The Official Thread of the 2006 Boston Red Sox

[Westfield Eagle]

Wake pitched a good game today, but the bats were silent.

[Haunted]

Wake pitched a good game today, but the bats were silent.
Stunningly in-depth analysis.

[Westfield Eagle]

Stunningly in-depth analysis.

I didn't know you wanted me to breakdown the game for you. Sorry.

[UMO Better Blues]

Prior to today's AAA lineup...

Ain't that the truth. I know players need to get their rest, but resting them all at once makes for a punchless lineup. Not that it should factor into the lineup card, but can you imagine if you had shelled out $300-400 to take your family to a Saturday matinee and had to watch that?

[JohnB]

Well, well, well...

the optimistic ones must have a good spin for this one... So as I predicted/expected (although much earlier then I might have anticipated) Wells is back on the DL. That's one down - so Papelbon out of the closer role?

And what if Clement is... well Clement and continues to be... Clement? hmmm


all that depth sure isn't looking so deep now.

[Blackout]

I'm not going to freak out over a loss. I dont have much to add, but I'm not being quiet for fear fo being wrong ;)

[Westfield Eagle]

Well, well, well...

the optimistic ones must have a good spin for this one... So as I predicted/expected (although much earlier then I might have anticipated) Wells is back on the DL. That's one down - so Papelbon out of the closer role?

And what if Clement is... well Clement and continues to be... Clement? hmmm


all that depth sure isn't looking so deep now.

which is why i didn't like the arroyo deal from day 1.

[Craig P.]

That's one down - so Papelbon out of the closer role?DiNardo to the rotation, someone said earlier. (And it's what I would have expected.)

[Haunted]

DiNardo to the rotation, someone said earlier. (And it's what I would have expected.)
Correct. And Jermaine Van Buren up.


It always amuses me when supposed "fans" of a team seem positively gleeful when they lose.

[Haunted]

AAA lineup no more, back to the "regular" lineup today.

Trot expected to be back tomorrow, facing the righty Gil Meche.

Lenny DiNardo pitching tomorrow for the Patriots Day game. Too bad it couldn't have worked out so that Schil or Wake couldn't have gone tomorrow. Oh well.

Go Sox!

[BCeagle]

Well, well, well...

the optimistic ones must have a good spin for this one... So as I predicted/expected (although much earlier then I might have anticipated) Wells is back on the DL. That's one down - so Papelbon out of the closer role?

And what if Clement is... well Clement and continues to be... Clement? hmmm


all that depth sure isn't looking so deep now.

With less pop in their lineup, Papelbon will close. He's about as sure a thing right now in closing a game.

I think the sooner Crisp gets back to the lineup, the better for Wake, Clement, and Wells. Looks like they need more run support than Beckett and Schilling who already have 3 wins a piece, so far 75% of Boston's wins. Toronto's lineup has got be one of the scariest right now besides the Yankees. I feel the Red Sox were lucky they won one game at home against those Blue Jays.

[JohnB]

Correct. And Jermaine Van Buren up.


It always amuses me when supposed "fans" of a team seem positively gleeful when they lose.

I would harldy say I'm gleeful over a loss. I'm rather concerned. We've gone from having 7 starters to 4 and relying on pitchers who just aren't good enough and/or ready for starting in the Bigs. And that's without addressing the Clement issue.

It's simply my offseason fears coming true far earlier then I expected. Foulke not being ready/able to close, having to rely on Papelbon as a closer (which has been much better then hoped given his experience - the kid is amazing thank god). Clement being horrible, Wells having his age and health catching up w/ him. The Sox should have either picked up a closer in the offseason or kept Arroyo. I admire them looking long term at Pena but it should have been for Clement not Arroyo if anything and I don't think it was necessary at all.

I'd much rather not have Pena right now, be utilizing Stern more, and have Arroyo filling in tomorrow.

[BCeagle]

It's simply my offseason fears coming true far earlier then I expected. Foulke not being ready/able to close, having to rely on Papelbon as a closer (which has been much better then hoped given his experience - the kid is amazing thank god). Clement being horrible, Wells having his age and health catching up w/ him. The Sox should have either picked up a closer in the offseason or kept Arroyo. I admire them looking long term at Pena but it should have been for Clement not Arroyo if anything and I don't think it was necessary at all.

Anybody think Hansen will be ready this year to be in the pen? If he can be lights out like Papelbon, Papelbon can be moved as a solid starter. Whether Foulke closes or not, he can still be used as a valuable setup man if he cannot close anymore.

[Blackout]

Anybody think Hansen will be ready this year to be in the pen? If he can be lights out like Papelbon, Papelbon can be moved as a solid starter. Whether Foulke closes or not, he can still be used as a valuable setup man if he cannot close anymore.


Watch the Red Sox report tonight at 10:30 on NESN. A player development guy from the Sox willtalk about Hansen briefly and his chances making it up this year.

[JohnB]

Anybody think Hansen will be ready this year to be in the pen? If he can be lights out like Papelbon, Papelbon can be moved as a solid starter. Whether Foulke closes or not, he can still be used as a valuable setup man if he cannot close anymore.

