Red Sox Articles

Drury77 · 03-04-2007, 04:25 PM

Boston Globe:
Papelbon painting -- with broader strokes
Pineiro doesn't bolster his case for closing
It didn't take long to get in a zone
A long walk for those who can't

Boston Herald:
Pedroia’s new approach
Matsu-mania! Japanese media in state of frenzy on Dice-K
Papi a fatherly figure
Leaving pain in his Wake: Veteran eyes better days
Don’t call me the closer

Zen653 · 03-05-2007, 05:24 PM

I find the "Pineiro doesn't bolster his case for closing" article to be rather troubling. I'm not sure why the Red Sox signed this guy for a $4 million base salary, with an option for 2008. He had a 6+ ERA, he makes basic rookie mistakes like throwing homerun pitches on 0-2 counts, and his attitude seems less than ideal. Given that we already have six starting pitchers, what exactly was the point to signing Pineiro to mid-level money? He's not going to close if he continues to pitch abysmally, and he's not going to start. $4 million is a lot to pay for a mop-up relief pitcher, especially when you already have a $3.5 million mop-up man in Julian Tavarez. Does anyone think that Pineiro will be any better than someone like Kyle Snyder (out of options, making $500k), Kason Gabbard (lefthander who pitched well for the big club last year), Lenny DiNardo (another solid lefthander whom we needlessly gave up for free to Oakland), or Bryan Corey? This deal has Ramiro Mendoza written all over it. I'm okay with taking a chance on people, just not at this kind of money. Eric Gagne would have cost just $2 million more, and at least he has a strong track record of success as a closer.

bedir than average · 03-05-2007, 05:27 PM

This deal does not have Ramiro Mendoza written all over it. Mendoza was good in the previous seasons to the signing.

Zen653 · 03-05-2007, 05:30 PM

True, I guess I'm just expecting this to work out about as well as Ramiro Mendoza, who was paid a comparable amount of money to waste roster space. A better comparison would be Steve Avery.

Drury77 · 03-05-2007, 06:23 PM

Is anyone else excited to see what Pedroia is gonna bring, with him playing a full season for the BoSox??

I like that fact that we have some youth coming into the field, to go along with our promising young pitchers. I am really curious to see how things pan out for Pedroia. You would have to think he'll be consistent at the plate, and solid in the field.

Zen653 · 03-05-2007, 06:36 PM

I think Pedroia will be solid at the plate. Hasn't he always hit about .300 as a starting infielder? I'm more concerned about his defense. He showed a terrible throwing arm last September and he double clutched most of his throws. Umpires also caught him leaving the bag too early on double plays.

So far in spring training, Pedroia seems to be throwing the ball better. However, he did boot at least one routine DP ball in one of the televised games. Hopefully that's not a harbinger of things to come.

I do know this much - it should be exciting to have two legitimate Rookie of the Year candidates in Matsuzaka and Pedroia. Lester would be a third candidate if the Red Sox started the season with him in the rotation; it appears that he'll be in Pawtucket for most of the year.

AutomatedTeller · 03-05-2007, 06:50 PM

I'm excited about Pedroia. I'm with Zen on piniero - I just don't get it. The signing doesn't seem to fit with their philosophy, either, unless it is one of those "we are smarter than everyone else" signings.

Piniero has a career ERA of 3.21 as a reliever.
His first inning is decent if not great.
He has had a great K/BB ratio in his career (not 2006)

But he was awful last year and the year before...

Many successful closers were not good as starters - Gagne is only the most recent example - Bedrosian, Gossage, Eckersley (though the Eck was succesful as a starter before losing it) - but I don't know if any of them were as bad as Piniero was last year.

Time will tell, I guess, as to whether this is another case of Theo outsmarting himself or if this turns into a good move. At least it's just 1 year.

Here's a question: How does Joel Piniero $1.2M more than Mike Timlin?

