It's getting close

[riverside sluggers]

papelbon has reported along with beckett yesterday.

 

To quote from Casablanca: "I believe this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship"

 

All eyes are sure to be looking toward next season of a rotation including Josh Beckett, Jonathan Papelbon, and Jon Lester. Or what I like to call them as the "Triple J Threat"

 

EDIT: take a look at a more slim Schilling http://www.bostondirtdogs.com/

[seabeachfred]

Riverside, do you have to be a slaggot? Why whet my appetite for seeing something of NESN when I'm way out here in California and can't see it. Remember, there are a lot of us Red Sox fans who live far away and can't see those shows. Please, my friend, show some consideration for us "foreigners" You can earn some points, though, by keeping me informed as to what transpires on NESN over the next couple of weeks. I'm going to try and call my cable company and see if I can get NESN on my TV.

[a700hitter]

NESN is available on Direct TV no matter where you live. Dump your cable.

[Cityofchampions33]

"Triple J Threat"

 

I was think more of "The Jifecta" but yeah, we deff need to come up with a nickname for em so we can be prepared

[KeepTheFaith1229]

"The Jifecta"

 

 

Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. I like that.

[seabeachfred]

Hey Champ, why do you have to keep bringing up McCarver? We all know he is an incompetent horse's ass at the mike and says the most assinine things imaginable, but you must take into consideration that someone might be reading your post with him included just after a repast which could lead to one humungous unchuck. Think better of it my friend.

[seabeachfred]

Thank you 700. I will try and work something out. It would beat seeing the Red Sox on my computer through MLB.com

[riverside sluggers]

And who said Curt doesnt like to be optimistic?

 

Schil is targeting 35 starts, 245 innings (avg 7 innings per start)

http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060218&content_id=1314833&vkey=spt2006news&fext=.jsp&c_id=bos

[CrespoBlows]

I was think more of "The Jifecta" but yeah, we deff need to come up with a nickname for em so we can be prepared

 

Wow, I can't believe I'm seeing something gayer than "Brokeback Mountain."

[Cityofchampions33]

lol, yea its a pretty stupid idea

 

and seabeachfred, its called a sig

[riverside sluggers]

I had heard Varitek had lost weight over the offseason. Mostly done to avoid wear & tear by the end of the season, which is what we saw in that September offensive slump he had endured. I can definitely see a difference

 

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/gallery/02_17_06_spring?pg=6

[Anuj09]

I dont know if you can say the same for Fatboy (aka boomer)....

 

 

 

 

 

 

dont get me wrong though, boomer is okay

[seabeachfred]

Riverside, if you ask me that was a good move by Tek. He did slump badly the last six weeks of the season after a torrid start. Some guys have great years between 33-37 and Jason is 34 now and could have a few more productive seasons if he takes care of his body as far as conditioning and nutrition are concerned. My only worry is who the hell is going to be the backup catcher this year? We have three automatic outs vieing for the position which means whenever Wake pitches the rest of the offense must be on full acceleration. What's your opinion on the matter RS and the rest of you out there. Am I off base?

[26 to 6]

I had heard Varitek had lost weight over the offseason. Mostly done to avoid wear & tear by the end of the season, which is what we saw in that September offensive slump he had endured. I can definitely see a difference

 

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/gallery/02_17_06_spring?pg=6

If a Yankee had lost weight you guys would be shouting the "S" word.

 

I'm just messing with ya guys.

[riverside sluggers]

If a Yankee had lost weight you guys would be shouting the "S" word.

 

I'm just messing with ya guys.

 

Nah its cool. It is is cool though to see guys like Schilling, Varitek & youkilis dump the jelly doughnuts in the offseason and get to the physique that will help them best. Especially Schilling.

 

Riverside, if you ask me that was a good move by Tek. He did slump badly the last six weeks of the season after a torrid start. Some guys have great years between 33-37 and Jason is 34 now and could have a few more productive seasons if he takes care of his body as far as conditioning and nutrition are concerned. My only worry is who the hell is going to be the backup catcher this year? We have three automatic outs vieing for the position which means whenever Wake pitches the rest of the offense must be on full acceleration. What's your opinion on the matter RS and the rest of you out there. Am I off base?

 

I believe the favorite is John Flaherty, who is of course coming from a 3 year tenure with the Yankees (RJ's personal catcher in 05. He just has this work ethic with pitchers that fits well with Boston & working with Varitek. Also giving the captain every 5th day off, for a catcher entering his age 34 season, I'll take it. As for offense... The team right now "on paper" is set to be solid at run prevention, that Im expecting to see a number of 3-1 wins and such.

