April 13, 2013; Boston, MA USA; Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Joel Hanrahan (52) walks to the dugout after being relieved during the ninth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

In each of the past two off seasons Ben Cherington has swung a deal for an all-star closer, snagging Andrew Bailey from Oakland in 2011 and Joel Hanrahan from Pittsburgh this past winter. It’s safe to say that neither of these deals has worked out the way Ben envisioned, with Bailey being injured most of last year, and currently on the 15-day DL with a biceps strain, and Hanrahan on the 60-day DL with a torn flexor tendon. At least Bailey had been relatively effective before his injury, a claim we can’t make about Hanrahan’s tenure in Boston.

Unfortunately, one way to solve the bullpen problem is to feed Ben Cherington’s addiction to trading for high-powered closers, and now is the perfect opportunity to bring back Jonathan Papelbon. Pap is currently the Red Sox franchise record holder in saves, sitting at a gaudy 219, some 87 saves ahead of Bob Stanley. For six years, Papelbon nailed down the 9^th inning for the Sox, resulting in four straight all-star berths from 2006-2009. Games were all but over when “I’m Shipping Up to Boston” started blaring over the PA.

Some people thought that CincoOcho wasn’t worth the four years and $50 million that the Phillies dished out, and truth be told, he probably wasn’t. But consider that the Sox are now paying $11.14 million for two all-stars who are currently sitting on the bench, only slightly less than Papelbon’s $13 million. With Hanrahan’s seven-and-change million coming off the books after this year, it would be more than feasible for the Sox to take on the Louisiana native’s contract.

May 14, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jonathan Papelbon (58) delivers to the plate during the ninth inning against the Cleveland Indians at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies defeated the Indians 6-2. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

The Phillies are mired in a long slump, and unless they turn it around soon, GM Ruben Amaro might be forced to sell off some of the more expensive and/or aging pieces. With a barren farm system, and an increasingly bleak outlook for the season, now is a prime time for the Phils to deal their closer. Luckily for Ben, the Phillies aren’t in a position to demand as much as the Athletics did, and they could even be looking at less than what the Pirates received for Hanrahan. Papelbon’s contract is expensive for a team that could be looking to rebuild, and the Sox are in a position to take his contract, further lessening the Phillies leverage. If Philidelphia continues its decline, and the Sox want to prolong their stay near the top of the AL east, they would be wise to find a way to swing a deal for their own former all-star.

Aug 1, 2012; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Aaron Cook (35) pitches against the Detroit Tigers during the first inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-US PRESSWIRE

After a third straight subpar outing, a 7-5 loss to the Tigers in which he gave up six runs over 4 2/3 innings, the obvious question is “What’s wrong with Aaron Cook?” The equally obvious answer is absolutely nothing.

True, it took Detroit five innings to get to Cook; they got five runs in the fifth and chased him from the hill, making Boston’s late inning comeback that fell short all the more arduous. What is most concerning is a three game stats line that looks like an ugly yet predictable pattern: 15 innings, 21 hits, 17 runs, six homers and one strikeout.

If nothing else, baseball teaches us to look at the numbers and discern the patterns. Cook has such a pattern. Without digging in too deep it’s clear that Boston has acquired another struggling retread who’s best years appear to be behind him.

On the way up with the Rockies Cook’s ascent was cut short in 2004 by blood clots in his shoulder that broke free and lodged dangerously close to his lungs. He returned strong in 2005, going 7-2 and winning the Tony Conigliaro Award as comeback player of the year.

After a barely OK 2006 (9-15) and a .500 2007 Cook put together back-to-back solid seasons in 2009 (16-9) and 2010 (11-6) only to be plagued by knee and shoulder problems. The shoulder would require surgery. By 2011 the Rockies had seen enough. Cook had been With them for almost 10 years and had essentially been a .500 pitcher (.514 lifetime with Colorado). Enter the Red Sox.

Cook has become yet another in a long line of scrap heap reclamation projects that honestly is not working out. He’s been nicked up, had a few decent outings but is 2-5 with the Sox, a .286 winning percentage and 5.24 ERA.

At some point management will have took in the mirror and realize that of the 15 pitchers currently on Boston’s active roster, just two of them – Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz – are home grown. Many acquisitions are journeymen clearly on the downside of their effectiveness. Boston’s  most effective pitcher in years currently closes for the Philadelphia Phillies.

Cook will most likely rebound for a bit and end up with about a .500 record.  Boston is currently getting just what history and the numbers tell us.

You’re Ben Cherington and you’ve got the ball.  You always wanted to be the guy on the mound with the entire season on the line. You got what you wished for: to be the one who makes the choice at the moment of decision on the diamond: this will be the turning point in your baseball career.

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Are the 2012 All-Stars as good as the 1962 All-Stars? 

My memories of 63 years say “no,” but let’s look at the charts and see what avails.

