The Red Sox's closer

[scaffolds]

I posted back about a month and half ago that the talk in the baseball scouting community was that Jonathan Papelbon would be the Red Sox closer when the bell rings in April first. That reality may be getting closer.

[jacksonianmarch]

Josh Papelbon?

[adam123]

that kid has no experince .. i dont know if that wold be wise i would go with hansen first

[scaffolds]

Sorry correction, Jonathan Papelbon.

[Cocos Disciples]

that kid has no experince .. i dont know if that wold be wise i would go with hansen first

 

Not only does he have no experience, he has no future.

[Sizzlin22]

Give Hansen the ball, as I said before putting Papelbon back in the put could be detramental to his health, not good.

 

We took a risk last year with Papelbon and look how that turned out. If Hansen works on his control in ST the kid could be deadly.

[jacksonianmarch]

you have to give a closer at least 5-10 tries before you either settle on him or dump him. If Hansen of last yr shows up, that is 5-10 losses and even with how strong the yankees will be in the regular season, that will ensure you will be fighting for the WC.

[jacksonianmarch]

apparently it was a joke.

 

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/features/column.aspx?sport=MLB&columnid=127&articleid=27800

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

If Jon Lester has a great spring training...that will make the decision very difficult.

[TGov]

Im not sure they would put Lester as the closer, I think even if he does have a great ST they will still have Lester move back into the majors at a slow pace, just to be cautious...

anyway, they wouldnt have Lester close, he's a starter...

 

He may be move into Schilling's spot if they dont get a deal done for next year...

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

Im not sure they would put Lester as the closer, I think even if he does have a great ST they will still have Lester move back into the majors at a slow pace, just to be cautious...

anyway, they wouldnt have Lester close, he's a starter...

 

He may be move into Schilling's spot if they dont get a deal done for next year...

 

Sorry for not making myself clear...I didn't mean Jon Lester would close.

 

If he has a good enough spring training he may retake his spot in the rotation and Jonathan Papelbon taking over the closer spot once more. One has to wonder how much better Papelbon would be in the rotation over a healthy Jon Lester. Maybe a couple more wins but for the most part I think they are comperable. Jon Lester was pretty solid until he started dealing with some injury issues toward the end of the season. Do I think he could use time in AAA? Absolutly....but again I'm saying "if" he has a very solid spring training...it should be considered.

[BSN07]

Papelbon said hes healthy enough to close. He said the shoulder should be a none issue. If they did resume with him as closer then his workload would be cut. Only 1 inning nights and probably they would keep an eye on any back to back games. He wouldn't be closing every night so someone else would still have to step up into the part time closer gig.

 

1. Schilling

2. Beckett

3. Matsuzaka

4. Wakefield

5. Lester/ Pinero/ whoever

CL- Papelbon

 

Thats a good rotation with an ace in the bullpen, and I'm sure NY fans like Jackson would admit that that would make there overall pitching staff in the bullpen way better.

 

I don't care what Papelbon's role is on the team just as long as he does well, whether it be 35+ saves, or 15+ Wins and 200 innings.

[BSN07]

The thing with Lester is he thinks he can win a spot in the rotation. Hes only a couple of pounds under his playing weight and he thinks he has all his strength back. If so thats awesome, but like most others I don't want to rush him. But if he prooves he is ready then I think it would be great to get a south paw into the rotation. Hopefully his velocity will be back up in the mid 90's like it had been.

 

 

As far as Hansen as the closer, I doubt it. He would have to have an unbelievable spring. He is most likely going to start the season in AAA were he needs to be. Like I have said before, Hansen,MDC,Hansack and a few others are fighting for one spot on the team. I think MDC will win it and that leaves Hansen starting in AAA.

[jacksonianmarch]

Papelbon said hes healthy enough to close. He said the shoulder should be a none issue. If they did resume with him as closer then his workload would be cut. Only 1 inning nights and probably they would keep an eye on any back to back games. He wouldn't be closing every night so someone else would still have to step up into the part time closer gig.

 

1. Schilling

2. Beckett

3. Matsuzaka

4. Wakefield

5. Lester/ Pinero/ whoever

CL- Papelbon

 

Thats a good rotation with an ace in the bullpen, and I'm sure NY fans like Jackson would admit that that would make there overall pitching staff in the bullpen way better.

 

I don't care what Papelbon's role is on the team just as long as he does well, whether it be 35+ saves, or 15+ Wins and 200 innings.

 

 

I am not sure Lester is ready, that is the issue. Putting Paps back to the closer either rushes Lester or dooms the sox to having Pineiro (one of the worst ERAs in baseball last yr) or Tavarez (a WHIP approaching 1.6 is scary no matter what the ERA was) in the 5 hole. But it also means that every 5th night is an adventure while the other 4 nights should have a semblance of order. Having Paps in the rotation means that every single night there will be an adventure after the starter leaves. Paps in the closers role is better for the team IMO assuming he is healthy enough.

[TGov]

Sorry for not making myself clear...I didn't mean Jon Lester would close.

