Red Sox acquire reliever

[jacksonianmarch]

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2007/04/red_sox_claim_r.html

 

JD Durbin off waivers from the dbacks. Chances are, the sox will put him on the active roster for one day, then try to pass him through again when Timlin gets reactivated in the hopes of sending him down to AAA. He has a pretty good arm and may be an asset later on.

[CrespoBlows]

http://rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.aspx?sport=MLB&id=3838

 

He gave up 7 runs in 0.2 innings?

 

He's still an upgrade.

[NateGrey]

.. Bobby Jenks written all over him ..

 

[example1]

Any chance the Sox make a run at Lidge to help set-up?

[jacksonianmarch]

Any chance the Sox make a run at Lidge to help set-up?

 

PLEASE DO!!

[example1]

PLEASE DO!!

 

Yeah, I guess I'm not sure one way or the other. Sometimes pitchers just need a change of scene, and Lidge would only need to set-up. If the deal is cheap enough I might take a chance on him, even though he sucks currently.

[riverside sluggers]

What will Sox do with Durbin?

By Nick Cafardo, Globe Staff

It will be interesting to see how things unfold tomorrow at Red Sox opening day. The Sox claimed J.D. Durbin off waivers from the Arizona Diamondbacks this afternoon, and he's currently on a plane coming to Boston.

 

Durbin could be activated if doctors believe that Mike Timlin needs a little more time to rehabilitate his strained left oblique. The feeling would be what's the point of rushing a 41-year-old reliever with an oblique injury in cold weather this early in the season?

 

If Timlin and the doctors feel he's ready to go, the Red Sox have an interesting dilemma. They could make two moves to make sure they keep Durbin (Lefty Javier Lopez is the only Sox reliever with options remaining) or they could turn around and re-designate him for assignment and risk losing him to another team. But the Sox are intrigued by his arm.

 

Before he was shut out because of a nerve problem in his right biceps while at Rochester last season, Durbin could throw 96-97 mph on his fastball. He was a second-round pick of the Twins in 2000 after being the Arizona baseball Player of the year.

 

He's always been a starting pitcher, but the Red Sox feel his live arm could be an asset in the bullpen.

 

The Diamondbacks didn't kick Durbin out because of his poor outing April 4 (7 hits, 7 runs, in two-thirds of an inning vs. Colorado), but because they needed to make a roster spot to purchase the contract of Micha Owings from Triple-A.

 

The Twins wanted to keep him but couldn't get him through waivers. The Diamondbacks also wanted to keep him and outright him to Triple-A if he cleared waivers after the 10-day designated-for- assignment period had run out. But this time Boston stepped in.

[jacksonianmarch]

Yeah' date=' I guess I'm not sure one way or the other. Sometimes pitchers just need a change of scene, and Lidge would only need to set-up. If the deal is cheap enough I might take a chance on him, even though he sucks currently.[/quote']

 

but when a closer gets mindf***ed, it is real hard for them to get it back. That homer by Pujols shook his confidence and now he is questioning himself.

[example1]

but when a closer gets mindf***ed' date=' it is real hard for them to get it back. That homer by Pujols shook his confidence and now he is questioning himself.[/quote']

 

 

I still think he could do better than Kyle Snyder.

[jacksonianmarch]

I still think he could do better than Kyle Snyder.

 

he could, but do you want to give up what would amount to a king's ransom for a mindf***ed guy and hold him to the same standard as Kyle Snyder?

[example1]

he could' date=' but do you want to give up what would amount to a king's ransom for a mindf***ed guy and hold him to the same standard as Kyle Snyder?[/quote']

 

Of course not. I wouldn't advocate paying a king's ransom for Lidge, and I don't think whoever is apraising Lidge's value would say he's worth a king's ransom. If the 'stros wanted that much they should have dealt him over the winter. Now, his value is LOW, LOW, LOW so if he can be had for a decent price I say go for it.

[TheKilo]

The Astros will still want something decent in return.

 

"Mental Issues" aside, this is still a guy who throws high-90s heat and a mid-80s slider. Maybe a change of scenery does him good, but he can still be a valuable arm to the Astros bullpen even if he isn't closing games.

[example1]

The Astros will still want something decent in return.

 

"Mental Issues" aside, this is still a guy who throws high-90s heat and a mid-80s slider. Maybe a change of scenery does him good, but he can still be a valuable arm to the Astros bullpen even if he isn't closing games.

 

Is Hansen and Murphy too much or too little for Lidge at this point?

[jacksonianmarch]

Is Hansen and Murphy too much or too little for Lidge at this point?

 

whoa, way too little. Hansen has very little trade value right now. At least Lidge is a f***ed in the head reliever who had MLB success in the past.

[ORS]

Right now Lidge and Hansen look like the same animal. Reduced velocity on the heat with worse location and less bite on the slider than two years ago. I say keep the younger one since he has more time to fix it. Don't take this to mean I think Hansen will become what Lidge was, but I don't think Lidge will either. I think the old Lidge is dead and gone for good.

[jacksonianmarch]

Right now Lidge and Hansen look like the same animal. Reduced velocity on the heat with worse location and less bite on the slider than two years ago. I say keep the younger one since he has more time to fix it. Don't take this to mean I think Hansen will become what Lidge was' date=' but I don't think Lidge will either. I think the old Lidge is dead and gone for good.[/quote']

 

agree 100%.

