Chicago White Sox: Should Hector Noesi stay a reliever?
Monday wasn’t one of the day you’ll remember as a Chicago White Sox fan for years to come following the performance of Hector Noesi and his teammates against the Toronto Blue Jays.
From the start the White Sox pitcher and his defense put the team in a hole, as they couldn’t even begin to understand the purpose of a shovel to dig themselves out in what amounted to a 6-0 loss in Toronto.
In all, Noesi allowed five earned runs on five hits and three walks. He gave up two home runs and struck out four in his fourth loss (0-4) which moved his ERA to 5.84 on the season.
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A play by Alexei Ramirez ended up costing the White Sox some runs when he failed to tag second base on a double play attempt, but it is evident Noesi is best served away from the starting rotation. Even though the double play would have been great for him, Noesi still gave up two home runs in the loss.
With Carlos Rodon‘s start being pushed back this left Noesi as the starter Monday, and what I want to ask we know he shouldn’t be in the starting rotation right now, but is best served as a reliever?
He’s already been demoted to the bullpen for the most part this season, and in those three outings since joining the bullpen he pitched relatively well with 1.2 innings against the Cincinnati Reds on May 9 and 0.1 innings against the Milwaukee Brewers on May 11. He also pitched on May 21 for one inning against the Cleveland Indians.
All three of those relief outings have seen Noesi give up no runs on five hits and two walks in three combined innings.
Monday in his return as a starter he allowed five earned runs on five hits and three walks … whomever decided to “fix” what was working for Noesi made a mistake.
Noesi belongs in the bullpen.
That’s not a knock on the right-handed pitcher, but it is the truth. His numbers are better when entering the game not as the starter, and he helps the White Sox more from that role, rather than starting the game.
As a starter this season, Noesi is0-4 with a 6.17 ERA in five starts. He’s pitched 23.1 innings as a starter this season, and after allowing 16 earned runs and six home runs you would figure the folks in charge of the lineup or building the roster would understand Noesi isn’t best served as a starter for the team, right?
Again it seems like this was a spot start for the White Sox and Noesi, and if it was there should have been a better plan in place for someone else to make a start. Even before Monday it was apparent Noesi isn’t best served for this team when given the ball first, and if we see it, those making the decisions have seen it as well.
The bottom line is Noesi belongs in the bullpen and not in the starting rotation … it is that simple.