a700hitter

And when is the last time that he put up a full season as a closer. It has been some time. He had a good full season or two as a closer, but it has been some time since he has pitched a successful full season. When is the last time he put up an inning count that hit 50 innings. It's been a while. He needs to prove himself. His cumulative career stats mean nothing, because they are essentially a compilation of partial season stats due to all the time missed for injury. He needs to prove himself as a guy who can take the ball all season long. It's like the debate whether Buchholz is an ace. He sure pitches like an ace when healthy, but aces pitch 200 innings. He hasn"t done that in his career. He has been phenomenal this year, but now we have some missed turns due (o "sleeping injuries" so who knows if he gets to 200 innings this year. One thing is for certain, although Buch hasn't solidified his reputation as an ace, I am light years more confident when Buch is on the hill than when Bailey gets the call. Like Buch has yet to prove he is an ace, Bailey needs to stay healthy and prove that he can still be an everyday closer. If we want to get caught up in the semantics of "proved", let me clarify. While he has proved in the past that he can be a good closer when healthy, it has been several years since he has done the job as a full time closer for an entire season. He has to prove that he can do it again.

Toronto has a lot of talent. They have a very powerful lineup and that will improve when Reyes returns. Adam Lind who looked ready for the scrap heap in recent years is doing a good job for the and they have couple of big boppers. They have talent in the starting rotation. Josh Johnson pitched really well in his last start. When healthy, he is a very good pitcher. Dickey and Buehrle look to be coming out of their funks and they are giving their team a chance to win on their turns. If they have a deficit of talent, it is in the bullpen. I don't know if they can play consistent enough to make a playoff run, but I don"t think they will be doormats either.

He hasn't had a full season in quite some time. His durability is a serious concern.

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.

People act like Bailey was a proven closer when we got him. The facts are that he pitched more than 45 innings in a season only once possibly twice. He pitched well when he was available which was not often. He's been living off the memory of 1 good full season. He's been on the DL twice since we got him and he has accomplished very little for us since he was acquired. In limited appearances last season, he stunk. Right now, he is really struggling. To mention him in the same breath as Mo and Papelbon is completely unjustified. He is closer to the chicken and beer category.. It's an untenable position to defend Bailey's record until he puts up some consistent good production. Since we got him, his production has not been good at all. That is a fact.. According to the press and media, there is a lot of discussion in the Sox organization regarding other options (internal or external). This reflects doubt on the part of the organization that Bailey can get the job done. If the organization has its doubts, how can the fans feel confident when he is on the hill. He has done nothing, zilch, nada to instill confidence in us. If we had Papelbon or Mo struggling like Bailey, the FO would not be focusing on the closing situation, because they would know how the numbers would look at the end of the season. Bailey is not in their class-- not even close. He will be lucky if he has a Kevin Gregg type career.

Predictions of their demise may have been premature.

The Jays have run off 8 wins in a row.

Should we turn off our TVs?

An agenda? A slight? Funny stuff.

The Spurs had the game in their grasp so many times, but they gave it away. They did beat themselves.

Ray Allen sticks it to the Celts fans.

Wow!!

Not so fast.

I put the hex on him ^. He hasn't scored since this post.

He's a so-so closer from Wagner College.

The old guy Duncan can still play.

He did get some good hang time on the helmet.

Who pies Gomes?

DH SWEEP!!! Gome saves Farrell and Bailey!!! Feel a little bad for Doubs.

Nava with another big AB.

Neither would I have blamed him. He had to at least allow Doub to put someone on base before pulling him. He was dominating their lineup.

No worries. He's bound to hit the DL before around mid season.

If he left in Doubs and he lost the game people criticize the manager for leaving him in too long and not using the closer. This way people just blame the closer. He didn't do his job. Farrell insulated himself from most of the criticism by going with the "book" move. How you take out your pitcher with a low pitch count after he has retired 17 batters in a row. f***ing idiot.

1 batter and Bailey throws away a beautiful game by Doubront. It reminds me of a game last year against the Yankees when the pen through away the game.

He's only at 93 pitches and he has had their number. he simply tore through their lineup. This is simply a by-the-book move. The book in this case supplants thinking.