Sox planning to bump Wakefield from the rotation?

[riverside sluggers]

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2006/11/this_and_that.html

 

Sox are said to be looking to add another starter along with Matsuzaka, the only plausible of the current 4 Sox starters to go to the bullpen is Wakefield. It couldnt be Papelbon because of the health concerns if he stayed as a closer

 

Theo is set to meet with Adam Eaton who had a 5.12 ERA this past season for Texas and had spent considerable time on the DL.

[Cityofchampions33]

I ehard he was also talking to Justin Speier, whcih would be a big help

[riverside sluggers]

A plus about this would be that when looking for a backup catcher they wont have to ask them if they can catch a knuckleball

[Rdsxmbnt]

I really want to add Spier, hes solid, im not sold on him as the CL but as a set-up man hes probaly the best on the market. I also like the idea of using Wake as a bullpen/long relief/6th option. Hes just getting up in age and we cant rely on him for a full season without a ledgeitimate backup. So wether its signing a mulder, eaton, trade for Jennings or whatever to fill the 5th SP role than thats the best move IMO.

[Cocos Disciples]

I would love Speier.

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2006/11/this_and_that.html

 

Sox are said to be looking to add another starter along with Matsuzaka, the only plausible of the current 4 Sox starters to go to the bullpen is Wakefield. It couldnt be Papelbon because of the health concerns if he stayed as a closer

 

Theo is set to meet with Adam Eaton who had a 5.12 ERA this past season for Texas and had spent considerable time on the DL.

 

I think they were looking at Adam Eaton as a backup rotation starter. He would probably be in the bullpen and be an option should a starter go down. Julian Tavarez is also an option from the bullpen incase we need a starter in a pinch. I believe the Sox also had interest in Barry Zito, Jason Schmidt, and Ted Lilly.

 

I can see Zito or Schmidt but I'd rather have Tim Wakefield in the rotation rather than Ted Lilly or Adam Eaton.

[Cityofchampions33]

I hoenstly think Wakey would be a VERY solid option at closer, just because his knucler would be so different from pitchers prior to him it would be ahrd to get the timing down.

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

I hoenstly think Wakey would be a VERY solid option at closer' date=' just because his knucler would be so different from pitchers prior to him it would be ahrd to get the timing down.[/quote']

 

It would be hard for him to throw consistant strikes as a closer. Perhaps he would be good as a long reliever but he is more valuable than that.

[Cityofchampions33]

Thewre are 2 things Id be worried about with Wake comin out to close: 1) Does he ahve control, and 2) will he be effective i.e. will he serve up rollers that get knocked out farther than most airplanes go.

[yankeessuck013]

I'd like Theo to go after Meche.

[Cityofchampions33]

If we're going to go afetr a second-tier pitcher, then I want Meche as well. However, eaton is a smart move as hell come cheap and could provide Meche -like numbers

[jacksonianmarch]

I think they were looking at Adam Eaton as a backup rotation starter. He would probably be in the bullpen and be an option should a starter go down. Julian Tavarez is also an option from the bullpen incase we need a starter in a pinch. I believe the Sox also had interest in Barry Zito, Jason Schmidt, and Ted Lilly.

 

I can see Zito or Schmidt but I'd rather have Tim Wakefield in the rotation rather than Ted Lilly or Adam Eaton.

 

Aam Eaton will land a starting job in the major leagues. The guy was a solid #2 in SD and had a torn tendon in his finger last yr, which cost him significant time. He is a guy with good stuff and when healthy, he is an innings eater. He is getting up there in age (32 I believe), so he will be looking for a longer term deal and will look to be in a rotation. He would be best served to return to the NL. Trust me on this one, Eaton will NOT accept a demotion to the pen, and the sox would be stupid to spend the 5-7mil a yr it will cost to sign him, if they want to toss him into long relief.

[jacksonianmarch]

Theo is really doing things backwards this yr. After playing poorboy for the past 2 yrs, he is going in with his guns blazing. The Matsuzaka signing could be the boost that they need to have a top 3 of Matsu, Beckett, and Papelbon for a very long time. That is the good part. The bad part is the pen. Thing is, he STILL has done nothing to address the pen. Theo put together a prolific offense in the past. He put together an amazing rotation in the past. But, he has yet to create a great pen in his tenure. The only serviceable pen was in 2004, when the sox pen was anchored by 2 guys who were red sox prior to theo's tenure and the landing of a stud closer. The loss of papelbon in the pen will kill this team if they dont get creative. Adding another starter and demoting Wakefield to the pen is not the answer. Wake is an innings eater who belongs starting. He is the kind of guy who could take a win for the sox and turn it into a loss. At least when he starts, he wont squander opportunities that are handed to him. Instead he will be his own demon, he wont haunt the rest of the rotation by blowing late leads. This is the wrong direction, if he wants to land a starter. He got what he needed, move on to the biggest area to address.

[a700hitter]

Thing is' date=' he STILL has done nothing to address the pen. Theo put together a prolific offense in the past. He put together an amazing rotation in the past. But, he has yet to create a great pen in his tenure. The only serviceable pen was in 2004, when the sox pen was anchored by 2 guys who were red sox prior to theo's tenure and the landing of a stud closer.[/quote']He'll start with getting Speier and that will be a good start.

