Who will be the sox closer?

[kreinbihl34]

Because he sucked while we were still in it.

[ksushi]

He got beat like a pinata in September. Everything hit off him was a rope.

 

The reason why I don't read into that too much was because of the injury in june. He never got his curveball back and without that all he had was the fastball. When all you throw is fastballs, they get racked. Pre-injury, he did well.

[CrespoBlows]

Hansen has incredible stuff, let's see how he does, now that Theo isn't trying him out as a starter.

 

If he sucks, I'd go to Donnelly. Pinerio is going to get absolutely murdered.

[jacksonianmarch]

Hansen has incredible stuff, let's see how he does, now that Theo isn't trying him out as a starter.

 

If he sucks, I'd go to Donnelly. Pinerio is going to get absolutely murdered.

 

the sox are gonna need to be VERY good to beat out the yankees this season. They dont have the luxury of blowing a few games early on a kid who has been has a surprising knack for hitting the sweet spot of the bat.

[VA Sox Fan]

the sox are gonna need to be VERY good to beat out the yankees this season. They dont have the luxury of blowing a few games early on a kid who has been has a surprising knack for hitting the sweet spot of the bat.

 

Yeah, really, w/ that starting rotation, bullpen and line up, the Yanks will be very intimidating. If the Sox lose some games in April, we may as well throw in the towel.

[jacksonianmarch]

Yeah' date=' really, w/ that starting rotation, bullpen and line up, the Yanks will be very intimidating. If the Sox lose some games in April, we may as well throw in the towel. [/quote']

 

It could be a difference of one or two games.

[VA Sox Fan]

It could be a difference of one or two games.

 

Yes it could, but we won't know for sure until Aug/Sep.....

[schillingouttheks]

It could be a difference of one or two games.

 

I know. Looking back on it, it's weird to think that in 2005 if Foulke hadn't blown ONE of those early season saves and actually closed it out, we would have won the AL East.

[jacksonianmarch]

Yes it could' date=' but we won't know for sure until Aug/Sep.....[/quote']

 

but in august or september, you could be looking back on april and thinking, DAMN.

[VA Sox Fan]

but in august or september' date=' you could be looking back on april and thinking, DAMN.[/quote']

 

This is true, a win in April is just as important as a win in Aug/Sep....

but....you just never know. With the Sox not making any moves at the trade dead-line (in 2006) and then the injuries, no amount of wins in April/May could have saved the season. IMO.....:dunno:

[CrespoBlows]

the sox are gonna need to be VERY good to beat out the yankees this season. They dont have the luxury of blowing a few games early on a kid who has been has a surprising knack for hitting the sweet spot of the bat.

 

I don't know who the best option is. Even with the addition of Pinerio, I'm still not in love with this bullpen. I think if Craig Hansen stops pitching like a pussy, and actually challenges hitters with his 98mph fastball, he could be the closer.

 

The Yankees starting rotation is very average, I don't see why I'm supposed to fear this team right now.

[a700hitter]

I don't know who the best option is. Even with the addition of Pinerio, I'm still not in love with this bullpen. I think if Craig Hansen stops pitching like a pussy, and actually challenges hitters with his 98mph fastball, he could be the closer.

 

The Yankees starting rotation is very average, I don't see why I'm supposed to fear this team right now.

I would not be shocked if Bard advanced quickly during the year and ended up playing a significant late inning role by the end of the year.

[HeadOfSoxNation]

the sox are gonna need to be VERY good to beat out the yankees this season. They dont have the luxury of blowing a few games early on a kid who has been has a surprising knack for hitting the sweet spot of the bat.

 

Yea right...the Yankees are going to be good this year? s***..do you have a link for that scoop?

[BSN07]

I would not be shocked if Bard advanced quickly during the year and ended up playing a significant late inning role by the end of the year.

 

A700, I posted that Bard should get a shot at the job awhile back. If he shows he can control his pitches he would be nice to have back there. 100mph is a pain in the butt to hit and he could def. miss some bats with it. He has said he would rather remain a starter, but anything is possible when its the big league club asking you to move.

[jacksonianmarch]

I don't know who the best option is. Even with the addition of Pinerio, I'm still not in love with this bullpen. I think if Craig Hansen stops pitching like a pussy, and actually challenges hitters with his 98mph fastball, he could be the closer.

 

The Yankees starting rotation is very average, I don't see why I'm supposed to fear this team right now.

 

Their rotation is average if they made the playoffs. But in the regular season, against the s*** teams, the blah teams, and the good teams, that rotation can win games when you put it with bullpen and offense.

