is!

[ChiSoxNationPres]

I'll take that bet, but I don't want a case of Hamm's. I just want you to admit that you were wrong for once.

Lol, you aren't getting that. But wouldn't that be nice.

[Chez]

Hamm's it is!

Love Hamm's. Best of the macrobrews.