2005: Mid-Season Random Red Sox Ramblings

[browntown653]

Is Schilling ever returning to the rotation?

[Providence A's]

I stand corrected, apparently Curt is fitting right in with the rest of the bullpen.

Bullpen ERA

Schilling's ERA as a reliever

[Fishercat]

Only until the last few games where he started to struggle, that's why the ERA is high. But yeah, the Sox pen sucks this year. It doesn't help when the three headed monster turns into a one-headed monster...who can't get out inherited runners.

Yeah, Sox pen sucks ash.

[Providence A's]

Schilling's ERA as a starter is even higher, so he's sucked all around

[Fishercat]

To be fair, that was in April when the team rushed him back way too fast and he was simply not ready to pitch

[Providence A's]

the team rushed him? I've been hearing that Schilling rushed himself...and still is as it usually takes a full 18 months to completely heal from that surgery and he wanted to come back sooner

[Fishercat]

They both rushed then. Schilling is a Johnny Damon-esque attention whore after all

[Providence A's]

From sportsline:

Boston Red Sox Updated:08/19/2005
Several Boston-area newspapers are reporting that the Red Sox will part ways with 2B Mark Bellhorn this weekend. Bellhorn has been on a rehab assignment that expires this weekend and has been replaced on the roster by Tony Graffanino.

[Fishercat]

I'm a bit disappointed. Bellhorn was pretty timely in the playoffs, but Graffanino has simply out performed him in his time here. I wish the best of luck to Mark, and in two seasons he's due for another season like 2004.

[Fishercat]

I saw that on the bottom line, he was released. I guess Cora's ability to play SS won out there, but I'm somewhat disappointed. I'll remember what he did in the playoffs, some amazingly timely big hits.

As I'm speaking, the Sox somehow scored a run in T10 to go up 4-3 for Schilling's bottom of the inning, a flawless ninth but at least he should be used to staying cool for that long. I give kudos to Roberto Petagine's PA in place of Ortiz post-ejection. 1st and 2nd, 1 out, and he comes back from a 2-2 count after fouling off at least 5 pitches over and over to earn a walk. Manny hit a short chopper off of Shields to drive Kapler in. Now hopefully Schilling can shut the door and make Clement's good effort worth it.

[Providence A's]

I think it's safe to say the A's got the better of the Payton/Bradford deal (look at stats with their current teams). And the replacements for the players traded are included as well. Payton>Kapler and Witasick>Bradford slightly

Jay Payton
and
Jay Witasick jr.
vs.
Gabe Kapler
and
Chadwick Bradford

[Fishercat]

I'm not even going to look at the stats right now, just saying that Payton is allowed to start, so no matter what, he will be more valuable starting in Oakland than bench-warming in Boston. He staged an argument in the clubhouse to get traded, and he wouldn't have been happy in Boston.

Also, that isn't necessarily a complete trade report. Remember that the Sox got Kapler for free in giving up talent, the A's had to give up Omar Quintanilla (not a real loss due to Crosby at SS) and Eric Byrnes (whose perceived value was much higher than his real value, but still a MLB OF).

For all the power Payton has brough to Oakland, his OBP is still below .300. I'll take Bradford who has been some actual stability in the Sox bullpen. All the best for Payton in Oakland, but if I had this knowledge and went back in time in Epstein's shoes, I'd still make the trade.

[Providence A's]

I never said it was comparing the whole trade...it was comparing the 2 people who got traded for each other (Payton and Bradford) and the 2 people who replaced the traded people (Kapler and Witasick). Payton and Witasick > Bradford and Kapler was my point.

[Fishercat]

However, it's the other way for the Sox as Bradford has been better than Witasick and Kapler's willing to be a backup and not be a whiny ***** about it.

[Providence A's]

Bradford better than Witasick? Now you're being a homer...I bet you didn't even look at the stats:

Bradford: 2 wins, 5 holds, 1 blown save, 13.1 innings, 14 hits, 2 walks, 6 k's, 2.70 ERA.

Witasick: 1 win, 1 loss, 5 holds, 1 save, 12.2 innings, 9 hits, 6 walks, 17 k's, 1.54 ERA.

Witasick has far more K's and a lower ERA by more than 1 run with the rest of the #'s being similar.

All Payton has done is hit 10 homers in 29 games, more than Kapler did all of last season...you can look at the rest of the stats