Ex Postgame Facto: Fail

by 0157H7 on Jul 28, 2009 11:54 PM EDT in Game Stories

It was going to end eventually. All of it.

Papelbon stranding the million baserunners he allows. Nick Green leading the team in UZR. The pen not allowing multiple runs since the All-Star Break.

Clay "Rhymes with but better than Smoltz" Buchholz started it out, pitching 5.2 innings and striking out 5, allowing only 2 runs. His stuff was quite impressive - nasty curves and changes, and a sharp fastball. His team scored 6 runs off some rookie. Times were good. Then the pen came in. Oki and RamRam gave up runs, but didn't upstage the Lord of the Dance, the Tower of Papel himself. With two assists from Nick Green, Jonathan Papelbon allowed three runs to tie the game up. Then Manny Delcarmen reminded us all why he should never pitch more than one inning. The Sox valiantly rallied, but came up short in the 11th.

Baseball is a cruel sport. Cruel and unusual. Solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short. Actually that's golf. But being a baseball fan, even of one of the best teams in the game, can be trying. A good NFL team only loses a handful of times; some go undefeated. Harry Potter always catches the Golden Snitch.*

Not so in baseball. A good year in baseball is winning 58.6% of your games (95 wins in 162 games). So one way to look at it is that a playoff team still has to earn its 67 or so losses. Well, they earned one tonight.

*I hear he also wears a shirt that says, "No Snitchin'!"

Poll

Where were you when Jonathan Papelbon walked on the moon?

Throwing moon rocks at him.

53 votes

Watching him make funny faces as he tries to breathe the vacuum of space.

34 votes

Stuffing him into the lander's thrusters. It needs fuel, and he's just SO combustible.

33 votes

Up there having a beer with him and observing Nick Green's throws sail around the earth and towards the sun.

70 votes

190 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Random poll.

Third one sounds like it would be the most appropriate return for Paps.

@bs_uf15bosox9be:OverTheMonster-ALLERGEN WARNING:May contain PB.

by bdalebs on Jul 29, 2009 12:27 AM EDT reply actions

Honestly, I say we trade Papelbon.

This can just be a culminating point or whatever, but come on. His WHIP is at 1.39, he’s walking people far more often, he’s not going to stay with the team past 2010 anyways, and his value is just going to drop as he becomes more and more a rental.

We need to move on to Bard. He’s a closer plain and simple. He’s our closer for the next 6 years too, if you ask me. If we can save some prospects by offering up some pen help to an NL contender (and there are an exceptional number of NL contenders this year to choose from) in return for the big piece we’re looking for, then do it. We can’t keep putting 2, 3 run leads at risk everytime we put in Papelbon. He’s the worst kind of closer risk: He doesn’t give up single runs, he gives up big innings.

I’m probably going to be accused of being reactionary here, but this has been a long way in coming. He’s basically a rental for us as is, he’s holding up a consistent bullpen slot for a better performer who’s a long-term piece, and his value will just go down as his FA becomes closer. Let’s get something.

by Ben Buchanan on Jul 29, 2009 1:36 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Wow. If you're going to be accused of being reactionary, I hate to think what I'll be accused of in the morning...

"Are you a real doctor, or a doctor like Dr. Pepper is a doctor?"

by Allen Chace on Jul 29, 2009 1:49 AM EDT up reply actions

Rec'd.

@bs_uf15bosox9be:OverTheMonster-ALLERGEN WARNING:May contain PB.

by bdalebs on Jul 29, 2009 6:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Whatever...

The guy is gone next year anyway because Theo won’t pay him the $20 Million Paps thinks he deserves and Bard will be our closer. Maybe we can take out Weste from the Halladay package and replace him with Paps. (Better to trade him then to let him walk for nothing).

by sonicdeathmonkey on Jul 29, 2009 1:39 AM EDT reply actions

Paps has two more arb years

He’s a FA in 2012.

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Jul 29, 2009 7:18 AM EDT up reply actions

2011, I think

by Ben Buchanan on Jul 29, 2009 2:57 PM EDT up reply actions

This game was one of the most upsetting things I’ve ever watched. My computer screen now has a massive hand print on it. Thanks a lot Paps, you stupid redneck.

by Gnick on Jul 29, 2009 2:06 AM EDT reply actions

Lol

Be eaaaasy.

Like this:

Fuck you Paps. I hope your new delivery conserves your precious arm but nets you a league minimum paycheck you bum.

