The Red Sox Thread

[TommyK8]

You seem like you have a full plate of sabermetrics going on there, BC, but I still think that if relievers were as interchangeable as you suggest, a top quality closer wouldn't command $10 million plus a year, and set up men wouldn't be getting $5-6 million per year.

[teknetic]

Historically, yeah, but relief pitching tends to be unpredictable in the sense of below average guys often having a couple of great years and vice versa. Albers has been very good so far this year, other than the SSS.

Are you aware of his terrible peripherals?

[Bronson'sCornrows]

Are you aware of his terrible peripherals?

Absolutely. Again, we're dealing with a small sample size, but his peripherals are looking pretty good so far this year. Obviously he has sucked historically, but so have lots of players who then go on to put up a great year or two. Check out Aaron Small's numbers before 2005. Obviously he was a very ................ty pitcher, but you guys gave him a shot in a time of need, he got hot and you continued to roll with the hot hand. Albers is in a similar situation this year.

You could certainly argue that Albers has run into a bit of luck regarding his abnormally low BAPIP, but his K rate is also abnormally low. Obviously both are likely to revert closer to his respective career means. If he can maintain the stuff he's had so far this season (better than I've seen from him previously), however, could see his K rate climb while he maintains something close to what his WHIP is now.

[Bronson'sCornrows]

You seem like you have a full plate of sabermetrics going on there, BC, but I still think that if relievers were as interchangeable as you suggest, a top quality closer wouldn't command $10 million plus a year, and set up men wouldn't be getting $5-6 million per year.

Top quality closers are usually better pitchers than set up men and, therefore, more valuable. Now, this alone invalidates your point, but it's also interesting to point out that top quality closers also get around the same amount of money as the standard #3 starter despite the fact that your standard #3 starter is far more valuable than your closer. Players aren't paid what they are worth relative to actual production and that should be overwhelmingly obvious to anyone who actually watches the game.

[NelsonMuntz]

I just love that his name sounds so similar to Fat Albert.

[Yankee Fan in Boston]

I have to admit, their games are perhaps the most exciting in baseball

[ieddyi]

I have to admit, their games are perhaps the most exciting in baseball

And Aceves the cherry on top of that sundae

[Gator's Shadow]

What exactly is Ellsbury's status? I try to follow the Red Sox news around here and it seems very muted. I had thought that after the injury actually happened, the severity of it was being downplayed somewhat. but I have not heard any timetable for his return.

[RenoHightower]

You seem like you have a full plate of sabermetrics going on there, BC, but I still think that if relievers were as interchangeable as you suggest, a top quality closer wouldn't command $10 million plus a year, and set up men wouldn't be getting $5-6 million per year.

Baseball executives have issues understanding value sometimes. Papelbon's contract is going to look awful in a year or two, and everyone knows it. K-Rod, Cordero, Ryan, etc., are all examples of guys who signed huge deals as relievers that blew up in their teams' faces.

[Yankees1962]

What exactly is Ellsbury's status? I try to follow the Red Sox news around here and it seems very muted. I had thought that after the injury actually happened, the severity of it was being downplayed somewhat. but I have not heard any timetable for his return.

The last I heard it would be sometime in June.

[freebubba]

The last I heard it would be sometime in June.

Yeah, I heard 1st week in June at the earliest.

[Jax Teller]

Jon Heyman ‏ @JonHeymanCBS #redsox signing mark prior. cant hurt. once great. rooting for him to come back.

[jcarey]

Jon Heyman ‏ @JonHeymanCBS #redsox signing mark prior. cant hurt. once great. rooting for him to come back.

Can he even sign a contract without injuring his arm at this point?

Seems like there are much better options out there, but what do I care?

[jcarey]

Top quality closers are usually better pitchers than set up men and, therefore, more valuable. Now, this alone invalidates your point, but it's also interesting to point out that top quality closers also get around the same amount of money as the standard #3 starter despite the fact that your standard #3 starter is far more valuable than your closer. Players aren't paid what they are worth relative to actual production and that should be overwhelmingly obvious to anyone who actually watches the game.

Can you imagine a baseball world where that was actually the case? Juan Pierre would be paying MLB to stay rostered.

[b-ball-lunachick]

Youkilis is on the DL...Middlebrooks up:

As expected, the Red Sox have activated third baseman Will Middlebrooks. In addition to Middlebrooks, the Red Sox have also activated pitcher Clayton Mortensen. More to come on corresponding roster moves. The Sox have one spot open after optioning Lars Anderson back to Pawtucket.

Middlebrook is in the lineup and batting eighth (full lineup below)

Valentine also said on WEEI that Aaron Cook would start on Saturday in place of Josh Beckett.

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/red-s...ected-to-start

[nhyankeefan]

Youkilis is on the DL...Middlebrooks up:



http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/red-s...ected-to-start

Is Beckett hurt or are they just pushing him back a day?

[ieddyi]

Is Beckett hurt or are they just pushing him back a day?

I think they said possible lat strain ( his last outing over 120 pitches )

Hard to believe w/ his dedication to conditioning....

[just-blaze]

Good call leaving Bard in as long as you did, Bobby.

[Bronson'sCornrows]

Can you imagine a baseball world where that was actually the case? Juan Pierre would be paying MLB to stay rostered.

All of Bob Uecker's jokes would become Juan's reality. It would be glorious.

[Yanksfanintoronto]

http://articles.boston.com/2012-05-0...esn-jerry-remy

I wonder why Peter Gammons is commentating for Red Sox games on NESN when he is supposed to be a 'reporter'. That being said, I hope Jerry Remy gets well soon. Knew he had cancer but didn't know that he also suffered from depression.

[teknetic]

So..what happened to Adrian's power? Is it still his shoulder?

[kan_t]

So..what happened to Adrian's power? Is it still his shoulder?

He trained with Pujols last Winter.

[Yanksfanintoronto]

So..what happened to Adrian's power? Is it still his shoulder?

It's just not in Gods plan for him to have a good year you know.

[just-blaze]

I hope you keep the Padilla as the 7th inning guy for at least half the season.

[teknetic]

Clayton Mortensen? Isn't he that guy that covers the NFL for ESPN?