Battle For the Bullpen

[a700hitter]

The theory with keeping these guys is to buy some time and hope that a couple of them pan out. I just don't think there is any possibility of Albers or Wakefield being productive. I'd cut ties with them and let Aceves and Oki start the season with the big club. If they don't pan out, they'll need to look elsewhere. Wakefield and Albers are not depth, unless you are measuring garbage.

[Dipre]

Wakefield's done, cut him. But they may be able to get something out of Albers.

[a700hitter]

Wakefield's done' date=' cut him. But they may be able to get something out of Albers.[/quote']I just don't see any major league pitches from Albers. I haven't seen a lot of him, but he is not impressive at all, except that he is overpaid.

[Dipre]

Good velocity and sink, but no way to get lefties out. I assume they think they can correct that if they're trying to keep him around.

[The Celtbot]

I thought I read that Albers was a long reliever, don't we already have that in Wakefield? Yes, Wake is there more for insurance in the starting rotation, but I would think Doubront would take that role once he's healthy again. Any timetable on when he will be back?

[SoxSport]

Looks like all the right moves. You know both Aceves and Okajima will pitch in Boston again, probably before June. The way Tito goes through relievers, they need a couple on standby in Pawtucket.

[VA Sox Fan]

Red Sox recall Okajima

 

Posted by Peter Abraham, Globe Staff April 18, 2011 08:34 AM

The Red Sox have recalled lefthanded reliever Hideki Okajima from Triple-A Pawtucket and optioned Felix Doubront down.

 

Okajima appeared in five games for the PawSox. His line: 5.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K. He last pitched on Saturday and should be good to go today if needed.

 

The return of Okajima gives the Red Sox a true lefty reliever and one-batter specialist type than they had in Doubront, a starter who was wedged into the role when the Sox dropped Dennys Reyes earlier this month.

 

Meanwhile Rich Hill, who has not given up much of anything from the start of spring training until now (17.1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 5 BB, 17 K), waits for his chance. With Okajima having options, the Sox can move him back and forth. Hill is out of options, so if he comes up he has to stay or be passed through waivers.

[Palodios]

As scared as I am of Okajima pitching, getting Doubront ready to start is more important in the long run.

[SoxSport]

I thought I read that Albers was a long reliever' date=' don't we already have that in Wakefield? Yes, Wake is there more for insurance in the starting rotation, but I would think Doubront would take that role once he's healthy again. Any timetable on when he will be back?[/quote']

 

Wake does not look good so far out of the BP. And he is taking a roster spot which should go to another LHd reliever, or another catcher.

 

What they should do is trade Dice-K, or sell him back to Japan. And cut Wake. Get serious about winning.

[a700hitter]

I heard that Albers is almost ready to rejoin the major league club. When that happens, IMO, Wakefield will finally get his walking papers. He has to be the odd man out. The pen will be:

 

Papelbon

Bard

Jenks

Wheeler

Okajima

Aceves

Albers

[Marty McFly]

You don't just cut Tim Wakefield.

[Jasonbay44]

You don't just cut Tim Wakefield.

 

I agree, if anything they'll probably DL Wakefield with some fake injury.

[a700hitter]

I agree' date=' if anything they'll probably DL Wakefield with some fake injury.[/quote']What injury... senile dementia? There is no reason to keep him around. Depth isn't depth if it can't perform. I think that lesson was learned with Brad Penny and John Smoltz. Wakefield cannot perform at the ML anymore.

[SoxSport]

You don't just cut Tim Wakefield.

 

That's one of their problems.

[Jasonbay44]

What injury... senile dementia? There is no reason to keep him around. Depth isn't depth if it can't perform. I think that lesson was learned with Brad Penny and John Smoltz. Wakefield cannot perform at the ML anymore.

 

Some made up injury, I really really doubt they just straight up release Wakefield. I'm not saying they SHOULDN'T, I really don't care, he isn't playing a big role anyway. But just don't see them releasing Wakefield with how much the organization respects him.