I didn't like the old one very much. I didn't see the ball there very well. - Julio Lugo on the old Yankees Stadium.

by Charged on Jul 29, 2009 4:16 AM EDT up reply actions

Yikes

It be gettin’ all NASTY up in here.

by Bloggy on Jul 29, 2009 6:01 AM EDT reply actions

What ever happened to the idea that a single

is just a single in the major leagues. It seems the Sox have such poor throwing catchers that all singles are now uncontested doubles after one more pitch. What happened??

Am I the only one who sees this? Is this a sign that Boston does not value a good throwing arm anywhere, but especially at catcher? You can’t win when every single is an auto double.

by NG on Jul 29, 2009 7:12 AM EDT reply actions

I see it

but it is not just the Catchers think of all of the singles that got stretched to doubles because of our poor throwing outfielders.

by drabidea on Jul 29, 2009 8:54 AM EDT up reply actions

You did happen to notice that Kott gunned a runner down, right?

@bs_uf15bosox9be:OverTheMonster-ALLERGEN WARNING:May contain PB.

by bdalebs on Jul 29, 2009 7:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Even a blind squrrel, well you know.

It was too little too late, and the no-throws when several guys stole third late in the game was a sin.

by NG on Jul 29, 2009 7:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Sure.

Just saying, it’s not like the catchers aren’t getting the throws there at all. And a lot of the blame has to go to the pitchers for being too easy to read, too slow to the plate, and not holding runners better.

@bs_uf15bosox9be:OverTheMonster-ALLERGEN WARNING:May contain PB.

by bdalebs on Jul 29, 2009 11:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Sad fact

Very, very few teams win championships without a dominant closer. It’s a must – the most important position, these days, in an era in which the bullpen rules. If Papelbon doesn’t figure it out soon, it’ll be another disappointing year.

Whatever happened to the old 1-2-3 Paps?

by ccthemovieman on Jul 29, 2009 7:31 AM EDT reply actions

Different mechanics.

And closers are just overrated relief pitchers – that’s why we’re advocating trading Paps. It really wouldn’t be that hard to find a replacement.

@bs_uf15bosox9be:OverTheMonster-ALLERGEN WARNING:May contain PB.

by bdalebs on Jul 29, 2009 7:03 PM EDT up reply actions

disgusted!

I’ve been a fan since the mid 60’s and can say what I want….we don’t deserve to be in first place …from Theo to Francona to almost everyone else…we are a mediocre team!
Where’s Bay’s power? Where’s Drews anything? You can’t count on anyone in the bullpen anymore…Ortiz is next to nothing…too bad we’re stuck with him….this just gets worse and worse…and Tito just can’t light a fire under these overpaid underproducing has beens…

by db24 on Jul 29, 2009 7:47 AM EDT reply actions

Age =/= wisdom.

Drew had a pretty damn good game last night, in case you missed it. Papi’s been great since June 1, right around when Bay stopped hitting. And we’re still one of the top 5 teams in the majors, so calm down.

@bs_uf15bosox9be:OverTheMonster-ALLERGEN WARNING:May contain PB.

by bdalebs on Jul 29, 2009 7:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Aaaaaaaaaaahhhhh....in MY day....

UPHILL BOTH WAYS!

by Bloggy on Jul 30, 2009 6:40 AM EDT up reply actions

By the way,

Buchholz was NOT “impressive,” giving up 9 hits and 2 walks in 5.2 innings, unable to stay in the game despite being given a four-run lead. Why some people here have some love affair with this guy is incomprehensible since he’s 3-10 the last 10 years and given up a whopping 112 hits in 91 innings with an E.R.A. around 6.50.

Buch and a few minor leaguers for Hallady; no way the Blue Jays are that dumb!

by ccthemovieman on Jul 29, 2009 7:47 AM EDT reply actions

CC-

you don’t know what you are talking about.
a)Closers-how are these for championship closers-BK Kim (Diamondbacks 01),Braden Looper (Marlins 03), Jason Isringhausen (Cards, 06)? They all suck. Furthermore, essentially every WS since 2004 has had a team with a crappy closer.
b)Buchholz wasn’t impressive, but he was fine-he left the game with a 4 run lead and basically pitched 6 innings. He gave up a lot of hits, most of the dink and dunk variety. Lots of hits are not uncommon when you have a clueless home plate umpire with a postage stamp sized strike zone.
c)It is not people here who have a love affair, it is scouts and GMs from around the league. Why? Because he has excellent stuff, a great track record in the minor leagues, and has not been as bad in his early days in the majors as you imply. He had a 4.82 FIP last year-not nearly as bad as his 6+ERA that you quote, and he Ked a batter per inning. Those are the things that people see. Not the stupid stuff that your untrained eye sees. Every so often when a young pitcher struggles a bit those like you come out of the woodwork spewing BS about W-L records and ERAs. The very same sorts wanted to deal Jon Lester too.

by Buzzy on Jul 29, 2009 9:24 AM EDT up reply actions

Jonathan Papelbon,

He of the 0.00 Postseason ERA, says hello.

