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Closer for the rest of 2013 (and 2014?)
steveofbradenton
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Watching Spring Training, the FCL, and the Florida State League
Posts: 1,826
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Post by steveofbradenton on Jun 21, 2013 10:02:01 GMT -5
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Post by GyIantosca on Jun 21, 2013 10:14:17 GMT -5
I hope to god we go internal. I feel at this point I rather fail this way than give up more prospects and money on more disappointments.
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steveofbradenton
Veteran
Watching Spring Training, the FCL, and the Florida State League
Posts: 1,826
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Post by steveofbradenton on Jun 21, 2013 10:18:47 GMT -5
I hope to god we go internal. I feel at this point I rather fail this way than give up more prospects and money on more disappointments. Yeah I feel the same, but with you bringing that up.....and it may be controversial.....I really don't want us to throw 2 to 4 solid prospects at the Phils for Pap. I miss Pap, but no thanks. I still like us even better in 2014 and I don't want to jeopardize the kids we have for a quick fix that may or may not work this year.
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Post by sibbysisti on Jun 21, 2013 10:26:18 GMT -5
I know they're trying to stretch him out, and he may not yet be ML ready, but DeLaRosa appears to have the make-up of a closer. I was hoping he's be challenging for the rotation next spring, but if the closer woes continue, a bullpen assignment for Rubby. should be considered
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Post by bjb406 on Jun 21, 2013 10:37:50 GMT -5
Anyone we could acquire who could actually help up would cost so much more in prospects then they would actually be worth. Especially more than they would be worth to us, given that our bullpen is already deep. Those trade chips would be better spent on an elite outfielder or catcher or something
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danr
Veteran
Posts: 1,871
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Post by danr on Jun 21, 2013 10:39:40 GMT -5
The question which we periodically discuss is whether the team needs one closer. What are the issues involved in dividing the job among two or three pitchers? What if Uehara was one, Miller another and Tazawa the third, or possibly Wilson? In other words, the job is rotated among these guys.
I like the idea of developing a closer and I'd like to see a hard thrower like De La Rosa tried in the job. Maybe he should be tried as a closer in Pawtucket first, and see what happens. Ranaudo also should be considered.
I think Workman is quickly positioning himself as one of the prime candidates to replace one of the current Sox starters.
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Post by bjb406 on Jun 21, 2013 10:44:22 GMT -5
I know they're trying to stretch him out, and he may not yet be ML ready, but DeLaRosa appears to have the make-up of a closer. I was hoping he's be challenging for the rotation next spring, but if the closer woes continue, a bullpen assignment for Rubby. should be considered Closer is the most overvalued position in baseball. Am I the only one who gets dry heaves thinking about a potential front of the rotation pitcher being converted to relief? I mean with as many top SP prospects as we have, I could see it if we were really hurting for bullpen depth but were not.
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Post by bluechip on Jun 21, 2013 11:57:25 GMT -5
I know they're trying to stretch him out, and he may not yet be ML ready, but DeLaRosa appears to have the make-up of a closer. I was hoping he's be challenging for the rotation next spring, but if the closer woes continue, a bullpen assignment for Rubby. should be considered Closer is the most overvalued position in baseball. Am I the only one who gets dry heaves thinking about a potential front of the rotation pitcher being converted to relief? I mean with as many top SP prospects as we have, I could see it if we were really hurting for bullpen depth but were not. I agree. Leave him as a starter for now. His stuff is so good that he should be given every chance to succeed in the rotation.
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steveofbradenton
Veteran
Watching Spring Training, the FCL, and the Florida State League
Posts: 1,826
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Post by steveofbradenton on Jun 21, 2013 11:58:38 GMT -5
I know they're trying to stretch him out, and he may not yet be ML ready, but DeLaRosa appears to have the make-up of a closer. I was hoping he's be challenging for the rotation next spring, but if the closer woes continue, a bullpen assignment for Rubby. should be considered Closer is the most overvalued position in baseball. Am I the only one who gets dry heaves thinking about a potential front of the rotation pitcher being converted to relief? I mean with as many top SP prospects as we have, I could see it if we were really hurting for bullpen depth but were not. I agree, but I actually like the idea (used by the Rangers and others) to introduce a young starter with potential to the league by using them as a key bullpen arm, and then moving them to the rotation the next season.
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Post by terriblehondo on Jun 21, 2013 11:58:48 GMT -5
I did enjoy Speier's article. I hope they do get someone internally to do the job. As far as Closer being overvalued I guess it is until you do not have one. Getting outs in the 9th is not the same as in the 7th.
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Post by Legion of Bloom on Jun 21, 2013 12:05:09 GMT -5
Here's a thought, try Wilson as our closer.
