The Official Thread of the 2006 Boston Red Sox

[Rolevio]

What, he's not ready now?

Apparently they want him to work the bullpen in the majors for a bit before assuming the closing role if needed. Since he's so young, probably not a bad idea.


My personal guess is they are just holding him back as he is the 6th starter as well and it's just as likely that Wells may be plagued by injuries as Foulke not working out. But that part is just my guess.

[Haunted]

Apparently they want him to work the bullpen in the majors for a bit before assuming the closing role if needed. Since he's so young, probably not a bad idea.


My personal guess is they are just holding him back as he is the 6th starter as well and it's just as likely that Wells may be plagued by injuries as Foulke not working out. But that part is just my guess.
I think your second point is very plausible. Age isn't much of a factor, I don't think, as he's pitched well in pressure situations at every level he's been at. Also, they'll want to see how fast Hansen can rise.

[Rolevio]

Also, they'll want to see how fast Hansen can rise.

The Globe is projecting both hansen and lester to be ready by late this season.
http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/graphics/03_30_06_edes_pitchers

[Rolevio]

The Globe's season preview actually focused on the farm system, and had alot on the prosects, especially pitchers.
http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/baseball_preview_2006/

Edit: Whoops, meant to edit the last post, not add a new one.

[Haunted]

Newbie!!!! ;)

Yeah, hopefully Lester, Delcarmen, and Hansen will be up before July 31st, and make is a very difficult decision who to put on the postseason roster. :cool:

[Pal]

Yeah, hopefully Lester, Delcarmen, and Hansen will be up before July 31st, and make is a very difficult decision who to put on the postseason roster. :cool:

I'd kind of hope they're not, as that would mean the current members of the pen will have stunk it up. September 1st, open up the floodgates! :)

On Hansen, personally I'd rather see him finish the season as a closer in Pawtucket or as a set-up man for Foulke/Papelbon. I'd be leery of throwing a guy who's pitched a whole 3 innings at the ML level into the closer spot during a pennant race. I'd rather see him start out the season as closer in 07.

[Blackout]

From what I have read, should Foulke not work out, it would be Timlin's job until Papelbon was ready to close.

It will absolutly not be Timlin's unless Papelbon was starting.

[Blackout]

I expect Alvarez and Delcarmen to be in the bullpen at somepoint, but keep in miond they have Dinardo over them, who will be sent down for wells to come up.

Lester and Hansen I can see as Sept call ups, but I think they want them coming on slower. Hansen has a better shot as he's a reliever and they'll want him up sooner, but also wont bring him up unless he can pitch meaningful innings. It's interesting they put him in AA to start.

I'm going to Pawtucket opening day this week. I'll of course report my observations. I might go to see wells on fri too.

[JohnB]

From what we saw last year of Hansen's brief appearances he's definitely NOT ready to be a big league closer. He'll need a fair amt of work in short middle or set up relief at the big league level before he gets anywhere near being a closer in the bigs. Papelbon MIGHT be ready. Obviously with his age and experience no one wants to see him tossed to the wolves in such a huge role with the ramifications of what that could do to a youngsters confidence if it doesn't work out. I would imagine Timlin is the goto if no one is on base and maybe they'd use both Pap and Timlin depending on the situation. Neither is a great option (esp since Papelbon is the obvious starter choice if we have a starting rotation injury - which would be a real shocker with Wells particularly) for immediately.

All this brings me to the point I made the entire offseason and was criticized for being such a pessimist about:

FOULKE IS A HEAD CASE AND HAS LOST HIS STUFF (physically AND mentally) AND WHEN HE IMPLODES (which appears to have started in his very first inning of the season in a non-close low pressure situation) WE'RE UP THE CREEK CAUSE THE SOX HAVE "NO REAL CLOSER!" (Does anyone see the domino effect here? Foulke fails, Papelbon then HAS to be in a bullpen/closer role, which means if a starter gets injured we don't have a great backup plan to fill that void?).


Coco saved his ***** from a complete disaster.

[Haunted]

On Hansen, personally I'd rather see him finish the season as a closer in Pawtucket or as a set-up man for Foulke/Papelbon. I'd be leery of throwing a guy who's pitched a whole 3 innings at the ML level into the closer spot during a pennant race. I'd rather see him start out the season as closer in 07.
I agree. I'd like to see them develop him, if possible, like Rivera was developed: setup guy for a year, then closer. But, like I said, they signed him to a huge contract (for a draftee), and I'm not sure how willing they are to allow him to stay in the minors at that price. Hopefully, as willing as they need to be.



