Who will be the sox closer?

[jacksonianmarch]

This is a tough one. Which in house option is best served to be the closer out of ST assuming the sox are not able to acquire one.

[a700hitter]

I don't think you'll know until the last week or so of ST. Piniero will definitely be getting an audition.

[jacksonianmarch]

I don't think you'll know until the last week or so of ST. Piniero will definitely be getting an audition.

 

I hear ya. But as we know, ST is rather useless for the most part. Enrique Wilson won the 2b job with a .400+ average in ST then hit a paltry .220. Jeff Weaver and Kevin Brown were untouchable in ST. I think that ST should only be a showcase for command and stuff. Other than that, nobody should win the closers role based on ST performance. I think you need a bias going in and something significant would have to change that.

 

If I were a sox fan, I'd probably choose Timlin. I dont think Donnelly in a new league and coming off 3 straight declining years is the best option. I feel Timlin could give the sox a 70% save conversion rate, enough to give them the wild card. If they wanna go for the gusto though, Edgar Martinez sure is an intriguing option.

[VA Sox Fan]

I don't think you'll know until the last week or so of ST. Piniero will definitely be getting an audition.

 

 

Agreed! Give it 2 months or so unless they get an official closer. Premature.

[SuperManny]

Yeah I agree, spring training numbers are pretty much useless unless its a rookie and even then its not that telling. I think Piniero will start the season as the closer and it will be his job to lose.

[ksushi]

For now, I would say Papelbon. I would need to be sure that his shoulder would check out and then for sure I'd put him in there. Slide Lester in the 5th spot, or Piniero maybe even though he isn't a very good starter at all, but only if Lester isn't ready and only until he's ready.

 

Otherwise, if we go in-house, if Hansen goes back to using that sinker hes deadly, I'd bet on him winning the job.

[BSN07]

Cox or Hansen. Outside shot of Papelbon with Pinerio/Lester in the 5th spot(Lester 2nd half). Papelbon might be the one tho, he was a little overworked last season and if they make him closer again expect his workload to be less( no pitching three days in a row).

[jacksonianmarch]

Agreed! Give it 2 months or so unless they get an official closer. Premature.

 

welcome back VA!

[ksushi]

I think that ST should only be a showcase for command and stuff. Other than that' date=' nobody should win the closers role based on ST performance.[/quote']

 

I agree and disagree. I don't think the ST stats matter, good or bad, a pitchers command and sharpness is more important than whether or not they are getting K's or outs at all. If a pitcher is up there working on his fastball command, and he gets racked because he isn't moving the ball around or changing speeds, his poor stats shouldn't be held against him. Papelbon last year got racked in ST working on command and took a beating from the fans unfairly. ST isn't about stats, but it is about performance. That performance just doesn't show up on the stat sheet.

 

If I were a sox fan, I'd probably choose Timlin. I dont think Donnelly in a new league and coming off 3 straight declining years is the best option. I feel Timlin could give the sox a 70% save conversion rate, enough to give them the wild card. If they wanna go for the gusto though, Edgar Martinez sure is an intriguing option.

 

Eh. Timlin might be a very good setup guy, but I don't trust him with the closer job. That and Donnelly pitched in the AL, he isn't in a new league. I'd also rather see Delcarmen and Hansen get looks over a guy who hasn't pitched past AA yet. Edgar has a big fastball, but his stuff didn't progress like expected. Hansen has better stuff, better poise and more experience. He is still a 22 year old kid though, I don't like any of our in house options. If I were Theo I would be lighting up Jim Bowden non-stop until I struck a deal for Chad Cordero.

[TGov]

For now, I would say Papelbon. I would need to be sure that his shoulder would check out and then for sure I'd put him in there. Slide Lester in the 5th spot, or Piniero maybe even though he isn't a very good starter at all, but only if Lester isn't ready and only until he's ready.

 

Otherwise, if we go in-house, if Hansen goes back to using that sinker hes deadly, I'd bet on him winning the job.

 

 

Papelbon is a starter... not a closer anymore, its that simple... I said Hansen but I no theres no way hes gonna get the job, Id say Pineiro to be realistic, or Timlin if Pineiro bombs... I heard Taveras' name come up as a potential closer also...

[VA Sox Fan]

welcome back VA!

 

Hey Jackson. Now this is the type of crap thread I would expect at the Globe, shame on you!

 

Players have won and lost jobs in ST. I don't agree that ST is worthless. It at least gives you and idea of who your team will be in April, who stays up as a utility player, who goes down to AAA.

[jacksonianmarch]

Hey Jackson. Now this is the type of crap thread I would expect at the Globe, shame on you!

 

Players have won and lost jobs in ST. I don't agree that ST is worthless. It at least gives you and idea of who your team will be in April, who stays up as a utility player, who goes down to AAA.

 

Aw, come on now VA! Nah, the crap at the globe would have had options listed as Crap 1-10 and a HAHA Red Sox suck ******* mixed in. I find it an interesting question, thats all. If people lose interest it will fall off the page.

[VA Sox Fan]

Aw' date=' come on now VA! Nah, the crap at the globe would have had options listed as Crap 1-10 and a HAHA Red Sox suck ******* mixed in. I find it an interesting question, thats all. If people lose interest it will fall off the page.[/quote']

 

ZZZZZZZZZZ:lol: JK!

[jacksonianmarch]

ZZZZZZZZZZ:lol: JK!

 

YOWZAH. I better liven up my act. Maybe I should do some juggling?