[jacksonianmarch]

A700' date=' I posted that Bard should get a shot at the job awhile back. If he shows he can control his pitches he would be nice to have back there. 100mph is a pain in the butt to hit and he could def. miss some bats with it. He has said he would rather remain a starter, but anything is possible when its the big league club asking you to move.[/quote']

 

I highly doubt Bard hits the majors this season. Bard still hasnt thrown a professional pitch in the sox minor leagues, so he has a long way to go. Also, he is still being prepped as a starter, so you can forget him coming to the bigs anytime soon. I said before, expect him to spend at least the first half of the yr in A ball (not A+ ball) as a starter. If he stays a starter, the fast track will have him on pace to hit the majors in 2010 (A/A+ in 07, A+/AA in 08, AA/AAA in 09, AAA/MLB in 10). Starters take longer because you need to stretch their arms out and develop 3 or more pitches. As a reliever, you just have to prove you can throw 3 times a week and have two highly developed pitches. Therefore, you can fast track a reliever and get them from A ball to the majors in 2+ yrs. But from what I heard, he is a starter with a plus fastball, one plus offspeed pitch, and an MLB average pitch with spotty command and control for a major league pitcher. If that scouting report is accurate, then it is in his best interest to develop his command and control in the minors before he walks a few guys and the fenway faithful start raining boos on him.

[TheKilo]

Their rotation is average if they made the playoffs. But in the regular season' date=' against the s*** teams, the blah teams, and the good teams, that rotation can win games when you put it with bullpen and offense.[/quote']

 

 

...

 

If they're average in the playoffs, they won't beat good teams.

 

Therefore, they won't beat good teams in the regular season with any consistency.

 

Yea, they'll beat the s*** teams, but so will the Sox.

[jacksonianmarch]

...

 

If they're average in the playoffs, they won't beat good teams.

 

Therefore, they won't beat good teams in the regular season with any consistency.

 

Yea, they'll beat the s*** teams, but so will the Sox.

 

Kilo, take a page out of the last few seasons if you dont believe me. Last season, the yankees won the ALE going away with 3 starters and 2 black holes. There is no doubt that this rotation is an improvement over that. I would say that 1-3 the yankees have #2/3 type pitchers. No aces, no guys who are LIGHTS OUT DOMINANT. But guys who will give a good offense and bullpen a chance to win almost every time out. There are not too many teams (sox included) who have a lights out ace. So, if you wish to call the yankees rotation "average" because they lack a shutdown ace, then I agree. But they are not incapable of beating good teams. It was the consistency that got them to the playoffs. Not the flashy.

[TheKilo]

Kilo' date=' take a page out of the last few seasons if you dont believe me. Last season, the yankees won the ALE going away with 3 starters and 2 black holes. There is no doubt that this rotation is an improvement over that. I would say that 1-3 the yankees have #2/3 type pitchers. No aces, no guys who are LIGHTS OUT DOMINANT. But guys who will give a good offense and bullpen a chance to win almost every time out. There are not too many teams (sox included) who have a lights out ace. So, if you wish to call the yankees rotation "average" because they lack a shutdown ace, then I agree. But they are not incapable of beating good teams. It was the consistency that got them to the playoffs. Not the flashy.[/quote']

 

I think the last 6 seasons are good evidence that they cannot beat good teams.

[jacksonianmarch]

I disagree completely. 2WS trips, an ALCS visit, and 6 playoff appearances means you have to beat someone who is good at some point. Unless you want to consider your 2004 team a bad team, cause we beat you quite a bit that yr. And the yr before, and in 05 too. The one difference these teams had over the yrs is certainly in the pitching department. We havent had any ace style performances in a long time. But we have mostly had consistent starting pitching up until 03. You guys had at least one ace on your staff every yr except 05-06. But the rest of the performances were hit or miss. Consistency is key to make the playoffs. Consistency is key in the playoffs to win a WS. We just havent fixed the second part lately.

[BudLight]

Winter League Update:

 

Rich Garces: El Guapo (The handsome one) lives! The rotund reliever, last seen in the big leagues with the Red Sox back in 2002, finished third in Venezuela with 11 saves. The league hit just .173 against him and he struck out 23 in 23 1/3 innings. He's picked up a win and a save in the playoffs to boot.

[example1]

Kilo' date=' take a page out of the last few seasons if you dont believe me. Last season, the yankees won the ALE going away with 3 starters and 2 black holes. There is no doubt that this rotation is an improvement over that. I would say that 1-3 the yankees have #2/3 type pitchers. No aces, no guys who are LIGHTS OUT DOMINANT. But guys who will give a good offense and bullpen a chance to win almost every time out. There are not too many teams (sox included) who have a lights out ace. [/quote']

 

Matsuzaka will be a lights out ace, my money's on it. I also think Beckett can be a lights out ace but needs to be more consistent and pitch aggressively rather than from his heels as he did for much of last year.

