Red Sox Closer

You probably should have

an "Other" option on this poll.

by Havok1517 on Dec 14, 2006 2:43 PM EST reply actions

"Other" is a cop-out

I always hate it when people put "Other" as a poll option. It's a cop-out. I've scoured every newspaper and the only names I see are the 6 options given above. Let me know if you've heard another.

eazyb81 raised a good point with Otsuka.

by fartballs on Dec 14, 2006 2:57 PM EST up reply actions

How about Chad Cordero, about whom there have been actual rumors? How does Mike Gonzalez get on this list, when every rumor has him pegged for the Braves? How about the other free agents who haven't signed yet? How about the "closer by committee" approach that the Sox went with 2 years ago?

The problem with this poll is that none of these options seem remotely realistic to me. Reitsma will still be injured by opening day, Hansen stinks so far and his stuff has fallen off drastically in the past couple years, Park has never closed, Paps has been annointed a starter and Hernandez is a free agent starter who blows worse than Hansen. I guess of these options I'd pick Papelbon, but I'd be more likely to pick the Sox resigning Keith Foulke and letting him close to start the season than any of these crazy choices.

by Brickhaus on Dec 14, 2006 3:18 PM EST up reply actions

I've heard...

Lidge
Ishii (Japanese pitcher that would need to be posted)
Clement (though he appears out until midseason)
Linebrick
Otsuka
Cordero

all of which aren't on your list. I personally think The Red Sox will deal for Linebrick or Gonzalez and then let Hansen prove himself in 2007 and then let him close in '08, but who knows.

by Havok1517 on Dec 14, 2006 4:04 PM EST up reply actions

Ishii

If you mean Hirotoshi Ishii, I believe he sustained a major arm injury and is out for at least some of next year. So I dont think the Sox are going to be too interested in him for next year. Also, I think he's either a FA or has a 1-year contract, so he wouldnt have to be posted.

by rhd on Dec 14, 2006 5:50 PM EST up reply actions

Actually

Ishii sustained a shoulder injury in early 2006 (during the WBC) season that required surgery. He is slated to start the preseason in Japan at close to full helth. He surely would have been posted if he had not had the injury. He opted to retun to his parent team, Yakult, instead of being posted to improve his stock. I'm almost positive the he still has to be posted in order to sign with a MLB team in 2007.

by Havok1517 on Dec 14, 2006 6:13 PM EST up reply actions

A cop-out?

That's just stupid. Even in a two-party system, there's always room for "other." Face it, your poll probably isn't even going to have the eventual closer on it. The only cop-out I see is from a pollster who wanted people to decide between several unlikely choices.

by Flynn Blake on Dec 15, 2006 12:21 AM EST up reply actions

No Hansen

He has tallent, but not enough expierence. I think he could be the closer in 08

by ChrisRef19 on Dec 14, 2006 2:43 PM EST reply actions

no experience

like Papelbon? or Cordero? Or Huston Street?

by Galt on Dec 14, 2006 2:45 PM EST up reply actions

Otsuka?

Could he be a candidate now that Texas signed Gagne?

by eazyb81 on Dec 14, 2006 2:51 PM EST reply actions

Don't think Texas will gamble before the season

Otsuka would be a trade after Gagne has shown the ability to make it through at least April, May and June and even then, if Texas is in the hunt, they will probably want the insurance. In addition, they may need Otsuka to help ease Gagne in and avoid back to back games at least for the first part of the season.

by slickwdb on Dec 14, 2006 7:09 PM EST up reply actions

Don't get this

If Texas is trying to win the division this year (and they think they can), why can't they keep both? If Gagne is effective, that's a heck of an 8th & 9th inning combo.

by jc3 on Dec 15, 2006 11:27 AM EST up reply actions

HANSACK

where's devern hansack? OUTRAGE

by wily mo on Dec 14, 2006 2:52 PM EST reply actions

Hey, don't laugh... cause you never know...

I say they get Clemens and move Papelbon back to the pen, injuries be damned.

by The Colonel on Dec 14, 2006 2:54 PM EST up reply actions

no on clemens

the only way he will sign with Boston is as a starter so he could spend quality time between starts in Houston with his family. As a closer, he would have to be available every day....

nice thought though

by yoshimi on Dec 14, 2006 6:49 PM EST up reply actions

eh

he meant Clemens starts and Pap's closes again.

by williethekid20 on Dec 15, 2006 2:19 PM EST up reply actions

Runelvys Hernandez?

Why is he an option?

What a waste of an offseason it would be if Theo made all these acquisitions and then tried to pass off Run Hernandez as a league average closer.

by eazyb81 on Dec 14, 2006 2:52 PM EST reply actions

I agree

I thought one was just in there as a joke.

