Mike Timlin in contension to win DHL Delivery Relief Man of the Year Award

[riverside sluggers]

he without a doubt has been the ace of the bullpen this season for the Sox, held it together when numerous not worth mentioning players didnt step up...

 

you can vote here: http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/fan_forum/dhl/dhl_dmoty_form.jsp

 

Timlin in running for DHL award

Veteran workhorse steps up to take over closing duties

 

BOSTON -- If you wanted to try to envision the Red Sox bullpen without the contributions that Mike Timlin has made this season, you would likely be viewing a team out of playoff contention. Timlin, while making more than 70 appearances for the third consecutive season, has been nothing short of a rock for a Boston bullpen that first had to weather the ineffectiveness of Keith Foulke, and then the loss of the right-hander for nearly two months following knee surgery.

 

So it should come as no surprise that Timlin has been selected as one of 10 finalists for the DHL Delivery Man of the Year. Few players on the Red Sox have delivered as much as this durable, 39-year-old workhorse. In truth, Timlin has been getting clutch outs for the Red Sox ever since his arrival in 2003. But his value has emerged to the forefront this year because the struggles of both Foulke and Curt Schilling.

 

"He's been our heart and soul in that bullpen, period," said Red Sox first baseman Kevin Millar. "This guy has been our unsung hero since Day 1. ... When you're a setup guy, a middle relief guy, you don't get a lot of credit. If you thought about it, if we ever lost Mike Timlin at any point during one of the seasons, our bullpen would be shot. This guy has been our most consistent guy, he throws 91 to 94 day in and day out. At his age, remarkable. You can't say enough about Mike Timlin and what he's done for us."

 

The "DHL Presents the Major League Baseball Delivery Man of the Year Award" nominees are active relievers selected by a special Major League Baseball "yellow-ribbon" panel that includes Hall of Fame pitcher Dennis Eckersley; Darryl Hamilton, former Major League outfielder and MLB Radio host; Jerome Holtzman, the official MLB historian and a member of the writer's wing of the Hall of Fame; Rick Sutcliffe, 1984 NL Cy Young Award winner, ESPN and MLB International broadcaster; and Bob Watson, vice president of on-field operations for Major League Baseball. The "Delivery Man of the Month Award," also presented by DHL, has been announced monthly throughout this season, and nominees for this yearly award did not have to be chosen from that list of monthly winners.

 

Finalists announced for DHL award Their job is to come into the game and deliver their team a victory. Some do it with power, some do it with style and some do it with nothing other than good, old-fashioned moxie. The other candidates are the Yankees' Mariano Rivera, Nationals' Chad Cordero, Astros' Brad Lidge, Padres' Trevor Hoffman, Twins' Joe Nathan, White Sox's Dustin Hermanson, Marlins' Todd Jones, Cardinals' Jason Isringhausen and Bob Wickman of the Guardians.

 

Through Timlin's first 73 appearances of the season, he posted a 6-2 record and a 1.96 ERA. After Curt Schilling relinquished closing duties and returned to the starting rotation, Timlin took over as the closer and converted six of his first seven save opportunities. "The satisfying part is I'm throwing the ball well, I'm healthy, and I'm enjoying it," Timlin said. "That's the satisfying part. I'm playing for a tremendous team in a tremendous city, that's what's so much fun."

 

Timlin won two World Series rings for the Blue Jays (1992-93) and added a third to his collection for the historic 2004 Red Sox. He still has some vacant fingers. And if the Red Sox are going to return to the glory of last October, Timlin will need to play a vital role. "Timlin's been our best pitcher the past couple of years, including this year," said Red Sox center fielder Johnny Damon. "He's able to bear down and make guys make outs. He's very important to us."

 

Red Sox manager Terry Francona feels fortunate to have a durable competitor such as Timlin. "He keeps himself in good shape. I know he's pitched a lot of innings. I think he loves it," said Francona. "He's very honest with us [about] how he feels. We don't have to guess with him. We always know how he feels. He's had a long career. He's a smart guy, he knows how to handle it."

[YanksHater213]

He has been probably the MVP of this team I would say...