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Daniel Bard makes his way from the bullpen to the dugout with pitching coach Bob McClure. Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-US PRESSWIRE

Today Daniel Bard announced that he’s decided that he should go back to the bullpen and the team agrees. Despite Bard blowing the save in Pawtucket last night and throwing two wild pitches, I think it’s the right move.

For a couple days now I’m been debating writing an article pleading with the Red Sox to move Bard back to the pen. I’m glad that they are finally seeing things my way.

If we look at Bard’s minor league numbers, in 07 he was a starter and his ERA was 7.08, his WHIP was 2.053, Bard averaged over one walk and one hit per inning yet he only averaged 5.5 strikeouts per 9. Those are terrible numbers. The next year he moved to the pen. He pitched in 46 games, finishing 17, with an ERA of 1.51, a WHIP of .0927, his hits per 9 dropped to 4.9 and his walks per 9 dropped to 3.5. His strikeouts per 9 jumped to 12.4. And the rest is history.

We know what he did this year as a starter and we know what he did last season as a reliever. So why not move him to the pen? If Bard bounces back to last year’s numbers he can be the closer. Alfredo Aceves has done a decent job but he’d be so valuable in the 8^th. Once Andrew Bailey comes back, he could take over the 9^th, with Bard going to the 8^th, and Aceves being the all so valuable bullpen guy that can pitch in any spot in the game, much like he did last year. That would make for a very good bullpen. Bard should the piece that this bullpen is built around. Hasn’t that been the story as long as we remember? We heard it again and again, closer of the future, closer of the future. So why did they bother to change it? Was the starting pitching market that tight this off-season?

Imagine if the Red Sox decided this before the season? They’d be able to keep either Marco Scutaro or Jed Lowrie, or trade them for something else. Right now Boston has Clayton Mortensen and Mark Melancon to show for it. What if they decided that they didn’t need to completely rebuild the bullpen? Which by the way, if we look at it now, looks pretty similar to last year, minus Bard and Jonathan Papelbon.

Just another case of team mismanagement.

Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-US PRESSWIRE

The 2011-2012 offseason was a big one for the Red Sox. Several players came and went, and many of those who left Boston were much beloved players. Today, I’ll be looking at those Red Sox players who went to pursue their careers elsewhere last offseason and what it would be like if they had stayed. The names I will be covering today are Erik Bedard, Jed Lowrie, Josh Reddick, and Jonathan Papelbon.

Erik Bedard- Bedard only pitched for the Red Sox for two months last season, and his time in Boston was marred by injuries. He was acquired on the Trading Deadline of July 31, 2011 from the Seattle Mariners in return for four minor leaguers. In 8 starts for the Red Sox– Bedard went 1-2 with a 4.03 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 38 innings. Since signing with the Pittsburgh Pirates on a one year deal this offseason, Bedard has seen some success in the Steel City. So far, he’s gone 3-6 with a 3.72 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 55.2 innings. The Red Sox certainly could use some pitching help this year, as their pitching staff is ranked 28th in the league with a 4.51 ERA this season. However, I’m not sure where the Red Sox would put Bedard, as it probably would have involved either Felix Doubront or Daniel Bard not being in the rotation; and Doubront has been the Red Sox’ best pitcher this year.

Jed Lowrie- Many thought that it was a pretty fair deal when the Red Sox sent Lowrie and prospect Kyle Weiland to Houston in return for reliever Mark Melancon. Melancon has been stuck in triple-A Pawtucket all year since starting off this season in a miserable fashion, so it’s looking like the Astros lucked out on this deal. Lowrie has been a pleasant surprise for the Astros this year, batting at a .291/.371/.506 slash line with 9 home runs and 23 RBIs so far. Mike Aviles has been solid for the Red Sox this year, with a .258/.279/.433 line this year, but it looks like Lowrie has been legitimately better. With the Red Sox’ bullpen pitching great lately, it doesn’t look like Melancon is in line for a call up, so the Astros had a major steal in Lowrie.

Josh Reddick- Many fans of both Oakland and Boston, myself included, thought the Red Sox had a steal when they traded Josh Reddick and two prospects to the A’s in return for Ryan Sweeney and Andrew Bailey. However, Bailey was quickly injured and had thumb surgery before the season even started and is still on the 60-day DL. Ryan Sweeney has been good for the Red Sox (.321/.356/.450, 16 doubles, 13 RBI)  but Josh Reddick has been money since his arrival in Oakland. Reddick leads the A’s in batting average (.265), home runs (14), RBIs (29), slugging percentage (.545), and runs (33). In the Red Sox’ injury-filled outfield, slotting Reddick in that lineup card would look really nice right about now.

Jonathan Papelbon- Papelbon was the big departure from the Red Sox when the Red Sox’ all-time leader in saves (248) signed the largest deal of any reliever in history (4 years/$50 million) with the Philadelphia Phillies. Don’t get me wrong– Papelbon has been fantastic with the Phillies, a 2.01 ERA and 15 saves in 15 chances. However, Papelbon hasn’t really been missed since April 21, when the Red Sox blew a 9-run lead to the Yankees. Since then, the Red Sox bullpen and new closer Alfredo Aceves (4.73 ERA, 14/17 saves) have both been great. At this point, I would prefer Aceves blow a couple more saves than Papelbon while making about $47 million less.

