Phillies DO NOT want to trade Papelbon

[Standing Room]

"People would like us to improve our club, but at what cost?" Amaro said. "You have to have replacement pieces if you're going to trade someone like that. And we don't have a guy who I consider a closer on our club other than Papelbon. He's the best we've got and one of the best in baseball, if not the best.

 

"I believe you have to have a closer to win and have success, and I believe in having a [true] closer. Not a closer by committee. A guy who stops the game when you're supposed to win late. We don't have a replacement to do that. ... And I don't see any closer on the market who would be anywhere near as good as Papelbon. I just don't see it. So if you want to win, why would we want to trade a guy like that?"

 

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/9387827/ruben-amaro-jr-says-philadelphia-phillies-no-desire-trade-cliff-lee-cole-hamels-jonathan-papelbon

 

So please stop discussing a trade for him. Thank you.

[Thunder]

I don't want him back. Ever.

[Northern Star]

I don't want him back. Ever.

 

This x 1 million. Let the past stay in the past. Time to look forward.

[Bellhorn04]

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/9387827/ruben-amaro-jr-says-philadelphia-phillies-no-desire-trade-cliff-lee-cole-hamels-jonathan-papelbon

 

So please stop discussing a trade for him. Thank you.

 

Sorry, but this doesn't put it to bed. For one thing we could trade them Bailey for Papelbon. For another, GM's have been known to say one thing and do another.

 

People wouldn't keep yammering about Papelbon if we had one f***ing guy who would step up and do the job as closer. Hasn't happened yet.

[User Name]

So the answer is to trade prospects and take on a bad contract for a position that you can fill from within? And how do we not have "one f***ing guy who can step up and do the job"? Even with Bailey struggling, they have at least three high-leverage arms in the back-end of the pen.

 

The Papelbon trade talk is just mental masturbation to pursue a big name for the back-end of the bullpen.

[a700hitter]

Sorry, but this doesn't put it to bed. For one thing we could trade them Bailey for Papelbon. For another, GM's have been known to say one thing and do another.

 

People wouldn't keep yammering about Papelbon if we had one f***ing guy who would step up and do the job as closer. Hasn't happened yet.

It's clear that many Red Sox fans don't want Papelbon back under any circumstances. They would rather make a run with what we have. The amount of hatred from Red Sox fans for a guy who was consistently excellent for us for 6 years is baffling to me.

[Standing Room]

It's clear that many Red Sox fans don't want Papelbon back under any circumstances. They would rather make a run with what we have. The amount of hatred from Red Sox fans for a guy who was consistently excellent for us for 6 years is baffling to me.

 

This post has zero substance. If Papelbon wouldn't require prospects and $14 million a year, I doubt you'd find many posters who wouldn't welcome him back. It's an issue of cost vs. need. We already have multiple relievers who could close and would cost us nothing.

[Bellhorn04]

So the answer is to trade prospects and take on a bad contract for a position that you can fill from within? And how do we not have "one f***ing guy who can step up and do the job"? Even with Bailey struggling, they have at least three high-leverage arms in the back-end of the pen.

 

I agree that we have several good arms at the back-end. But nobody has really stepped up as closer yet. Bailey may yet do it, but his recent performances are not reassuring.

 

I think there's a choke factor involved in being closer of the Red Sox. There's a lot of pressure on that position.

[mvp 78]

This post has zero substance. If Papelbon wouldn't require prospects and $14 million a year, I doubt you'd find many posters who wouldn't welcome him back. It's an issue of cost vs. need. We already have multiple relievers who could close and would cost us nothing.

 

We can all keep saying this over and over, but some people will just think there's some personal grudge.

 

Also, it's very easy to pick up a closer in the offseason. Why waste prospects when you can just grab one in November? Especially since this bullpen is very strong and there are numerous internal options to put at closer if Bailey gets injured or stinks up the joint.

[a700hitter]

We can all keep saying this over and over, but some people will just think there's some personal grudge.

 

Also, it's very easy to pick up a closer in the offseason. Why waste prospects when you can just grab one in November? Especially since this bullpen is very strong and there are numerous internal options to put at closer if Bailey gets injured or stinks up the joint.

You are on record as saying that you always hated the guy. Other posters have said without qualification that they never want him back on the Sox. When he blows a save for the Phillies, they express joy. Sure sounds like they don't like the guy.