[riverside sluggers]

rotoworld

Phillies claimed RHP J.D. Durbin off waivers from the Red Sox.

 

Time to try it again. Durbin, now in his fourth organization in three weeks, isn't ready to help out now, and the Phillies may just be the latest team to try to slip him through waivers. They could send down Clay Condrey to make room, then designate Durbin for assignment when Freddy Garcia comes off the DL on Sunday.

 

Oh well I guess

[seabeachfred]

This Durbin caper reminds me so much of last year's machinations when Theo was using the waiver wire high and low to try and get some pitching on the cheap. He ought to know there are no Papelbons on the waiver list and Durbin has been a proven failure as another pitcher with a good arm and no brains and unable to get batters out--you know, kind of like Snyder, Piniero and that group. Frankly, I think from what I saw in Boston the past week Donnelly, Timlin and Okajima could handle much of the relief work for us. I'm more worried about Varitek and Crisp with the bat that I am our pitching at this juncture.

[jacksonianmarch]

This Durbin caper reminds me so much of last year's machinations when Theo was using the waiver wire high and low to try and get some pitching on the cheap. He ought to know there are no Papelbons on the waiver list and Durbin has been a proven failure as another pitcher with a good arm and no brains and unable to get batters out--you know' date=' kind of like Snyder, Piniero and that group. Frankly, I think from what I saw in Boston the past week Donnelly, Timlin and Okajima could handle much of the relief work for us. I'm more worried about Varitek and Crisp with the bat that I am our pitching at this juncture.[/quote']

 

seabeach, you do know Johan was claimed on a roster "caper" right? Arroyo as well. There are some serious finds on the waiver wire and sometimes you just need to be patient.

[jacksonianmarch]

and as far as your relief being fine, ell, if you only need 1 inning of middle relief every game, then you can have a shitbum there and you'll be fine.

 

To this point, your rotation has been stellar, your offense has been poor but is showing signs and your relief has been inconsistent but enough to get the job done. For us, our offense has been damn good, our rotation has been poor but was improving until they all went on a DL party and our relief had been spectacular until Mo had his annual April gaffe. Neither of our teams have had regular playing time in terms of long stretches of games. The hot hot weather hasnt come yet and the sluggin teams havent come to our parks yet. It starts tomorrow for you guys when you have Toronto and us twice in 10 days and for us when we see Cleveland and then you guys. The pen will see some serious work and you can make a judgement then.

[VaTechV-Tek]

I agree with most of what your saying, but until we get some consistent baseball weather its hard for me to make a final judgement about pitching

[seabeachfred]

seabeach' date=' you do know Johan was claimed on a roster "caper" right? Arroyo as well. There are some serious finds on the waiver wire and sometimes you just need to be patient.[/quote']

 

Once again Jackson you came up with a gem. No, I didn't know Johan Santana came up that way. I guess there is a chance to get a gem that way; it just doesn't seem to happen to us. Look, I'm not complaining because it seems all the teams in the AL have their share of problems but I didn't consider Arroyo to be a great pickup for us when we plucked him off the scrap heap and you don't either unless you think getting an official batting practice pitcher to throw against your Yankees to be a great pickup. Then, again, the way the Yankees smacked Bronson around, I take that back. You loved us getting Arroyo, didn't you?

[jacksonianmarch]

Once again Jackson you came up with a gem. No' date=' I didn't know Johan Santana came up that way. I guess there is a chance to get a gem that way; it just doesn't seem to happen to us. Look, I'm not complaining because it seems all the teams in the AL have their share of problems but I didn't consider Arroyo to be a great pickup for us when we plucked him off the scrap heap and you don't either unless you think getting an official batting practice pitcher to throw against your Yankees to be a great pickup. Then, again, the way the Yankees smacked Bronson around, I take that back. You loved us getting Arroyo, didn't you?[/quote']

 

Absolutely not. We loved facing Arroyo, but in no way shape or form is it good for us to see you guys snag a reliable, innings eatin 4th starter off the scrap heap. You have to forget about the whole winning against your rival. The season does have interesting plots when we play against each other, but the games are won vs the s***** teams in the league. Arroyo was a kid you could assume was going to give you a 200IP 4.5ish ERA performance and in the ALE, that is tremendous.

[seabeachfred]

I agree with most of what your saying' date=' but until we get some consistent baseball weather its hard for me to make a final judgement about pitching[/quote']

 

Well said VaTech. I do think, though, that Red Sox pitchers should get some kuddos for pitching under such conditions. I got back from Boston Saturday night and I had to thaw out. I mean it was colder there than a penguin's ass and I'm amazed at how Beckett, Dice-K and Tim could pitch so well in that cold. I was drinking hot chocolate until it was coming out of my pores. I think we should hold off all questions about how our teams shape up until we strart seeing the sun and a little warm weather.

 

If I had my druthers, we would go back to a 154 game schedule and at least be able to open the season 10-12 days later. It would give us a little more time to get the weather working for us for a change.

[ryanromine]

apart from a new relief pitcher, how about someone to replace tavarez as a starter

[seabeachfred]

apart from a new relief pitcher' date=' how about someone to replace tavarez as a starter[/quote']

 

Ryan, if Lester has not contracted lymphoma he would be our fifth starter today. He is working hard down in the minors and is making great progress with his pitching. Here is hoping he continues to do so and maybe we will be him by the 4th of July or thereabouts.