Playoff Roster

by zabosox33 on Sep 24, 2009 11:39 AM EDT

I know we still have a few weeks or so to really start worrying about this, but here's my 25 man playoff roster.

I'll start with pitching.

Starters: Beckett, Lester, Buchholz, Dice K

Pen: Bard, Papelbon, Okajima, Ramirez, Wagner, Saito, Delcarmen

Position Players

INF: Youkilis, Lowell, Gonzo, Pedroia, Kotchman, Green (if not healthy, then Lowrie)

C: V Mart, Varitek

OF: Ellsbury, Bay, Drew, Baldelli, Gathright

DH: Ortiz

That also means the following would be left of for at least the ALDS: (Wake, Byrd, Reddick, Kottaras, Brown)

I know in the past Tito liked having 3 catchers on the roster which isn't a bad idea, but I'm not sure who you'd take off other than maybe Delcarmen.

Please comment. Thanks and Go Sox!

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What of Wagner's inability to work too often?

If that’s a concern, swap him for Wake. Good to have someone who can do long-relief.

Man I love that tuna casserole.

by Bloggy on Sep 24, 2009 12:18 PM EDT reply actions

Wake can barely play right now.

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

by Drugs Delaney on Sep 24, 2009 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions

That's a good point.

I guess I was feeling optimistic about him. Still, what of the Wagner concerns? Does he get on the 25?

Man I love that tuna casserole.

by Bloggy on Sep 24, 2009 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Of course. It would almost be an insult not too.

"Hating the New York Yankees is as American as apple pie, unwed mothers and cheating on your income tax." -- Mike Royko

by sox-inda-south on Sep 24, 2009 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions

There's no way you don't put Wagner on the playoff roster.

We’ve got pen problems as is with the disappearance of Manny, Ramon’s struggles, and Bard and Oki’s inconsistencies. To bench our 2nd best guy because he may not be able to pitch every game would be nuts—especially since the playoffs will tend to offer him extra rest, and the Sox will be less conservative with him given the circumstances.

by Ben Buchanan on Sep 24, 2009 7:10 PM EDT up reply actions

are you kidding?

Wagner’s been great

VARITEK MUST GO
Brandon Webb in 2010

by gizmosandy on Sep 24, 2009 9:05 PM EDT up reply actions

No concerns about his work

Only his workload.

Just the thought that if he pitches too much his shoulder can’t handle it and maybe now we’re down an arm. Clearly I’d want him in the pen if able to handle the workload.

Man I love that tuna casserole.

by Bloggy on Sep 24, 2009 9:29 PM EDT up reply actions

If he's injured, we can add someone else to the playoff roster.

The Sox are the ones treating him with kid gloves likely so he’s ready to pitch consistently in the playoffs. Wagner thinks he’d be fine pitching back-to-back nights as is.

by Ben Buchanan on Sep 25, 2009 2:17 AM EDT up reply actions

Forgot about that.

Then, obviously, he’s in. Thanks!

Man I love that tuna casserole.

by Bloggy on Sep 25, 2009 8:14 AM EDT up reply actions

I think he probably does.

Even with the concerns of back to back days and an 11 man staff in the postseason, you still need to look into the fact that he’s stated before that he would love the fact of pitching on back to back days, its mainly the Sox holding him back. In the postseason, hopefully anything goes.

The interesting fact I’m seeing is that our bench is actually in good shape for the postseason.
Depending on the lineup, you have solid pinch hitting options (Baldelli, Kotchman), solid D replacements, and of course pinch running (Gathright).
Overall, I believe our postseason roster is def. in good shape.

by zabosox33 on Sep 24, 2009 4:12 PM EDT reply actions

I don't think I'd call Kotchman "solid"

He’s not really much of a threat. He’s really only an upgrade on offense if Lowell isn’t available and we need to get Tek’s bat out of the lineup. Where he adds value, though, is on defense, especially if Lowell’s hip acts up.

Otherwise, I agree the roster’s in very good shape. I’d feel better about it, though, if Beckett was more comfortable with Victor behind the plate. I don’t want to see Tek getting any more postseason ABs than are absolutely necessary unless we have a 10 run lead.

by RSNexile on Sep 24, 2009 5:12 PM EDT up reply actions

He is a decent OBP guy.

@bs_uf15bosox9be The Original Gameday; Learn to use SB Nation

by bdalebs on Sep 24, 2009 6:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Which is fine when you need a clutch baserunner

But in the playoffs you don’t generally get desperate for a guy to draw a walk. You get desperate for a guy to get a hit.

And really, he hasn’t been a decent OBP guy since we got him. He’s .279 since we got him, and just .337 for his career. The latter part I would take for a bench player, but he has to do better than .279 to get important ABs in the postseason.

by RSNexile on Sep 24, 2009 10:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Not a huge sample size to judge off of.

He wouldn’t be a horrible defensive replacement, is what I’m saying. He’d still be able to get on base at a decent clip.

@bs_uf15bosox9be The Original Gameday; Learn to use SB Nation

by bdalebs on Sep 24, 2009 11:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Why Green before Jed?

Aside from the obvious health concerns with Green, Jed’s definitely better.

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by bdalebs on Sep 24, 2009 6:46 PM EDT reply actions

Good point.

Yet, I really don’t see Theo and Tito both agreeing that Jed is 100% healthy and ready for postseason baseball. Not saying that Green is 100% healthy now either, but he’s been a consistent back up to Gonzo and Jed really hasn’t gotten much pt other than pinch hit AB’s and a few innings in the field. I just don’t see them pressing Jed into anything he’s not ready for. He’s still got a long future ahead of him hopefully.

As far as Kotchman is concerned, I didn’t mean he’s a great PH guy, bc everyone in our starting lineup is def. better than him, but I don’t mind seeing him in there just as a backup (maybe a D replacement late in the game and bump youk over to 3rd).

by zabosox33 on Sep 25, 2009 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions