Why do people keep acting like Harrison sucks? He has a 4.39 ERA in 194.2 career innings over three MLB seasons. And he just turned 24. Do I want him out there pitching in a series-deciding game? Probably not. But that doesn't mean he sucks.
And if makes anyone feel better, Early won't be the only rookie starting Game 3. The Yankees' Cam Schlittler (a Walpole native) started the season in AA Somerset.
As far as I'm concerned we're playing with house money right now. Giolito is likely done for the year. Houck is done this year and possibly next. Fits, Crawford, and Dobbins are done. Buehler is gone.
Losing Giolito was probably the straw that broke the camel's back. At least this is a good opportunity for our remaining young pitchers step up and get a taste of the playoff atmosphere.
But our offense needs to wake up. The pitching doesn't matter if we can't score runs. We need some deep balls that don't die on the warning track (ugh). Abreu needs to shake off the rust and catch fire somehow. Duran needs to get into a rhythm. Rafaela needs to find a way to focus more consistently. He has so much talent and is so close to being a great 2-way player. There's just something off there mentally. But he cracks that bat like a whip. I hope he can figure it out.
A lot needs to go right if we're going to get much deeper in these playoffs. I do think Toronto is beatable - their rotation is sketchy after Gausman, and honestly Gausman doesn't even scare me that much. Seattle is playing very well and has no major flaws. The National League Champion will be very strong. We're a long shot to get past the ALCS if we somehow knock off both the Yankees and Jays. But I wouldn't mind seeing us try.
