The Great Debate: Is Paps our closer in '07?

[ORS]

Starters are much more valuable than relievers. Even if you adjust for leverage, the quality of relievers' innings pitched isn't on par with starters' (equivalent level of performance).

 

The Sox made it to the postseason in '03, '04, and '05 without a dominant closer (Foulke was very good in '04 but not dominant). If the season ended today, they don't make the playoffs with the best closer in the game.

 

The difference between the Sox and Yanks has been Mariano Rivera. But, both teams have had good starting rotations. The O's had a strong lineup, a dominant reliever, and a crap rotation last year and they finished 14 games under .500.

 

Seems pretty obvious to me.

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

Again, it will depend on what moves the Red Sox can do in the offseason. If they can add a starter then they may not need him in the rotation but if they add a good closer...they can move him to the rotation.

 

Trying to determine where Jonathan Papelbon is better utilized is rediculous. We won't know the answer until we see him in the rotation.

 

Its quite possible Jonathan Papelbon could be the best starter in our rotation.