"Baseball is dull only to dull minds." -Red Barber

by e 6 on Dec 14, 2006 3:05 PM EST up reply actions

Run-Hern

Don't you mean Run-Hern

by JFP on Dec 14, 2006 5:49 PM EST up reply actions

I think Papelbon

SHOULD be closing though it's unlikely that happens.

Go Jays!!!!

by achengy on Dec 14, 2006 3:04 PM EST reply actions

Is this the worst poll ever?

Please pick one

Yes
No
Other

by Galt on Dec 14, 2006 3:23 PM EST reply actions

vote

other

by DeisJJ on Dec 14, 2006 3:35 PM EST up reply actions

closer?

I don't care who is their closer, but can't be Foulke because he sign with Cleveland.

by LCT on Dec 14, 2006 3:37 PM EST up reply actions

Did...

Foulke already sign with Cleveland? Link?

by Havok1517 on Dec 14, 2006 3:59 PM EST up reply actions

Gonzalez

Pittsburgh looks like they have mentally committed to dealing Gonzalez.

If Little field off the lefty power hitting 1B/RF demand, he could get a decent package from Boston.

And if he can't, then i suggest he revisit the Carlos Beltran trade where Baird had to have a 3B and a C.

Fake Teams

by ephinz on Dec 14, 2006 3:34 PM EST reply actions

Lester

I'm going with Lester as the darkhorse candidate. Closing will give him the chance to keep his workload down and the Sox rotation is pretty full. Schilling, Beckett, matsuzaka, papelbon, wakefield, Clement (insert chuckle here) and the Sox are still going to go after Clemens. I'm not sure there's space for Lester, so do you send him to AAA or to the bullpen? With the success papelbon had last season, I would at least consider letting him close.

God rested one day out of 7, Felix rests 4 out of 5.

by CrimsonLiederhosen on Dec 14, 2006 4:07 PM EST reply actions

Re: Lester

Lester is a poor candidate for the bullpen because he takes a very long time getting warmed up. he has been used out of the bullpen before (not sure when or for how long) and the results have been pretty atrocious, to the tune of an ERA around 9.00 (albeit in limited time)

I believe the sox are progressing assuming he is not adequately sutied for the pen, and I have no problem with it.

by Jgaztambide on Dec 14, 2006 4:11 PM EST up reply actions

no way Lester

his control is not nearly good enough yet to close....

by yoshimi on Dec 14, 2006 4:13 PM EST up reply actions

Another vote for Cordero

Something along the lines of Pena, Bowden and a lower level arm could get a deal done. IMO

"You got a million dollar arm meat, but a 10-cent head!"

by tbirney on Dec 14, 2006 4:19 PM EST reply actions

Does Theo Epstein look like Bill Bavasi?

I doubt that the Nats could get both Pena and Bowden AND someone else for Cordero, considering Pena alone could probably get Linebrink from the Padres.

by thedude @ Minor League Ball on Dec 15, 2006 10:47 AM EST up reply actions

El Guapo returns

by OneHitWonder @ Minor League Ball on Dec 14, 2006 4:26 PM EST reply actions

Would you say.......

there is a plethora of options for the Red Sox closer? Do you know what plethora means?

Lex clavatoris designati rescindenda est.

by HuskerBob on Dec 14, 2006 5:24 PM EST up reply actions

help

I'm sure there are so many meanings for plethora. Could you help me?

Arthur: "Look, you stupid bastard, you've got no arms left!" Black Knight: "Yes I have." Arthur: "Look!" Black Knight: "It's just a flesh wound!"

by pedrophile on Dec 14, 2006 5:50 PM EST up reply actions

I would say you have a plethora...

that is one of the most under-rated movies of all time.

by drwmsu1 on Dec 14, 2006 7:52 PM EST up reply actions

Guapo

why the hell did they name him Guapo? Was it an english speaking announcer that mispronounced Gordo?

hmmm, at least it's better than calling him delgado I guess.

Arthur: "Look, you stupid bastard, you've got no arms left!" Black Knight: "Yes I have." Arthur: "Look!" Black Knight: "It's just a flesh wound!"

by pedrophile on Dec 14, 2006 5:49 PM EST up reply actions

Translation

I heard that 'El Guapo' means 'the handsome one'. But I dont know Spanish, so I dont know for sure.

by rhd on Dec 14, 2006 5:52 PM EST up reply actions

Muy bien

by limozeen on Dec 14, 2006 5:55 PM EST up reply actions

correct

and Gordo means fat. Delgado means skinny or thin.

