Mirabelli for MVP....

[NEM]

I just lgot home and checked the box score on the game today. Mirabelli went 3 for 3, including a homerun. Must have been an imposter in his uni. I was aghast at what I read. Damn, now he will want to play more.

Good game by wakes too. Nice to see, cause he still scares me.

[Mark_Henderson]

I just lgot home and checked the box score on the game today. Mirabelli went 3 for 3, including a homerun. Must have been an imposter in his uni. I was aghast at what I read. Damn, now he will want to play more.

Good game by wakes too. Nice to see, cause he still scares me.


I think Wakefield is fine as a 4 or 5 starter for the regular season. He eats up a lot of innings, wins more games than he loses, and can come back on short rest in weird desperation situations.

Where he scares me is in the postseason. In a 7 game series, we can't afford to roll the dice on him having one of the days where he gets lit up. I hope the Sox move to a 4 man rotation in the postseason and move Wakes to the pen.

Also, it seems like he'd have more trade value to a dome team, since he's more reliably effective indoors.

[NEM]

I think Wakefield is fine as a 4 or 5 starter for the regular season. He eats up a lot of innings, wins more games than he loses, and can come back on short rest in weird desperation situations.

Where he scares me is in the postseason. In a 7 game series, we can't afford to roll the dice on him having one of the days where he gets lit up. I hope the Sox move to a 4 man rotation in the postseason and move Wakes to the pen.

Also, it seems like he'd have more trade value to a dome team, since he's more reliably effective indoors.

I like your idea of a 4 mana rotation in post season. Wakes could do a good job coming out of the pen, as you say. What a bullpen that could be., Okajima, Papelbon, Gagne, Timlin and Wakefield.

[3 Point Stan]

Are you going to sub Mirabelli for Tek in a playoff game when Wake enters the game?

[nomars_girl]

Are you going to sub Mirabelli for Tek in a playoff game when Wake enters the game?

I think it depends on what inning it is and where the catcher's spot comes up in the order. Tek will most likely have to deal with catchng Wake if he comes out of the bullpen.

I don't think Dougie will continue hitting.

[NEM]

Are you going to sub Mirabelli for Tek in a playoff game when Wake enters the game?

It's an interesting question, and the answer has to be, "probably not" unless it's a situtation that is safe.

[southcarolina]

If Wakes had a role in the BP in the playoffs it would be that of mop up/ blow out / 17 inning game / catastrophic starter blowout insurance. In any of these circumstances, who was playing catcher probably wouldnt matter much, except for the 17 inning game scenario. And then V-Tek would just have to bite the bullet.

Also, bear in mind that if Beckett, Matsuzaka, Schilling and Lester are all pitching effectively at the end of the season, and no one gets hurt in the bullpen,Wakes might not make the postseason roster at all. Miribelli unfortunately makes the roster regardless since a backup catcher is necessary.

[Mikiemo83]

I think I remember in 03 wake was left off the post season roster for a series

[luso2kx]

I really hope Wakefield isn't back next season mainly because of that Italian Sidekick that he needs everytime he starts. I really hope Kottaras performs well enough in Pawtucket from here on out that Dougie will not be needed in '08.

[EverettsTheoryOfEvolution]

This question was answered in '04, when Wakes did come out of the pen in the postseason and did quite well. And Varitek let craploads of floaters float past him.

Mark Henderson makes a great point. The regular season (it's a marathon, not a sprint, etc, etc) gives him so many opportunities, that over the long haul, the luck evens out, and he will perform as he is expected - an average-ish number 4 or 5 man that will win a couple more than he loses, which is just what you need from that spot. Our judgement in that area can be clouded because he is so frustrating to watch at times. But yeah, in the postseason, it's a different ballgame. Each start has to be meaningful, or you might be going home. Wakes to the pen for mopup duty then.