[scaffolds]

Papelbon is a starter... not a closer anymore' date=' its that simple... I said Hansen but I no theres no way hes gonna get the job, Id say Pineiro to be realistic, or Timlin if Pineiro bombs... I heard Taveras' name come up as a potential closer also...[/quote']

 

Don't bet your home mortgage on it.

[VA Sox Fan]

YOWZAH. I better liven up my act. Maybe I should do some juggling?

 

Yeah that or the customary Yank tap dancing....

[VA Sox Fan]

Don't bet your home mortgage on it.

 

 

I'm with you on that scaffolds....

[VA Sox Fan]

From Gammons on line chat today's Globe:

 

watson Peter do you think the Sox will really consider putting Papelbon back at closer? He's to valuable to risk injuring don't you think?

Peter_Gammons I think the risk will be determined in spring training both by Papelbon and the Red Sox medical team. I do not think that he'll go back to the bullpen, but it may end up a necessity

[HeadOfSoxNation]

Am I the only one here that, even if its neccessary, doesn't feel that confident with Papelbon closing this year? Hear me out here...I was watching with all of you last year when he put on that unbelievable display, and I was just as excited about it as all of you were. But, when it got down to crunch time, the kids arm just had just had it. He blew something like 5 of 15 of his last save opportunities, and he was far from the unhittable presence that we saw before the ASB. Now, I know people are going to get all over me and say that this is because his arm was conditioned as a starter rather than an everyday reliever...well, he's been projected to be a rotation starter for this year, how do you think they conditioned his arm this off season? Exactly. To be a rotational starter.

 

I see way too many upsides to this kid to keep him in limbo between the rotation and the closing roll dependant upon the performance of others in Spring Training. Besides the mental aspect, that type of variance can be an absolute death sentence to a young arm. If you ask me, the Sox just plain HAVE to make a decision as to where Paps is going to pitch, and I'm not just talking about for this year. If you want to have him close that's fine, but figure it now so he can start preparing accordingly so we don't have another breakdown towards the end of the season when the games REALLY matter. If you want him in the rotation, that's fine too...but make a decision and stick with it. I couldn't bare to see something happen to his arm and rob us, not to mention him, of his skills in the future.

[Fried Neckbones]

I agree that the organization should decide what to do with Paps, and avoid a Youk-esque situation where he keeps jumping around, doing whatever the organization wants with no seemingly clear plan. I also think he is going to start, but I also think his end of season troubles are not necessarliy indicative of difficulties he had closing. Consider:

 

His first half BABIP was .205. His second half BABIP was .280.

He had one HORRIBLE outing in KC - the series that killed the Sox last year - where he posted an ERA of 27.00 in 2/3 of an inning.

He threw more innings in August, and more multi-inning outings, than in any other month of the season - right about the time that Tek went down and the rotation was being picked off a dartboard in Tito's office. Then his shoulder troubles started and he was done.

 

In short, many of the things that killed his performance down the stretch last year were things that happened to the team, not necessarily to him. All that being said, I still think he should be in the rotation - for reasons of offseason conditioning, firming up his place in the organization, and the thought of a rotation anchored by Beckett, Matsuzaka and Paps for the future makes me almost giddy. :thumbsup:

[jacksonianmarch]

From Gammons on line chat today's Globe:

 

watson Peter do you think the Sox will really consider putting Papelbon back at closer? He's to valuable to risk injuring don't you think?

Peter_Gammons I think the risk will be determined in spring training both by Papelbon and the Red Sox medical team. I do not think that he'll go back to the bullpen, but it may end up a necessity

 

good to see we sent out undercover investigative minx in on the convo 007! Good work, YOWZAH!

[adam123]

For now, I would say Papelbon. I would need to be sure that his shoulder would check out and then for sure I'd put him in there. Slide Lester in the 5th spot, or Piniero maybe even though he isn't a very good starter at all, but only if Lester isn't ready and only until he's ready.

 

Otherwise, if we go in-house, if Hansen goes back to using that sinker hes deadly, I'd bet on him winning the job.

 

I am with you bro .. hansen has a nasty sinker ..but he gotaway from that .. i think its his job to loose .

[castigs850]

i voted hansen i dont follow all to much of our minor leaguers but all i heard last offseason was how spectacular this guy would be for us down the road, i dont see why we should give up on that. piniero would be too bad but from what i know about him he had one or two good seasons got injured and wastn even close to the same guy. just let them go at it in ST and dont be afraid to switch throughout the season if one is inaffective

[RedSoxRooter]

Edit: I should have read the poll...

 

I say Donnally will close out of ST but I say Papelbon is the closer by June with Pineiro going into the rotation.

[Papelbon58]

I think Delcarmen has the stuff to do it, and is the closest of the bunch, with the least use elsewhere and the best choice for more than 1 year.

[a700hitter]

I think Delcarmen has the stuff to do it' date=' and is the closest of the bunch, with the least use elsewhere and the best choice for more than 1 year.[/quote']He got beat like a pinata in September. Everything hit off him was a rope.

[Papelbon58]

I realize that, but he was not alone.

[a700hitter]

But he hasn't shown any consistency to hold down the closer's role.

[mosox]

Papelbon is the only proven closer in this whole group. The odds are against anyone else stepping up and proving they have the skill and balls to throw strikes and get the last three outs. I realize, Papelbon and his agent, and the Sox believe he'll have a longer career by starting, but from the team's point of view in 2007, I'd rather have him helping the Sox win 35-40 games as a closer than 15-18 as a starter. Gammons is right. The Sox will most likely have to reconsider moving Papelbon, this spring. I also thought Tavarez was a good fifth starter last year.

[jacksonianmarch]

good point on Tavares. I think he is getting lost in the shuffle as a rotation option.