FORT MYERS, Fla. – Both Chris Sale and Rick Porcello logged over 200 innings last season, while Drew Pomeranz checked in around 175. Only 15 pitchers in baseball reached the 200-inning mark, and the Red Sox were one of three teams – joining the Nationals and Indians – to have two starters throw that many frames.
With the game trending towards preservation of arms, having multiple pitchers throw that many innings doesn't seem likely for any team in back-to-back seasons.
Though if you asked Sale, he thinks it's realistic he'll do it again. Same for Porcello. Why not the rest of the staff while we're at it?
"I think it'd be awesome to have five guys on the same rotation throw 200 innings in the same year," Sale said. "If we had all five guys make all their starts, all of us over 200 innings, I think that'd be huge. That's what our job is as starters, taking up the bulk of the game, eating up innings and throwing quality innings. In turn, the bullpen stays fresh throughout the year.
"That's our goal. I think everybody in our starting rotation other than Eddie (Eduardo Rodriguez), who's young and had some problems, has thrown 200 innings. I don't know that for sure, but it would be really cool to do that. I think we have the guys to be able to do that. Obviously the talent is there. The work ethic is also there, which is another key aspect of doing that."
Pomeranz has not, though he has hit 170 innings the last two seasons.
David Price is the only other Red Sox starter to reach the mark, having done it six times over his career, most recently in his first year with Boston, when he led the league with 230 innings. He believes the slower pace in spring training gives the staff a chance to log more innings in the regular season and, more importantly, feel strong heading into the postseason.
"To be able to take it lighter right now, for all of us, has got to help you down the road," Price said. "You know, you've got to have a little bit more in the tank at that point in the season, and hopefully the way we're doing it right now allows us to do that."