My gut says he's not ready till 2nd half at best. (well gut and knowledge since I see him fairly often at Sea Dog games) If he is ready I think "expecting" him to be lights out like Papelbon suggests not just the pen but you're thinking as a closer? Someone like Papelbon comes up and immediately has an impact rarely. Hansen didn't look like he was close to that point in his brief appearances last season so I have no reason to think he is. I'm optimistic he could be solid in the pen after the all star break- but it doesn't solve the closer issue if Papelbon goes to the starting rotation.

[Gollywobbler]

Anybody think Hansen will be ready this year to be in the pen? If he can be lights out like Papelbon, Papelbon can be moved as a solid starter. Whether Foulke closes or not, he can still be used as a valuable setup man if he cannot close anymore.

I saw the Sea Dogs game Saturday. Hansen pitched the 6th and 7th. The 'Dogs were up 6-3 when he came in. He looked AWESOME. Naturally, the radar gun was faulty during his first inning of work, but he hit 95 several times in his second inning of work.

There had been some fireworks earlier as the Sea Dogs catcher accounted for 5 of the 6 runs with two homers. The first pitch after the second HR hit the batter. The batter glared, but just took his place at first. A few innings later (Hansen's second inning), after a bloop double, Hansen drilled a guy in the lower back with a 95-MPH fastball. The Mets' bench came onto the field while the manager (Juan Samuel; remember him?) yapped at the ump. In the context of this game, the whining made no sense (except that the Sea Dogs' beanball tosser had a better arm than the Mets guy), but apparently there were 5 Mets hit by pitches on Thursday.

At any rate, Hansen doesn't look to be intimidated (certainly not in AA). While the Mets were milling about and Samuel was being restrained, Hansen just stood behind the mound with his hands on his hips looking bored. I'm pretty excited to have him in the organization.

[JohnB]

He does have the fire... problem is he was throwing 95 or so in his appearance last year. Difference between MLB and AA is the hitters in AA can't touch 95 mph fast ball whereas MLB they hit em hard unless those 95 mph pitches have movement and location. I'm just not sure Hansen is ready w/ the movement, his other pitches and location for ML players not to tee off on that 95 fastball.

I think he'll definitely be fine for the Sox eventually - I'm just not convinced eventually is here yet.

I'd rather see Foulke close then Hansen and given my feelings on Foulke that makes my sentiments pretty clear :D

[HEFan4Life]

He does have the fire... problem is he was throwing 95 or so in his appearance last year. Difference between MLB and AA is the hitters in AA can't touch 95 mph fast ball whereas MLB they hit em hard unless those 95 mph pitches have movement and location. I'm just not sure Hansen is ready w/ the movement, his other pitches and location for ML players not to tee off on that 95 fastball.

I think he'll definitely be fine for the Sox eventually - I'm just not convinced eventually is here yet.

I'd rather see Foulke close then Hansen and given my feelings on Foulke that makes my sentiments pretty clear :D

Many things would have to go wrong for Hansen to get called up to the majors this year. The sox want him to work on his change, which would be devastating if he can keep throwing it at 79-82 with a 95 mph heater. They also have questions about his ability to pitch with runners on and want him to pitch into and out of jams, which is why he's at AA and not AAA right now. They are also looking to stretch him out, allowing him to pitch multiple innings in AA, to see if it is feasible for him to be a starter. There is a lot of concern over his mechanics as well and they want him to get more drive with his legs as the majority of his power comes from the torque he puts on his arm. All in all he'll be in AA until around mid-june till july, then head to AAA and probably get a september call up when the rosters expand. We're in serious trouble in the bullpen if he's called up before then.

[Haunted]

I agree with the sentiments regarding Hansen. The only thing I have to add is that I don't believe they're paying him $1 M a year to pitch in the minors. He'll be up before this year ends, but whether or not he'll be eligible for post-season play is a different story (i.e. callup before 7/31/06).

Trot expected to be in the lineup tonight, Wily Mo getting the day off (thank God). Lenny DiNardo carries a 3.38 ERA into the game, vs. Gil Meche's 6.75 ERA. DiNardo's pitched fairly well so far in only a couple of appearances.

[Rover]

What's screwed up my calculations for the rotation is Papelbon as closer. With him being so good in that role right now, its tough to take him out. However, that depletes the starting rotation depth that I was expecting.

Going into the season, I was figuring Schilling-Beckett-Papelbon-who cares-who cares. Now with only two solid starters the team is forced to rely on some questionable guys to pull them through. IMO this will fall on Clement, because Wake gets roughed up at the start and end of the year when his knuckleball doesn't float and Wells will be up and down all year with injuries as you'd expect from a 43 year old, 500 lb. pitcher. Scary as this may sound, but Clement needs to put up like 15-16 wins this year unless either 1) Foulke does reclaim the closer role thus sending Papelbon into the rotation, or 2) Clemens comes on board and the Sox can start printing off playoff tickets already....