 

If he has a good enough spring training he may retake his spot in the rotation and Jonathan Papelbon taking over the closer spot once more. One has to wonder how much better Papelbon would be in the rotation over a healthy Jon Lester. Maybe a couple more wins but for the most part I think they are comperable. Jon Lester was pretty solid until he started dealing with some injury issues toward the end of the season. Do I think he could use time in AAA? Absolutly....but again I'm saying "if" he has a very solid spring training...it should be considered.

 

O ok ok, I got ya now... I agree partly, I do think if Lester pitches very well in ST he should be considered as part of the rotation but I don't think Papelbon should close anymore, just from one season of closing he got injured (he did pitch a lot though)... I think they should start Lester in AAA, getting him pitching again and then move him up the Long Relief/Spot Starter (or maybe have a 6 man rotation, Dice-K is use to that, just a thought), and then next season, sadly as it may be, let Schilling go and have Lester come into his spot in the rotation... If all goes well...

[castigs850]

He wouldn't be closing every night so someone else would still have to step up into the part time closer gig.

 

 

i dont think its worth sending paps into the bullpen and weaken the rotation to have him split the closing job with someone else to protect his arm, especially if his arm can stay healthy having his own spot in the rotation

[jacksonianmarch]

The Providence Journal suggests that Mike Timlin is "likely" to fill the Red Sox's closer opening.

 

It seems like mostly speculation, but Timlin has always seemed like the logical choice if no one else emerged. Don't expect an official announcement anytime soon, but it's worth nothing that several sources now consider him the frontrunner. While Timlin looked close to done at the end of last year, it's possible the five months off will allow him to resemble a quality reliever at the beginning of this season.

 

from rotoworld.

 

Looks like Timlin at this point.

[TheKilo]

Ugh. I'd prefer Donnelly but I hope he can get the job done.

[seabeachfred]

He wouldn't be closing every night so someone else would still have to step up into the part time closer gig.

 

 

i dont think its worth sending paps into the bullpen and weaken the rotation to have him split the closing job with someone else to protect his arm, especially if his arm can stay healthy having his own spot in the rotation

 

Thanks Castigs---and can we just shitcan this talk of sending Papelbon back into the closer's role. The doctors have made it clear; pitching and getting up and down and throwing even when he doesn't come in to pitch is going to take a toll on his arm and maybe ruin what could turn out to be a great career. I think it is utterly stupid to take such a chance on this talented young man. Even though I've been on the ledge with our bullpen so far, we have to give it a couple more weeks. At least today in both games the relief pitching was superb. Maybe someone will emerge, but I would like to see someone come in the ninth inning with a lead and blow the opposition away. It hasn't happened yet. ;) ;)

[seabeachfred]

from rotoworld.

 

Looks like Timlin at this point.

 

Jackson, I think what might have tipped off the Red Sox towards Mike was the fact that even though he really struggled the second part of last season, he got a refreshing second win in that Yankee series in September, saving three games for the Red Sox. You do that to you team in their own ballpark and it means there might be something left in the tank.

[castigs850]

from rotoworld.

 

Looks like Timlin at this point.

 

hasnt timlin been injured since like feb 25 or something, so he hasnt even pitched yet. if thats the case, which im almost positive it is, it really says something about our bullpen, and its not positve

[EvilDonut]

Thanks Castigs---and can we just shitcan this talk of sending Papelbon back into the closer's role. The doctors have made it clear; pitching and getting up and down and throwing even when he doesn't come in to pitch is going to take a toll on his arm and maybe ruin what could turn out to be a great career. I think it is utterly stupid to take such a chance on this talented young man. Even though I've been on the ledge with our bullpen so far' date=' we have to give it a couple more weeks. At least today in both games the relief pitching was superb. Maybe someone will emerge, but I would like to see someone come in the ninth inning with a lead and blow the opposition away. It hasn't happened yet. ;) ;) [/quote']

 

If he feels as good as he says, and they watch the innings and games played, would it really be a problem? Even with the iffy 5th starter, were no worse then any other team. The only problem is hoping there still is a save for Papelbon once we get through the bullpen. Has Massachusetts legalized cloning?

[MANNYHOF24]

If he feels as good as he says' date=' and they watch the innings and games played, would it really be a problem? Even with the iffy 5th starter, were no worse then any other team. The only problem is hoping there still is a save for Papelbon once we get through the bullpen. Has Massachusetts legalized cloning?[/quote']

 

Papelbon is going to start this year. There really isn't a question about it, if the Sox wanted Paps to close they would have made it very clear at the begining of ST. I have been saying this all along, Papelbon is more valuable as a starter, I would rather have 200 + than 65 high stress innings where the chance of injury probably doubles.

[seabeachfred]

MANNYHOF, you get no argument from me that Papelbon must be a starter. I just wish a couple or three of our relievers start stepping up and separating themselves from the rest of the bullpen detritus. It would make all of us more optimistic for the coming season.

[jacksonianmarch]

FRED

 

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