[jacksonianmarch]

Thing is' date=' he STILL has done nothing to address the pen. Theo put together a prolific offense in the past. He put together an amazing rotation in the past. But, he has yet to create a great pen in his tenure. The only serviceable pen was in 2004, when the sox pen was anchored by 2 guys who were red sox prior to theo's tenure and the landing of a stud closer. QUOTE']He'll start with getting Speier and that will be a good start.

 

Speier isnt the answer. He is a solid MR guy, but he is also aging. 33 yrs old for a set-up man is a tough age. The wear and tear of MR is not something that older pitchers take kindly to. The sox need a closer. Speier could do what timlin did for the past few yrs and give a sub 3 era as a bridge, but he is no closer. He proved that in colorado.

[Cocos Disciples]

Solid MR guy? He's a very good setup man and could close for a lot of ML teams.

[a700hitter]

 

Speier isnt the answer. He is a solid MR guy, but he is also aging. 33 yrs old for a set-up man is a tough age. The wear and tear of MR is not something that older pitchers take kindly to. The sox need a closer. Speier could do what timlin did for the past few yrs and give a sub 3 era as a bridge, but he is no closer. He proved that in colorado.

I said that he would be a good start to building the bullpen. I didn't say that he would be the closer.

[jacksonianmarch]

Solid MR guy? He's a very good setup man and could close for a lot of ML teams.

 

 

just like Arthur Rhodes could have closer for the A's. Just like Dotel could have closed for the A's? Both are good examples of players who were absolutely lights out as MR guys, but were either average (Dotel) or horrible (Rhodes) in the closer's role. Not all relievers can close.

[jacksonianmarch]

then who closes? That is the million dollar ? right now.

[a700hitter]

then who closes? That is the million dollar ? right now.

I'd just be guessing at this point, but Theo is going after a top closer.

[TNS]

I much rather have Wolf than Meche as a second tier option. Meche is a project at this point. He needs serious help from a good pitching coach. Wolf's stuff has returned from Tommy John surgery and he's a much better value than the Lillys of this free agent class. A healthy Wolf is an above average #3 starter (and if he regains his 2002-2003 form he has #2 stuff). He brings far more upside out of the starting pitchers who are in line for smaller contracts. Wolf at something around 3/12 to 3/15 will make whoever signs him potentially look like a genius.

[jacksonianmarch]

I'd just be guessing at this point' date=' but Theo is going after a top closer.[/quote']

 

who? There are no top closers on the FA market and whats worse, the only guys available (Turnbow, Baez, Lidge) are either guys who lost their jobs or should have lost their jobs in the NL last season. Last yr was the yr of the closer. This yr is not.

[a700hitter]

who? There are no top closers on the FA market and whats worse' date=' the only guys available (Turnbow, Baez, Lidge) are either guys who lost their jobs or should have lost their jobs in the NL last season. Last yr was the yr of the closer. This yr is not.[/quote']I could live with Lidge.

[jacksonianmarch]

you could also die with Lidge.

[Cocos Disciples]

I wouldn't mind Lidge. Turnbow is garbage, and Baez shouldn't close.

 

As for Justin Speier, sure others have failed, but this guy has been in the pressure of the AL East facing the Yanks and Sox so he can handle that. He's had a sub 3 ERA 2 straight years in the East. He had 25 holds, 5th in the AL, so even if he doesn't close he's a good setup man, as he has been doing in the past. There's a difference between Middle Relievers and Setup Men IMO.

[a700hitter]

you could also die with Lidge.

I'll take my chances.

[jacksonianmarch]

I wouldn't mind Lidge. Turnbow is garbage, and Baez shouldn't close.

 

As for Justin Speier, sure others have failed, but this guy has been in the pressure of the AL East facing the Yanks and Sox so he can handle that. He's had a sub 3 ERA 2 straight years in the East. He had 25 holds, 5th in the AL, so even if he doesn't close he's a good setup man, as he has been doing in the past. There's a difference between Middle Relievers and Setup Men IMO.

 

Toronto is not pressure unless you have a hockey stick in your hands and a flowing mullet on your head.

[Ray10]

Toronto is not pressure unless you have a hockey stick in your hands and a flowing mullet on your head.

 

LOL. It's sad but true man this city is too obsesed with the Maple Leafs. Anyways Justin Speier isn't a bad reliever he is actually pretty good and he would be a great addition to the bullpen he may not be a closer but he would be a great setup guy for whoever the Sox do have as a closer. Maybe trade for Brad Lidge which I really wouldn't mind seeing. Either way Speier is a guy the Sox need to pursue and add to the pen.

[jacksonianmarch]

I agree that he should be a good SU man. Thing is, he has never saved more than 9 games in his career. The sox have their share of guys who could provide a bridge. Landing Speier would solidify that bridge. But right now it would be a road to nowhere. Also, Theo has always been the guy to throw a bunch of s*** against the wall in the pen and see if it sticks. It seems as if he can meticulously make smart deals for hitting and starting pitching, but he gets ADD with his bullpen and just throws out shotgun offers to the pen guys. Also, he will no longer have the excuse of not having money after the matsuzaka thing. If he goes out and signs Matsuzaka for what amounts to 3 yrs at 45 and then 51.1 in posting and loses quality bullpen arms over an extra mil or an extra yr, then he could cost the team the season right there. A good bullpen is an absolute must in today's game, and theo has yet to prove he can consistently build one.

[Mr Crunchy]

brad lidge??

did you watch this man pitch under pressure??

 

i got whiplash and a case of manic depression watching this guy in houston where they have 2sports

football and spring football

in boston he'll be in contention for the donny moore award by the break