I hear this every winter then June hits and they say, "don't worry next year".
I would be concerned about Papplebon being a starter again, he would make a better closer.
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MLB Hot Stove Thread 07
- Thread starter MacNut
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I would be concerned about Papplebon being a starter again, he would make a better closer.
Papelbon is going into the rotation to protect his arm.
Don't expect him to be lights out, but do expect him to be a very good number four -- especially with Beckett as a number 3.
Don't expect him to be lights out, but do expect him to be a very good number four -- especially with Beckett as a number 3.
Well, certainly not Matsuzaka.
Or Beckett.
Am thrilled about the signing of Piniero to close in Boston -- think with his stuff he could be Papelbonesque.
With a rotation of Matsuzaka, Schilling, Beckett, Papelbon and Wakefield there's a lot of excitement in New England this "winter."
That does make the Yankees rotation look pretty weak.
Tell me more about Piniero - I've been out of the loop.
But he proved himself to be a great closer. One of the best in the league. (behind Rivera of course)
Yep. It really is almost worth sacrificing an entire starting slot for a solid closer. He was really clutch last season.
Im not sure if I would call Wakefield an ace anymore. And we don't know how proven Dice-K will be.That does make the Yankees rotation look pretty week.
Tell me more about Piniero - I've been out of the loop.
Yeah, but a veteran knuckleballer in your 5 spot is something to be excited about. He'll win about half his games. Typically he's been their #4, or, at times, their #3.
But he has slipped in recent seasons. A few knuckleballs have hit the backstop.
It will be interesting to see where Clemans ends up.
I have no reason to believe Clemens won't come out and be good again this year. However, the Red Sox usually hit him well when he was on the Yankees last time. I still don't want to see him show up there though.
Pretty good article on the Pineiro signing here.
His numbers as a reliever last season don't blow you away -- with one exception -- .213 batting average against.
Regardless, the bullpen will be much better with Pineiro, Donnelly and Romero to support Timlin, Hansen and DelCarmen.
Now if we could just get rid of that bum Clement ...
Re: Wakefield:
We know exactly what he'll produce as the 5th starter -- .500 record (give or take two games), 4-4.50 ERA, and, most importantly, 180-200 innings.
Here's the big difference: With Lester coming back midseason, and Clement kicking around, Sox don't need Clemens. Yankees probably do, unless they're counting on big things from two big question marks (Igawa and Pavano).
His numbers as a reliever last season don't blow you away -- with one exception -- .213 batting average against.
Regardless, the bullpen will be much better with Pineiro, Donnelly and Romero to support Timlin, Hansen and DelCarmen.
Now if we could just get rid of that bum Clement ...
Re: Wakefield:
We know exactly what he'll produce as the 5th starter -- .500 record (give or take two games), 4-4.50 ERA, and, most importantly, 180-200 innings.
Here's the big difference: With Lester coming back midseason, and Clement kicking around, Sox don't need Clemens. Yankees probably do, unless they're counting on big things from two big question marks (Igawa and Pavano).
Yeah, but then they got Dougie back.
On the other hand, I would certainly be surprised to see either Pavano or Clement make a start in July
Another year older. Look, if some team is willing to pay Clemens half a million per start for half a season of work, then more power to him. But if it were my team, I'd prefer to see young talent coming up over old talent barely hanging on.
It takes time and real dedication to rebuild a decimated farm system, not just a few trades. If young talent is being acquired just to trade, then it's not going to happen.
MacNut, you know my thoughts on this subject up to now, but I have to say this story just sickens me. I've defended Barry from what I see as a lot of scapegoating and mindless and unfair attacks, but I can't get over the fact Bonds would name a teammate after all he has been through. The positive test is a case of incredible stupidity, but to blame it on Sweeney, who jumped to Barry's defense last year, is well beyond the pale. I don't care if Sweeney is the source of "greenies" on the team (something I don't think is remotely true,) you don't rat out a teammate. I see Barry has apologized to Sweeney, but that makes it only marginally better from what is extremely bad. Right now, I wouldn't mind if Bonds retired and just faded away.
I never thought I would hear you say that. We have gone back and forth about Bonds for years and this is the first time I have heard you not defend him. The one thing about this story is when he says, "I found it in Sweeney's locker but I didn't know what it was". Well first of all, Why were you in his locker to begin with and second why take something that you don't know what it is. That just shows guilt right there.
This is the best smoking gun against Barry at the moment, Will this have any effects on the negotiations for his new contract.
Don't get me wrong, MacNut. I'm not for any punishment for Barry outside the contract. His positive test should not have hit the press, but neither should grand jury testimony. I'm a very big believer in due process and equality before the law. I also know from watching the game for 45 plus years that the use of "greenies" is, and has been, widespread (including links to such stars as Mays, Aaron, Schmidt, etc.,) so I'm not shocked that Bonds, or any other player, has used the drug. I am shocked he was still using the drug when he knew he would be tested for it. As I said, stupid, incredibly stupid. All of that is secondary to me. Naming a teammate, something Bonds does not deny doing in his statement, is unforgivable to me. It won't get you kicked out of Baseball. It won't get you put in prison. It is unforgivable.
Now, tomorrow both Barry and Sweeney could say it never happened, and all of this is just made up, but I very much doubt it. And while I appreciate the statement by Gene Orza that "I can say unequivocally in my 22 years I've known Barry Bonds he has never blamed anyone for anything," I can't get passed the evidence that is no longer true.
Wow, surely end-times are upon us.
So Bonds will finally be out of the news then!
I wouldn't count on that -- but in theory at least, what would we have left to talk about? Baseball?