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Post by Chris Hatfield on Jun 21, 2013 12:09:49 GMT -5
Interesting thing about Bailey is that his velocity is clearly down. He had it in his first game off of the DL, and then it crashed the next game, as you can see here. There's clearly something either physical or mechanical going on. DL him and get him straightened out. If he gets right, he'll be fine closing again. That's the best option. Attachment DeletedGame Fourseam Curve Cutter BOS@NYA (4/1/13) 95.76 78.91 0.00 BOS@TOR (4/5/13) 96.54 79.35 87.96 BAL@BOS (4/8/13) 95.70 78.56 86.46 BAL@BOS (4/10/13) 94.27 77.81 86.55 TBA@BOS (4/13/13) 95.14 77.51 87.47 TBA@BOS (4/15/13) 95.08 78.62 86.49 BOS@CLE (4/17/13) 96.25 80.85 88.35 BOS@CLE (4/18/13) 96.35 79.68 87.88 KCA@BOS (4/20/13) 95.51 78.33 85.48 KCA@BOS (4/21/13) 95.22 0.00 86.57 OAK@BOS (4/22/13) 95.29 0.00 86.75 OAK@BOS (4/24/13) 95.72 79.21 85.23 HOU@BOS (4/28/13) 95.29 0.00 86.75 BOS@CHA (5/22/13) 95.50 78.49 87.96 CLE@BOS (5/25/13) 94.01 77.45 85.45 BOS@PHI (5/30/13) 94.56 76.75 85.81 TEX@BOS (6/5/13) 93.89 76.08 87.49 TEX@BOS (6/6/13) 93.99 0.00 85.47 ANA@BOS (6/9/13) 93.65 0.00 84.89 BOS@TBA (6/10/13) 93.99 0.00 84.40 BOS@TBA (6/12/13) 93.53 0.00 84.36 BOS@BAL (6/15/13) 94.09 77.23 85.04 TBA@BOS (6/18/13) 93.10 76.73 83.62 Splits: 4/1-5/22: 13.1 ip, 7 h, 3 r, 4 bb, 21 k 5/25-6/20: 9.0 ip, 11 h, 7 r, 7 bb, 9 k (Although I'll be the first to admit these splits mean nothing, as the latter split is heavily influenced by his 4.0-8-7-5-3 in his last five outings) Funny thing is that he's inherited just two runners all year, both in the season opener. Neither scored. He's started a fresh inning every appearance since. So they probably ARE using Uehara as the relief ace anyway, for anyone screaming about that.
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Post by ray88h66 on Jun 21, 2013 12:27:11 GMT -5
I have no idea what the Sox will do with the closer role. More importantly , I don't think management knows yet either. I hope they don't make a trade. They did a great job in the off season making the team better without losing prospects. I hope they stick with that plan.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jun 21, 2013 12:42:39 GMT -5
Here's a thought, try Wilson as our closer. No thanks. His control is shaky, too, and I wouldn't trust him to pitch the 8th inning over Tazawa or Uehara or Breslow. Uehara should be the closer. His K/BB ratio is amazing. Because he's around the plate so much he gives up more HR/9 than we'd probably like, but he does not beat himself, and you can't say that about Bailey, Miller, and Wilson. I know there's that argument that he can't go back-to-back days, but I'm not sure that I buy it, but if that is the case, the Sox can always match up on those days he's not available between Tazawa and Breslow. I do think before long we might see Workman setting up in the bullpen and Drake Britton might eventually be a LH reliever option before long. And I do see De La Rosa impacting the bullpen late in the season. BTW, I do like what I've seen from Wilson thus far, but I wouldn't annoint him closer. I honestly think that Bailey isn't right physically. I think once he gets straightened out - if he's ever healthy enough long enough to do so - I think he'd pitch more like he did early in the season and will eventually reclaim the closer role, but with the way he's pitching now - he needs to be nowhere near the 9th inning.
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Post by mainesox on Jun 21, 2013 12:43:50 GMT -5
I did enjoy Speier's article. I hope they do get someone internally to do the job. As far as Closer being overvalued I guess it is until you do not have one. Getting outs in the 9th is not the same as in the 7th.No, it's not - sometimes you come into the 7th with guys in scoring position and have to get out of a jam; in the 9th you get to come in to pitch a clean inning with no one on and no jam to have to get out of. Uehara should be the closer. His K/BB ratio is amazing. Because he's around the plate so much he gives up more HR/9 than we'd probably like, but he does not beat himself, and you can't say that about Bailey, Miller, and Wilson. See above. I'd much rather use Uehara in situations where there are guys in scoring position and you need someone to come in and get you out of the jam; if he's closing it means he's, more often than not, coming in to clean innings and his extreme propensity to keeping runners from reaching base would all but be wasted.