[sarasoxfan]

timlin has been very good, but with runners on, not quite as good.

There is no way that anyone other than DO can be considered MVP of this team..

[YanksHater213]

Without Timlin, I am confident in saying that we would be in second, or maybe even third place.

[soxie thefangirl]

Without ORTIZ I'm convinced we would be in second or third place. He is the MVP of the team.

 

Timlin is the best bullpen guy. That's it.

[sarasoxfan]

i agree with soxie, timlin is the best in a lousy bullpen and I hate to admit it but I dont think he has been quite as impactful as yankshater suggests. But out of this bunch yes he has been the most consistent.

[YanksHater213]

Without Ortiz, you can replace him with Manny... Who are you going to replace Timlin with on this team?

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

You can't replace David Ortiz...nobody can...cause nobody has a player like him....maybe stat wise but when it counts....you can't beat him. He is making a huge mark in Red Sox history and has already established himself as one of the greatest Red Sox hitters of all time.....that says a LOT. Not to mention he might be the biggest hero in Boston history with his playoff shots. You may not see it now....but when Ortiz is retired years from now and people look back...David Ortiz is going to be a legend. He is the MVP of the Red Sox and the MVP of the league.

 

not to take anything away from Timlin...he has had a good season....next year it will probably be someone else

[riverside sluggers]

Timlin did have a good season and this thread was made because I thought people like to know about him being selected in the final 10 of all relievers in the majors, a big deal. not whether or not Ortiz should win the MVP (which he should). Timlin who's turning 40 this season and in last year of his contract, I dont see Sox resigning him so far. I did remember him saying in an interview that someday he'd like to be a pitching coach, no arguments from me on that. I see Delcarmen as a viable option to be the new setup man, if said Timlin doesnt come back

[YanksHater213]

Guys, by no means am I saying Timlin should win the MVP. I am saying that in terms of value, this guy has done more for this team than anyone. Not only has he been the workhorse, but he has done it 10 times better than anyone else in the bullpen, and, in my point of view at least, Timlin has been by far the key to our season. Without him, who the hell would have closed the games for us, with Foulke hurt and not pitching well, Embree blowing s*** before we got rid of him, and pretty much everyone else not pitching well enough to set up or close out games. Timlin been amazing for this team, and hasnt been getting the recognition he deserves compared to guys like Ortiz and Manny, and honestly without him I think we wouldnt be anywhere near where we are.

[Cityofchampions33]

His inherited runners stats are clearly counting him out of both awards. Papi has been carrying this team for the past few months, w/o him getting the lead we don't even get Timlin in the game, Ortiz in my mind is the AL mvp for what he's done this month and if not that the MVP of the team at least. I think Mariano wins the DHL award hands down.

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

If we didn't have Timlin I would guess that Schilling might still be in that role. Either that or to this point Papelbon might have made a case for himself. They may have brought Hansen up sooner or made a trade...who knows...no question Mike Timlin has been fantastic and deserves the reward. He wasn't the only stable part but he was the biggest part. Myers and Bradford have done well as situational relievers and Jeremi Gonzalez (although hit hard recently) has reached way beyond my expectations. I agree that Timlin will move on next year cause the Sox are stuck with Foulke to give him another shot and the young guys are moving up. I would expect Hansen, Delcarmen, DiNardo, and Alvarez (two lefty and two righty) to be a bigger part of the bullpen next season. Considering how teams are struggling for closers I would expect someone to sign him for that role...most likely in the NL.

[Optimist]

I voted for Wickman (I was trying to be objective. )

[stocker323]

So much for the Timlin for Sox MVP argument.

[sarasoxfan]

yeah this thread is a joke today.

[YanksHater213]

One bad game? Honestly. MVP David Ortiz didnt look so hot last night either...

[Yankees13]

Timlin lets way too many inheirted runners score. For comparsion I think Rivera has stranded all but one runner this year.

[Cityofchampions33]

One bad game? Honestly. MVP David Ortiz didnt look so hot last night either...

 

Please, just quit right now

[Cityofchampions33]

Oh, and Timlin did SOO much better last night.

