Tim Wakefield out for season

by Randy Booth on Oct 3, 2009 10:23 PM EDT in News

I think we all knew it was coming, but it now looks official:

It’s likely, and not at all surprising, that Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield will not be on the any postseason roster due to a herniated disk in his lower back.

The injury is causing weakness and numbness in his left leg and his strength level has decreased to around 50 percent. His teammates and manager have called his efforts courageous and admirable while he’s attempted to pitch through the pain and discomfort. He will need surgery and will likely have it very soon.

If anyone saw Wakefield try to walk in his last start, you knew this was coming. He wasn't healthy then and you'd be foolish to think he'd be ready for the playoffs.

It's hard to see this for many reasons, but one is the fact Wake was so good in the first half of the season. He was an All-Star he was so good! To finish the season out like this is most definitely a hard way to go out.

The Sox will now go into the ALDS with Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz and Daisuke Matsuzaka as their four core starters. If they ever need a fifth starter if they are to make it to the ALCS or World Series, I would assume Paul Byrd would be the guy to get the nod. This also means that if Beckett or any other starter comes down with an injury, Byrd is the guy.

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Classy Guy

I wish Wake the best. He has been the classiest guy on the Sox for a long time. Start, relieve, close, whatever they asked him to do he would do it. Hope the surgery works out and he comes back next season. If not and he has to retire, Tim, thanks for being a great team member for the Red Sox!

by MichaelR on Oct 4, 2009 8:12 AM EDT reply actions

Everything you say is fine, and

I agree generally.

The one big point that I will make (although obvious to me) is that this is not unexpected with a man of Wakefield’s age trying to play with kids. The human physiology and stamina are truly effected by aging, and I think general managers should know this and put it into their team building calculations. I was pretty sure before the season started that Wakefield would break down due totally to his age, and he did. Not magic, just human!

BTW, I think I win my bet.

by NG on Oct 4, 2009 9:03 AM EDT up reply actions

NG, I do not understand you

"You know," Girardi said, shrugging his shoulders, "it didn't work."

( Joe Girardi on pitching to Manny Ramirez with first base open)

by MassGal on Oct 4, 2009 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions

I do.

And I’m not a fan of it.

But, yes. I’d say he wins his bet.

Goddamn that DeMarlo Hale.

by Bloggy on Oct 4, 2009 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions

Not so fast

http://www.overthemonster.com/2009/10/4/1068657/update-tim-wakefield-out-for-alds

Goddamn that DeMarlo Hale.

by Bloggy on Oct 4, 2009 1:20 PM EDT up reply actions

See comments for my response, NG.

@bs_uf15bosox9be The Original Gameday; Learn to use SB Nation

by bdalebs on Oct 4, 2009 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions

He's been injured for the past couple seasons, and now they may have found the reason why.

You can’t make generalizations about age, NG.

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by bdalebs on Oct 4, 2009 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Here here.

Goddamn that DeMarlo Hale.

by Bloggy on Oct 4, 2009 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions

To be completely fair, Wake made the all-star team this year more as a lifetime achievement award than because he was one of the best dozen or so pitchers in the AL — though he was close enough to make it not a bad decision.

This may be the best thing for the team, though. Wake is at the point where his body can’t hold up for a full season, so he can have surgery, rehab completely, come back in June or July for his last hurrah, and give us 20 solid starts, including postseason. If he wants to keep coming back after that, he’s still a bargain at $4M a year, but I’d love to see him retire after getting a win in a World Series game.

by RSNexile on Oct 4, 2009 11:25 AM EDT reply actions

Exactly -- he was close enough

Certainly no one was complaining because his numbers were horrible and it was just because he’s been around awhile. That wasn’t the case.

OverTheMonster.com

by Randy Booth on Oct 4, 2009 12:00 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't know if it's that his body can't hold up.

From what I can tell, the back injury that he has right now is probably connected to the rest of the injuries he’s had recently – if it is fixed, he may be perfectly fine.

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by bdalebs on Oct 4, 2009 2:08 PM EDT up reply actions