Question about Papelbon

[He Hate Me]

I missed the Papelbon saves gravy train in my fantasy squads. I thought Foulke was keeping it warm for Hansen and that Papelbon would be in the rotation sooner or later.

[ORS]

He will be in the rotation in the future, but with 5 established starters going into the season, they decided to use him in the BP until he had a spot. This was due to his BP performance at the end of last year. Couple that with Foulke's lack of innings in ST and need for a little work, and voila, Papelbon closes games to begin the year. I don't think this is a long-term role for him though (provided Foulke continues to get better and better, which he has thus far).

[elsrbueno]

Long term, Papelbon is definately a starter in the minds of the Sox' front office. Like ORS said, the need for the team right now is as a closer because he's dominant, and Foulke pitched 3 times in Spring Training.

 

Theo and the trio (I think) are counting on Foulke to return to form this season and become the closer, which will open the door for Papelbon to be a spot starter or one of the best setup men in the game.

 

Come 2007, he's a starter for sure with Wells and potentially Schilling (isn't he only signed for one more year?) gone.

 

Papelbon will make far more relief appearances this season than starts unless someone gets injured.

[ORS]

Long term, Papelbon is definately a starter in the minds of the Sox' front office. Like ORS said, the need for the team right now is as a closer because he's dominant, and Foulke pitched 3 times in Spring Training.

 

Theo and the trio (I think) are counting on Foulke to return to form this season and become the closer, which will open the door for Papelbon to be a spot starter or one of the best setup men in the game.

 

Come 2007, he's a starter for sure with Wells and potentially Schilling (isn't he only signed for one more year?) gone.

 

Papelbon will make far more relief appearances this season than starts unless someone gets injured.

Schilling's '07 option became guaranteed when they won the WS.

 

Curt Schilling: 2-Year EXTENSION worth 25M signed after being trade from ARI in Nov. 2003- + the deal includes a vesting option for 2007 based on Red Sox winning WS between 04-06- + the total value of the deal can rise up to 37.5M- + receives 2M raise if Sox win WS- + all performance bonus money is paid to specific chairities- + if he cannot sell ARI or NE(if traded) homes the Red Sox must buy them at the appraised price- + receives personal luxury box at every home game he starts- + receives 50K bonus for All-Star Game start- +100K bonus for All-Star seldction- will make 12M in 04 and 12.5 in 05- + WITH RED SOX WINNING WS in 2004, his 2005 salary rises to 14.5M and his 2007 option worth 13M becomes GUARANTEED (in total guaranteeing him 15M extra than orignal value)- + Bonuses he has earned: 400K for 2nd place in 2004 Cy Young Voting Agent: Jeff Borris Service Time: 14.134

NOTE: WS clauses are illegal by MLB rule, but officials did not catch the clause is Schilling's contract till after the trade and it was allowed to stand

 

mlb4u.com

[kreinbihl34]

I jumped on it the day after the draft. I was surpised no one picked him up.

[ORS]

I jumped on it the day after the draft. I was surpised no one picked him up.

Are you talking about the draft for Fantasy League #1 on Yahoo that SOTKs is running?

[TheRivernator]

The question about Papelbon is "how can you extend him back to starter after he is a closer for X amount of games?" It will take a young kid like Papelbon a long time to get back to starter form, and that will mostly be an organizational call as they dont want to hurt his arm. The MLB on XM people were discussing his situation yesterday and that was their point. If they decide to convert him back, he might have to be demoted to rebuild his stamina, and right now he is just too important to the club to lose him for a month of stength building...

[ORS]

The question about Papelbon is "how can you extend him back to starter after he is a closer for X amount of games?" It will take a young kid like Papelbon a long time to get back to starter form, and that will mostly be an organizational call as they dont want to hurt his arm. The MLB on XM people were discussing his situation yesterday and that was their point. If they decide to convert him back, he might have to be demoted to rebuild his stamina, and right now he is just too important to the club to lose him for a month of stength building...

Not if Hansen is stretched out and ready to come up by then.

[TheRivernator]

Not if Hansen is stretched out and ready to come up by then.

 

Are they considering turning Hansen into a starter? Overall, Hansen is better suited as a closer because he has 2 pitches mainly, while Papelbon has 3, making his arsenal more versatile for a 6 inning performance. Hansen, IMHO is the closer of the future. Papelbon is the horse of the future, I think they would do themselves a major disservice if the reverse the two...