 

Even so they still have Papi & Ortiz (another combined 80 HRs/250+ RBIs) and players in Loretta, Gonzalez & Lowell who are moving from pitcher's havens to 1 Fenway Park. Those 3 should have bounce back years added to the fact those 3 are all dead pull hitters IMO hello green monster. Nixon if healthy I can see him getting to the 20 Hr mark & 70+ RBIs

[Redguitar985]

If a Yankee had lost weight you guys would be shouting the "S" word.

 

I'm just messing with ya guys.

 

That's because we're always ready to pounce on personalities in sports that we don't like, like T.O. and Barry Bonds. We just have to remember that steroids aren't just for bad guys.

[Optimist]

Nah its cool. It is is cool though to see guys like Schilling, Varitek & youkilis dump the jelly doughnuts in the offseason and get to the physique that will help them best. Especially Schilling.

 

 

 

I believe the favorite is John Flaherty, who is of course coming from a 3 year tenure with the Yankees (RJ's personal catcher in 05. He just has this work ethic with pitchers that fits well with Boston & working with Varitek. Also giving the captain every 5th day off, for a catcher entering his age 34 season, I'll take it. As for offense... The team right now "on paper" is set to be solid at run prevention, that Im expecting to see a number of 3-1 wins and such.

 

Even so they still have Papi & Ortiz (another combined 80 HRs/250+ RBIs) and players in Loretta, Gonzalez & Lowell who are moving from pitcher's havens to 1 Fenway Park. Those 3 should have bounce back years added to the fact those 3 are all dead pull hitters IMO hello green monster. Nixon if healthy I can see him getting to the 20 Hr mark & 70+ RBIs

 

Same person...or am I messing up nicknames in my head?

[riverside sluggers]

obviously you know what I mean

[Anuj09]

kind of of topic but did anyone else notice that Schill has started to grow his hair kind of like he did for the D-Backs ?

[riverside sluggers]

Papelbon will pitch the spring training opener

 

Notes: Grapefruit League rotation set

Papelbon will face Twins when exhibition season opens

By Ian Browne / MLB.com

 

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The monotony of drills on the back fields will soon ease up, as games are officially in sight. With that in mind, Red Sox manager Terry Francona has set his rotation for the early games on the Grapefruit League schedule. Jonathan Papelbon will take the ball in the exhibition opener Thursday night against the Twins.

 

"I'm sure as it gets closer, in the next couple of days, I'll be bearing down a little bit more," said Papelbon. Curt Schilling and Matt Clement will split up the collegiate doubleheader against Boston College and Northeastern University the next day. Josh Beckett will pitch his first (unofficial) game for the Red Sox at home on March 4 against the Pirates. Bronson Arroyo and Tim Wakefield will likely make their debuts on March 5, the day the Red Sox play split-squad games against the Twins and the Australian national team.

 

Several pitchers, including Papelbon, Beckett and top prospect Jon Lester, continued on their schedules on Friday, throwing batting practice for the first time this spring. "You put a hitter up there, some of them struggle with the screen," said Francona. "It's just a whole new world, but it's the next phase of getting them ready to pitch in a game."

 

Just a little fact, Papelbon's last appearance against the Twins was his major league debut.

[KeepTheFaith1229]

I'm going to be there!! :thumbsup:

[seabeachfred]

Riverside, I hope that Papelbon has a great spring and makes the team. In fact, I will go one farther. I would like to see him in the rotation. He deserves the chance off of what he did last year. A half-season rookie with a 3-1 record and an ERA below 3.00. I think he has earned it. Also on ESPN last night they were talking about the various teams that need pitching and the Reds topped the list. Maybe we can send Clement or Arroyo there for Austin Kearns. That would give us a fourth outfielder who could also start for us when needed and we could clear a spot in the rotation for Paps. Just a thought.

[KeepTheFaith1229]

Riverside, I hope that Papelbon has a great spring and makes the team. In fact, I will go one farther. I would like to see him in the rotation. He deserves the chance off of what he did last year. A half-season rookie with a 3-1 record and an ERA below 3.00. I think he has earned it. Also on ESPN last night they were talking about the various teams that need pitching and the Reds topped the list. Maybe we can send Clement or Arroyo there for Austin Kearns. That would give us a fourth outfielder who could also start for us when needed and we could clear a spot in the rotation for Paps. Just a thought.

 

I agree with everything here. But, Pap will make the team no matter what, and Kearns would be awesome to have as a platoon partner for Trot and 4th OF. Also, Pap will probably be inserted into the rotation midseason, although I would like to see him start out there.

