BoSox21

personally, id be shocked if the Sox would let the 5th starter be the downfall on this team, one that has clearly been built to make a serious run at the title

its about as intriguing as the search for a closer was but this one seems to be easier to fill

I expect better than .500 records from all 5 starters this season, we have capable guys who can claim than 5th starter spot

of course it opens up a hole but id rather the hole be the 5th starter instead of the closer

the best any team can do is to load up as best they can for the season and then see how things go. and depending on how things go, you do what you can to fix the cracks that inevitably show up over the course of a 162-game marathon id say the Sox fared damn well in the off-season. they spent the money the market required them to spend and addressed their weaknesses

it's not a huge hole. the top 3 guys in the rotation have reasonable shots at having an ERA under 4, Wakefield is always good for something in the low to mid 4 range and the best pretty much every team can hope for from their 5th starter is an ERA under 5. Until Lester can resume a full-time role with the big club, I think Tavarez gives us a decent shot at having a serviceable 5th starter for now. Besides, worst case scenario, a 5th starter is far easier to pick up outside the organization than a closer is The key in all this is the fact that we didn't have a solid closer, a guy who can solidify arguably the most important role in a pitching staff. You can have all the great starting pitching you want, it means s*** if the relievers can't hold the lead

both New York and Boston can offer him the same things now and will offer him the same things in June, it's the Pettitte factor that scares me

Snyder is a sack of s*** but considering Tavarez did well in each start he was given, though it was only a handful, I'd say it's enough to give him a shot at the back end of the rotation And Clemens is the ideal but my gut still says he's going to New York if he does return at all

Red Sox will send Papelbon back to the Bullpen The Boston Red Sox are expected to announce Thursday that Jonathan Papelbon will return to his old job as the team's closer this season, ESPN's Erin Andrews reported. Papelbon had 35 saves and a microscopic 0.92 ERA last season as a closer in his rookie year, but a shoulder problem detected late in the season led the team to decide he would be a starter in 2007. Julian Tavarez and Joel Piniero, both candidates for the closer job, have so far struggled this spring, and Mike Timlin, another closer candidate, will start the season on the DL with a strained oblique muscle. Papelbon's shoulder have lessened, as he has beeen working to strengthen his shoulder. But he won't be asked throw when he's tired and won't close beyond three games in a row, Andrews reported. In the Boston Herald on Thursday, Papelbon voiced his willingness to return to the bullpen. "My door is always open to better a ballclub. That's what it boils down to. If it betters a ballclub, my door is open, let's talk about it, figure it out," Papelbon todl the Herald when asked if he'd consider a return. "For me, I'm going to do what's best for the team. If they go out and get somebody, or somebody finally steps up, and says, 'Hey, I want this role' ... then we go about our business, and everyone's happy. "If not, then we've got to figure something out,' he told the newspaper. "Whether I go back [to the bullpen] or whether I stay starting and wait until the All-Star break, and do something then, we'll have to see. It's not an easy decision." From ESPN.com

I'd like to see Tavarez as the fifth starter for the beginning of the year, he was impressive late last season as a starter

yea I know, I just heard it on The Dan Patrick Show

damn, you posted this a few seconds before I did

The Dan Patrick Show just reported that according to ESPN's Erin Andrews, Jon Papelbon will be returning to the closer role for the Sox until further notice

I'm gonna go with option D: we're screwed either way

ESPN Radio just said that the Sox are inquiring about Scott Linebrink and Brad Lidge too

im also encouraged by his ST outings so far but I also remember that Gabe Gross hit 8 homeruns in ST a few years ago. whos Gabe Gross you ask? exactly.

can anyone tell me how different MLB '07 is from the '06 version? im hoping they're very similar, gameplay-wise, with a few bugs fixed

sweet, im gonna be picking up The Show asap

I fully expect to see the best Curt Schilling can possibly give us this year if only because it is a contract year for him and he is auditioning for that one-year deal, whether it be with the Sox or someone else

Clearly the right thing for the organization is to not commit $14 million to a 40 year old pitcher. If the Yankees want to make that move after this year, then so be it but it shouldn't be held against the organization that they don't want to sign him to an extension right now, and certainly not because of what he did for the team in 2004. if that was the case, Dave Roberts would be our full time centerfielder and Millar would still be our first baseman

nice inning by Donnelly, good to see a middle reliever who can throw strikes

omg, im listening to Don and Jerry doing a Sox game again. im looking at a live boxscore again. wow I missed this. welcome back baseball

I bought it for the first time last season and as long as your computer streams video well, it's a damn good buy. I just bought for the 2007 season as well too I got sick of only being able to see Sox games when they were on Fox or when they were playing the Blue Jays

wow, didn't see that one coming. good news I guess