[ORS]

What I'm saying is, if Hansen is stretched out and ready to go (they aren't turning him into a starter, at least not yet, just working him in multiple innings to help refine secondary stuff), then he can replace Papelbon in the BP when he needs to go down a level to get stretched out.

[TheRivernator]

What I'm saying is, if Hansen is stretched out and ready to go (they aren't turning him into a starter, at least not yet, just working him in multiple innings to help refine secondary stuff), then he can replace Papelbon in the BP when he needs to go down a level to get stretched out.

 

I see. I was under the impression that Hansen was a year away. The question in that case is, can Hansen in 2006 adequately replace Papelbon in the pen while he stretches himself out?...

[ORS]

I see. I was under the impression that Hansen was a year away. The question in that case is, can Hansen in 2006 adequately replace Papelbon in the pen while he stretches himself out?...

I don't think he's a year away. He would have made the big club this year if there weren't some capable pitchers filling out the BP. Now, it remains to be seen whether or not those capable pitchers actually perform, but having Hansen start in the minors gave them depth. I don't see why he couldn't effectively set up, which is what he'd be doing if Papelbon was sent down to get stretched out. Of course, none of this happens if Foulke doesn't return to form since Papelbon will be the closer this year and would get stretched out next offseason.

[elsrbueno]

I don't think he's a year away. He would have made the big club this year if there weren't some capable pitchers filling out the BP. Now, it remains to be seen whether or not those capable pitchers actually perform, but having Hansen start in the minors gave them depth. I don't see why he couldn't effectively set up, which is what he'd be doing if Papelbon was sent down to get stretched out. Of course, none of this happens if Foulke doesn't return to form since Papelbon will be the closer this year and would get stretched out next offseason.

 

I think Papelbon's in the bullpen for the duration of the season UNLESS there's a major injury. With Schilling-Wake-Beckett-Clement-Wells in the rotation already there's no room for him. There are options (DiNardo, Alvarez) for an emergency spot start on short notice.

 

Hansen's in AA right now, so he's at least half a season from being a regular contributer. You'd assume that he'd need to spend some time in AAA before coming up, but like ORS said-- there's no reason to rush him at this point. He is depth as he works on getting acclimated to professional baseball.

[Sizzlin22]

Does anybody know why they are keeping Hansen down in AA because he clearly has the talent for AAA.

[jsinger121]

Does anybody know why they are keeping Hansen down in AA because he clearly has the talent for AAA.

 

He is in AA ball because he can work on his pitches there and no one will care unlike triple A where the competition is greater.

[TheRivernator]

He is in AA ball because he can work on his pitches there and no one will care unlike triple A where the competition is greater.

 

not really. AA is where the best prospects usually lie and also, after having an unsuccessful MLB tenure last yr, they probably just want to let him get his legs under him....

[kreinbihl34]

Are you talking about the draft for Fantasy League #1 on Yahoo that SOTKs is running?

 

If thats TalkSox League then yes I am.

[CrespoBlows]

not really. AA is where the best prospects usually lie and also, after having an unsuccessful MLB tenure last yr, they probably just want to let him get his legs under him....

 

Yeah, I'm sure that's breaking his heart tremendously.

[ksushi]

Yeah, I'm sure that's breaking his heart tremendously.

 

I didn't really understand your post but I think your probably being sarcastic. I could be wrong, no sarcasm of my own. But, rivernator makes a solid point. AA is usually where the best prospects are. AAA isn't much a learning league. AAA is the testing ground for rebounding vets, and prospects who make quick pit stops on their way up. Sometimes a player who is blocked by another (andy marte by chipper jones last year) will also play in AAA. AA ball is where the good prospects are. A promotion to AA is a big deal. If Hansen were demoted to pawtucket I would have been surprised. AA makes more sense.

[ORS]

If thats TalkSox League then yes I am.

You picked Papelbon in the 7th round, not the day after the draft. Check the draft results on the league page. Everyone thought you picked him too early, and given what we knew at the time, we were right. There was no indication that he'd be closing games by the end of the first series. In other words, you got lucky. It's OK to admit it.

