Comments on: Report: Red Sox will pursue Ryan Madson and Heath Bell

By: uyf1950

uyf1950 — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 16:27:12 +0000

I don’t think any of the remaining closers on the market get a 4 years guaranteed contract. I can see Madson getting 3 years and a 4th year vesting option that might be relatively easy to attain. But not 4 years guaranteed out of the gate. I do think he gets $9 or maybe at the outside $10M per season. After all 3 years at $9 or $10M per is nothing to sneeze at for basically pitching about 70 innings.

By: newpairofsox

newpairofsox — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 12:04:47 +0000

Persoonally I think letting Pap walk was a good thing…after September’s swoon, the beer and chicken, Lackey’s foot in mouth… the pitching staff needed a wakeup call and a new presence. I think Cherington surprises us all with a Madson deal shortly, 4 years/$40 mil, something like that. Paps glory days are behind him.

By: rotaryfone

rotaryfone — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 01:46:32 +0000

You’re over 60? Aren’t you supposed to gain perspective with age?

By: bosoxfan1950

bosoxfan1950 — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 23:46:20 +0000

Way to go, Cherington! What? Are you learning impaired, intellectually challenged, or just plain stupid? Everyone knows that the biggest area of need for the Red Sox right now is PITCHING! And you’ve just let the Second-Best Closer in MLB walk away. And for nothing! Here’s a news flash for you, Ben, BARD IS NOT READY! May never be ready for anything other the ultimate set-up man in a bull pen. So, now what? I’d take Madson. But whatever you spend on the next “Closer,” just think, for a few million more, you could have kept Papelbon. Unless of course, because of the shambles the Red Sox are in dictated to Papelbon that he wanted to be elsewhere. Can’t blame him. Hell, I’m ready to get a new baseball cap. Been wearing an assortment of Red Sox baseball caps for over 60 years, through all the B.S. and the recent successes. But, this latest fiasco does indeed take the cake.
That sound you hear is the plucking of chickens and that smell is the heating of tar.
You better pony up and re-sign David Ortiz real quick or get ready for a very uncomfortable ride on a pole. Then, go get us some PITCHING!! GDI.

By: vanmorrissey

vanmorrissey — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 23:25:29 +0000

……..agreed, and think that Madson is truly a better pitcher.

By: miketreedy

miketreedy — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 23:22:40 +0000

Yes, but he still pitched a lot against NL West teams. Much different then pitching against AL East teams.

By: Ari Collins

Ari Collins — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 23:10:26 +0000

This this THIS.

And add Broxton to that list of potential targets.

By: schlom

schlom — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 23:02:54 +0000

Bell’s never really had much of a home/road split (2008 was the last season in which he had a big split).

By: WhenMattStairsIsKing

WhenMattStairsIsKing — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 22:45:58 +0000

Don’t overdo it, Ben. Make a good first move as GM. Sign one of K-Rod/Nathan/Lidge or obtain Bell, but for reasonable money. Despite Papelbon’s deal, there aren’t going to be 10 teams giving big money to 10 closers. Play it smart.

By: uyf1950

uyf1950 — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 22:36:36 +0000

So true. But I still contend that Bard is not ready to be “the” closer. If or when he struggled in the 8th there was still time for the Sox to rebound or bring in Papelbon. Now if or when he struggles in the 9th (that assumes he’s their closer option) they have nowhere to go or nobody to bring in. Because by then it’s to late.

By: quintjs

quintjs — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 22:34:44 +0000

obviously that should read ‘had’…

By: quintjs

quintjs — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 22:34:05 +0000

not just two elite relievers to one, its that Papelbon and Bard are the only decent relief pitchers Boston has. I would think that Boston has no problem with Bard closing, they have a major issue with their other setup options. Its easier to sign a closer and keep Bard in setup.

By: JBerardi

JBerardi — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 22:32:11 +0000

I hope the Red Sox aren’t in on Bell. His strikeout rate fell off massively last year. Forget the “closer” sheen, the guy just wasn’t a particularly good reliever last year (in the best pitchers park in the game).

By: bigharold

bigharold — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 22:31:31 +0000

It’s entirely possible that the RS know something about Bard’s fall off in September that they have divulged. Regardless, they only had three decent pitchers in the pen last year, Aceves, Bard and Papelbon. Whether they give Bard the closer job or not they now need even more help.

By: JBerardi

JBerardi — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 22:27:08 +0000

It’s not about Bard’s ability to pitch in the ninth. Regardless of what inning he’s pitching, the Red Sox are going from two elite relievers to one elite reliever. You can’t just plug anyone into Bard’s roll and expect it not to matter just because they’re not the “closer”. You can lose a game in the seventh just as well as you can lose it in the ninth.

By: pastabelly

pastabelly — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 22:26:43 +0000

Papelbon was lights out in 07 but very ordinary since then. Too much money.

By: uyf1950

uyf1950 — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 22:17:09 +0000

Color me surprised. In the very, very competitive AL East the Sox couldn’t just go into battle in the 9th inning with Bard. At least not yet.