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Should Papelbon have started for the Redsox?

January 6th, 2010 · 13 Comments

tombie asked:


Did Terry Francona make the right choice by keeping Jonathan Papelbonin the bullpen?

Tags: baseball

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13 responses so far ↓

  • 1 Rick J // Jan 8, 2010 at 3:27 pm

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    Of Course Tito made the right decision in this case, the real mistake is not having Snyder in the 5 spot instead of Taveras

  • 2 Ballzy // Jan 10, 2010 at 11:48 am

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    We will have to wait and see if he gets injured.

  • 3 seaballgirl // Jan 11, 2010 at 11:52 pm

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    Yes, Papelbon is an awesome closer. However, it wasn’t matter of Francona wanting or needing another starter. It was for health reasons. The doctors felt it might be better for Papelbon’s arm if he had longer pitching sessions with more days rest than having short closer stints everyday.

  • 4 aflac5190 // Jan 15, 2010 at 9:05 am

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    Papelbon is at his best in the closer role. He would have been good either if he started or was in the bullpen. The only reason they have him as closer is because nobody else in the bullpen could handle the closing role. Francona made the right decision.

  • 5 David M // Jan 16, 2010 at 1:48 am

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    absolutely…as a sox fan, the team is deep enough in the starting rotation with Schilling, Beckett, Dice-K, Wakefield and Lester to come….the hole was in relief particularly the closer….Paplbon works well as the closer…as the old saying goes…”if it ain’t broken, do try to fix it”

  • 6 bosox2312 // Jan 18, 2010 at 2:14 pm

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    duh, tombie
    Its like ham and cheese.
    We are lucky that the guy who invented it didnt invent something like goat cheese and oreos.

    J paps needs to be the closer.

    Oh, and lay off the oreos!

  • 7 dunaja // Jan 20, 2010 at 1:18 am

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    They should create a new position name for Papelbon instead of “closer”. If Francona was smart, he would bring Papelbon in during any inning late in the game when the Sox really need help, because he can get out of any situation with ease. I have seen him come in during the 8th with two or three runners on base and mow down the competition, then sit in the 9th, and I have been really happy to see that. If that needs to happen in the 6th or 7th to keep the game from slipping away, I would not be opposed. Instead of “closer”, maybe call him “hero”!

    He should definitely be the emergency guy when we need help, and not the starter. The real problem we have is that we replaced his rotation spot with Tavarez. That guy is completely useless, he needs to be sent to single-A but he’s Francona’s buddy so he’ll always be playing a key role, and that’s really unfortunate.

  • 8 #1 Red Sox Fan // Jan 23, 2010 at 12:43 am

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    Yes, he has to stay as closer becuase it would be a big jump from being able to go 1 inning and then trying to go like 6 or 7 innings. He would get worn out very easily. But I could be wrong.

  • 9 Huntington A // Jan 24, 2010 at 4:07 pm

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    Papelbon belongs in the pen, if Francona had started him, our closer would be Pinero, and if u watch the games, PINERO SUCKS, he cant throw a strike

  • 10 vy10fan // Jan 25, 2010 at 11:25 am

    Kansieo.com

    Yes because Papelbon’s a great closer and if he started he might ruin his career and just be a bust. Like Rafeal Soriano for the Mariners started his career great at reliever but then the Mariners started him a little bit and he ****** at starter and he got injured.

  • 11 soxfan4_life // Jan 28, 2010 at 6:53 am

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    Based on what they had for quality in their bullpen,I think they made the right choice.I think this also helps pave the way for John Lester to join the rotation as nobody knows how well Paplebon would have done as a starter or how Lester would have done out of the bullpen.

  • 12 jimtow28 // Jan 31, 2010 at 12:55 pm

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    Papelbon actually approched Francona and said they he would be happier if he stayed in the bullpen. The player is happy, and the team is happy, so the decision was the right one.

  • 13 scooter // Feb 2, 2010 at 6:57 pm

    terry francona

    No, i think he’s just perfect being the closer

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