Papelbon Back to Closer Role

Post by **Bo Hart** » March 22 07, 11:48 am

Announced on ESPN during the telecast.

Interesting news.

Cronos · Post by **Cronos** » March 22 07, 11:59 am

I'm not surprised. The closer choices weren't all that attractive beyond he and maybe Donnelly or Timlin(who just went down with injury).

Who's going to be in the #5 spot in the rotation in his place, I wonder?

Tavarez?

Kyle Snyder?

Swatcat27 · Post by **Swatcat27** » March 22 07, 12:05 pm

Cronos69 wrote:I'm not surprised. The closer choices weren't all that attractive beyond he and maybe Donnelly or Timlin(who just went down with injury).

Who's going to be in the #5 spot in the rotation in his place, I wonder?

Tavarez?

Kyle Snyder?

Might have tried Piniero to close...didnt think it was very bright..

Dice-K, Schilling, Beckett, Wakefield, ??

Maybe clement, lester ??

JL21 · Post by **JL21** » March 22 07, 12:05 pm

-Schilling
-Beckett
-Dice-k
-Wakefield

And then they could go with Kyle Snyder, Kason Gabbard, or perhaps (if they had to) Tavarez.

It's sort of like going with Looper in the #5 slot but with a better 1-4.

haltz · Post by **haltz** » March 22 07, 12:08 pm

What's the story with Lester right now, RC?

I think one of my fantasy teams just got better.

JL21 · Post by **JL21** » March 22 07, 12:09 pm

Swatcat27 wrote:Maybe clement, lester ??

Clement is out until July, I believe.

I think Lester might not be available for a while as well.

EDIT:

An article about Lester, who I guess might not be that far off.

http://redsox.bostonherald.com/redSox/v ... eid=189022

Post by **planet planet** » March 22 07, 12:11 pm

Cronos69 wrote:I'm not surprised. The closer choices weren't all that attractive beyond he and maybe Donnelly or Timlin(who just went down with injury).

Who's going to be in the #5 spot in the rotation in his place, I wonder?

Tavarez?

Kyle Snyder?

I'm really surprised. All winter long all you heard was that Papelbon would NOT be in consideration for the closer role, punctuated by the health implications for Papelbon. It seems to me Theo didn't think through what would happen when he didn't aggressively address this in the off season. Without another internal option, did he really think Pineiro, Tavarez, and Timlin (well, I give him a pass on Timlin as an option even though he's 41) would miraculously turn into shut down closers over spring training?

skmsw · Post by **skmsw** » March 22 07, 12:15 pm

They have enough starting depth that they can view this as a luxury they can afford. Maybe he still moves back to the rotation next year if Schilling leaves, etc.

Personally I am not nuts about this move. I think pap would be more valuable as a starter. He's big and strong and durable and is throwing four (4) different lights-out pitches this spring. I think that done properly, any number of candidates in the Sox pen could adequately tag-team closer duties.

That said, as far as the rotation, Lester is looking like he will be ready soon (not sure they'll be willing to bring him up, but he's gonna be ready soon). They also have a handful of other fringy guys that they really like -- guys who have pitched themselves onto the team that they wouldn't have room for otherwise, like Kason Gabbard, Kyle Snyder, and Devern Hansack, guys they've been approached about by other teams looking for a fifth starter (and unfortunately, also guys who did poorly in that role for them last year).

They have a legitimate handful of real high-end starting prospects, too, so I'm not shocked that they see this as a luxury they can afford. It's probably not what I'd do though.

Post by **heyzeus** » March 22 07, 12:16 pm

Or maybe now the Red Sox make a bigger push to bring in Clemens.

Brodie · Post by **Brodie** » March 22 07, 12:17 pm

Maybe they want Narveson back?

-Brodie