But you have Weiland, Miller (assuming he improves), and some other depth options that you sign in the offseason.Originally Posted by Palodios;686443;
Why wouldn't we send Miller down? (Again, I'm talking about this year).Originally Posted by Palodios;686443;
Weiland and Miller this season have WHIPs of 1.90 and 1.92 respectively. Wakefield is making 2 million this year. What's the harm in keeping him around?Originally Posted by SoxFanForsyth;686445;
"goes down" referred to injury, not demotion.Originally Posted by AtWork;686452;
Like I said, assuming Miller gets better. The harm in keeping him around is that you're wasting a roster spot next year with him when you could have someone waiting in AAA to be called up, and still have a bullpen arm that you can use in a close game, or an extra bat off the bench.Originally Posted by Palodios;686454;
Huh?Originally Posted by Palodios;686455;
That doesn't explain why there wouldn't be a Wakefield to replace Doubront of he gets hurt.
Giving up on Wakefield would be a mistake
Posted by Peter Abraham, Globe Staff August 29, 2011 02:35 PM
By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff
Based on e-mails, comments on the blog and listening to sports talk radio, there is a sentiment out there that the Red Sox should take Tim Wakefield out of the rotation. Some would go as far as to release him.
With the rosters expanding on Thursday, releasing him makes little sense. Beyond that, it would be unnecessarily callous. The man has been with the team for 17 years, show some respect.
Taking him out of the rotation may not make a whole lot of sense, either.
Starting tomorrow, the Red Sox have 28 games left to play over 29 days then one day off before the start of the postseason. It would make little sense to drive Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, John Lackey and Erik Bedard hard over the next month.
Lackey, Lester and Bedard have already been on the disabled list this season and Beckett was there much of last year. Having those four pitchers healthy and lined up for the postseason is critical.
Wakefield doesn't have to — nor should he — pitch every five days. But the Red Sox have seven games left with Baltimore and six with Toronto. If Wakefield picks up two or three of those games, there's extra rest for Beckett, Lester, Lackey or Bedard.
Wakefield has eight quality starts, two this month. As poor as his start was against Oakland on Friday, it wasn't necessarily representative of his season. If he is used correctly, the Red Sox can win the game that night while at the same time giving one of their top-tier starters a little break.
This isn't about Wakefield winning his 200th game. This is about the Red Sox being in the best position to win the World Series. Nobody is going to throw a parade for winning the division, winning 100 games or having the best record in baseball. Those achievements are essentially meaningless.
If Wakefield can help Lester, Beckett, Lackey and Bedard be just a little more prepared comes the games that really matter, what is that worth?
Finally, he's 45-years-old and getting paid $2 million. For that, he delivered 130.2 innings and the Red Sox are 11-8 in the games he started. It would be unreasonable to expect more. Fangraphs calculates Wakefield as giving the Red Sox $3 million in value. In the end, he has been a bargain.
When the season is over, his future can be decided. For now, Wakefield can still contribute to this season and should get that chance.
^ Who wrote that? A Yankees fan?
He's talking about showing respect? What do you think they have been doing for the past couple of years?
Wakefield has been done for years. Only reason he's been there is because Red Sox management respect and care for him. If it would have been someone else he would have been long gone.
Tim is not helping the team win so how does it make sense to put him on the mound? Its a secure loss. Pretty evident for the past 2 months or so, no?
This is not Derek Jeter. They're not paying him 45 million out of respect, he's making about one million. He's a spot starter that pitches like a spot starter. The problem was, Dice-k and Doubront have been out all season, and Wakefield has gotten more starts than he could probably handle. The guy is 45, and he's pitched every fifth game for a few months, solely because the Red Sox couldn't find anyone better. Do you really think Miller is going to keep his current streak going? I certainly do not.Originally Posted by Reck;690205;
I hope Abraham has his definition of quality starts right.
That isn't always the case these days.
Abraham's last job, by the way, was covering the Yankees in NY. Beware.
I do think at this point it is about Wake's 200th win.
Wake has been better than Lackey--if you go by WHIP. He had a bad start last outing, but generally doesn't get hit as much as Lackey. And he comes a whole lot cheaper.
It's a shame he hasn't gotten his 200th yet. Now the FO and Tito have a dilemma on how much more to pitch him in a tight pennant race. But if they pitch Lackey, they have to pitch Wake?
I don't know. Nor does anybody else who doesn't get paid to make these decisions.
I defer to Theo and Tito.:dunno:
Abe used to beat for the Yanks but aside from that, anything Pro-Wakefield I will stand up proud and puff out my chest to all the naysayers out there that want him gone and scream "I LOVE YOU, TIM WAKEFIELD!!" as loud as I can haha.. Wake's value to the team is and always has been underestimated.. I can't wait for his 200th..![]()
Good to have you here then! I swear, I've been the only one defending Wakefield these days...Originally Posted by Wells;690224;
Love Wake, always have, always will. Hope his struggles fade and he gets #200 soon!
I wouldn't chase that W anymore, They have given him enough shots to get that W. He has already a great career, he doesn't need to probe anything more, it is just a round number after all... and on the other hand, He is costing us games whch could be the diference between finish first or second in the division. He is embarrassing himself every lately start, so... retire him once and for all!