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Post by fenwaythehardway on Jun 21, 2013 14:35:12 GMT -5
No, the problem is that managers are so ridiculously orthodox about the closer thing that using Tazawa or Bailey or whoever on days that Uehara can't pitch is unthinkable. I agree with that. I'm talking how things are, not how they should be. Fair enough. Then again, now's as good a time to innovate as ever.
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Post by ray88h66 on Jun 21, 2013 14:48:31 GMT -5
I agree with that. I'm talking how things are, not how they should be. Fair enough. Then again, now's as good a time to innovate as ever. [/b] I'm all for that.
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Post by p23w on Jun 21, 2013 15:24:48 GMT -5
First, I believe that this bullpen was overrated coming out of Spring training. Secondly, I think that a traditional closer has a mindset as well as stuff to get the job done. IMO, Hanrahan had the stuff and mindset to do the job. Breaking down was unfortunate. Bailey once had the mindset, but appears to have lost it. This could also account for his stuff finding the middle of the plate with alarming regularity. What to do? Promote from within? Trade for a proven (and healthy) commodity? Closer by committee? I'm in favor off the latter. Closer by committee. There is enough time left in the season for one of the committee to develop the mindset. I'm of the opinion that a closers mindset trumps "stuff". Both stuff and mindset are preferable, but I don't see anyone on the 40 man roster who is not on the DL, that possesses both. I'm hoping someone on the 25 man roster gets a "second wind" during what is a marathon regular season and steps up. For sure, watching Hanrahan and Bailey struggles to date has been aggravating. From the glass is half full POV, better that this happened after 60 games and not 160 games.
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Post by Guidas on Jun 21, 2013 15:27:49 GMT -5
Let's face it. The likelihood of any of these guys being the closer come trading deadline is small. Uehara doesn't throw hard enough IMO and, if you guess right, the ball can leave the yard. Tazawa profiles best. He's 94 with very good control and three pitches. I just don't know if he has the make-up. His fastball fools people. Not being able to pitch back to back games much is the problem. Agree with that last point most of all. And I am of the mind that if a guy he gets consistent swings and misses, has very good BB rate/K rate, great control and doesn't put more than an average of 1 guy on an inning he is fit to be a closer no matter what his velo. Mariano Rivera has been making a living at this hitting 92MPH max over the last few years. He's all about pitch location. So was Foulke in his prime, and Okijima too. Bailey clearly doesn't have that location since coming back from the DL and his velo is down. You can get away with leaving a few more pitches up in the zone at 97 than at 92. But if you're a closer and throw in the low 90s/high 80s then you'd better paint the corners or have enough movement on your pitches to generate weak contact.
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Post by James Dunne on Jun 21, 2013 15:44:55 GMT -5
You guys remember Doug Jones? 300+ career saves, seasons of 35+ for Cleveland, Houston and Milwaukee. I don't think he ever touched 88.
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Post by station13 on Jun 21, 2013 15:46:14 GMT -5
Pete Abraham ? @peteabe
Koji Uehara new Red Sox closer for now.
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Post by Valcek on Jun 21, 2013 15:58:54 GMT -5
Pete Abraham ? @peteabe Koji Uehara new Red Sox closer for now. Good decision, IMO. And on days he can't go, bring in Tazawa.
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Post by jmei on Jun 21, 2013 16:02:23 GMT -5
I'm stoked for his first save. The palms in that clubhouse won't know what hit 'em.
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Post by godot on Jun 21, 2013 16:11:24 GMT -5
Pete Abraham ? @peteabe Koji Uehara new Red Sox closer for now. Well, if he closes a game successfully, at least there will be fun celebrations at the end of the game. On a side note, does anyone have comparative line drive rates for Ellsbury. Does not seem he gets the ball in the air on a drive all that much this year. Most hits are grounders or low sinking stuff. Yeah, I know he has seven triples and 14 doubles, but he does not seem to get the lift he once did. Just wondering.
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Post by ray88h66 on Jun 21, 2013 16:13:06 GMT -5
Pete Abraham ? @peteabe Koji Uehara new Red Sox closer for now. Good for the sox if that's true. I also see Iggy is in the line-up tonight. So much for 3 or 4 games a week. Maybe they are watching the games.
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Post by awall on Jun 21, 2013 18:36:59 GMT -5
C'mon, Napoli. Got to pick that.
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Post by Guidas on Jun 21, 2013 18:37:57 GMT -5
Geez, Lester really trying to give this lead away.
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Post by Guidas on Jun 21, 2013 18:40:16 GMT -5
The triple play is in order with VMart on second, however.
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Post by awall on Jun 21, 2013 18:50:37 GMT -5
Three years ago, Lester pumps it up to 97 in those big at bats. Now he has to dig deep for 93. He is cooked.
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wcp3
Veteran
Posts: 3,833
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Post by wcp3 on Jun 21, 2013 18:51:55 GMT -5
LOLester.
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Post by Guidas on Jun 21, 2013 19:01:19 GMT -5
Napoli is a useless human sausage casing. I don't know why any pitcher would throw him a strike right now.
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Post by chavopepe2 on Jun 21, 2013 19:17:31 GMT -5
Is there a faster slow guy out of the right-hand box in the majors?
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Post by ray88h66 on Jun 21, 2013 19:18:29 GMT -5
24 straight games on base for Iggy. That was a hit and run and he got his bat on a bad pitch.
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Post by Guidas on Jun 21, 2013 19:21:11 GMT -5
I'm starting to think 30-40 infield hits per 500 ABs is part of Iglesias' game llike it was part of Ichiro's game - Only Jose doesn't have Suzuki's wheels. Agree he has amazing quickness out of the box, esp for a righty.
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Post by marrcus on Jun 21, 2013 19:27:24 GMT -5
Huge lead to protect. Lester's been fortunate so far as he isn't sharp tonight. Time to bear down for a few innings at least.
Kogi says he doesn't care about closings. I believe him.
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Post by ray88h66 on Jun 21, 2013 19:30:22 GMT -5
Is there a faster slow guy out of the right-hand box in the majors? No, and I think only a few are faster out of the left hand box. I compare him to Wade Boggs, not a fast runner, but really great home to first time.
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Post by fenwaythehardway on Jun 21, 2013 19:30:46 GMT -5
Miguel Cabrera at third base is just awful roster construction by the Tigers. They're putting an awful defender out there, increasing the injury risk for their best player, all so that they can play sub-replacement hitters like Delmon Young and post-knee V-Mart at DH. Just terrible.
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Post by fenwaythehardway on Jun 21, 2013 19:45:45 GMT -5
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Post by soxfan06 on Jun 21, 2013 19:45:55 GMT -5
Remember when Lester was good.
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wcp3
Veteran
Posts: 3,833
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Post by wcp3 on Jun 21, 2013 19:46:16 GMT -5
Trade this bum please.
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