[seabeachfred]

The thing about Kearns is that he has handled being both a third and fourth outfielder very well. He wouldn't be a Jay Payton bitching all the time, plus the fact that he hits lefties very well and is a decent outfielder. Who knows? Maybe someone from the FO is reading us and will get an inspiration. I just got through answering a Malzone post and was reminded that as good as he was he kept being sent to the minors until he was 27, old for a rookie. He would up having nine solid years for the Red Sox, but is not the thing I would want to see for our young players. If Papelbon and Pedroia are ready, damn the torpedoes, and get them into action.

[seabeachfred]

I'll be down in Fort Myers from March 26-31 and by that time the team ought to really have taken shape. I really hope we see Papelbon in the starting rotation by then. The guy has earned the right for a spot and it is time to start getting our young players into the lineup, and by that not wait until they are 27 like Youkalis, or way back when they did the same to Frank Malzone back in 1957. He was 27, too, and should have been in the bigs at least two years before.

[riverside sluggers]

Potential for early changeup

Wakefield may fill second slot

By Chris Snow, Globe Staff | February 25, 2006

 

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Most February talk is premature and speculative, but it's fun for that same reason, and yesterday, Terry Francona went down that road when asked how he intends to slot his two potential staff aces. The Red Sox manager indicated he might put Tim Wakefield between Curt Schilling and Josh Beckett in the rotation to give hitters a change of pace.

 

''There's a lot of validity to that," Francona said. ''We've given that a lot of thought." That would effectively make Beckett the team's No. 3 starter. This plan, however, presupposes that Schilling will be ready (he's definitely willing) and able to start Opening Day and reassume his title of ace.

 

Other indications are that Matt Clement would be the #5 starter, with Wells or without Wells in the rotation. I believe its a good way of easing him in. Along with the fact, "projected" he wouldnt be starting that much against Toronto in the beginning of the season. Lets face it, the Blue Jays are grinning from ear to ear when Clement is on the mound. He is owned by them.

--4 games vs Toronto, 0-2 record with an 8.34 ERA

 

Clement in the #5 spot, first 3 starts

---7 games vs Baltimore, 4-0 record with a 3.00 ERA///3 games at Camden Yards, 2-0 record with an 0.90 ERA

---3 games vs Seattle, 1-2 record with a 2.70 ERA///18 games at Fenway Park, 9-4 record with a 4.76 ERA

---4 games vs Tampa Bay, 3-0 record with a 2.53 ERA

 

Wells included

Curt Schilling

Tim Wakefield

Josh Beckett

David Wells

Matt Clement

 

Wells traded

Curt Schilling

Tim Wakefield

Josh Beckett

Jonathan Papelbon or Bronson Arroyo

Matt Clement

[Cityofchampions33]

I think Wells will be traded except that it might turn out that we get crap in return and trade him just so he's happy. I agree with putting Matt in the 5th spot so he faces teams he's more comfortable with, yeah, I hate when the jays face him, and they'll be that much scarier then last year. Except he's probably faced Overbay a ton.

[seabeachfred]

Facts are facts and Clement sucked against the Blue Jays; I can't figure out why he would pitch so well against the Orioles and bomb against Toronto but it is all there. I think when pitchers are continually sent out against teams they can't beat because "it's their turn" managers are just plain stupid and spitting into a roaring gale. Whatever the reason is, if a pitcher cannot pitch well against a team he should not be used against them except in an extreme emergency, and that definately includes Bronson Arroyo against the Yankees.

[MANNYHOF24]

I honestly think that Papelbon should be starting. He is almost 26 years old, what the hell would the sox be waiting for. I say screw Clement he sucked the last 3 months last year, not to mention it is agonizing watching him pitch.

Schill

Wake

Beckett

Papelbon

Arroyo

I know that it will be either Papelbon or Arroyo in the pen, but i dont know why Clement automaticaly has a spot in the rotation, Arroyo was a much better pitcher in september than Clement was.

 

Another reason why Papelbon has to start is that he is just too damn talented for long relief. His only value to this team in the bullpen would be closing but it is off my opinion that Foulke would return to form. We allready have like 4 setup guys, face it Papelbon has to start.

[Anuj09]

I agree, but i think they should really hold on to Wells and trade clement b/c we have Wells for like one more year and in that time we wil have another lefty, Lestor.

 

Projected 06 pitching staff:

 

Schill

Wake

Beckett

Wells

Papelbon

 

Pen :

Lenny D

Arroyo

Riske

Taveres

Timlin

Seanez

Van Buren or Manny Delcarmen

Closer: Foulke