BeepBeepYoureDumb

WHY WON'T IT READ!!?!

Yeah, if he's throwing by early september and they're still sticking to that 3 weeks of rehab, I'm really skeptical whether he could be back for the playoffs. Tough loss if he couldn't be there.

http://cache2.allpostersimages.com/p/LRG/53/5391/1QVJG00Z/posters/dore-gustave-the-mariner-gazes-on-his-dead-companions-and-laments-the-curse-of-his-survival.jpg win plz

lol. well if that's the qualifications for talking about a potential move the Sox might make I'm surprised this forum has posts at all. I guess if we wanted to look at other starters they'd converted to relievers and look for one example where they've changed course and reverted the pitcher back to starting we could say it's possible. I could easily be blanking on an obvious example, but I can't think of any right now - unless you count Schilling's brief stint as closer before he went back to starting in '06. Papelbon, Delcarmen, Bard, and possibly soon Weiland have all made the conversion from starter to reliever off the top of my head. I think theres more. They didn't turn any of those guys back. Doesn't mean they won't, just means there probably has to be a better reason than Dan Bard would like to try it. But who knows whether or not they will, time will tell, my question is how much would it really benefit the Sox? Beckett, Lester, Buchholz and Lackey will be in the rotation next year. What if Bedard pitches a productive and healthy rest of the season. If he could be retained for a 1 or 2 year deal maybe with an option with a decent base salary + incentives, wouldn't you rather have a known commodity in the rotation instead of weakening the 'pen for an experiment?

Could that mean possibly that he's projected to return early sept.? 5th step may be rehab assignment. Otherwise I'd be fairly concerned. If that means he could begin throwing by early sept, we've probably seen the last of clay this season.

Nope, you don't get to dodge my prior post. Glad we agree. Actually, Gagne is the perfect example of why it's risky to hand out big money to relievers. Gagne was an excellent pitcher, with similarly great stuff and probably a deeper repertoire. Before coming to the Sox he was pitching brilliantly. A 213 ERA+ and a ~1.00 WHIP in a better hitters park in the same league. The Sox paid a hefty price in terms of talent to acquire him and his WHIP ballooned to ~1.80 and he was horrendous. Relievers are sketchy at best. Ok, so this doesn't get too tense, let's play a fun game. I'm honestly not trying to have a big pissing contest here or whatever. Anyways, on to the game. Name the players(both are relievers): Player A: G: 69 71 IP 1.90 ERA 9.2 K/9 Player B: G: 58 59 IP 2.32 ERA 9.0 K/9 Those two guys are my top choice for closer if it isn't Papelbon. Get back to me on that or let me know and I'll give in and tell ya my mystery man crushes But about Aceves and Albers, I think if Albers can sustain his newfound K-rate there isn't much of an argument against bringing him back if the price is right. I like him right where he is as far as his role is concerned. I think Aceves could be used more consistently as a set up guy, but as far as promoting either to closer ehhh no thanks. Also, I don't think Dan Bard was moved out of the starter role because of any reason other than his stuff played better out of the pen. Since he left UNC for the Sox it was talked about by many scouts how a change to the 'pen would do his professional career a lot of good. His reputation as a "head case" was earned when he struggled in the minors a little bit in save situations, but considering the pressure of pitching in Boston and how well he's done here in the majors, I think that's been somewhat dispelled. Learning to pitch in a new role is a bit of an adjustment at any level, I think people were a bit premature in labeling him a head case after blowing a few minor league saves. I think he's shaken any notion of mental midgetry by now. Trying to pretend we know what is going on in a players head by looking at on field results is tricky territory. Ask Clay Buchholz. He was a huge head case in '08, right? Now? Not so much. Well, the way I see it, we've got four guys penciled into the rotation for next year: Beckett, Lester, Buchholz and Lackey. We could very well end up re-signing Bedard, which wouldn't get in the way of any other signing most likely, but whether or not that happens depends on how healthy Bedard is. I don't think the Red Sox will go into next year with Wakefield penciled into a rotation spot and Matsuzaka will likely not be ready to pick up a ball until July at the earliest. He's going to be on the same time table as Johan was this year, and he still isn't close to pitching. That's a rehab assignment that will take some time. He may have seen his last days as a Red Sox. And as you said, this isn't the Rays, we can afford to add to the team where ever there is a need in most cases. I count four dependable pitchers who can be counted on to fill a rotation slot next year. We will find a fifth somewhere. It may be Bedard if he can prove healthy and be signed for a reasonable price. I'm betting that one way or another, they will shell out a least a little dough to plug the 5th spot. I agree we can afford Pap and he may be back, I'm just saying, there will be a market for him outside of the Sox and if we lose out, there are options.

I remember when people wanted to trade Papelbon for Jeremy Reed when we needed a CFer. I get it I guess. Frustrating game, but lets not forget, Aviles didn't kill it for us. If Beckett could have kept his s*** together in the 1st and if there weren't so many DP's maybe we have a chance in this game. Oh well, we haven't been losing series and thats key. Split a couple ugly ones against KC and CLE, but we haven't all out lost one yet while those do feel like lost series. If we keep taking 2/3 and 3/4 at a good clip, we'll be in the playoffs by a mile and probably take the East. Here's hopin'

considering he's only played a handful of games here and hasn't had any stretch where he's played one position consecutively for any number of games how exactly can we arrive at the conclusion that he doesn't competently play any position on the diamond in the major leagues? reactionary much?

Well, if League can stay in the zone, this inning essentially had two outs.

damn. good call at 2nd by that ump. it doesn't get talked about enough just how good major league umps are. they're unreal.

this road trip has been dick punch after dick punch. f***.

just missed it. dammit.

Fun>not fun

I feel like you put way too much time into that Youk. Just... way too much time.

Mighta been a joke, but I'm not a scientist. My only clue is that Salty absolutely does not suck. Glad Josh hung tough tonight. Statistically, the 1st inning is the toughest for him in his career. Really hope this was just a bump in the road and that post-07 second half Beckett doesn't rear his head again. Albers 2-seamer is a thing of beauty.

Obvious troll is obvious. gtfo noob

idk if thats good news if you're hoping to see him in the playoffs.

LOL this blows. Why does this seem to happen to Beckett a lot? 2006 the whole year, 2008 here and there, 2009 the entire second half and all of 2010. Sometimes the dude just serves it up and looks like one of the worst in the game. Other times, he's been one of the best in the game. Friggin' weird.

I really hope Beckett doesn't pull an '09 this year and piss away a brilliant season with a terrible 2nd half.

Can't wait to watch this pitching matchup. Hope there isn't an early exit by either guy tonight