Wakefield Era Set To Continue In Boston

He is a much better option than going with more NL disasters like Penny & Smoltz. Nobody from the NL can be trusted at least in Wake we know what to expect.

Great news! Will be great to have Timmy back for another year.

why does everybody think that penny was that bad? according to fangraphs he was worth more than he got! (i looked when he was traded, now theres only a redsox and dodgers $figure)

bigruben:
he has always been a league average pitcher (exaclty league average) i think theo is searching for a guy who can start while wake is on the dl (and he will be at some point during the season)

I prefer to see Wakefield pitch in the second half only. The biggest question concerning Wakefield is his durability, and we have come to expect that he typically gives a very solid half a season. Pitching-wise, I am not concerned about a decline in performance because knuckleballers typically age gracefully. I would like to see Theo sign another starter or two, with one being a solid option and the other he can satiate his odd desire to buy low risk high reward type players, like Harden or Sheets.

Even a total bum like Padilla todays starter for the Dodgers can be reliable in the NL. He goes no2 for them in the NLCS after being cut in the AL!!

Also Pedro would not make it out of the second inning in the ALCS.

"He'll give them innings and perform like a 5th starter, he's their best option for a 5th starter"

The kind of comment to be expected from a Yankees fan regarding Wakefield. You know, the guy has won 16, 17 and double digits 4 of the last 5 seasons since turning 38... Not bad for a "5th starter" You think the NYY have one that has worked for 3-4M per year and also given workhorse innings???

Posted by: johns | October 16, 2009 at 11:12 AM

I thought we were trying not to use wins as a statistic for talent. Wins are more indicative of a teams offense. His FIP has been near 5 since 2004.

As far as price... yeah, he's cheap at 4 mil but the question is if Boston can do better since they have the resources to spend.

This "workhorse" hasn't pitched at least 200 IP since 2005 so what do you think his projected innings total will be for 2010?

I would think the Sox could just let him compete with Bowden and Tazawa for the 5th spot in their rotation. Maybe they can bring back Paul Byrd on a cheap deal too? Then if all of them flame out they can go acquire an arm during the year.

"This "workhorse" hasn't pitched at least 200 IP since 2005 so what do you think his projected innings total will be for 2010?"

Wake does not have to pitch 200IP to be a 'workhorse" just looked it up to make sure had my facts straight regarding innings and yep.. Wake still pitched 180IP in both 2007 and 2008, despite missing considerable time late in the season with his balky back. This past season he only pitched 129IP, but started just 2 games after the AS break.. That is not bad. The guy eats innings.

Thanks for posting Tim's record vs NYY, was aware it was brutal, but not that bad.

"Yeah, some "loser" like Wainwright, Lincecum, Carpenter, Haren... they've got nothing on Wake.... dumbass."

Would any of those guys sign for 4 mill without giving up the farm? Dumbass!

I'm fairly sure he means a guy coming from the NL that was released, like Penny and Smoltz. They weren't good enough for an NL team. Pay attention, "dumbass."

Posted by: soxfan93 | October 16, 2009 at 11:51 AM

And I was supposed to derive that information how? From this line? "Any loser from the NL?" Yeah, that sure was crystal clear.

Would any of those guys sign for 4 mill without giving up the farm? Dumbass!

Posted by: slashieboy | October 16, 2009 at 11:53 AM

Sign for four million without giving up the farm? What the hell does that even mean?

It must be sad for Red Sox fans to see Wakefield get old. Soon the days will be gone where 14-15 wins out of your pitcher comes at a cheap 4 million dollars. The Red Sox future is far from bright...

"It must be sad for Red Sox fans to see Wakefield get old. Soon the days will be gone where 14-15 wins out of your pitcher comes at a cheap 4 million dollars. The Red Sox future is far from bright..."

Because soon we'll have to pay $16.5M to get 13 wins? I'm just not getting why the hostility towards Wake. For a back end starter, a guy who's been on your team for 15 years, who also gives a solid vet presence, I'd say $4M is a fine number. And if you really don't think the Red Sox future is bright then that screams to me that you've made up your mind without even looking at the teams future.

A negative comment about the Red Sox from Russel? Oh wow what a surprise...this guy has literally never said anything on here that wasn't bashing the Red Sox or Mets. He is a complete CLOWN, and I don't understand how someone can not have a team to root for, just teams he roots against. It must be a sad life.

Since 2002 he has been worth the $4 every year.

Not only is Wake well worth the $4M every year, even with the annual trip to the DL, he's also THE classiest guy on that team. He's earned the right to keep pitching, he's the longest tenured current Red Sox and if he can give them anywhere from 20-30 league average starts, it's money well spent. The Sox always score a ton of runs, so a pitcher who can consistently eat innings and keep them in ball games is very valuable at the back end of the rotation. He's also within reach of the Red Sox all time wins record (17 away), which I think is a very meaningful record to Wake considering his 15+ year career with the team. As long as he continues to be league average, the team will keep bringing him back year after year until Wake decides to hang 'em up.

As for who's going to catch him, probably V-Mart. He caught him a couple times this season with decent results.

It means that we have an option on Wake with his credentials at 4 mill but your tiny brain might not comprehend that.

Posted by: slashieboy | October 16, 2009 at 12:24 PM

And pray tell, what exactly does "giving up the farm" have anything to do with that, slashie? Tiny brain, that's cute.

LittleBear, really, there are tons of players I could choose to be sour over before even breathing Wakefield's name.

gerald troy,

1) Knuckleballers tend to have extraordinary life spans. It's a relatively easy on the arm. I'd say it really comes down to Wake's back and his desire. But with a good offense he could be a winning pitcher for several more years.
2) Wake is 17 wins behind Clemens and Young and I speak for a majority of Red Sox fans when I say I seriously hope Wake takes the mantle. Since 2002 he's won over 10 games a season consistently except for 2006. Conservative estimate would be end of 2011 or early 2012.
3) No, he really shouldn't have been an all star this year, but Maddon gave him the spot more as an acknowledgment. And if the Sox make it yes but he'd be a reliever.
4) Not sure, but his charity work tends to be more around interaction. His big one is bringing hospitalized kids to ball games.

I'm 110% behind Wake being a Red Sox player as long as he wants/can/is welcomed. As a #5 guy he does what he's suppose to do. Cheers to Wakefield! :)

Haha....have you seen his record vs the Yanks? Keep him as long as you want.