 

Last season's ALE victory was largely due to the Sox hrrible play, not as much the stellar play of the Yankees. You're right, the Yankees have the first 3 spots (Wang, Pettitte, Mussina) are all 2/3 pitchers. Good assessment. That means that any team can beat them on certain days, and good teams can beat them when they play well. Like in the playoffs.

 

In any case, I'd be happy with either team's rotation. I think Wang is subtully very good, Pettitte and Mussina are both B+ pitchers on their good days, and C pitchers on their bad days. Wang seems very consistent. After that there are a fair number of questions, but having 3 solid SPs is a good start.

 

I think the Sox have more pitching candidates who are capable of pitching to that 2/3 ability out of the SP role when you count Papelbon, Wakefield, Lester, Matsuzaka, Schilling, and Beckett. I count 6 CURRENT Red Sox who are capable of pitching at a 2/3, and 2 who I still think can be aces (Schilling and Matsuzaka). Yes, yes, I know Jacksonian that you don't think Schilling is anywhere close to an ace, and I know he's deteriorated over the past 5 years, but he's returning from a serious injury and I saw him regularly throwing into the mid-90s last year. He's still an intimidating force on the mound.

 

I'm pretty optimistic about both rotations but would certainly rather have the Sox rotation from this point forward.

 

 

So, if you wish to call the yankees rotation "average" because they lack a shutdown ace, then I agree. But they are not incapable of beating good teams. It was the consistency that got them to the playoffs. Not the flashy.

[riverside sluggers]

Kilo' date=' take a page out of the last few seasons if you dont believe me. Last season, the yankees won the ALE going away with 3 starters and 2 black holes. There is no doubt that this rotation is an improvement over that. I would say that 1-3 the yankees have #2/3 type pitchers. No aces, no guys who are LIGHTS OUT DOMINANT. But guys who will give a good offense and bullpen a chance to win almost every time out. There are not too many teams (sox included) who have a lights out ace. So, if you wish to call the yankees rotation "average" because they lack a shutdown ace, then I agree. But they are not incapable of beating good teams. It was the consistency that got them to the playoffs. Not the flashy.[/quote']

 

Ditto what example said, youre basically calling Matsuzaka a #2 or 3 guy. Ive got him pegged to eventually soon enough strike fear into opposing teams

[RavenOfProphecy]

I went with Pineiro but I'd have him on a short leash.

[ANiMAL]

as im looking at this poll, i am very suprised at the Craig Hansen votes.... a lot more than i would have expected, it shows that almost a quarter of people think that he'll close next season.... im suprised in that.

[Beckett95]

I think Okajima could be this years version of Saito last year.

[jacksonianmarch]

Again, nobody knows what Matsuzaka can do in america. To peg him as a lights out ace while saying how s***** Igawa is kinda shines of hypocrisy. For this season, Matsuzaka will likely not be a lights out ace, more like a 2, which is fine. He may grow into an ace, but who knows.

[TheKilo]

Again' date=' nobody knows what Matsuzaka can do in america. To peg him as a lights out ace while saying how s***** Igawa is kinda shines of hypocrisy. For this season, Matsuzaka will likely not be a lights out ace, more like a 2, which is fine. He may grow into an ace, but who knows.[/quote']

 

It really doesn't though, because Matsuzaka accomplished a lot more in Japan than Igawa did.

 

Also, the scouting reports bring a lot to the table as well. Those rate Matsuzaka above Igawa too.

[riverside sluggers]

Id say someone is being a little bit to sensitive on us Sox fans taking facts from not glamarous scouting reports on Igawa. Youre acting like we have to think the same as you. Yes father, we cant say Matsuzaka will be a lights out ace while saying Igawa wont make as close to the same impact. You might not admit it but youre getting closer to making a thread entitled "Who will have the better first season?" The Red Sox dont just pay $51 million to talk to him, then added $52 million/6 year contract for someone who might be a #2 pitcher.

[jacksonianmarch]

It really doesn't though, because Matsuzaka accomplished a lot more in Japan than Igawa did.

 

Also, the scouting reports bring a lot to the table as well. Those rate Matsuzaka above Igawa too.

 

Not true my friend. Check the stats. Igawa won 3 SO titles and won 20 games once. Matsuzaka has had great seasons followed by a few marred by injury.