03-04-2007, 04:25 PM	#1 (permalink)
Drury77 Hockey Community Mod Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Clarksville, TN Posts: 894	Red Sox Articles Boston Globe: Papelbon painting -- with broader strokes Pineiro doesn't bolster his case for closing It didn't take long to get in a zone A long walk for those who can't Boston Herald: Pedroia’s new approach Matsu-mania! Japanese media in state of frenzy on Dice-K Papi a fatherly figure Leaving pain in his Wake: Veteran eyes better days Don’t call me the closer __________________ Visit Traci's Card Place \| Stop by the Bruins Forum \| Stop by the Predators Forum

03-05-2007, 05:27 PM	#3 (permalink)
bedir than average Administrator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Starbucks Posts: 8,256	This deal does not have Ramiro Mendoza written all over it. Mendoza was good in the previous seasons to the signing. __________________ US Men's National Team World Cup Qualifying \| Democracy in Sports Meets My First Campaign "You're only so sure you're right because they're so sure you're wrong." Orson Scott Card in Xenocide

03-05-2007, 06:23 PM	#5 (permalink)
Drury77 Hockey Community Mod Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Clarksville, TN Posts: 894	Is anyone else excited to see what Pedroia is gonna bring, with him playing a full season for the BoSox?? I like that fact that we have some youth coming into the field, to go along with our promising young pitchers. I am really curious to see how things pan out for Pedroia. You would have to think he'll be consistent at the plate, and solid in the field. __________________ Visit Traci's Card Place \| Stop by the Bruins Forum \| Stop by the Predators Forum

03-05-2007, 05:24 PM	#2 (permalink)
Zen653 Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 6,902	I find the "Pineiro doesn't bolster his case for closing" article to be rather troubling. I'm not sure why the Red Sox signed this guy for a $4 million base salary, with an option for 2008. He had a 6+ ERA, he makes basic rookie mistakes like throwing homerun pitches on 0-2 counts, and his attitude seems less than ideal. Given that we already have six starting pitchers, what exactly was the point to signing Pineiro to mid-level money? He's not going to close if he continues to pitch abysmally, and he's not going to start. $4 million is a lot to pay for a mop-up relief pitcher, especially when you already have a $3.5 million mop-up man in Julian Tavarez. Does anyone think that Pineiro will be any better than someone like Kyle Snyder (out of options, making $500k), Kason Gabbard (lefthander who pitched well for the big club last year), Lenny DiNardo (another solid lefthander whom we needlessly gave up for free to Oakland), or Bryan Corey? This deal has Ramiro Mendoza written all over it. I'm okay with taking a chance on people, just not at this kind of money. Eric Gagne would have cost just $2 million more, and at least he has a strong track record of success as a closer.

03-05-2007, 05:30 PM	#4 (permalink)
Zen653 Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 6,902	True, I guess I'm just expecting this to work out about as well as Ramiro Mendoza, who was paid a comparable amount of money to waste roster space. A better comparison would be Steve Avery.

03-05-2007, 06:36 PM	#6 (permalink)
Zen653 Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 6,902	I think Pedroia will be solid at the plate. Hasn't he always hit about .300 as a starting infielder? I'm more concerned about his defense. He showed a terrible throwing arm last September and he double clutched most of his throws. Umpires also caught him leaving the bag too early on double plays. So far in spring training, Pedroia seems to be throwing the ball better. However, he did boot at least one routine DP ball in one of the televised games. Hopefully that's not a harbinger of things to come. I do know this much - it should be exciting to have two legitimate Rookie of the Year candidates in Matsuzaka and Pedroia. Lester would be a third candidate if the Red Sox started the season with him in the rotation; it appears that he'll be in Pawtucket for most of the year.

03-05-2007, 06:50 PM	#7 (permalink)
AutomatedTeller Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 545	I'm excited about Pedroia. I'm with Zen on piniero - I just don't get it. The signing doesn't seem to fit with their philosophy, either, unless it is one of those "we are smarter than everyone else" signings. Piniero has a career ERA of 3.21 as a reliever. His first inning is decent if not great. He has had a great K/BB ratio in his career (not 2006) But he was awful last year and the year before... Many successful closers were not good as starters - Gagne is only the most recent example - Bedrosian, Gossage, Eckersley (though the Eck was succesful as a starter before losing it) - but I don't know if any of them were as bad as Piniero was last year. Time will tell, I guess, as to whether this is another case of Theo outsmarting himself or if this turns into a good move. At least it's just 1 year. Here's a question: How does Joel Piniero $1.2M more than Mike Timlin?