Re: Question for Red Socks fans


Point is, if not for the health issues, Papelbon would be closing.
That's their story anyway. It may just be that the Sox view him as more
valuable to them in the rotation and need a solid excuse to pull him from
the closer's role that so many fans enjoyed seeing him in.

I think this is a strong possibility. Paps pitching so well in the closers role was both a gift and a curse to them in many ways. Even with the health concerns some will still be calling for the Red Sox to move him back to closer the first time someone in the bullpen blows a save. There is no way they could move him to the rotation without any excuse without major uproar


That just doesn't make any sense at all - you have plenty of starting
pitching, but no closer, and your bullpen sucks. I could understand
there being a tough decision if you had a decent bullpen, or had some
holes in the starting rotation, but that's not the case.


Call me crazy, but I'd rather take the worse of my excess starters and have them pitch 80 innings in the bullpen than 150 innings as a starter. You say the Red Sox have plenty of starting pitching....really? I think they have good starters, but it's not like the depth is forever...

Schill
Paps
DiceK
Wakefield
Beckett
----
Lester (how he responds is unknown)
Snyder (Do we want him starting?)
Taveras?

I'll take my chances with the many bullpen options we have, and Papelbon would only close in a last resort
.