Well after all the speculation this spring training, the Red Sox finally have a closer. After all the rumors and speculation that was going around on Thursday, the Red Sox made it official and have named Jonathan Papelbon the team’s closer for this season and maybe the rest of his career.
This is what Papelbon and Terry Francona had to say about the decision.
Francona:
On what went into the decision: ”We made the decision with extensive, intense and passionate talks. He’s going to move to the bullpen.”On what was said at the end of last season, about the health risks to Papelbon if he continued relieving: “I know what was said at the end of last season. I was there.”
On how the Sox came to change their minds: ”When we got to camp, he went through a barrage of medical updates. The more I watched, the more I asked a lot of questions. He’s off the charts with his strength.”
Papelbon:
On what he’s been thinking during camp: ”Obviously I’ve been thinking about this all spring. When I got to spring training, I wasn’t sleeping well. There was always that feeling I wanted to close. I went to our captain (Jason Varitek), I said, ‘Tek, I’m not sleeping good at night. I want to close.’ ”On whether or not the team is forcing the move: ”This was a decision I made. This had nothing to do with (Mike) Timlin being healthy or us not having (an established) closer.”
On his endurance in the role: ”There’s no reason I can’t pitch into October, from my standpoint or a physical standpoint.”
On how he feels about the role: ”It all boiled down to the simple fact that I broke into the league as a closer. Basically, my heart is as a closer. In my heart I still had feelings for going to close. I want to do this rest of the career. I want to be Mariano Rivera.”
Some interesting words by Papelbon. He wants to do this for “the rest of his career and wants to be Mariano Rivera.” What does that mean for the “closer of the future” Craig Hansen. If the Red Sox had been trying to get him ready to be a closer and Papelbon is the closer for the long-term, what is Hansen’s role going to be? Plus you have the “reliever of the future” Bryce Cox, who is a year or so away from the big leagues. Where does he fit in?
This is what I would like to see. I would like to see the Red Sox reopen the talks with the Rockies about Todd Helton. The Rockies will have a decision to make at the end of the season with their closer, Brian Fuentes. He is eligible for free agency at the end of the season and could command a big contract if he continues to be successful. This could make the deal enticing to both the Red Sox and Rockies. The Red Sox would be able to get something of value for Hansen that will make their ballclub better and the Rockies would have a very economically priced closer for the 2008 season. As for Cox, I could see him being developed as Papelbon’s set up guy in the same way that Mariano learned the ropes of closing by setting up before becoming one of the game’s most dominant closers.
As far as Papelbon’s replacement in the rotation, that is going to be Julian Tavarez. He was pretty good towards the end of the season going 3-0 in 6 starts with an ERA just over 4.00. Plus the Red Sox have Kyle Snyder who could also start, plus Jon Lester who was 7-2 last season for the Sox before he was diagnosed with cancer. Plus Kasan Gabbard, who had an excellent spring, could fill the role as well.
I am excited for this. It’s one thing for a starting pitcher to pitch his heart out and have the bullpen blow the game. It’s great for the psyche knowing that you will have Papelbon down in the bullpen finishing off your games. Everyone knows how good Papelbon can be and will probably be the same. It might be hard to replace the 200 innings he was supposed to start, but at least for probably around 80 innings, you know your going to get good numbers. So now it’s finding the right pitcher to put up good numbers in those other 120 innings. As long as whomever is the 5th starter puts up good numbers, the Red Sox should be in good shape for the upcoming season.
