I know that I used a recent post to outline the possible reasons that Jonathan Papelbon could be traded, but in light of today's nesn.com article, I feel that I should clarify.
Papelbon is not untouchable, but he's not on the immediate chopping block, either. I want to emphasize once again that Papelbon's ninth inning blown save in Game 3 of the ALDS has nothing to do with any trade that might go down. He picked a terrible time for an aberrational meltdown, but Theo is rational, and as painful as the Game 3 memory is, his stat line looks like this:
2009: 66 games, 68 IP, 1.85 ERA, 1-1 record, 38 saves
2008: 67 games, 69.1 IP, 2.34 ERA, 5-4 record, 41 saves
Career (5 seasons): 268 games, 298 IP, 1.84 ERA, 14-11 record, 151 saves
Manny Delcarmen is right: fans take Jonathan Papelbon for granted. Aside from Mariano Rivera (who I'm quite sure is an android of some sort), there's no one I'd be more comfortable seeing closing out games for the Sox.
"What Paps has done here, you've got to give the guy a lot of credit," Delcarmen said. "Like the way people acted after the last game, it was surprising to me and to a lot of people because of what he has done here. Like I said, he deserves a lot of respect -- it's baseball and stuff happens. He gets it done 99 percent of the time and that was just one game."
Lord Cinco-Ocho, as he's called himself, has earned our respect. Papelbon is a valuable commodity - he's almost a sure thing every time the ninth inning rolls around - and that's exactly why I wouldn't be shocked to see him go. Theo is a big fan of buying low and selling high, and the Red Sox have done stranger things in the ninth inning than trust the job to a still-developing rookie (closer by committee, anyone?). The name Papelbon would open a lot of otherwise locked doors on the trade market, and you know Theo is sniffing out every possibility. I hope Paps is still with us come Spring, but if he's not?
Well, In Theo I Trust.
Well, In Theo I Trust.
I would like to see Paplebon stay because of his record, but I've heard from numerous sources he's been growing more and more arrogant. Hopefully the ALDS game 3 humbled him. And I also conur with you on 2 points: 1)Mariano Rivera is some sort of android; and 2)In Theo I trust.
ReplyDeleteNow i hope the Phillies can beat the Yankees!
Thanks for another good post.
Like your previous post, I agree with your sentiments here. I think most fans underrate what trades will actually work though. If you listen to the calls to WEEI, and compare them to what McAdam and Keith Law claim it will take to get a player, there is normally a wide, wide gap. I bet Red Sox fans probably think we could trade David Ortiz and get back someone at this point.
ReplyDeleteI agree with MDC that Pap deserves more respect and that I think the Red Sox fans are just spoiled on how good he is. I fear that the Red Sox are truly going to learn what they really had with Pap only when he is gone. I am pretty confident they are not going to trade Pap, at least not until they know they have someone who can close out games consistently. I adore Bard...but I just don't think he's ready yet.
ReplyDeleteMo? Yes, he's a robot...and alien robot. It's just wrong. So so wrong.
And to Scotty's comments about Pap being arrogant. I want him arrogant and cocky as hell...it's part of what makes him as good as he is. I don't want a humble Pap on the mound. Yeah, sometimes he needs to learn to STFU, but as far as his pitching...I have no complaints.