Arthur: "Look, you stupid bastard, you've got no arms left!" Black Knight: "Yes I have." Arthur: "Look!" Black Knight: "It's just a flesh wound!"

by pedrophile on Dec 14, 2006 5:57 PM EST up reply actions

Sounds like

there's a baseball novel waiting to be written with a player named Gordo Delgado in it.

If I ever wrote that book, I also wanted to put a player named Aurelio Figueroa in it -- the only two names ever in MLB with all the vowels in each.

by Flynn Blake on Dec 14, 2006 6:09 PM EST up reply actions

Guapo

that means The Brave

by LCT on Dec 15, 2006 5:50 AM EST up reply actions

brave

is that a Mexican usage? I've never heard of that meaning for guapo before.

Arthur: "Look, you stupid bastard, you've got no arms left!" Black Knight: "Yes I have." Arthur: "Look!" Black Knight: "It's just a flesh wound!"

by pedrophile on Dec 15, 2006 7:10 AM EST up reply actions

It's an old nickname

that I think he picked up in Venezuela, apparently he looks like a character from The Three Amigos by that name (in both cases, akin to nicknaming te big guy 'Tiny').

God rested one day out of 7, Felix rests 4 out of 5.

by CrimsonLiederhosen on Dec 14, 2006 6:27 PM EST up reply actions

ok

now it makes sense. Since he wasn't the most handsome guy in town.

I would prefer Gordo but that is just plain underestimating his talent at the all you can eat buffet. I think the battle between him and Colon would be titanic. Worthy of a remake of the old Japanese Godzilla movies.

Arthur: "Look, you stupid bastard, you've got no arms left!" Black Knight: "Yes I have." Arthur: "Look!" Black Knight: "It's just a flesh wound!"

by pedrophile on Dec 14, 2006 8:42 PM EST up reply actions

There used to be a Fast food franchise...

here in Venezuela named Tropi Burger, one of the burgers was called Guapo, a take on Whopper, i think he got that nickname because he loved eating there.

by jahs34 on Dec 14, 2006 9:12 PM EST up reply actions

A point

At one point, the Sox were setting up with Guapo, closing with Lowe. The sheer change in gravity on the mound probably threw the batters off...
There was also a point where the Sox had another 300lb reliever int he pen at the same time that they had Quapo, i can't remember who it was but if I figure it out I'll drop a not here. They made a hell of a sight in the bullpen...

God rested one day out of 7, Felix rests 4 out of 5.

by CrimsonLiederhosen on Dec 14, 2006 10:54 PM EST up reply actions

El Guapo

I've heard of hitters liking different colour backgrounds. Maybe El Guapo did well because when he pitched there was no background.

Arthur: "Look, you stupid bastard, you've got no arms left!" Black Knight: "Yes I have." Arthur: "Look!" Black Knight: "It's just a flesh wound!"

by pedrophile on Dec 15, 2006 2:08 AM EST up reply actions

Beckett

I created another thread - but give me a scouting report of how his stuff was this year if you don't mind.

I've heard his stuff was a shadow of the past but I havn't seen him this year. What is your take?

Arthur: "Look, you stupid bastard, you've got no arms left!" Black Knight: "Yes I have." Arthur: "Look!" Black Knight: "It's just a flesh wound!"

by pedrophile on Dec 14, 2006 8:43 PM EST up reply actions

Who are you asking?

I'm not sure who you're asking, your post appears to be in reply to mine but if you're asking me, I'm the absolute worst person to ask because I almost NEVER get to watch the Sox live or on Television since I spend most of my time in Cincinnati.
From what I've HEARD, one of the guys in your thread about nails it, he was relying too much on his fastball and not listening to Varitek (let's not open up that can of worms though, eh Huskerbob?)

God rested one day out of 7, Felix rests 4 out of 5.

by CrimsonLiederhosen on Dec 14, 2006 10:50 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah, that is how he got the name

He was actually given the name while pitching for the Paw Sox.

by thedude @ Minor League Ball on Dec 15, 2006 10:51 AM EST up reply actions

Cordero?

Everyone is saying Cordero and I am out of touch wiht a lot lately but wasn't Turnbow the guy that was coming up in discussions?

From Boston's standpoint, he is relatively cheap. I think he signed a deal last year for $3 million/year and he had similar struggles to Cordero last season.

Unless I missed a trade of Turnbow (which is possible) my vote is for Turnbow.

by slickwdb on Dec 14, 2006 7:11 PM EST reply actions

Turnbow

I really like Turnbow as an option. He seemed to fall apart last year and actually lost his job when Cordero came in.
Might be worth a gamble as long as there is a solid "plan B"...

Fan of Fenway

by bodyiq on Dec 14, 2006 8:26 PM EST up reply actions