Should we be worried about Papelbon?

[BoSox34]

In the past 2.1 IP, Papelbon has given up 5 hits, 3 ER, and has two blown saves and a loss. We all saw what happened to Liriano this week, as he went on the DL after possibly being overused. Papelbon is a rookie and has pitched many innings for a rookie closer, any chance his arm is being worn out? I personally he's just hitting a little rut and he'll recover but with so many young pitchers missing starts and being injured, it's enough to raise some eyebrows.

[jsinger121]

i'm not worried. rivera blew 7 saves his first full year closing. I'm not saying he is going to be rivera because he likely won't be but to worry about him is panicking.

[RoyNHSox]

Somebody made a point about how having a different catcher (other than Tek) has had an influence on the young pitchers and I think it applies to Paps. Lopez, Huckaby, Miller, and to a lesser extent Mirabelli don’t have that same relationship that Paps has with Tek. I’m guessing there’s a level of uncertainty that goes through Paps’ mind when he’s pitching to the other guys where he doesn’t have that same comfort level. If you recall early on his first blown save was with Mirabelli catching. Maybe he’s just reluctant to throw the out pitch (the splitter ?) that’s worked when he’s been paired with Tek.

 

So to answer the question, I don’t think it’s a matter of overuse or being worn out or injury. But rather it’s more a lack of feeling comfortable with anyone else but Tek. I think it’s safe to say that Tek brings out the best in the young pitchers.

[mtbykr]

Somebody made a point about how having a different catcher (other than Tek) has had an influence on the young pitchers and I think it applies to Paps. Lopez, Huckaby, Miller, and to a lesser extent Mirabelli don’t have that same relationship that Paps has with Tek. I’m guessing there’s a level of uncertainty that goes through Paps’ mind when he’s pitching to the other guys where he doesn’t have that same comfort level. If you recall early on his first blown save was with Mirabelli catching. Maybe he’s just reluctant to throw the out pitch (the splitter ?) that’s worked when he’s been paired with Tek.

 

So to answer the question, I don’t think it’s a matter of overuse or being worn out or injury. But rather it’s more a lack of feeling comfortable with anyone else but Tek. I think it’s safe to say that Tek brings out the best in the young pitchers.

 

 

 

I think it's more of a "comfort factor" with tek. They trust what he calls and they know he will stop the ball if it's a bad pitch-----much different than lopez! (who i still can't believe we gave up stern for)

[CrespoBlows]

I think it's more of a "comfort factor" with tek. They trust what he calls and they know he will stop the ball if it's a bad pitch-----much different than lopez! (who i still can't believe we gave up stern for)

 

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[RedSoxRooter]

I think his quote from last night was something like "I've just got to learn to trust my stuff more."

 

No worries for me.

[ahhchon]

a blown save is nothing more than a pitcher finally givin up runs. it's going to happen sooner or later. blown saves are blown out of proportion. any pitcher who is filthy can be a closer, which is what papelbon is. but he's not god, he'll give up runs here and there. there is NOTHING to worry about.

 

john

[Rdsxmbnt]

Not worried at all, CLs give up runs like that all the time, this is just the first time its really happened this year so were not used to it

[schillingouttheks]

Nah, not worried a bit. He's the last person we should be worrying about.

 

Actually, I take that back. I worry even less about Ortiz and Manny.

[jacksonianmarch]

If you like to worry about things that shouldn't be worried about, then go ahead and worry.

[Pesky]

I am not worried much. If you really thought he'd keep his ERA at around .5, you're delusional. That's one run every 18 innings.

 

He won't ever be as good as he was the first half of the year, it is just not possible. He is still an elite closer. He isn't going to implode, I just won't be as amazing. He was on pace to set the all time ERA record for 80 innings pitched. You have to realize what he was doing was superhuman.

 

He'll be fine, but don't expect him to finish the season with a sub .8 era.

[noonanberg]

He's fine. Let's not forget almost every time he has the chance to close it's a one run game. NO CLOSER, Gagne, Rivera, whoever, is going to be able to save every one run game. Those are the games that only take one swing of the bat, and if you'll notice that's what usually kills Papelbon. What's it like 3 of his 5 blown saves or whatever were because of a home run? It happens. If the Sox could get a lead bigger than one run more often this wouldn't be a problem. Looking at game 2 of the Royals series, it wasn't even his fault. Why in hell the outfield was that shallow with no outs in the bottom of the ninth is beyond me. That should have been a lead off single at best if the outfield was where it should have been.