[YanksHater213]

Jesus your all taking what I said the wrong way. In no way do I think Timlin is the MVP of this team. I said that in terms of value, replaceableness, etc, he was more important to this team than Ortiz was. Tell me who would have set-up/closed had Timlin been not here or ineffective...

 

...

 

 

...

 

Thats what I thought.

[Cityofchampions33]

He has been probably the MVP of this team I would say...

 

Please, just stop

[YanksHater213]

Yeah... I misstated what I wanted to say... I worded it wrong.

[Cityofchampions33]

"He has been probably the MVP of this team I would say..."

 

I honestly don't see any other ways to word it....

[YanksHater213]

Wow, I think you might be officially the biggest ******* on this board. Youve never misworded something before?

 

Dick.

[redsoxrules]

timlin has been great in the bulpen,but there is no way you can compare him to ortiz, the red sox would be further out if ortiz wasent in the lineup compared to if timlin wasent in the bulpen

[Cityofchampions33]

Wow, I think you might be officially the biggest ******* on this board. Youve never misworded something before?

 

Dick.

 

Pal, forget you, your comin up with nonsense after everyone just shut u up, and no, i havent, always re-read before i post. Plus what you did was not bad wording, it was just a bad post, you can check all 32 of my posts, go ahead. Also, I've never gotten on anyone like this before, You just keep on sayin s*** to get the last word in, all i did was tell you stop wat u have already lost.

[YanksHater213]

Pal, forget you, your comin up with nonsense after everyone just shut u up, and no, i havent, always re-read before i post. Plus what you did was not bad wording, it was just a bad post, you can check all 32 of my posts, go ahead. Also, I've never gotten on anyone like this before, You just keep on sayin s*** to get the last word in, all i did was tell you stop wat u have already lost.

Haha, wow, this post just reinforced my last post. All I know is, is that I knew what I wanted to say, and just didnt know how to word it, and if you have a problem with that, you can go suck a dick. Way to go, buddy.

[schillingouttheks]

Pal, forget you, your comin up with nonsense after everyone just shut u up, and no, i havent, always re-read before i post. Plus what you did was not bad wording, it was just a bad post, you can check all 32 of my posts, go ahead. Also, I've never gotten on anyone like this before, You just keep on sayin s*** to get the last word in, all i did was tell you stop wat u have already lost.

 

You're a dick if your purpose on this board is just to "Shut someone up." Not saying it's your sole purpose, but if you don't like what someone says that contrasts to your opinion...DEAL with it. He said Timlin, in HIS view, is unreplaceable on the team. He thinks Ortiz can be replaced with another powerhouse bat on our team. Big f***ing woop, he has an opinion, and if you and everyone else are just gunna "shut him up," well what purpose does that bring to a discussion forum?

 

I'm sure you'd be MUCH happier ONLY posting "I agree" in every thread on a board that shares your own opinion. Coming up with nonsense? Well his nonsense is an opinion. Take it for what it's worth, but "shutting him up" for something he thinks is ********. And what he thinks is totally valid, by the way.

[YanksHater213]

Thank you.

[Cityofchampions33]

You're a dick if your purpose on this board is just to "Shut someone up." Not saying it's your sole purpose, but if you don't like what someone says that contrasts to your opinion...DEAL with it. He said Timlin, in HIS view, is unreplaceable on the team. He thinks Ortiz can be replaced with another powerhouse bat on our team. Big f***ing woop, he has an opinion, and if you and everyone else are just gunna "shut him up," well what purpose does that bring to a discussion forum?

 

I'm sure you'd be MUCH happier ONLY posting "I agree" in every thread on a board that shares your own opinion. Coming up with nonsense? Well his nonsense is an opinion. Take it for what it's worth, but "shutting him up" for something he thinks is ********. And what he thinks is totally valid, by the way.

 

Listen, this guy over here said something that opposed my, and many others opinions, I DEALT with it by using his quotes aginst him, but he kept on going on about how he "misworded" a post. Hell, your tryin to shut me up now, almost everyone on this board tries to shut people up, you can see it in most of the threads in almost all the categories. So please, don't blame me for something everyone does.