What to do with Wakefield

[a700hitter]

Wakefield has been a solid citizen and served many useful roles for the Sox over his long tenure. However, it seems clear to me that since his back problems he can't consistently get the knuckler down in the zone. If all you have is a knuckle ball and you can't get it down, you have nothing. I think he needs to be put out to pasture. What do you think?

[SCM33]

While I have been down on him for a couple of years, I think this is a little pre-mature to just outright release him.

 

Tell him that they do not really have a role with them and ask him what he wants them to do. Maybe he goes on the DL in spring training with phantom injuries and they activate him using ST as a retroactive date when they need him. Releasing him is kind of tough.....hopefully he walks away on his own and doesnt force our hand.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

I love ya Wakefield but your time is done.

[EXman369]

I say give him a try out for long relief in the pen during spring training, i just dont see what the team would do if were in a pinch for a 5 starter since wakefield has always been our man the last 2 or 3 seasons

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

Actually I take that back. Keep him around so he passes Roger Clemens on the all time wins list for the Red Sox

[SCM33]

I say give him a try out for long relief in the pen during spring training' date=' i just dont see what the team would do if were in a pinch for a 5 starter since wakefield has always been our man the last 2 or 3 seasons[/quote']

 

I think a knuckleballer is a waste of a roster spot.

 

If you have enough quality arms, there isnt a need for a long man. Sox rotation/bullpen is now deep.

 

Lester

Laptop

Beckett

Lackey

Dice-K

 

Albers

Atchieson

Bard

Wheeler

Doubront

Okajima (if re-signed)

Jenks

Papelbon

 

thats 13 pitchers fighting for 11, maybe 12 spots.

 

That then brings us to the discussion of "long man". Do we need one? If we do, would Bowden be of more value than Wakefield? Throw those two players in to the mix, and we now have 15 pitchers fighting for 11 or 12 roster spots.

[Keeper]

I say give him a try out for long relief in the pen during spring training' date=' i just dont see what the team would do if were in a pinch for a 5 starter since wakefield has always been our man the last 2 or 3 seasons[/quote']

 

Doubront. Wakefield has had it. Time to hang 'em up.

[Dojji]

Try him as a long man. I don't see the harm, it's not like long men exist to dominate the league with pitching quality.

[BSN07]

Let him finish out the year. He's like the 6th or 7th guy on the BP depth Chart. He's going to eat up meaningless innings. He makes very little money. And given his history with the Sox I would rather he was there then some FA they pick up for one year at the same price. Outright releasing him at this point would be retarded and would make the Red Sox look awful. He makes 1.5M a year. And the ret of the BP is decent. There is just no reason outside of him coming to ST and deciding to retire that he's not in the Sox BP next season IMO.

 

As far as his back goes. He's had some time to rest and won't be called on every 5th day for 5+IP. I'd be surprised if he got 5 IP a week. I don't think his back will have as much of an effect as if he where starting.

[SoxFanForsyth]

I say give him a try out for long relief in the pen during spring training' date=' i just dont see what the team would do if were in a pinch for a 5 starter since wakefield has always been our man the last 2 or 3 seasons[/quote']

 

They had to throw ol Johnny Wholestaff a few times last year.

 

I voted to convince him to retire. Honestly, with the horrendous nature of our bullpen last year, the last thing we need is a 42 year old guy taking up a bullpen spot when he is, more or less, only there if someone gets hurt. That's what our AAA guys are down there for.

 

Doubront made the jump from AA to the MLB last year for spot starts and bullpen help. We've got Kyle Weiland in AAA that could be activated in the event someone gets put on the DL this year, and if it's just one missed start, we can always either 1. Work around the days off and go with a short rotation one time, or 2. Through Doubront - Atchison - Wheeler for 6 innings then assess from there, or even 3. Call up Tazawa for a spot start. The Sox have been really high on him. I'd rather see him than the knuckleball.

 

No offense to Wake. Love what he's done for the team. He just needs to hang it up.

[VA Sox Fan]

Long relief and spot starting. He's style allows for both IMO.

[BSN07]

Besides the Sox are right at the LT limit now from what I have read. If they cut Wake and have 1.5M to spend on a RP, who exactly out there is better then Wakefield at that price? They will be dumpster diving at that point.

 

Only way Wake doesn't finish the year with the Red Sox is if he retires.

[SoxSport]

Wake used to be a closer, and had a couple of good years in Boston in the bullpen years ago. That would seem to be his role, unless he's needed as a spot starter due to injury.

 

It should be clear by now that the Red Sox have a lot of loyalty towards their older players---maybe too much, in my view. They do not unload older players like ballast, as the Patriots have been known to do. I expect Wake will play out his contract, unless he chooses to retire and forfeit a few million dollars (fat chance of that).

[BSN07]

Wake used to be a closer, and had a couple of good years in Boston in the bullpen years ago. That would seem to be his role, unless he's needed as a spot starter due to injury.

 

It should be clear by now that the Red Sox have a lot of loyalty towards their older players---maybe too much, in my view. They do not unload older players like ballast, as the Patriots have been known to do. I expect Wake will play out his contract, unless he chooses to retire and forfeit a few million dollars (fat chance of that).