From what we saw last year of Hansen's brief appearances he's definitely NOT ready to be a big league closer.
You are correct, but also don't forget that he had already pitched a full season in college, and was already pitching more than he had in his life. You gotta think he was wearing down a bit. And with that beanpole frame, let's not kill him before the age of 25.

All that said, assuming some of these guys pan out (maybe even Cla Meredith will regain some of his shattered confidence), they could have a very good, very young pitching staff in the years to come.

[CLS]

I'd kind of hope they're not, as that would mean the current members of the pen will have stunk it up. September 1st, open up the floodgates! :)

On Hansen, personally I'd rather see him finish the season as a closer in Pawtucket or as a set-up man for Foulke/Papelbon. I'd be leery of throwing a guy who's pitched a whole 3 innings at the ML level into the closer spot during a pennant race. I'd rather see him start out the season as closer in 07.I dunno. Worked out fine for minor league closer pheeeenom Calvin Schiraldi.

Not.

[shrader]

1. Turf. Always injured him.

What, is he going to get hurt walking over the turf on the way back to the dugout?

[thecomicbookguy]

What, is he going to get hurt walking over the turf on the way back to the dugout?

The Metrodome has turf everywhere, doesn't it? The only place there's dirt is around the bags, I believe, so he'd have to do a lot of running on turf.

[Westfield Eagle]

as for foulke: i was actually encouraged that he only gave up one run and got out of the inning :eek:

baby steps i guess

[UMO Better Blues]

as for foulke: i was actually encouraged that he only gave up one run and got out of the inning :eek:

baby steps i guess

Yeah, but he was getting hit *hard.* I'd have been more encouraged with some ground balls or non-warning track fly balls.

[Stillings]

From what we saw last year of Hansen's brief appearances he's definitely NOT ready to be a big league closer. He'll need a fair amt of work in short middle or set up relief at the big league level before he gets anywhere near being a closer in the bigs. Papelbon MIGHT be ready. Obviously with his age and experience no one wants to see him tossed to the wolves in such a huge role with the ramifications of what that could do to a youngsters confidence if it doesn't work out. I would imagine Timlin is the goto if no one is on base and maybe they'd use both Pap and Timlin depending on the situation. Neither is a great option (esp since Papelbon is the obvious starter choice if we have a starting rotation injury - which would be a real shocker with Wells particularly) for immediately.

All this brings me to the point I made the entire offseason and was criticized for being such a pessimist about:

FOULKE IS A HEAD CASE AND HAS LOST HIS STUFF (physically AND mentally) AND WHEN HE IMPLODES (which appears to have started in his very first inning of the season in a non-close low pressure situation) WE'RE UP THE CREEK CAUSE THE SOX HAVE "NO REAL CLOSER!" (Does anyone see the domino effect here? Foulke fails, Papelbon then HAS to be in a bullpen/closer role, which means if a starter gets injured we don't have a great backup plan to fill that void?).


Coco saved his ***** from a complete disaster.

Foulke needs to go back on the juice.

[Blackout]

Throwing Papelbon to the wolves? How is Pap any different from Huston Street? Pretty similar guys IMO. Not too mention other youn gguys in the mix for closing elsewhere like Soriano, Burgos, etc.

Also someone is correct in that Hansen had a huge workload last year. He was shutdown a few weeks I believe before being called back up to the bigs. Keep in mind he was playing in games in February.

[kennedy]

The adjustment from facing hitters in the Big East, to facing hitters in the Big Leagues is immense, and far more mental than physical. It was a remarkable jump that Hansen made by the end of last year. Give him a month to dominate Eastern League hitters (like Chris Ray did last season), and a little time in Pawtucket, and he'll be up by the end of the year. The stuff is undeniable.

I dunno, but from what I've seen, heard, and read, Papelbon would almost relish the opportunity to be "thrown to the wolves".

Also, as far as Foulke goes, he WAS facing one of the better lineups in baseball yesterday (man, I'm making excuses on day 2, this might be rough). I read that his velocity did hit 89 a couple of times, which seems at least to be a positive sign.

[Terrierbyassociation]

Not just that, he was pitching in a ridiculous hitter's park, so I don't think he'll be that bad. That said, he was getting hit hard.

[justinD]

foulke has said that all he was doing was basicaaly throwing FB, which was clear. w/ a five run lead, that's what you do. he clearly was unhappy w/ his change-up and his location...as he should have been. it was the only nagative you can take from yesterday...although i would argue (agreeing w/ others) that seeing some velocity from him was nice. and his delivery looked normal.