[Bellhorn04]

We can all keep saying this over and over, but some people will just think there's some personal grudge.

 

Also, it's very easy to pick up a closer in the offseason. Why waste prospects when you can just grab one in November? Especially since this bullpen is very strong and there are numerous internal options to put at closer if Bailey gets injured or stinks up the joint.

 

'Numerous internal options' is overstating it a bit. We could put Alex Wilson at closer but I don't think anybody really wants that. I don't think anybody really wants Andrew Miller there either. So there's Tazawa and Uehara, but Uehara can't be overtaxed.

 

So it's Tazawa, or a tag-team of Tazawa and Uehara.

[Standing Room]

'Numerous internal options' is overstating it a bit. We could put Alex Wilson at closer but I don't think anybody really wants that. I don't think anybody really wants Andrew Miller there either. So there's Tazawa and Uehara, but Uehara can't be overtaxed.

 

So it's Tazawa, or a tag-team of Tazawa and Uehara.

 

Bailey, Tazawa, Uehara or Breslow could probably all close. There's nothing magical about closing than a high quality set up man doesn't possess.

[User Name]

I agree that we have several good arms at the back-end. But nobody has really stepped up as closer yet. Bailey may yet do it, but his recent performances are not reassuring.

 

I think there's a choke factor involved in being closer of the Red Sox. There's a lot of pressure on that position.

 

Bailey's going through a rough patch, and nobody else has really been given the chance. As for the choke factor, i think there's a lot of rhetoric involved in that idea.

[User Name]

'Numerous internal options' is overstating it a bit. We could put Alex Wilson at closer but I don't think anybody really wants that. I don't think anybody really wants Andrew Miller there either. So there's Tazawa and Uehara, but Uehara can't be overtaxed.

 

So it's Tazawa, or a tag-team of Tazawa and Uehara.

 

So Bailey (struggles aside), Tazawa, Uehara and the possibility of converting RDLR to an RP with the idea of closing aren't "numerous" internal options?

[Youk Of The Nation]

It's clear that many Red Sox fans don't want Papelbon back under any circumstances. They would rather make a run with what we have. The amount of hatred from Red Sox fans for a guy who was consistently excellent for us for 6 years is baffling to me.

 

I don't hate Papelbon, I just don't want the Sox to spend money or prospects on a guy who has already parted ways with the Sox. It is possible to not want the Red Sox to sign a guy without hating him. I don't want them to offer a contract to Kevin Youkilis either, and he was my favorite player for six years.

[a700hitter]

I don't hate Papelbon, I just don't want the Sox to spend money or prospects on a guy who has already parted ways with the Sox. It is possible to not want the Red Sox to sign a guy without hating him. I don't want them to offer a contract to Kevin Youkilis either, and he was my favorite player for six years.

No need to yell. I wasn't refering to you. Plus, I have already conceded the Papelbon vs. Bailey debate. I gave up hours ago.

[VA Sox Fan]

I don't hate Papelbon, I just don't want the Sox to spend money or prospects on a guy who has already parted ways with the Sox. It is possible to not want the Red Sox to sign a guy without hating him. I don't want them to offer a contract to Kevin Youkilis either, and he was my favorite player for six years.

 

Most of us don't hate Papelbon but his time with the Sox is done. Thank you for 07. Always loved Youk too. And his time with the Sox is done. Still love him.

 

Folks are clueless.

[jacksonianmarch]

The sox are 26th in the MLB in save percentage at 59%. They have blown 9 out of 22 save chances. One of the reasons why this hasn't been a big issue is that the sox are 26th in save opportunities, meaning they are bludgeoning teams when they win rather than a lot of late nailbiters. When you want to see why the Yankees are sticking around, they are 1st in save % at 90%. That is the reason why a clearly inferior team is still hanging around with you is because they take care of business when they get a lead. If the sox had an AL average save percentage, they'd have won 3 more games and theyd be 6.5 games up on NY and 4.5 up on Baltimore right now. If Bailey keeps slumping, the upgrading their pen is a priority. If you got Papelbon, I'd say the sox win 100 games

[Youk Of The Nation]

I think Youk's time with baseball might be done. I wish he could have ended his career in a Red Sox uniform instead of pinstripes.

