Sox, Papelbon agree to 1 year deal.

[jacksonianmarch]

What has me skeptical is the 95 innings over 3 different leagues. I'll become more of a believer when he can achieve the same success over a workload in AAA where he'll be seen multiple times by hitters. You've seen a lot of this with recent Yankee pitching prospects, particulary IPK. Where guys who didn't get big touting from scouts are rushed up, which utilizes the advantage a pitcher has in first time matchups.

 

And then you have the whole issue of whether or not when a reliever dominates the IL if it means anything. Mmm'bop (Hansen) was stellar in AAA last year.

 

Melancon got his due coming out of college. He was considered a first round talent but slipped due to injury issues. Also, the intention was not to have Melancon get above 90IP out of the pen. The intention was for him to be on a pitch count. Thing is, he dispatched batters so rapidly that he wouldnt hit his 30-45 pitch count until innings 3 or 4. He was not being groomed as a closer with the way they treated him. He was almost being groomed as a long man. Every 3rd day he'd throw multiple innings. I guess they wanted to breed endurance which seemed to have been successful for one yr. Also, Melancon's stuff tops IPK rather easily. IPK, on a good day, tops off in the 92 range while Melancon sits there and has a ton of movement.

[diony]

IPK is an ace in AAA.

[Dojji]

And Melancon is a relief ace in AAA.

[ORS]

Again, I don't care how his stuff relates to the massively overrated IPK. I don't care how he got to his inning total because no hitter saw him enough for familiarity. I'm not saying he's not going to be any good, because I haven't seen him pitch, but his stats need to be taken with a truckload of salt at this point.

[diony]

And Melancon is a relief ace in AAA.

 

Exactly.