6/23/2007 Boston vs. San Diego, Wakefield vs. Young (TAKE II)

[3 Point Stan]

Mea Culpa, folks. ESPN.com's pitching probables had last night's game listed as Matsuzaka vs. Young when, in fact, it was Greg Maddux. So like the hasty dolt that I am, I went all "Chris Young" in yesterday's mojo (http://www.soxplanet.com/forums/showthread.php?p=17621#post17621). Therefore, in keeping in line with my buffoonery, I'm gonna get all "Gred Maddux" today.

It has been said that Chicks Dig The Long Ball (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRs60GZ1q1o). This is true in many cases.

Exhibit A:
http://www.harbormoon.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/08/big_papi_wants_you.jpg
"Big Papi" David Ortiz

Exhibit B:
http://digitalderek.typepad.com/sawxblog/photos/2006/manny_girls.jpg
Manny Ramirez

Exhibit C:
http://i.a.cnn.net/si/2004/writers/dan_hoyle/09/08/vendor.chronicles/p1_maddux_all.jpg
Greg Maddux

Hold up... GREG MADDUX? Skinny, scrawny greg Maddux? I'll have to digest this...

Wait, I've got it! Chicks DO dig the long ball... off GREG MADDUX! So I'm optimistic that we'll be seeing a lot of this today:

http://graphics.boston.com/images/bostondirtdogs//Headline_Archives/7.21_MR_DO_sea_ap.jpg
(Even if it's really off Chris Young)

Let's keep this streak motoring along, boys. When you win, my Fruit Loops seem to taste better, my car always runs better and my boss is seemingly less of a dick.

GO SAWX!

[#1Patsfan_chica]

Go Sox!!! Hopefully, a good start by Wake.

[SamBam39]

Let's go Wake-man!!! Keep it going.

[patfan64]

I'm actually watching Night at the Museum with my kids right now. Just checking in on the score. Sox down 1 - 0 in the third. MFY's lost in 13 today (watched the last inning on the tube and loved every minute of it.)

GO SOX!!!!!

[SamBam39]

I'm actually watching Night at the Museum with my kids right now. Just checking in on the score. Sox down 1 - 0 in the third. MFY's lost in 13 today (watched the last inning on the tube and loved every minute of it.)

GO SOX!!!!!
What did you think of that movie?

[theyellowdart]

I look forward to Wake not pitching for the Red Sox anymore....

[SamBam39]

I look forward to Wake not pitching for the Red Sox anymore....
Me too!

[oldskool138]

I look forward to Wake not pitching for the Red Sox anymore....

Dude, the Sox lost to a guy who's having a Pedro-esque season. He's probably going to win the NL Cy Young Award. The Sox were playing without Youk and playing NL rules (basicallly two automatic outs, Wake and Lugo).

I expected the Sox to lose this game. The Yankees lost too so, no big deal. Rubber match this afternoon. Ace vs. Ace...It doesn't get better that!

Will appologies to Denny Green, Wake is who we thought he was. He's a back of the rotation pitcher with a .500 record.

[#1Patsfan_chica]

I was disappointed with the pitching. The offense kept on striking out. And the 3rd base ump sucked.

[theyellowdart]

Dude, the Sox lost to a guy who's having a Pedro-esque season. He's probably going to win the NL Cy Young Award. The Sox were playing without Youk and playing NL rules (basicallly two automatic outs, Wake and Lugo).

I expected the Sox to lose this game. The Yankees lost too so, no big deal. Rubber match this afternoon. Ace vs. Ace...It doesn't get better that!

Will appologies to Denny Green, Wake is who we thought he was. He's a back of the rotation pitcher with a .500 record.

I expected them to lose this game.... I am just not a Wake Fan anymore. I love what he has done here and am greatful for it. I just might be frustrated about that whole trade last year to bring Tim's personal catcher, Dougie back. I think that rubbed me the wrong way. He kind of handcuffs this team in a lot of ways. Bard is much better then Dougie... Nevermind that Cla was part of that trade.

I keep getting the feeling that this might be Wakes last year. But we will see.

[Patriots4ever]

I expected them to lose this game.... I am just not a Wake Fan anymore. I love what he has done here and am greatful for it. I just might be frustrated about that whole trade last year to bring Tim's personal catcher, Dougie back. I think that rubbed me the wrong way. He kind of handcuffs this team in a lot of ways. Bard is much better then Dougie... Nevermind that Cla was part of that trade.

That really bothered me too, and I feel the same way. They bring back Tim's personal caddy, and got ripped off by the Padres in the process because they knew the Sox were desperate. The only good thing about Wakefield is that he's an innings eater which saves the bullpen. There is no in between with him though as he's either really good, or really bad. For some reason, the Sox don't hit for Wakefield, but we can go right back to the Mirabelli being in the lineup argument.

That whole "Mirabelli being escorted to the park by the Staties" equally bothered me. The coverage that that got was unbelievably ridiculous, and foolish if you ask me.

[theyellowdart]

That whole "Mirabelli being escorted to the park by the Staties" equally bothered me. The coverage that that got was unbelievably ridiculous, and foolish if you ask me.

What a complete embarrassment that was. People around the country had to be laughing and making fun of Bostonians when that happened.