"It's just a tiny little nick, but it hurts when I get champagne in there."
- Jason Bay, on getting spiked scoring the winning run in ALDS Game Four.

by 0157H7 on Jul 29, 2009 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions

Jonathan Papelbon

he of the same number of rings as Kim, Looper and Izzy says I suck these days. Really my only point is that “Very, very few teams win championships without a dominant closer. It’s a must – the most important position” is a very very silly comment.

by Buzzy on Jul 29, 2009 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions

Buchholz was fine

Did you see the strike zone last night? It was the size of a postage stamp. Buchholz went 5.2 innings. That’s a good Dice-K start, even in his good years. The Sox lost last night because of shoddy defense and a weak bullpen.

Buchholz has very good stuff. Every GM in baseball wants him, and almost everyone rates him as a potential top-of-the-rotation starter. Give the kid time. He has only made 21 career starts. Sure, he has struggled so far: 5.40 ERA 1.63 WHIP, despite a good K-rate (8.3 K/9). But a lot of pitchers struggle when they start their major league career. Jon Lester had a 4.74 ERA and 1.59 WHIP his first two years (26 starts). Lester’s K-rate, which is now great, wasn’t as good as Buchholz’s (6.8 K/9). Hey, Roy Halladay posted an ERA of 10.64 in 67.2 IP as a 23-year old. Young pitchers sometimes struggle. Sometimes you just have to be patient.

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Jul 29, 2009 9:37 AM EDT up reply actions

His stuff was impressive though.

Lots of movement and velocity.

@bs_uf15bosox9be:OverTheMonster-ALLERGEN WARNING:May contain PB.

by bdalebs on Jul 29, 2009 7:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Bucholz love affair...

still sort of confuses me. The kid threw a no-hitter (congrats to him its a wonderful accomplishment) but hasn’t ever been the golden ticket he is made out to be. He may succeed in a smaller market team, but he certainly seems like a bit of a headcase.

Also, I know the Globe piece made it seem like this was all Nick Green’s fault. Its not like he botched two easy ground balls, while I’m not giving him a break for making the wrong decision (throwing the second one when there was no chance was a stupid play) they were both really tough plays.

Also, and this is just curiousity, does anyone think bouncing Youk around from first to third is impacting him defensively at first? Does a gold glove first basemen not scoop those throws? It is really just a question, its hard to tell how difficult a play it is when you are screaming at the television.

We are not normal. We are legends.

by NittanyAlum02 on Jul 29, 2009 8:41 AM EDT reply actions

I think your first question is valid

Though I don’t think those throws were scoop-able, so to speak.

"Are you a real doctor, or a doctor like Dr. Pepper is a doctor?"

by Allen Chace on Jul 29, 2009 9:25 AM EDT up reply actions

easy folks

All right, so the Pap got smeared. And the Sox lost a game they should have won. Not the end of the world; it’s still July. Thoughts:

- Buchholz looked OK. Not great, but OK. It seems like all that’s separating him from being an excellent starter is some time with a pitching coach. He definitely has major-league stuff, and a very live arm, but he doesn’t know how to set hitters up at this level. He gets to 2 strikes and doesn’t know what to do. Which is a fixable problem.

- Drew actually had 3 hits in this game. I know, I’m as surprised as you are.

- Papelbon. Deep sigh. He’s been playing with fire all season long, and I’m still pretty shocked a crap-hitting team like Oakland made him pay for it. But the Sox still need him this season. As good as Bard looks, we don’t know if he’s mentally tough enough to close. I’d rather go into the postseason with a closer who’s done it before.

- Let’s all take a moment and pray for the health and return to form of Jed Lowrie. After last night, I’m not excited about anything hit toward Green in a late-season game. That 9th inning was Knoblauch-esque.

More casual than the average fan.

by baseball conspiracy theories on Jul 29, 2009 9:29 AM EDT reply actions