[CrespoBlows]

I didn't really understand your post but I think your probably being sarcastic. I could be wrong, no sarcasm of my own. But, rivernator makes a solid point. AA is usually where the best prospects are. AAA isn't much a learning league. AAA is the testing ground for rebounding vets, and prospects who make quick pit stops on their way up. Sometimes a player who is blocked by another (andy marte by chipper jones last year) will also play in AAA. AA ball is where the good prospects are. A promotion to AA is a big deal. If Hansen were demoted to pawtucket I would have been surprised. AA makes more sense.

 

I'm not sure I do either.

 

I misunderstood his post. I thought it said, "get his head together," but I re-read it.

 

You guys are right. Good point by both you guys.

[HeadOfSoxNation]

The question about Papelbon is "how can you extend him back to starter after he is a closer for X amount of games?" It will take a young kid like Papelbon a long time to get back to starter form, and that will mostly be an organizational call as they dont want to hurt his arm. The MLB on XM people were discussing his situation yesterday and that was their point. If they decide to convert him back, he might have to be demoted to rebuild his stamina, and right now he is just too important to the club to lose him for a month of stength building...

 

 

If I'm not mistaking, Paps was a closer in college, then a starter in the minors, now being conditioned as a temp closer again, and then he's going to go back to a starter role. I don't think rebuilding his stamina is going to be as hard as someone older, but it's still kind of risky. I think Paps goes out with a closer mentality every time he gets the ball though, he's gotta get guys out. That's why he's been so dominant. I hope he can keep it up. Dude is a blast to watch.

 

It might be a pseudo-blow to his psyche if he has to go down to AAA to rebuild his stamina, especially after having kicked so much ass in the Bigs. I hope he's mature enough to understand the reasoning behind it. I think he is.

 

It would be fun to see him in Pawtucket when they come to Syracuse. I've got all kinds of plans when the PawSox come to town.

[kreinbihl34]

You picked Papelbon in the 7th round, not the day after the draft. Check the draft results on the league page. Everyone thought you picked him too early, and given what we knew at the time, we were right. There was no indication that he'd be closing games by the end of the first series. In other words, you got lucky. It's OK to admit it.

 

Are you talking about the same league... what is your screen name?

 

Also I wasn't evem there for the draft

[riverside sluggers]

Papelbon's current closer song is "Glory Days" by Bruce Springsteen, haha. He was quoted as wanting a song that was more closer-ish. Though it did get everybody in the stands to sing along with it when Paps was headed to the mound.

[ORS]

Are you talking about the same league... what is your screen name?

 

Also I wasn't evem there for the draft

You said it was the Talksox league, and in the league I'm in there is a team called kreinbihl34, go figure. BTW, my team name is J-Omega.

[TheRivernator]

If I'm not mistaking, Paps was a closer in college, then a starter in the minors, now being conditioned as a temp closer again, and then he's going to go back to a starter role. I don't think rebuilding his stamina is going to be as hard as someone older, but it's still kind of risky. I think Paps goes out with a closer mentality every time he gets the ball though, he's gotta get guys out. That's why he's been so dominant. I hope he can keep it up. Dude is a blast to watch.

 

It might be a pseudo-blow to his psyche if he has to go down to AAA to rebuild his stamina, especially after having kicked so much ass in the Bigs. I hope he's mature enough to understand the reasoning behind it. I think he is.

 

It would be fun to see him in Pawtucket when they come to Syracuse. I've got all kinds of plans when the PawSox come to town.

 

I knew Paps was a closer as a bulldog in Miss. but he has the stuff to be a starter in the majors. 3 plus pitches are hard to find, and the kid certainly proved he could hold up for the innings in the minors and in his few starts in fenway. Hansen on the other hand has 2 plus pitches, and both are so far above his other pitches that it would delay his development if he attempted to develop it more. Also, he has only closed in 4 yrs and closed in the minors last yr. He is the closer of the future, and they are making a mistake by blocking a future CY candidate from taking a rotation spot and then having him block the development of his up and coming closer....

[KeepTheFaith1229]

They're not blocking Hansen. As soon as he's ready he will be the closer.

[kreinbihl34]

My bad it was another league... and why say luck when I look so good for doing it now?

[CrespoBlows]

My bad it was another league... and why say luck when I look so good for doing it now?

 

Because it was.

[TheRivernator]

this diNardo kid is alright....