iortiz

Perfect, got it in my agenda. Thanks Ted.

I haven't had the opportunity to follow the team as I would like this ST, and while this is still ST, IDK what to think.

So, the draft is going to be on April 2nd at 5:00 CT, right?

Lol!

hahaha Pap provided value before/after his contract, numbers are there, go figure. Also Pap is not "any closer". He is special, deal with it.

I think Elk is right on this Kim. Pap already made a case, he earned every penny of that contract, the numbers are there. On the other hand, Kimbrel still has to make a case. IMO he is going to be worthy as well, but we still have to see it.

I remembre Kimbrel messing around with Atlanta & SD sometimes as well but in the end he got the job done as he usual does. He is a 90% SV%+ closer, just like Pap. That's what I like.

Bravo Doji! Just the way I see the thing.

Just as Pap at the time.

Yeah we agree on that, Pap is still an effective, consistent and a durable closer after 11 Y (until his performances show the opposite), thing that is really really hard to find in baseball mostly in relievers, reason why I think he is special, just like Mo. Again, this is the reason he got that contract at the time -- because he was a proven closer, and most important, a closer who still had plenty of gas at the time/still in his prime. Time has given him reason. Numbers are there. Unfortunately the Phillys have been a mess. Pap and few others like him are the gems that a WS contender needs. Imagine Pap in Detroit in those years, I would have bet that they could have won a couple of rings with Pap in their Pen, I have no doubts. Let's see if Chapman, Kimbrel and others can be as consistent and durable as Pap after 11 Y. As I said, Kimbrel seems to be in that direction; following Pap's steps.

Well, I totally agree with this. We need a No. 2 badly, otherwise we are a WC contender at very best.

BL, in the last 2 years Pap has been effective, consistent and durable. The numbers are there. Pap is making what he is making because he proved to post what he is actually posting at the time (when he left Boston). Unfortunately, others have not that privilege (since haven't proved s***) and others are starting to make a case to get what he is making in a Y basis. Hopefully Kimbrel follows Pap's steps in terms of SV% & durability (IPs), just as Pap is following Mo's.

I think that's his AVV contract. Not sure how the 15 M came out.

Oh, so your perception is that Koji get the job done quicklier than Pap, and that's why Koji is more efficient? Well, I haven't followed all the saves that both have posted and probably you are right, but IMO Kim, this is irrelevant as long they get the job done; SV% and stay durable (IPs) (as long Pap is still effective). Since both pitchers are different, the way they get the SVs are different, by definition. Also, I think Pap is making 12 M/Y or something which is not a big deal considering what the Red Sox and other teams have paid for busts, sorry closers, in recent years.

IMO, This rotation is average at best, which is an improvement from what I predicted last year. We still have a big hole at the slot No 2. I don't see an arm taking that spot right now. Hopefully ER and Kelly could be two solid No. 3s. Porcello is at best a No. 4, and I'm being benevolent LOL!, and IDK what to expect from Buch, he is a sea of inconsistencies.

Dozen? I don't think you are following me sk. The thing is that find a different great closer who can post 90% SV%+ & 65 IP+ every year isn't as easy as you are presenting. For instance, look at this team. Aside Koji who was a one-hit-wonder in 2013, this team has been a failure in this regard since Pap departed. Pap, Kimbrel, Chapman and few others are way safer bets to accomplish these metrics, reason why they are not cheap, mostly Pap, who at the time proved consistency and durability as a closer in the ALE after 6 Y of service (and still in great shape) Also, Pap's contract in a Y basis is not that much as you are presenting, mostly in the last couple of years. The debate at the time was the length, since some thought that he was already finished/was going to fail. Guess what, his performance has spoken by itself since he left Boston, and that sk, is out of question.

LOL!, Yes he is, He still save a lot of games, most of them when he is on the mound, actually.

I think you guys are underrating Pap's consistency and durability through 11 Y as a closer. You don't find that in trees, and this is why Pap got that contract which was earned fairly.

Getting the job done for a closer could be translated as SV% and durability (IPs), right? If so, I don't think you are right kimmi.

Aside 2013, Kioji is a nobody as a closer sk. That's the point. i.e He is a one hit wonder in terms of music, you are comparing the beatles with a these days rapper.

Hi sk. I think you are comparing oranges with apples. Pap got what he got for what he posted with the Red Sox in terms of durability and consistency as a closer in the ALE (you don't that find trees), and what the Phillys thought that he could post moving forward at the time. He posted great numbers with the Phillys, numbers that the Phillys expected when he signed with them. BL: He earned every penny of that contract, that's out of question. Also, How many franchises can assamble a BP like TB and having every year a different solid closer? A handful I guess, and the Red Sox are not one of them, by any means since Pap departed. Even some of those TB closers you presented are not great/solid. In other words, How much has this franchise spent in busts, sorry closers, since Pap departed versus vs Pap's contract? I haven't calculated but I bet there's no big difference. Also, Still the last two years you are presenting are not even close, and that's kinda of the point. Pap has been great.

The way I see the thing sk is that he STILL can save you a lot of games. Most of them, actually. That's all that matters to me. This is why SV% & IPs are the metrics I care when I want to choose a closer, mostly after 11 Y of service. I don't care if he saves you most of the times with a low K/9. I don't care if he saves you most of the times with 65 mph pitches. I don't care if he saves you most of the times with a "high" ERA/FIP/SIERA. I don't even care if he saves you with a "low" WAR numbers..... and still some of these and other stats are really great in the last couple of years. BL, I don't care what a closer has to do in order to save a game as long he gets the job done. Period. This is why you pay closers: Save games, regardless how they do it, and this is why closers are special and different to other relievers to me. For example, Look at Taz, he is a great reliever, but he can't close. Papelbon is still one of the best regarding this matter, saving games. In the last two years his SV% are even above his career average and still pitching a lot of innings. Again, consistency and durability. Sk, The question should be: How many closers can post you 65+ SVs with a SV% above 92%? Pap has recently proven that he still can do it. How long is he going to last at this level? IDK, but 3 years ago a lot of people said that he was finished, and look at him, he's like the good wines.

I think you are the only one on this board and out of this, who say that he is "not that good" (whatever that means). He is not good, he is great!. One of the best of all time considering his consistency and durability, and still have gas in that tank. That's out of question. While I like Koji, Kimbrel, Chapman, etc, they simply don't have his track record. Not even close. The numbers are there. Go figure.

Well, this summarize pretty well what I've been saying about Papelbon since I've been in this board. Great post, Doji. Also, Papelbon himself said in 2013 that he was not a fastball pitcher anymore. I remember that he said that he was trying to compensate that with better command/control in his fastball and tunning his other pitches/repertory. The funny thing is that in 2013, "a year of adjustment", he had a "tough year", and still he posted a decent 2.94 ERA. Everybody in that year said that he was finished. Well, after that year, the adjustments seemed that worked out; in 2014 he posted a ridiculous 2.01 ERA and saving 39 games in 66 IP, one of his best years in his career. How long is he going to last at this level? IDK, but trying to compare some names with him after 11 years of consistency and durability as a closer in the ALE, simply doesn't make sense. BTW, for those who say that his contract didn't worth it, the guy has earned every penny, that's out of question. Hopefully Kimbrel follows his steps just as Pap is following Mo's.

I see. Even if you live outside the US like me, MLB.TV only transmits few ST games everyday. For example today they just transmitted 5 games. At least you can watch today's Sox game On the other hand, once the regular season starts, I can watch every game.