[a700hitter]

Some made up injury' date=' I really really doubt they just straight up release Wakefield. I'm not saying they SHOULDN'T, I really don't care, he isn't playing a big role anyway. But just don't see them releasing Wakefield with how much the organization respects him.[/quote']Can't they just give him a season pass to the booth to visit Don and Jerry?

[SoxSport]

Can't they just give him a season pass to the booth to visit Don and Jerry?

 

Actually, with Wake's guaranteed $3-4 million salary, he can pretty much BUY Don and Jerry, whatever that is.

[a700hitter]

Actually' date=' with Wake's guaranteed $3-4 million salary, he can pretty much BUY Don and Jerry, whatever that is.[/quote']Lol! I was referring to the annouincers, Don Orsillo and Jerry Remy. He can join the announcing team or go in studio for the pre and post-game shows with Tom Carron. At $3-4 million, he is extremely overpaid for what he can bring to the table.

[La Munson]

Lol! I was referring to the annouincers' date=' Don Orsillo and Jerry Remy. He can join the announcing team or go in studio for the pre and post-game shows with Tom Carron. At $3-4 million, he is extremely overpaid for what he can bring to the table.[/quote']

 

I agree, he would be great doing that kind of stuff on NESN.

 

But I think before they suggest he do something like that they should retire his number at the end of the year, he really deserves it. The guy's been with us for 16 years now and even if he always hasn't been great on this team, has always helped it with leadership.

[a700hitter]

I agree, he would be great doing that kind of stuff on NESN.

 

But I think before they suggest he do something like that they should retire his number at the end of the year, he really deserves it. The guy's been with us for 16 years now and even if he always hasn't been great on this team, has always helped it with leadership.

I agree that the Sox should have a day to honor him, but I don't think he meets the criteria to have his number retired,

[Will617]

If Albers has options, I don't see him going to the roster. It seems like the Sox basically threw everyone with options into AAA to start the season, and threw everyone that didn't at the wall to see if anything stuck.

[BSN07]

Can't they just give him a season pass to the booth to visit Don and Jerry?

 

No way. If the bring anyone into the booth with Remy and Orsillo is should be Ecks! I love it when he was in there

 

And as one of the resident "old farts" as you have put it previously, why are you quick to put Wake out to pasture? He's been pitching in blow outs in meaningless innings. It's not like he taking save opportunity's away from Paps. Yes I know he's taking up a roster spot but if the guy wants to gut it through the season and has been around as long as Wake has he should get the chance to do so.

 

I'm sure one day soon you'll be the odd man out and will be having yourself pushed out to pasture and I bet you won't like it one bit

[MNSoxChief102]

I agree that the Sox should have a day to honor him' date=' but I don't think he meets the criteria to have his number retired,[/quote']

 

Yep. If and when Wake gets a HOF nod, he'll have his number retired by the Sox. Other than that, he won't. Pretty simple really.

 

Jim Rice was easily one of the best players to ever don a Sox uni, but his number was only retired once he got the call.

[a700hitter]

No way. If the bring anyone into the booth with Remy and Orsillo is should be Ecks! I love it when he was in there

 

And as one of the resident "old farts" as you have put it previously, why are you quick to put Wake out to pasture? He's been pitching in blow outs in meaningless innings. It's not like he taking save opportunity's away from Paps. Yes I know he's taking up a roster spot but if the guy wants to gut it through the season and has been around as long as Wake has he should get the chance to do so.

 

I'm sure one day soon you'll be the odd man out and will be having yourself pushed out to pasture and I bet you won't like it one bit

I'm not advocating that he be pushed out because of his age. I'd be advocating the same thing if he was 28. He just can't perform up to standards. There just aren't enough garbage innings in a season to justify a spot for him as the team is fighting for a playoff spot. Middle relievers need to hold a game close to give the offense a chance to get back in the game. He can't serve that function anymore.