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Post by godot on Jun 21, 2013 12:59:21 GMT -5
Aceves anyone. Yeah, I know, but who was the captain of the ship last year. I am half serious here. He has the stuff, but don't know about his command or mental make up. Seems like he loses focuses. Oh well, long term I like Workman. This one is really tough. They haven't had luck with trades, which does not mean they can't benefit from a trade. There are issues with all internal options, and having a closer by committee can create problems with set up and middle relief. Chris makes a good point about waiting for Bailey, but Godot never came.
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Post by bluechip on Jun 21, 2013 13:03:22 GMT -5
Uehara is the relief ace. Tazawa should probably close. The added advantage if Tazawa is that he is still young and cost controlled, so going forward he is not suddenly going to get big raises. The finances should not be the number one concern, but if all things are equal, I rather choose the option that can stay in the role longer and cheaper.
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Post by curll on Jun 21, 2013 13:15:25 GMT -5
Red Sox Nation turns its welled-up eyes towards you, Daniel Bard.
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Post by mainesox on Jun 21, 2013 13:18:07 GMT -5
Aceves anyone. Yeah, I know, but who was the captain of the ship last year. I am half serious here. He has the stuff, but don't know about his command or mental make up. Seems like he loses focuses. Oh well, long term I like Workman. This one is really tough. They haven't had luck with trades, which does not mean they can't benefit from a trade. There are issues with all internal options, and having a closer by committee can create problems with set up and middle relief. Chris makes a good point about waiting for Bailey, but Godot never came. Aceves allows way too many baserunners to be a good option for closer.
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Post by gregblossersbelly on Jun 21, 2013 13:37:39 GMT -5
If you're looking for a short-term answer without closing experience. I'm going with Anthony Ranaudo. If limited to one inning, I'm guessing he gets it up there at 96-97 and has shown pretty good control. Did pitch well in the CWS at LSU. Don't thing the big stage will frighten him. He's from Jersey. Ever drive there?
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steveofbradenton
Veteran
Watching Spring Training, the FCL, and the Florida State League
Posts: 1,826
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Post by steveofbradenton on Jun 21, 2013 13:43:50 GMT -5
Aceves anyone. Yeah, I know, but who was the captain of the ship last year. I am half serious here. He has the stuff, but don't know about his command or mental make up. Seems like he loses focuses. Oh well, long term I like Workman. This one is really tough. They haven't had luck with trades, which does not mean they can't benefit from a trade. There are issues with all internal options, and having a closer by committee can create problems with set up and middle relief. Chris makes a good point about waiting for Bailey, but Godot never came. Aceves allows way too many baserunners to be a good option for closer. As John McCain said about Ted Cruz: "he's a wacko bird"! If you look in your dictionary under Wacko Bird, you see a picture of Aceves. He just plain scares me when he is on the mound.
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Post by ramireja on Jun 21, 2013 13:51:29 GMT -5
I like the idea of internal options and would probably go with Tazawa, although the idea of Uehara as closer with Tazawa as a backup should Uehara need rest is also appealing. If I were going to at least check in on the trade market, I'd call the White Sox to see if Jesse Crain might be available for a combo of some our 40-man roster depth....with Britton probably highlighting a small package of players. It might also be a good time to sell high on Almanzar.
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Post by ray88h66 on Jun 21, 2013 13:56:11 GMT -5
Aceves anyone. Yeah, I know, but who was the captain of the ship last year. I am half serious here. He has the stuff, but don't know about his command or mental make up. Seems like he loses focuses. Oh well, long term I like Workman. This one is really tough. They haven't had luck with trades, which does not mean they can't benefit from a trade. There are issues with all internal options, and having a closer by committee can create problems with set up and middle relief. Chris makes a good point about waiting for Bailey, but Godot never came. Hello match, meet Mr. gasoline. Loved the play though.
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Post by fenwaythehardway on Jun 21, 2013 14:28:30 GMT -5
Anyone we could acquire who could actually help up would cost so much more in prospects then they would actually be worth. Especially more than they would be worth to us, given that our bullpen is already deep. Those trade chips would be better spent on an elite outfielder or catcher or something C'mon, when has trading for a closer ever not worked out for the Red Sox?
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Post by threeifbaerga on Jun 21, 2013 15:11:39 GMT -5
The push for De La Rosa to close is strange to me. Want a guy with electric stuff and control problems? They've already got Andrew Miller for that. And if De La Rosa comes up from Triple-A (where he's sporting a 5.2 BB/9) and beats what Miller is doing I'll eat my hat.
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