RichLevine said the following @ 08/05/2009, 5:05pm
Terry Francona is a master of clubhouse management, but even he has his limits. Between the Sox overloaded lineup, the questions in the rotation and the ticking time bomb that is the David Ortiz drama, Tito's up to his ears! And I don't see how adding another twist to this plot will achieve anything other than potentially landing Francona on the 60-day DL with a Skoal overdose.
Here's hoping that Theo's too busy fantasizing about the new Pearl Jam album to deal with the waiver wire. The Sox, as they're presently constituted, have enough talent to win, and it's time for everyone to take a step back and let that talent gel into one cohesive unit.
Evan Brunell said the following @ 08/05/2009, 5:15pm
With the trade of Justin Masterson and the DL-ing of Daisuke Matsuzaka and Tim Wakefield, the Sox's pitching suddenly looks thin. There's a reason Theo shot for the moon in trying to get Felix Hernandez and Roy Halladay.
Take today's roster move for instance: to get back to 12 pitchers, the Sox recalled lefty journeyman Billy Traber from Pawtucket. Not exactly someone that inspires confidence, especially with a rotation that has Beckett, Lester and a bunch of failed hopes.
I can understand staying away from bringing in a new rotation arm because the Sox will have their hands full once Dice-K and Wake return, but another bullpen arm? Yes please.
Cincinnati has Arthur Rhodes and David Weathers available, and both are highly likely to clear waivers. Pick up the phone, Theo.
RichLevine said the following @ 08/05/2009, 5:48pm
First of all, Arthur Rhodes is older than Julio Franco.
Second, the Sox have had an awful track record with trade deadline/waiver wire moves over the past 10 seasons or so. Sure, every once in a while a guy like Scott Wiliamson comes along, but for the most part, we've watched the Sox make these late season, "Oh my god! Our bullpen sucks! What are we gonna do?!" trades, and then had to sit back as the likes of Eric Gagne, Chad Bradford, Curtis Leskanic and Scott Sauerbeck push us to the brink of mass suicide.
It's hard enough to deal with the pressure of Red Sox Nation. But for relievers, guys who are judged on the smallest possible body of work, that pressure is intensified.
I'd rather go forward with what we've got, then roll the dice with a guy who's spent the last three months pitching meaningless innings in half empty stadiums.
Especially if he's on the level of David Weathers and Grandpa Rhodes.
Evan Brunell said the following @ 08/05/2009, 7:26pm
Heck, I don't care if Rhodes is a great-grandfather as long as he keeps putting up the 2.15 ERA he is with Cincy.
Rhodes isn't a spring chicken: he's been around the block and spent 16 of his 19 years in the American League. He's got 20 games of postseason experience.
You say to go forward with what we've got. What do we have. A left-handed reliever who racked up a 7.02 ERA for the Yankees last year in Billy Traber. Rocky Cherry, our own personal punching bag last year when he was with the Orioles. Fernando Cabrera who couldn't even hack it with Baltimore last year and saw his psyche shatter into pieces for the Indians in 2007. Javier Lopez, who is... Javier Lopez.
There is absolutely no downside to acquiring someone like Rhodes or Weathers. Or someone else. If he fails, we turn to one of the options above, which we already have in the organization.
You say that you'd rather go forward with what we've got than roll the dice. But aren't we rolling the dice already?
RichLevine said the following @ 08/06/2009, 9:57am
Here's my major problem with your argument.
This isn't a question of whether the Sox will make a waiver move. Of course they will. In fact, they already have. And if I were a betting man (and I am) I'd bet the house that they'll make at least one more over the next couple weeks.
The question is whether they need to make a move.
To say that they need to make a move implies that said move is going to deliver some glaring, irreplacable piece to this championship puzzle. And I just don't think that "piece" exists out there on the waiver wire.
As far as the bullpen goes, the Sox biggest problem is that they've yet to find their 2004 Mike Timlin. That shut down set-up guy who you can throw out there every night and have full confidence that he'll bridge the gap to Papelbon. Arthur Rhodes won't give you that. David Weathers won't give you that. And neither will any other of the guys currently circulating the wire.
In my mind, the player with the best potential to grow into that role, and I'm talking about this year, is Daniel Bard. He has all the tools, he has the mentality, he's just a little green. And the worst thing to do in a situation like this is to start messing with his confidence. Remember Craig Hansen?
Up until very recently, Bard looked untouchable, he showed flashes of that '04 Timlin. So now, after one shaky outing you're going to bring in some random wild card, hope that he's the answer and risk the mental state of your future closer?
Let Bard be the man. Trust that he can get it done.
Evan Brunell said the following @ 08/06/2009, 1:21pm
Any acquisition wouldn't necessarily trump Bard. In fact, if we were to acquire anyone short of Heath Bell who Tito and Theo thought should trump Bard, I'd be right there with you.
But even when Masterson was around, Bard was emerging as the eighth inning reliever of choice along with Hideki Okajima.
No, the question here in my mind is should the Sox make a waiver wire deal for a reliever to replace the chaff in our bullpen?
Given the way the Sox have been playing of late, you can't have too many quality arms. I'm sure Billy Traber is a nice guy and all, but give me Arthur Rhodes over Traber.
Evan Brunell wins the slugfest!
Comments
tdaloisio
posted @ 08/05/2009, 5:25pm
There will be a deal...no doubt about it. You can always upgrade a roster spot and a lefty out of the bullpen that trumps Traber is a likely candidate.
PeterGriffin
posted @ 08/05/2009, 9:07pm
rich is right. seriously is arthur rhodes the missing peice of the puzzle. our pen is just fine. these guys still cant hit! the rays our the sox new yankees
Evan Brunell
posted @ 08/05/2009, 10:34pm
No one is the missing piece of the puzzle, Peter. (By the way, love you in your show.)
But to keep up with our struggling starting rotation and suspect offense, we need to improve wherever we can. Rhodes would improve our bullpen.
No one is saying he is the missing piece of the puzzle. But is he a better piece of the puzzle than Billy Traber?
Oh yeah.
j6proulx
posted @ 08/05/2009, 10:42pm
Until the Sox can get more than 5.1 innings out of the 3-5 spots in the rotation, we need some help with the Masterson role (multiple innings, extra innings situations). Personally, I'm less concerned with having a LH specialist as I feel Ramirez, Bard (and Oki) et al can get the job done.
bottomlinesox
posted @ 08/06/2009, 8:21am
It appears that Paul Byrd could be our new long relief man. The Sox just signed him and he'll spend most of August in Pawtucket getting ready to help in September.
This is not an inspiring move, IMO.
Evan's suggestions are decent, but playing in the NL, on the Reds, is not even close to the same as playing in the pressure cooker that is Boston.
Bottom Line: I like our bullpen as it is right now. Adding a guy to keep them fresh down the stretch wouldn't hurt, but we can do that with the AAA guys... come October, I think Okie, MDC, Bard, Ram Ram and Paps will be fine.
Our REAL problem is the lack of a No. 3 starter...
tdaloisio
posted @ 08/06/2009, 11:34am
Rich...fair point on the difference between "will" and "need"....semantics..but fair.
