4/20 vs Kansas City

[User Name]

Papelbon won in 2007 making league minimum. It's not about how good the closer is, but rather how much money he was making in this instance. Stick to the actual argument.

[BornToRun]

^It's really that simple. A bunch of teams since 2000 have won the series without a high-paid closer. In fact, the Angels (2002) and Cardinals (2006, 2011) won everything with ROOKIE closers.

 

Pretty much this. You do need a closer, and having an elite one is definately a plus but in most cases, it really isn't defensible to pay them 10 or more million per year when you can find adequate production for much cheaper while investing that money elsewhere.

 

That said, Kimbrel is the one guy who I wouldn't paying 10-11 a year and that's because the guy isn't just elite, he's absurd.

[Bellhorn04]

Measuring the 'value' of a closer is actually pretty difficult. The WAR valuations for closers are virtually meaningless, because they are based so much on the number of innings. This really came across for me when I compared the valuations for Brad Lidge in 2008, when he had a perfect season, and 2009, when he had a nightmare season. WAR doesn't assign higher values to high-leverage innings.

[redsoxbeatz]

Great win! Glad to see Buchholz improve to 4-0 even though it's a relatively meaningless stat. Is Buchholz going to compete for the Cy Young this year?

 

Buchholz only allowed one walk through his eight innings pitched. Farrell only had to use Bailey out of the pen so with the double-header tomorrow the BP is well-rested.

 

I am excited for Webster's debut. I see him & Dempster keeping the "3ER or Less by Starters" streaking continuing through Sunday.

 

Three game set versus the Athletics begins Monday. I would not be surprised if the streak ended then (if not Sunday). It's going to be tough enough to play the double-header but then to turn around and take on the fiery A's the next day... that'll be tough. Billy Beane's As have scored almost 100 runs, which is ~30 more than any other team in the majors.

 

Middlebrooks & Drew need to snap out of it! We saw evidence of life from those two today, and Big Papi looks like he's ready to pickup where he left off before his achilles injury. Nava has been really amazing. He's slugging .684 right now!!

 

I am really enjoying watching this team. This is such a refreshment after last years debacle.

 

edit: And, I really hope Farrell would just rotate closers: Hanrahan/Bailey/Tazawa/Koji. No reason he shouldn't.

[italstallianion]

We have him. His name is Kojji Uehara, and all he requires from us is a human sacrifice. I keep saying we should use Andrew Miller, but no one listens to me....

 

 

I think a lot of us would listen to you about sacrificing Miller. Unfortunately nobody that listens to you has any pull with the Front Office.

[italstallianion]

I almost think the Uehara role (middle/late innings, often men on) is a role I'd pay more for quality than the typical 1-3 run lead in the 9th.

[VA Sox Fan]

Diggin' the BTR MOJO!! :thumbsup::thumbsup:

[kapsis21]

Diggin' the BTR MOJO!! :thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

Me too

[NativeBostonian]

Me too

 

Me three?!?!

[BornToRun]

I'm proud to serve as your King, denizens of Talk Sox.

[VA Sox Fan]

I'm proud to serve as your King, denizens of Talk Sox.

 

All Hail King BTR!! :thumbsup:

[Youk Of The Nation]

After reading through this entire gamethread, I have only one comment to make. No, BTR, you are not the only one who loves "Sweet Caroline", despite the uncomfortable pedo-ness of the song.

[BornToRun]

Yay! I'm not alone!

[KCBRUIN]

Awesome win today. Love how the SP is holdong strong so far. We're gonna be competitive this year despite the mainstream media's take.

[italstallianion]

I like Sweet Caroline too. I'll drunkenly sing it in any Boston bar. My Yankee fan makes fun of me about it (the meaning of the song) but then he does the "Yankee RollCall" so I don't think he has any room to judge.

[jung]

That was one of the most enjoyable days of watching baseball I have had in a looooong time. That was a terrific game. Gotta' give KC some credit although they also had Shields going. Be interesting to see how they are in a DH on Sunday.

 

Really all I wanted out of this year was fun baseball games and a team that did not embarrass us. They are giving us at least that much and then some. I have to admit to being hard pressed to come up with a specific regular season game that was better than this one. If I think about it long enough I will likely come up with something. But without putting in any effort to think of another, today's game is very hard to beat. Pal went to today's game. What a terrific game to see at Fenway.

[BornToRun]

Roll call is hands down the stupidest thing in the universe

[a700hitter]

I was on the road today and heard Neil Diamond on the radio singing Sweet Caroline. I thought at first there was some bad feedback from the PA system. Then I thought he was singing along with his own recording. It just sounded weird. What was the deal?

 

Nava has shown unexpected HR power. He has been a huge part of this fast start.

 

I am surprised to hear that Webster will be getting a start tomorrow. I am looking forward to seeing that.

[seabeachfred]

That man is well on his way to becoming a Boston legend.

 

Doj, you're getting to look more and more like a philopher-king. Maybe you or someone else can tell where has his power come from all of a sudden. I remember a granny he hit against the Phils a couple of years back and then no more. And, what only one last season? Now he has four and two of them have won games for us. Maybe it will be the other way around this time. Instead of the pitchers catching up with him as in the two previous seasons, this time he has caught up to them and the experience has made him a very good hitter. Now if only two or three others would go on a tear to make it a little easier on our pitching staff.

 

And anyone for Keji being given a shot at closer? Hanrahan and now Bailey are giving all of us heart trouble.

[RedSoxNC84]

I was on the road today and heard Neil Diamond on the radio singing Sweet Caroline. I thought at first there was some bad feedback from the PA system. Then I thought he was singing along with his own recording. It just sounded weird. What was the deal?

 

Nava has shown unexpected HR power. He has been a huge part of this fast start.

 

I am surprised to hear that Webster will be getting a start tomorrow. I am looking forward to seeing that.

 

Definitely a surprise, here's hoping he'll show us something good tomorrow.

[VA Sox Fan]

I was on the road today and heard Neil Diamond on the radio singing Sweet Caroline. I thought at first there was some bad feedback from the PA system. Then I thought he was singing along with his own recording. It just sounded weird. What was the deal?

 

Nava has shown unexpected HR power. He has been a huge part of this fast start.

 

I am surprised to hear that Webster will be getting a start tomorrow. I am looking forward to seeing that.

 

He kinda showed up and asked if he could sing. It wasn't planned. He was singing along with the original recording. It was terrible and I guess the fans at Fenway liked it and all. I did not. He's old and he sucked.

 

Otherwise, a great game/day/WIN!!!

[jung]

While you would have thought that whole Neil Diamond deal was planned as it turns out, it was a total surprise to the Sox. Diamond showed up and asked to sing in the 8th inning. Apparently he wanted to be part of today's events. But the Sox were not prepared for it and I suspect things went a little goofy cause they were unprepared.

 

It was a surreal kind of day from the very start with the pre-game events and Ortiz proclaiming that "this is our f***ing city" (not bleeped out by NESN). Then the game itself was a gem, a baseball jewel to be treasured surely by all that were there and even those of us able to see the game on TV or listen on radio. One of the best baseball days I can remember for a long time.

[seabeachfred]

It depends on how much you really, really like the taste of antacid.

 

Won't pay for elite relief, don't get elite relief. Simple as that.

 

How did the Orioles come up with Jim Johnson? He was a mediocre starter and long man when someone in that organization suggested they try him as reliever. He then became a shutdown closer and is now one of the best in baseball. Why the hell can't we come up with one again. Hanrahan and Bailey give me the shakes. Could Koji be given a shot at it and maybe Taz? You would think that sooner or later these Perils of Pauline will catch up to us.

[seabeachfred]

^It's really that simple. A bunch of teams since 2000 have won the series without a high-paid closer. In fact, the Angels (2002) and Cardinals (2006, 2011) won everything with ROOKIE closers.

 

Percival was the Angels closer in 2002 and he was no rookie but a five or six year veteran. Other than that your arguments makes a lot of sense.

[FredLynn]

Doj, you're getting to look more and more like a philopher-king. Maybe you or someone else can tell where has his power come from all of a sudden. I remember a granny he hit against the Phils a couple of years back and then no more. And, what only one last season? Now he has four and two of them have won games for us. Maybe it will be the other way around this time. Instead of the pitchers catching up with him as in the two previous seasons, this time he has caught up to them and the experience has made him a very good hitter. Now if only two or three others would go on a tear to make it a little easier on our pitching staff.

 

And anyone for Keji being given a shot at closer? Hanrahan and now Bailey are giving all of us heart trouble.

 

Uehara is not durable enough Fred. They are trying not to even let him go on consecutive days. Bailey will be fine...similar to Papelbon. Not Rivera, but pretty good.

[seabeachfred]

That was one of the most enjoyable days of watching baseball I have had in a looooong time. That was a terrific game. Gotta' give KC some credit although they also had Shields going. Be interesting to see how they are in a DH on Sunday.

 

Really all I wanted out of this year was fun baseball games and a team that did not embarrass us. They are giving us at least that much and then some. I have to admit to being hard pressed to come up with a specific regular season game that was better than this one. If I think about it long enough I will likely come up with something. But without putting in any effort to think of another, today's game is very hard to beat. Pal went to today's game. What a terrific game to see at Fenway.

 

Jung, so far so good as far as the season shapes up so far. I think two things are needed. Three or four of our guys have to start hitting more consistently and we need a closer who doesn't put us in the cardiac ward. How about Koji or Taz?

[User Name]

Percival was the Angels closer in 2002 and he was no rookie but a five or six year veteran. Other than that your arguments makes a lot of sense.

 

Actually you're right.

[a700hitter]

Nava must be eating his Wheaties. He cleared the bullpen with that HR.

[redsoxbeatz]

And it all happened on 420!!!!

[Palodios]

He kinda showed up and asked if he could sing. It wasn't planned. He was singing along with the original recording. It was terrible and I guess the fans at Fenway liked it and all. I did not. He's old and he sucked.

 

Otherwise, a great game/day/WIN!!!

 

I was at the game, and as usual, waves of pink-hatters flooded to the exits in a 1 run game. That being said....

 

I had been anti-Sweet-Caroline for a while, but the tragedy has given it new meaning. Its turned from an obnoxious unrelated sing-along to a piece of Boston pride-- played in numerous baseball stadiums this week as a tribute to the victims in Boston.

 

Neil Diamond flew --out on his own dime-- to be with Boston fans yesterday. Sure, it wasn't the best of renditions, but the Red Sox apparently didn't have a copy of the song without Neil's voice, and its incredibly difficult to beat your own voice-- especially the cleaned up studio version from your own prime.