MVN: Most Valuable Network

#1

Posted by Gerry, May 26, 2008 12:19 AM

Too true Jc. Hansen did his job and could have continued. Lester, IMO, while not on his game did a decent job too, but with 3 errors and another Julio bobble (that's 4 in 5 innings), misplays cost him dearly. On Friday, Duchscherer and yesterday the unflappable Blanton both hit their nadir after reacting to bad calls/plays. Yesterday, Lester went from inning to inning compensating for miscues. Oh, and did we mention Sox hitting?

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#2

Posted by Gerry, May 26, 2008 12:40 AM

Current discussions on the web seem to have Buchholz going to the Pen if Colon becomes a starter. Fair enough. A few weeks ago, these discussions favored Masterson. A few months ago, it was Wake.

Back to what Jc said about overmanaging. When Wake doesn't have his stuff he admits it, and knows he hurts the team by continuing, and would prefer to avoid the embarrasment by getting to the clubhouse asap. But Tito has to keep him in, accepting the game as a probable loss, but not willing to exhaust a Bullpen of One Inning relievers.

Wouldn't it make sense for Wake to move to the Pen, where he can pitch several innings, and spot start? In this way, if his knuckler is just hanging there like batting practice, Tito can pull him quickly before serious damage is done, turning perhaps half of his losses into wins. If his pitches are working, he could do throw 6th through 9th and get the save.

This would give us a rotation with both Buchholz and Colon.

And as our starting pitchers are routinely pitching fewer innings, and with Buchholz, Lester, Matsuzaka and Colon on pitch counts, let me make the case for putting both Wake AND Masterson in the Pen at the same time, soon, to finally fix that problem. Wake or Justin in the 5th/6th/7th/8th, someone in the middle, Oki and Paps to end it. Those 4 pitchers plus 3 of either Hansen, Aardsma, MDC, Timlin, Lopez would dramatically upgrade Julian's former role, and properly address the frailties of our excellent pitching staff.

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#3

Posted by Jc, May 26, 2008 12:43 AM

we need to get rid of Lopez , he sucks, Wake in the bullpen would be great but Varitek would go insane.

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#4

Posted by Jc, May 26, 2008 7:31 AM

Hansen is no goat, he only gave up 1 miserable hit and Francona clearly overmanaged there by bringing Lopez.

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#5

Posted by Mostly Running., May 26, 2008 2:10 PM

I have to look back at the 130 pitches and wonder what effect it will have on the rest of Lester's season. How long did it take for Schilling to come back from his almost no-no in Oakland where they left him in so long? I know the kid would have been dragged kicking and screaming off the mound, but 130 is a ton of tosses.

On the rotation: Clay stays down til he's needed, Wake continues to eat innings and win every once in a while when the offense scores more than 5 runs for him and Colon sticks til he shows he doesn't deserve a chance. /HO

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