While there has been much hand-wringing and brow-furrowing about the state of the Red Sox‘s pitching rotation, with injuries knocking out two key starters and Walker Buehler‘s season unraveling, it’s been easy to overlook that one of Boston’s key moves from more than a year ago is finally paying off.
That would be pitcher Lucas Giolito, who missed last season with elbow surgery after signing a two-year, $38.5 million contract with an eye on him potentially being the team’s ace.
Going back to a rough outing no June 4, in which Giolito allowed seven runs in 1.2 innings, he has been stellar in four starts since, with a 3-0 record, a 0.72 ERA and just 16 hits and seven walks allowed in 25.0 innings. Giolito is 4-1 with a 3.99 ERA this season.
But as the trade deadline approaches and the Red Sox remain on the outside fringe of the A.L. playoff picture, Giolito’s status could be in question–Boston could easily cash him in for prospects in a trade with a contender that needs pitching depth, which encompasses just about every contender in the league.
Red Sox Primed for a Run?
But Giolito is really hoping that does not happen.
Speaking with MassLive’s Chris Cotillo, he said, “My position on that now is this: Hopefully we can start to put more performances like we did (Monday) and win some series, win some games and get back into the race, because I have no desire to go through that again. I don’t want to be traded. I really love it here. I want to help this team win games to the end. I’m really pulling for us here.”
And while it would be a real headline-grabber if a veteran pitcher told a reporter he really does want to be traded, Giolito’s comments are indicative of a wider sense among the Red Sox that this team has not tapped its potential and that perhaps a second-half run is ahead.
Much would have to go right. But the Red Sox, at 43-45, are still only 3.o games out fo a playoff spot in the A.L.
Lucas Giolito Questioned Ability
Giolito could be a key to that. He was especially honest with Cotillo when he reflected on how he was feeling after getting knocked around in that June 4 game, questioning whether he still was good enough.
“I think you’d be lying to yourself if you don’t allow certain thoughts like that to creep in,” he said. “It’s a very tough game we play and when you’re struggling, it can get negative. You can start to think, ‘Oh, man, am I going to get kicked out of the rotation? DFA’d? Where’s my place in baseball?’
“The best way to go about it is, instead of letting those thoughts take over and getting into a negative place, you can recognize them and be like, ‘This is where I’m at. What can I do to improve? What kind of work? What adjustments need to be made? And what kind of work do I need to put in so that I can improve and turn it around?’”
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