Stop the Trade Papelbon Talk

by mariangaborik10 on Oct 11, 2009 4:39 PM EDT

I know he wasn't as good as we're used to this year but are we really gonna give up on Papelbon after 1 blown save. True it came at the worst possible time but it was his first blown save in 27 POSTSEASON Innings. Translation: After today his postseason ERA is 0.96.

How many closers in the league are seriously as good as him? Nathan, Mariano, Soria, K-Rod, Valverde maybe.

I know Bard's got great stuff and could be a great closer you need the mental make up. Ask Calvin Schiraldi. Also how durable is Bard's arm. He hasn't even thrown 100innings. We've seen many flamethrowers arms burnout quickly

Would you rather have a closer by commitee like 2003. Okajima or Saito? Would the Sox have won in 2007 if Joel Piniero was closing like they planned? You don't realize how important a closer is until you don't have one

Lets look at the closers for each of the teams that won the world series this decade:

2000- Mariano Rivera

2001- Byung Hum Kim

2002- Francisco Rodriguez

2003- Braden Looper

2004- Keith Foulke

2005- Bobby Jenks

2006- Adam Wainwright

2007- Jonathan Papelbon

2008- Brad Lidge

2009- Mariano Rivera/Brian Fuentes (No NL Team can beat LA or NY)

All of them had top closers (Except Arizona who won despite Kim blowing 2 games in the world series)

So let's not give up on Papelbon after 1 game.

Edit- My mistake. I remember K-Rod being dominant during the 02 playoffs. Forgot he was a setup guy to Troy Percival not a closer. My mistake but Pericival was an elite closer too

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True Dat.

But, he’s had injury concerns all along, Paps wants a record salary, and if he’s worse next year (i.e. Brad Lidge), we’ll get nothing for him. His value has gone down month by month it seems. Hopefully he can recover and not have to worry about this.

"We're not going to give up," It doesn't happen, so who cares? There's always next year. It's not like it's the end of the world."-Manny Ramirez

by revigik on Oct 11, 2009 4:44 PM EDT reply actions

It's worth talking about.

Just not worth demanding.

by Ben Buchanan on Oct 11, 2009 5:11 PM EDT reply actions

yea i agree with you USG

I let my initial reactions of the game get the best of me and created a post that looks foolish sorry guys

by lb33 on Oct 11, 2009 5:16 PM EDT up reply actions

did u even look up rodriguez in 2002?

He was a RP not a closer. He wasnt a closer til Troy Percival left via Free Agency. He did get 2 saves in 03. Troy Percival was the 2002 Anaheim Angels closer.

by docescobar07 on Oct 11, 2009 5:33 PM EDT reply actions

thank you

"In every adversity there lies the seed of an equivalent advantage. In every defeat is a lesson showing you how to win the victory next time." (Robert Collier)

by norcaliangelsfan on Oct 11, 2009 6:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Well i disagree with you on many levels

1) The Dodgers can beat either the Angels or Yankees/Twins. They have the pitching, especially the bullpen, the defense, the bats and the guys who can run the bases. Plus they have Joe Torre.

2) Papelbon’s situation is a mirror or K-Rod. He is not the man he once was and he will be asking for a huge pay day. Now, I am certainly willing to see what happens next season, but if he is the same, move him. Sell high, buy low. There are many teams with cash who would be willing to deal. The Cubs comes to mind right off.

by SoxAcumen on Oct 11, 2009 9:05 PM EDT reply actions

Just look at Paps Stats

He has some of best stats for a pitcher..

http://tinyurl.com/yghpxve

by superferret on Oct 16, 2009 9:25 AM EDT up reply actions

Geez, stop with Papelbon not being the same pitcher. The guy is still lights out, just a bad day.

by JaySo on Oct 12, 2009 7:08 PM EDT reply actions

He has tons of issues to begin the season, which is what I'm more concerned about.

It appeared that he had fixed them in the second half:

But I would make sure he’s got whatever mechanical issues he might have been having completely solved by the end of spring training or he’s going to be hounded.

@bs_uf15bosox9be 12 pieces of bacon, a Red Bull, and go get 'em; Learn to use SB Nation

by bdalebs on Oct 17, 2009 2:58 AM EDT up reply actions

He’s made up of the same stuff that Mo is, those were good great pitches they just got good hits. I wish he would have used his splitter more.

by JaySo on Oct 12, 2009 7:11 PM EDT reply actions

he is really not. Mo is elite in that category. and he caught ALOTnof white when he pitched the other day

Me and Nick? Were tight.

by jramey on Oct 13, 2009 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions

J, I don’t know what you’re talking about.

by JaySo on Oct 13, 2009 7:17 PM EDT up reply actions

I think "ALOTnof white" is supposed to mean...

“a lot of white”.

As in, he left a lot of pitches out over the middle of the plate.

Goddamn that DeMarlo Hale.

by Bloggy on Oct 13, 2009 7:56 PM EDT reply actions

Oh! forgive my blogging ignorance, I agree that Pap was hitting the strike zone too hard, I wish the splitter would have been used at least once.

by JaySo on Oct 15, 2009 9:44 PM EDT up reply actions

Closing stats mean nothing

All you pretty much have to do as a closer is not allow 3 or less runs in one inning and you get a save. Not that impressive.

by t.williams9 on Oct 13, 2009 10:57 PM EDT reply actions

I don't think anyone should underestimate the Phillies against the MFY..

The Phillies lineup is not going to be easy for any starting pitcher.

I don’t mind talk about trading Papelbon, because the Sox need to do some tweeking to the machine to have a good team in 2010. However discussing trading Papelbon is different than actually trading him. It will be silly to trade Papelbon, unless he has some serious health problems with his shoulder, or he is a clubhouse problem.

The player I would trade right now, if I was in Theo’s shoes is Lowell.

by superferret on Oct 16, 2009 9:16 AM EDT reply actions