 

As for me being put out to pasture, if I couldn't do the job anymore, I wouldn't want to continue. In my job, there is no room for failures. I can't field issues at a .970 clip and expect to keep my job. Mistakes cost the company millions. If you make them, you are toast. That's the cold hard truth, and it doesn't matter if you are 30 or 50.

[SoxFanForsyth]

I'm not advocating that he be pushed out because of his age. I'd be advocating the same thing if he was 28. He just can't perform up to standards. There just aren't enough garbage innings in a season to justify a spot for him as the team is fighting for a playoff spot. Middle relievers need to hold a game close to give the offense a chance to get back in the game. He can't serve that function anymore.

 

As for me being put out to pasture, if I couldn't do the job anymore, I wouldn't want to continue. In my job, there is no room for failures. I can't field issues at a .970 clip and expect to keep my job. Mistakes cost the company millions. If you make them, you are toast. That's the cold hard truth, and it doesn't matter if you are 30 or 50.

 

Exactly. The term that should be used for Wakefield is one-dimensional. Your long relief pitcher should be a guy who you can throw 3-4 innings, or he can come in and throw the 7th inning in a tie game or close game. *cough Aceves cough*

 

Wakefield is wasted unless we are cruising or we're getting crushed. And neither of those, nor the combination of those, occur near often enough to justify dedicating a roster spot specifically for that.

[La Munson]

Yep. If and when Wake gets a HOF nod, he'll have his number retired by the Sox. Other than that, he won't. Pretty simple really.

 

Jim Rice was easily one of the best players to ever don a Sox uni, but his number was only retired once he got the call.

 

I think we can all agree Wake has no chance in the hall of fame, he only had three truly great seasons, 1992, 1995, and 2002, and one of those was with the Pirates.

 

It's pretty obvious 2011 isn't going to be added there, the way their using him now is a little degrading, but he doesn't even seem to care. I think he's just happy he's a member of the team and in the dugout during games.

[SoxSport]

They just optioned Aceves, a guy who has pitched well, back to Pawtucket to make room for Albers.

 

At some point, they will realize Wake has to go if they are to get that bullpen to some semblance of order.

[Palodios]

What the heck are they doing with the back end of the bullpen? First they call up BOTH Aceves and Doubront, which messes up getting them stretched out, and now they call them BOTH back down, for two 5+ ERA guys. All while refusing to touch Wakefield.

[Palodios]

So I think based on how the season has gone so far, the bullpen is worth talking about again. It seems to me that while we had originally thought of it as a strength, it has turned into a major weakness, and the strange thing is... it really doesn't have to be a weakness. Instead of worrying about success within the bullpen, the team is worried about depth in the bullpen, and bullpen management has started to seriously hurt this team. They need to make some significant moves soon, because we can't continue to carry 4 relievers whose sole value is mop-up duty.

 

 

Bard had some early season issues, but he's a lock now with 0 ER in his last 10 appearances. Papelbon is baaack. Albers is looking like one of those brilliant offseason moves right now. 0.93 ERA, high strikeouts, lots of success so far. If he hasn't earned 7th inning duty yet, he will soon.

 

Wheeler-- 11.32 ERA. He has averaged about 21 ER a year for the last three years. So far this year, he has 13 ER. What the happened to this guy? Judging by the intermittent use of him, is this an injury? Jenks-- Same situation. Based on past performance, I don't mind waiting these guys out.....

 

But Okajima? He didn't have the stuff to get major league batters out last year, and doesn't look like he does this year either. Wakefield? He had an impressive game against Felix. Can he beat any team other than Seattle?

 

With Atchison/Aceves/Doubront/Bowdon/Hill all waiting in AAA, what is the point of carrying some of these guys? Atchison has allowed 1 ER in AAA all year, and showed he's a competent 6th inning guy last year. Aceves has dominated in the majors this year. What do these guys need to do to get some playing time?

[Station 13]

Bard is a groundball pitcher these days. 3 grounders to a flyball. He has 4 pitch mix. Starter down the road??