Is it time to panic?

[kreinbihl34]

Oh and don't forget Paps. Hopefully he'll be in the rotation next year. A Beckett, Paps, Lester rotation could be a great one for about 6-10 years, if we keep um.

[SCM33]

Oh and don't forget Paps. Hopefully he'll be in the rotation next year. A Beckett, Paps, Lester rotation could be a great one for about 6-10 years, if we keep um.

 

Listening to Papelbon speak at the AS game, it seems as if he wants to close, and would rather close than start. Honestly, Iwould be shocked if Papelbon were in the rotation next year. He could probably do it, but hes been so successful as a closer im not sure I'd move him.

[riverside sluggers]

Im not saying its time to panic, every team has their problems, but im not so sure bringing in another guy going on 40 at the expense of a prospect makes much sense. That being said, our FO must make it a priority to get younger in the rotation next year, I guess it helps Boomer is heading out, but even next year we will be loaded with older guys anchoring the pitching rotation.

 

I wouldnt say it would be a load of older guys anchoring the rotation next season. As it stands right now Schilling & Wakefield would be the only veterans. Clement is also signed through next year but... does anyone really expect the Sox to keep him around??

[a700hitter]

Personally, I think the Sox are built for a 7 game series. They go through ups and downs, but when the rotation lines up, the ups are way way up. All you need in the playoffs is a good 1-4 in the rotation. You don't need that 5 spot that has been giving the Sox trouble, which is why I don't think moving youth for someone like schmidt is a great idea right now. You could move less important pieces and get a good enough # 5 in return. No one great, but someone who could bring stability to the table

I might agree with you if Beckett becomes more consistent, but as things stand today, this team will have difficulty making th eplayoffs, and they are built to lose in the first round.

[BoSox21]

the closer is the strength of the pitching staff so far this year by far so why would we mess with that? we could have 5 aces on the staff but it means s*** if the bullpen can't hold leads

[ksushi]

I might agree with you if Beckett becomes more consistent, but as things stand today, this team will have difficulty making th eplayoffs, and they are built to lose in the first round.

 

Wrong, if anything the Sox are built to succeed in the playoffs better than the regular season. Line up the pitching and we have depth of the bench to go with a stellar defense and a good run scoring offense. How are we built to lose in the first round?

 

I'm counting on Beckett being his usual second half self and improving on a season that so far has been disappointment. I'm counting on less jams from Lester.

 

I'd love to hear why we are built to lose in the first round.

[a700hitter]

Wrong, if anything the Sox are built to succeed in the playoffs better than the regular season. Line up the pitching and we have depth of the bench to go with a stellar defense and a good run scoring offense. How are we built to lose in the first round?

 

I'm counting on Beckett being his usual second half self and improving on a season that so far has been disappointment. I'm counting on less jams from Lester.

 

I'd love to hear why we are built to lose in the first round.

Because the Sox only have one reliable starter--- Schilling. Beckett is leading the universe in dingers and Wakefield's knuckler is such a wild-card that it is not reliable. You can't count on Beckett having a strong second half or Lester getting in less jams. Those are hopes and "ifs." If you run your team based on hopes and "ifs" You will almost always be disappointed. Right now,the yankee rotation is stronger one through five and one through three. The White Sox pitching rotation is also stronger. The Sox don't have a top of the rotation 1 thru 3 that is reliable and that can dominate. That's why I think they are built to lose in the first round if they make it at all. Do they have a chance to advance? Yes, they do, but Vegas will not have them as the favorite to advance through he playoffs.

[BoSox21]

every single team is loaded with "ifs". thats why they play the games. The team that wins the World Series is whoever can put it all together in september and october and I think the Sox have the talent to go all the way if they can put it all together

 

pop in a tape of the '03 World Series to see what Beckett can do in the playoffs

[ksushi]

Yeah, I mean really, Josh Beckett doesn't worry me too much. I know he can pitch. He isn't going to be a 4.5 - 5 ERA guy for long.

[Jon_Papelboner]

You better believe it's time to panic. Yankees 1/2 behind and coming on strong.

[Jon_Papelboner]

Yeah, I mean really, Josh Beckett doesn't worry me too much. I know he can pitch. He isn't going to be a 4.5 - 5 ERA guy for long.

That's what I thought about RJ.

[Papelbon58]

Beckett has had spectacular starts in Fenway other than the last one

He is a second half guy who has proven he can come up big in the playoffs and clutch situations. If we are panicking about anything, it should definitely not be Josh Beckett.

 

Our pitching is still more solid than the Yankees at the moment and as long as we can make it to the playoffs, guys will step it up from there.

[BoSox21]

im not that worried cause the Sox have all the tools to be an elite team, and they are. They just had a bad series. Hopefully playing KC will get the guys a chance to get their confidence back

[BoSox34]

Many fans are worried about Beckett and they shouldn't, he is a good 2nd half pitcher and has a good postseason career under his belt. He has had some rough starts but we have to wait it out with this guy, he can't be any worse than he has been in some starts this season. Look for a strong rebound against KC this week. I expect Theo to acquire a SP by the deadline which should also help and Seanez could be replaced with a good bat off the bench. So at this point, we as Sox fans should just relax, enjoy the playoff push, and wait to see how Beckett pitches this week and what Theo does on July 31.

[SCM33]

Many fans are worried about Beckett and they shouldn't, he is a good 2nd half pitcher and has a good postseason career under his belt. He has had some rough starts but we have to wait it out with this guy, he can't be any worse than he has been in some starts this season. Look for a strong rebound against KC this week. I expect Theo to acquire a SP by the deadline which should also help and Seanez could be replaced with a good bat off the bench. So at this point, we as Sox fans should just relax, enjoy the playoff push, and wait to see how Beckett pitches this week and what Theo does on July 31.

 

 

He also hasnt taken his yearly trip to the DL, which im sure is right around the corner.

[ksushi]

That's what I thought about RJ.

 

RJ and Josh Beckett are two totally different stories. Josh Beckett is 26 and has his whole career in front of him... RJ is not 26 and should have probably retired a year ago. I don't know what they have to do with each other.

[riverside sluggers]

RJ and Josh Beckett are two totally different stories. Josh Beckett is 26 and has his whole career in front of him... RJ is not 26 and should have probably retired a year ago. I don't know what they have to do with each other.

 

Also

RJ is being paid $17 million this season to be their ace

Beckett is being paid little over $4 million to be the Sox's #2 guy