BeepBeepYoureDumb

He's been on a pitch count in half of the games he's pitched and another was rain interrupted. Honestly, I think they're just trying to maximize his quality innings by giving him a breather. This is absolutely not the most important time of the year. October is the most important time of the year. We're up 7 games to the Rays. That said, if he misses two starts, you're right but I doubt that's the case. Why do people want to hate on Bedard? He's looked great and in his career he's been really really good. Why wouldn't we root for a guy to pull a Chris Carpenter instead of treating the guy like he's got a 6.11 ERA and a face like rocky dennis. He's got all the talent to do it. Since Albers has hit the skids, the pen has looked pretty thin. Agreed on Bard. I think Theo should have brought in a quality arm. Kojji Uehara was had for nothing. That would have been a fine move. He had a 1.72 ERA in 47 innings in baltimore.

Yessir. I remember Jorge Posada talking about him after a playoff game in 05 or something saying that Johan could go from 95 to 75 and that it was "bleeping unfair"

A pitcher made of glass with a bum knee who has yet to miss a start and has a 9 k/9 in 32 innings and a 3.66 ERA since he joined the Sox. Also, our problem isn't RF. Reddick looks like he is bouncing out of his little late season slump. They were never going to acquire a full-time RFer to move Reddick out of RF, they want to give him the chance to make an adjustment and bounce back from his rough patch. Any player who is going to one day maybe have an every day role needs to do that. Reddick is getting his chance. He needs some time to develop but he's hitting .295/.345/.495 to Pence's .310/.360/.488. Why are you whining about that of all things? We even have a well-above average defensive RFer in Drew who hopefully will be ready for action soon. We needed a bullpen arm and they spaced on it and they're not utilizing Bowden or Weiland at all. I'd even say they need to commit Aceves to 7th inning duty and I'm getting annoyed they're not doing so, but thats less of a big deal, he's pitching valuable innings.

Considering the Sox haven't gone into a season with Wakefield as a plan A since '09 and Miller has been even worse, I think its pretty unlikely that they go into a season with Wake or Miller penciled into the rotation. If you think Wake/Miller would be a better option than a healthy Bedard, you're beyond help. If you think it will just be the more cost effective/likely move, want to explain why? Like I said, it's been a little while since Wake has been in the rotation out of ST and for the past two years he's been a back up plan. Miller has never proven he can go out of the rotation in the majors. Not sure why anybody thinks the Sox would go with such a bad back of the rotation. Bedard has had an injury history, but this latest bout with shoulder problems is less scary considering he's still pitching in september, looks good and that in recent years there has been a lot of progress in treatment of labrum/other shoulder injuries. Look at Chris Carpenter. Your other two points make zero sense to me. I don't know if you're in the Sox clubhouse on a regular basis but saying he's a malcontent seems pretty much out of no where. He seems happy, says all the right things and Boston is one of his favorite cities to pitch in. So because he isn't the most emotive guy in the world, he isn't a good investment? Lol. What? That doesn't matter at all. It's his style. You'll never see a team field an entire roster of Beckett/Youk/Pedroia types who are fired up emotional competitors. Every guy has their own style. Bedard is a bit more subdued than those guys. What does that have to do with his onfield performance? Speaking of which, he's not elite? When he's healthy, he certainly can be. Erik Bedard's career ERA+ is 120. Compare that to Verlander ( 124 ), Sabathia (125) Cliff Lee (116) and Beckett (116). He is certainly capable of pitching at a very high level I think. Sure, you can say all day that health is a big "if" with him but if thats all you have against considering a Bedard re-signing, thats weak imo. The Sox have access to his medicals and have the opportunity to examine his every pitch under a microscope for the duration of his stay in Boston this season. While his health is a valid question mark, if they feel comfortable investing 8-12 mil per year over two or three years or whatever the case may be, obviously they've seen enough to feel comfortable taking a gamble on his health. I'm ok with that. Since they've got a lot more information at their disposal than we do, if they do pursue him, I'd say they feel confident in his health, and I would have no problem with Bedard on the Sox for the next couple years. There aren't going to be a lot of better options. Lackey has proven to be a bottom of the barrel 5th starter at this point with the potential to get back a bit closer to his career norms. The other three guys we know are complete locks, beyond that, there really isn't a good option for SP within the organization. Nobody we can count on for slightly above average or solid production over 175 - 200 innings. Maybe Bedard has that in him. I'm not 100% on the re-sign Bedard bandwagon, but there isn't a compelling argument for letting him walk.

Is this thread actually just being started now? I've got some really bad news for you guys if any of you are sublime fans.

I love that little wave-off by Beckett at the end of the inning. I missed Josh F. Beckett. Nice to see him back. Maybe he can get his close friend Jon F. Lester to drop by more often too.

Don't mean to nitpick - and I haven't read the whole thread yet so I might be piling on too - but he did strike out 235 batters with an ERA+ at 129, so almost 30% above average the year before the trade. He contended for a Cy in his first year with the Mets. He was in less decline than Schilling was when he got him and he was a must-have for our championship hopes in '04. Had we got Johan in '08 I think we'd regard him similarly. We were one arm away that year. edit: translated to english

Daisuke was pitching well that year. He was great against the Rays in the playoffs too. Johan, Lester, Dice-K in the playoffs would have been lights out. Coco in CF wouldn't be too bad either, he played amazing defense.

lol

thats been gone over with bright neon spray paint.

But how do we know for certain after one terrific season that Ellsbury is an every day star? That's part of the question too. He's made great strides this year and is an exciting player, but I think an elite SP could potentially be a more important pieces of the championship puzzle. It won't happen, but fun to think about.

Whether or not Wake is here next year probably doesn't matter. They're not going to give Wake a spot in the rotation out of spring training. They haven't since '09. If he's back, he'll be the same thing he was this year: a plan B or C. Bedard could definitely be a solid plan A if he can stay on the field. I love what I'm seeing from him. He's had some hard luck since coming over too. He's due for BABIP to smile on him and make happy things happen.