ORS

Hansack looks good. This kid is completely unproven, but I'd feel better with him as the 5th starter over Tavarez.

Edwin Jackson is flashing a decent slider today.

It's on MLB.TV if you have it.

Gameday

Gom recommends wind-sprints. Every day.

Medical professionals who have completeled their residency and specialize in orthopedics have stated this was the right move. Why am I to believe your brother, a surgical resident, over the specialist? Also, it's very comical that you ridicule someone for using the opinions of others while doing the same. Stop being so hypocritical. If their opinions means nothing, then so does your brother's. Besides, the people I believe are right are certainly more credible and have superior training to your brother. The analogy fits. The muscles of the shoulder help hold the joint together, and the lack of regular rest combined with more intense action for a reliever put more strain on those muscles. This is about stress on the muscle. When the muscle is overtaxed, it will fail, for the sprinter, or fail to do its job, for the reliever. Anyone with even minimal understanding of muscle physiology knows that a muscle is more likely to fail after repeated intense use than it is to fail after regemented and less intense use. The problem here is you are too full of yourself to drop your preconceived notions. I, like you, originally thought relieving was a better way to avoid injury, and it probably still is for most injury concerns, but this one is different. However, I know what I know and what I don't. You define idiocy by sticking to your guns in the face of contrary expert analysis. Oh, I questioned the opinion at first, but the reasoning was cold hard common sense regarding the physiology. So, I accepted that my perceived notion was wrong and moved on. You can't do that because your ego won't allow it. Pity for you.

He maintained his velocity in '05 during his 3 starts after his call-up. In fact those three starts, where he struggled with command, but not effectiveness resulted in his 2.25 starter ERA. According to you, that is struggling as a starter. Quite frankly, when you think that is struggling, and when you can't see the difference in the pitcher he was then compared to now, I'm inclined to think you don't really have a clue. As you keep stating, they don't know he would have been good. That is part and parcel to my point all along. They don't know, and now, they aren't going to find out. This circular argument of yours keeps returning to your opinion, which is worthless when trying to determine what we know. My argument isn't that he will be an elite starter, just that he could be one, and we ought to find out. You'd rather go off your assumptions. That's just not sane or rational. I want to win now, and as such, I see the value of having him in the closers role. I also want them to win the next year and the next year and the next year, ad infinitum. As an elite starter, he could have more value to the team over the long haul. He's a special pitcher. They ought to see just how special he can be.

Four 1's, three 2's, and a 3 in the E-8. Pretty good job by the seeding committee.

Soxfan, how about a name for that someone that is keeping Lester's spot warm? In the little bit I've seen in ST, Matsuzaka has better stuff and control than anyone who was available in the FA market. I have a feeling they've been scouting this guy for a long time and knew this about him well before any of us ever heard of him (and I remember hearing about him in '04). They bid so high because they didn't want to risk losing him, not because they didn't want him in NY.

Everything you mention there is a function of endurance. If he never went to the pen, then the building of his endurance would have continued and we'd be seeing him be able to stay in the low-to-mid 90's for longer stretches. This is exactly why I'm against this move. Another year in pen, and you are right, his long-term future is as a reliever, but that's because it will be too late to get him on track to be a SP during his prime years. We can debate it until we are blue in the face without agreeing, but this is a fact, without finding out the answer the FO is selling an asset short. I know, I know, one in hand is better than two in the bush, but in this scenario, you can go for the two in the bush without losing the one in hand. He can always go back to the pen. After this year, I don't think there's anyway he goes back to the rotation. It's shortsighted.

I agree HHM. Rivera is the best closer, in the modern day definition, of all time. What I find silly is the notion that someone isn't the best because of their SV%. That stat is a function of situation more than anything. The more relevant rates are ERA, WHIP, OPS Against, K/9, H/9, etc. These tell us more about how the pitcher is pitching than SV% does. It is possible for a closer to perform at 100% of save opportunities while still having a 18.00 ERA. It would probably never happen, but it's possible. That possibility renders SV% a bit worthless in my book.

So we throw out all the regular season ones? When I said include the postseason, that meant make it cumulative. You've painted yourself into a corner, I just wonder if your respect for Mo can outweigh your pride?

Why are you throwing all those other stats in there? SV% is all that matters according to you. Even if you throw in the postseason SV% in, Hoffman's is still higher. Two choices, Jacko. Hoffman is better or your standard sucks. I think it's the latter. I'm just trying to get you to admit it.

Jacko, I missed the part where Papelbon is neither starting or relieving. Whichever category he falls in gets a complete, IMO.

This part is what makes it analogous. The starter, like the distance runner, isn't going full bore and gets adequate rest. The reliever, like the sprinter, is putting more intense strain on the questionable body part and doing it without rest. I don't think you know it, but you just agreed with me.

He's not a pure contact pitcher. He's got an 7.5+ K/9 rate in the minors. He just won't overpower anyone with his stuff. Compared to all the other options, he's the one that controls the strikezone best. I think I'd rather have a Paul Byrd type pitcher in the 5 spot than a kid with knock-out stuff but little command.

Read again. He said elite starter. Papelbon, whether or not he was pitching as the 4th pitcher for the Sox, could be an elite starter. We do know if he will be without giving him a shot, and now we may never know.

With Papelbon in the pen, all it takes is one injury to a 40+ y/o pitcher, which is very likely to happen, and then we have 2-holes. Sounds a lot like last year. I still don't like it. EDIT: What they should do is have Papelbon start to start the year. If the other 4 starters are looking good and strong, and the pen sucks, then move him. Now he's eliminated as an option for the year. And, the only pitching prospects that still have some promise are relievers. All the AAA SP are filler. From a strategic standpoint, it would have made more sense to leave the most question marks where you are likely to get the best help if your minor league talent is performing. If Hansen or MDC were looking good, they could have filled a BP hole. I have no faith that any of the AAA SP will ever make me feel confident filling the 5 (or 4 with an injury) slot in the rotation.

It's not believing everything I read. It makes sense if you think about it, but you aren't very good at that. I'll bring up the runner analogy again since it silenced you last time. Stating that it is better for Papelbon's shoulder to close is analogous to stating a gifted runner with a trick hammy should train to be an every-day sprinter instead of a once a week mid-distance runner. Do you counter that notion? I think it perfectly analogous, and equally ridiculous. I know your extensive WebMD.com training will come up with something.

I think the most intriguing option is Hansack. His endurance probably needs a little work, but he brings something to the table that is important, IMO. He pounds the strike zone. He's got good control of 3 or more pitches. It isn't plus plus stuff, but he can put it where he wants. I think this would make him pretty effective pitching to contact, and at a minimum it would make the other team earn it.

Brilliant analysis there. You base this opinion off what? Do you know the man? I have no problem thinking he'll be an adult in making his decision, and your ideas reveal that you clearly are not.