[Patriots4ever]

What a complete embarrassment that was. People around the country had to be laughing and making fun of Bostonians when that happened.

Now I can't get that out of my head!!!! I have to go to the bar and have about 10 drinks. Absolutely agree with you 100%

[3 Point Stan]

Tim Wakefield has had a solid major league career. He's been an important cog in a few sucessful red Sox campains and I will always love the guy. But I too echo the sentiment that I won't be sorry to see a Wake-less rotation.

For me, it's not even the fact that he's either un-hittable or getting smacked around, it's that PLUS you have to carry a dud like Mirabelli. So Tim Wakefield costs you, in essance, 2 roster spots. Now I know I am over-simplifying this statement but I hope it conveys the gist of my point appropriately.

[southcarolina]

Tim Wakefield has had a solid major league career. He's been an important cog in a few sucessful red Sox campains and I will always love the guy. But I too echo the sentiment that I won't be sorry to see a Wake-less rotation.

For me, it's not even the fact that he's either un-hittable or getting smacked around, it's that PLUS you have to carry a dud like Mirabelli. So Tim Wakefield costs you, in essance, 2 roster spots. Now I know I am over-simplifying this statement but I hope it conveys the gist of my point appropriately.


Im pretty sure that all the teams in MLB have a back up catcher. It isnt Wakefields fault that the best the Sox FO can muster is Mirabelli. Dougie isnt the only guy in the world who has the skills (and i use that term loosely when referring to DM) to catch a knuckleballer. Anf bard is doing so well in SD that they just traded for Mike Tyson Barrett. And good ol' Cla has come back down to earth a bit since last season. Mirabelli is still a black hole, and the Padres made out like bandits, and it made me sick to watch him flailing at pitch after pitch last night, but lets not pretend that they got Carlton Fisk and Goose Gossage.

I would offer up that the fact that what amounts to the Sox 4th best starting pitcher is unhittable *EVER* would be cause for us the fans to be rejoicing in the streets. If Wakes can win 12-15 games and pitch ~200 innings he will have done his job and earned his money. Oh yeah...the money. Whats he make...4 million this year? Lets rephrase that. Our 4th best starting pitcher, the guy who is sometimes unhittable for several starts in a row, who is all but a lock to pitch 180 - 200 innings this season, saving wear and tear on the bullpen, is making 6 million dollars less than Gil Meche. And has a one year contract with a team option only. Thats a pretty sweet deal for the Sox. Unless someone else offers to pay for the priviledge to pitch for them, Wakes isnt going anywhere.

By my calculations Wakes is on a pace to go 15 - 18 and pitch 208 innings. He hasnt been overly sharp his last few outings, but we all know that he could rip off 4 or 5 wins in a row anytime and make his record a tad more repectable. I know 18 losses is alot. But i find it weird that he has gotten a decision in everyone of his starts. Beckett has 2 No Decisions, and Matsuzaka 1. Schilling 5 and Tavares 4. I wonder if Wakefield and his rubber arm arent thrown to the wolves a bit by Francona ( to save the bull pen maybe) even in games where its obvious that he isnt "on".

Also remember that four of his losses were games the Sox were shut down by the immortal Robinson Tejada, Tomo Ohka, Joe Kennedy and Kai Igawa. He gave up a total of 10 earned runs in those four games againt three VERY good offenses(Tex, MFY, and Tor) and Oakland :) but took the loss in all four. I know a loss is a loss, but his overall record could look a bit more repectable if the offense had shown up to those four games. With a little luck, Wakes could be 11-4 and maybe headed to the All Star game.

[oldskool138]

That whole "Mirabelli being escorted to the park by the Staties" equally bothered me. The coverage that that got was unbelievably ridiculous, and foolish if you ask me.

NESN blows everything out of proportion...Kind of like Susyn Waldman. :icon_eyes

[3 Point Stan]

SC, I can't disagree with a single thing you've said. Which makes it all the crazier that I still feel the way I do. I've never had this same level of adoration while simultaneously wishing him away at the same time. It's bizarro world.

To be clear though, I'm not all that angry about the Bard and Meredith for Mirabelli trade as you'd think. If you have Wakefield, you need a guy who can catch him. End of discussion. What gets to me is that, for all intents and purposes, we know with absolutely certainty of ONE guy in MLB that can absolutely do it and that guy happens to suck ass through a straw.

I'm not crying about losing Bard - particularly when the Sox just gave Varitek a 4/$40 mil contract. But I'd certainly prefer to have the luxury of a better option than Doug Mirabelli in that slot.

Another thing is this. At some point John Lester or perhaps Mark Buehrle are going to join the rotation. Who will be the odd-man-out? Tavarez. I'd argue that, despite Donnelly being banged up and a huge question mark with Timlin, Tavarez is more valuable in the rotation. But that won't happen because they don't have the versatility to throw Wake out of the pen. I know it's more of a vaccum but look back to the '04 WS. Tek has his hands full with that one inning. Imagine the potential implosions that would occur in a middle relief role with Wake coming out of the pen.

Well you don't have to because it won't happen because it's too much of a risk. With a non-knuckerballer putting up Wake's numbers, it would be a moot point because that guy would go to the pen over Tavarez. And that's my point. You lose versatility with your staff having Wakefield.