Toucher & Rich: Are Red Sox Making Playoff Hopes Realistic?
BOSTON (CBS) -- With Fred still out on vacation and Dan Roche filling in, Rich took the opportunity to ask Mr. Baseball himself about the chances the puzzling 2015 Red Sox have at making the playoffs.
Though they're still in last place after Tuesday night's win over Miami, the Red Sox sit just five games out of the AL East. And they're also on a roll, winners of three straight games and 13 of their last 21.
So, is October baseball a real possibility?
"There's two things going for them. One is that the AL East is wide open still. No team seems to want to take off. Who do you fear in this division right now ?" Rochie said. "Every team has a question, so the Red Sox are right there. Now, the thing we're going to see and we're starting to see and they've been at it now for a while now is that they're going to average five, six, seven runs per game. Their offense is that good. We're seeing all signs of that. But it comes back to them with their pitching. Is their starting pitching good enough, and can their bullpen not get worn down because of it, from here on out?"
Of course, the focal point of that issue is Rick Porcello. Rochie said that Porcello's command is just not as good this year as it has been throughout the righty's career.
"Now you hope [Ryan] Hanigan can help him," Roche said. "Hanigan said he thinks he's seen some things that can help him."
Though Roche isn't giving up entirely on Porcello, he does think it's time to bring up Brian Johnson from Pawtucket.
"My top three right now would be Eduardo Rodriguez, Clay Buchholz and I would bring Brian Johnson up at the All-Star break. He's a guy that I think as you watch him, and I've watched him, I love his presence, I love his command. I think he's got a lot of Jon Lester in him," Roche said. "I would make those three guys my top, and then figure out four and five after that."
Even if it doesn't result in a postseason trip this year, that rotation could be a real strength moving forward.
"I take this season and get ready for this season. I think they're going to be very good next season if they can fix a lot of things as you go forward."
Rochie also discussed the bizarre state of Mike Napoli, and more. Listen below:
