The top 5 ways Wakefield will be denied #200

by ctpatsfan77 on Aug 9, 2011 1:23 PM EDT

It seems like Tim Wakefield has been trying forever to get win #200. Granted, it's only been three tries, but, really, he should have already gotten #200, if not more.

So how will fate conspire to deny Wakey #200 next?

#5. One of the relievers, say, Alfredo Aceves *cough*, beans a player. A bench-clearing brawl results, and Wakefield gets ejected for fighting . . . and gets suspended, missing a start.

#4. In the sixth inning of a scoreless tie, a bizarre combination of winds will cause one of his knuckleballs to literally hang over home plate for two seconds, allowing the lucky batter to smash it for a home run.

#3. Wakefield pitches six innings of one-run ball . . . only to have the Sox' bats explode in the eighth inning, after he's been pulled.

#2. Wakefield will pitch four innings of perfect game . . . only to have the game postponed on account of rain.

#1. Tito will keep him in an inning too long. Oh, wait. . . .

Poll

Will Wakefield win his next start?

Yes, and it's about d*** time

51 votes

No, the Sox'll screw it up again

28 votes

79 votes | Poll has closed

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His next start...

…should come Sunday against the Mariners, whom he beat for win #199 (though they plastered him for seven earned runs).

There’s a good chance at #200. It’s coming against a young pitcher (Furbush) who did manage to pitch five innings of scoreless relief against the Sox earlier this season, but that was way back in May when the Sox weren’t playing like the Sox. Things are different now. Some analysts say that the knuckle ball is an escape for hitters who are struggling with timing and/or contact. Hopefully this won’t be the case again with the Mariners, or, preferably, the Sox put up another twelve runs.

If Wake doesn’t get the win this coming Sunday, then when… It’ll probably occur when we least expect it, when we stop talking about it. Not that there’s much of a difference in his overall career between 199 and 200 (besides its milestone status, which I agree is important), but I’m starting to feel bad for the guy. He’s going out there and giving his team a shot. He gave them his eighth quality start last night (7 innings, 3 earned runs), yet it was like the Sox were toying with the Twins.

Wake’ll get there, and probably retire with around 211 total wins (sometime in two or three seasons), which will put him #1 all-time in Boston with 197. Or maybe he’ll climb to 200 in a Sox uniform, which would be a special treat. And the record will stand for some time, as the closest active pitchers behind him are Beckett with 80 and Lester with 72.

by Wicklow on Aug 9, 2011 3:33 PM EDT reply actions