[VA Sox Fan]

I think Youk's time with baseball might be done. I wish he could have ended his career in a Red Sox uniform instead of pinstripes.

 

Me too. I blame Lucchino and Valentine.

[Youk Of The Nation]

The sox are 26th in the MLB in save percentage at 59%. They have blown 9 out of 22 save chances. One of the reasons why this hasn't been a big issue is that the sox are 26th in save opportunities, meaning they are bludgeoning teams when they win rather than a lot of late nailbiters. When you want to see why the Yankees are sticking around, they are 1st in save % at 90%. That is the reason why a clearly inferior team is still hanging around with you is because they take care of business when they get a lead. If the sox had an AL average save percentage, they'd have won 3 more games and theyd be 6.5 games up on NY and 4.5 up on Baltimore right now. If Bailey keeps slumping, the upgrading their pen is a priority. If you got Papelbon, I'd say the sox win 100 games

 

That's the thing, there is no reason to believe he's going to pitch like he has the last four games. It's only four games. On top of that, Bailey has only blown three of those nine opportunities. The rest of the bullpen is always going to let up some tying runs, no matter how good they are.

[iortiz]

The sox are 26th in the MLB in save percentage at 59%. They have blown 9 out of 22 save chances. One of the reasons why this hasn't been a big issue is that the sox are 26th in save opportunities, meaning they are bludgeoning teams when they win rather than a lot of late nailbiters. When you want to see why the Yankees are sticking around, they are 1st in save % at 90%. That is the reason why a clearly inferior team is still hanging around with you is because they take care of business when they get a lead. If the sox had an AL average save percentage, they'd have won 3 more games and theyd be 6.5 games up on NY and 4.5 up on Baltimore right now. If Bailey keeps slumping, the upgrading their pen is a priority. If you got Papelbon, I'd say the sox win 100 games

Amen.

[Youk Of The Nation]

Me too. I blame Lucchino and Valentine.

 

I don't. Given how injury-ridden he has been of late and how unproductive he has been when he has played most of this and the last season, it's clear he had deteriorated past the point of being a viable starting player. They were right to trade him (though I wish they had received more in return than they did), I just wish he could have signed with literally any team but the Yankees.

[jacksonianmarch]

He signed with the Yankees as their biggest offseason acquisition, hurt us when he played, and now is done for the yr while getting $13 million of the Yankees dollars. I'd say that signing worked out great for the sox

[Youk Of The Nation]

He signed with the Yankees as their biggest offseason acquisition, hurt us when he played, and now is done for the yr while getting $13 million of the Yankees dollars. I'd say that signing worked out great for the sox

 

True, there is always a silver lining. As fans we can always soothe our pain with a reassuring chant of "Yankees suck".

[Standing Room]

The sox are 26th in the MLB in save percentage at 59%. They have blown 9 out of 22 save chances. One of the reasons why this hasn't been a big issue is that the sox are 26th in save opportunities, meaning they are bludgeoning teams when they win rather than a lot of late nailbiters. When you want to see why the Yankees are sticking around, they are 1st in save % at 90%. That is the reason why a clearly inferior team is still hanging around with you is because they take care of business when they get a lead. If the sox had an AL average save percentage, they'd have won 3 more games and theyd be 6.5 games up on NY and 4.5 up on Baltimore right now. If Bailey keeps slumping, the upgrading their pen is a priority. If you got Papelbon, I'd say the sox win 100 games

 

Does this mean with Tazawa, the Sox are a 98 win team? Papelbon's never been worth more than 3.2 wins in any given season, and Tazawa is the better pitcher right now.

[VA Sox Fan]

Charlie Manuel out as Phillies manager.

[rjortiz]

Scapegoat, although the Phillies have performed below expectations.

 

I wonder how long Amaro's leash is?

[VA Sox Fan]

Scapegoat, although the Phillies have performed below expectations.

 

I wonder how long Amaro's leash is?

 

Exactly

[rjortiz]

Although, he did give Delmon Young 291 PA's. At the very minimum, that should require a visit to the psych ward. Amaro signed him, so he should definitely join him.

 

I think he did the right thing by not settling for mediocre talent for Lee, and signing Utley to a contract extension, but they've got a lot of money tied up to a few players. They need a GM that can find low cost players to complement their stars. Amaro doesn't have that great of a track record in that regard.