 

The Red Sox have unloaded plenty of players when their primes where up. Wake, Tek and Ortiz for the most part are the exception to the rule.

[Palodios]

I think they need to be upfront and ask him... how do you want to go out. He's making the 1.5 million either way, but if he returns to Fenway this year, he's going to humiliate himself. He's popular with Red Sox fans now because of what he's done for the team.... but there is a point where we might be calling him Brett Wakefield. We have some good memories old friend-- Do what's best for your legacy, and your team.

[a700hitter]

Actually I take that back. Keep him around so he passes Roger Clemens on the all time wins list for the Red Sox

I would have liked to see him pass Clemens, but as a bullpen long guy and at his reduced effectiveness, it would take several more years. In the meantime, he will be embarrassing himself. I'd rather not witness that.

[Ravenous916]

Actually I take that back. Keep him around so he passes Roger Clemens on the all time wins list for the Red Sox

 

agreed, roger was a prick

[Ravenous916]

who is going to catch wakefield?

[BSN07]

Am I missing something here? Has he pitched since the end of the season? Has anyone seen any evidence to suggest the last 2 months of rest haven't done him some good? Was he photographed in a wheel chair recently and I missed it? Let's wait until ST at least to debate if he can handle the 3-5 IP a week he will most likely be asked to pitch. He's the 6th or 7th guy out of the pen. No exactly pitching high leverage innings here.

[BSN07]

who is going to catch wakefield?

 

Whomever is in the game at the time IMO. He won't be pitching often enough for them to worry about who is picking up the knuckleball behind the plate. He's going to be on mop up duty. They are either going to be up by a lot o down by a lot. Both situations allowing for a few mistakes.SO nothing to fret about.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

I would have liked to see him pass Clemens' date=' but as a bullpen long guy and at his reduced effectiveness, it would take several more years. In the meantime, he will be embarrassing himself. I'd rather not witness that.[/quote']

 

Yeah, I was just messing around haha. He's not that far but I don't see him beating Clemens/Cy Young either. It irks me to see Clemens with the number one spot it'd be nice if it was Wakefield.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

agreed' date=' roger was a prick[/quote']

 

:thumbsup: Even though you didn't join today I haven't seen you post since your join date so welcome to talksox.

[a700hitter]

Whomever is in the game at the time IMO. He won't be pitching often enough for them to worry about who is picking up the knuckleball behind the plate. He's going to be on mop up duty. They are either going to be up by a lot o down by a lot. Both situations allowing for a few mistakes.SO nothing to fret about.

There's no reason to carry dead weight. Sometimes management has to throw in the towel for a guy before he totally embarrasses himself.

[BSN07]

There's no reason to carry dead weight. Sometimes management has to throw in the towel for a guy before he totally embarrasses himself.

 

And what dead weight reliever do you plan on replacing him with for 1.5M? It's not like him being on the roster is keeping them from getting Fuentes or someone of note. If the spot is going to be filled with a low salary mop up man, they might as well let Wake try. If he can't, then they can move on. Thee is just no reason to do it now.

[a700hitter]

And what dead weight reliever do you plan on replacing him with for 1.5M? It's not like him being on the roster is keeping them from getting Fuentes or someone of note. If the spot is going to be filled with a low salary mop up man' date=' they might as well let Wake try. If he can't, then they can move on. Thee is just no reason to do it now.[/quote']Why let the guy embarrass himself? There is nothing left in the tank -- absolutely nothing. I'd rather have Oki back on a 1 year contract.

[BSN07]

Why let the guy embarrass himself? There is nothing left in the tank -- absolutely nothing. I'd rather have Oki back on a 1 year contract.

 

They can still wait until spring to evaluate if he can pitch through the season or not. Who knows, maybe the time off has done a lot for him physically. And again, he's not going to have t go through the riggers of being a SP any more. He's likely to only throw a couple innings a week.

[a700hitter]

They can still wait until spring to evaluate if he can pitch through the season or not. Who knows' date=' maybe the time off has done a lot for him physically. And again, he's not going to have t go through the riggers of being a SP any more. He's likely to only throw a couple innings a week.[/quote']

The rest will not make him any younger. The dude is too old. In addition to the bad back, he has had a partially torn labrum for years. If they wait, they could miss out on Oki who might still have some productivity left. Wakefield doesn't. There's no issue. He's toast.

[BornToRun]

I said bring him in as a mop up guy. The fact of the matter is that we aren't paying him much anyway and we're not gonna throw him in a one run game against New York or anything like that. The guy does what he's asked. He volunteered and took a beating in game 3 in 2004 and pitched 3 scoreless in game 4. The guy's done alright out of the pen before and he could also serve as a spot starter in case of injury. It's nice to have that depth. I say give it a shot, see what happens.

[Dojji]

I'm actually swayed by a700's argument to a point. If the FO thinks Okajima would sign for Wakefield money to be our other lefty, I think they kinda have to go get him at Wakefield's expense. He's a better gamble from a quality perspective. I mean if they think Oki's toast that's one thing, but if he's got some bullets left, go get Oki.

[mvp 78]

See how ST works out (injuries/effectiveness) and give him a roster spot if others falter. If everyone else remains healthy and look good, he gets released before the season.