Just how is Papelbon fitting in with his new rabid fan base?  Well we asked Ethan from the Philadelphia Fansided network, That Ball’s Outta Here and he informed us that Cinco Ocho has become a fan favorite.  We also discussed other things about the Phillies, like the possibility of the team becoming a seller if they don’t improve their position in the standings and who just might be available.  I also asked him if he thought a Kevin Youkilis trade would happen and whether the Phillies should consider it.  You might be surprised by his answer.  Enjoy.

1. The Phillies are playing .500 baseball with a plethora of injuries and roughly ¾ of the season remains.  Yet we hear talk that the Phillies could be sellers this summer, almost as though they’re giving up on the year.  Is this accurate and what are your thoughts on this?

All the talk about the Phillies being sellers is a product of a few factors. The poor start to the year has been a shock to everyone, and many fans have been quick to push the panic button. Ruben Amaro said it’s a possibility if the team struggles into July, but that was more of a wake up call posed to the team. The most intriguing  aspect is the pending free agency of Shane Victorino and Cole Hamels. The team is still far apart in talks with both players, and could be floating their names out for leverage or just in case negotiations break down completely.

2. If they do become a seller, which names should we look for to be available and what’s the price tag going to be?

If doomsday does come and the team decides to hold a player yard sale my three names to watch would be Hamels, Victorino, and Blanton.

Blanton would be the most likely to go, as he has been dangled by Amaro already this offseason. He’s a solid 4th starter and would command a low prospect or two.

Victorino woul likely require more, a la the Carlos Beltran trade last summer. There is no clear heir apparent yet in CF for the Phillies, but they seem reluctant to give the 32 year old more than 3 years.

Hamels being traded is a no win for the Phillies. It would be a PR nightmare for the team, and it would be difficult to get value back in a trade. It would take a lot for the Phillies to even consider a deal. I would say something a long the lines of CC to Milwaukee, but the odds of any deal are 100-1.

3. The Phillies were said to have one of the best rotations in baseball with Halladay, Lee, Worley et al.  Why is this club sitting at .500 given the talent they have on the mound?

If you’re wondering why the team has struggled so much look no further than the lineup. They are missing Utley and Howard, but the rest of their Vets have yet to step up aside from Carlos Ruiz. Hunter Pence has shown some power but his OBP is barely above .300. The lineup as a whole has been afflicted with impatience. Not enough players get on base to get a big inning going, and without their power threats the bats have been largely silent.

4. Jonathan Papelbon did his best to get Philly fans on his side when he opened his mouth comparing fans Philly to Boston fans.  Many Red Sox fans were peeved at him and the best way for him to back it up is on the field.  He’s been pretty good so far. Has he lived up to the hype and are Phillies fans pleased with him? Was he worth the $44 million?

Papelbon has been great for the Phillies, on and off the field. He’s lived up to expectations, but may never live up to the $$ he got. Most fans saw the length and dollars as too much, but the GM is taking the heat for that. It will be fun to see Papelbon pitch against his old friends in the Sox clubhouse. Knowing him, don’t be surprised to see plenty of chin music either.

5. Who do you think the Phillies should target for infield help and does Kevin Youkilis make sense in your opinion?

Kevin Youkillis makes sense for two reasons . He gets on base, and he plays third. As bad as the team needs an on-base machine like him, the last thing they need is another broken down infielder in his thirties. The team would no doubt be smitten to get their hands on a player like Middlebrooks, but it would take a lot more than Joe Blanton for that to happen.

6. Briefly compare the starting pitching match ups and who has the edge in each?

Game 1: Hamels v Bard

I have to give the edge to Cole on this one. No knock against Bard, but there are very few pitchers who are on fire like Hamels right now. He’s piling up a lot of K’s, and is finally getting some run support as evidenced by his 5 wins.

Game 2 Blanton v Lester

Blanton has been very reliable this year, but Lester looked lights out his last time out. Given his pedigree and the Phillies rough go against lefty starters Lester is my pick in this one.

Game3: Lee v Beckett

This matchup is interesting as it features two pitchers who are actually familiar with their inter league rival. Beckett has faced the Phillies countless times dating back to his days in Florida, and the same is true for Lee when he was in the AL. Since there aren’t a lot of great golf courses available to Beckett I foresee a pitchers dual with a lot of strikeouts. Call it a push, but I like the Phil’s chances of getting under his skin.

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The transition seemed natural. With Jonathan Papelbon gone, Daniel Bard would take over the closing role for the Red Sox.  But that is not what happened.  In fact it’s been the opposite.  Bard is in the rotation and based on his first four starts, he won’t be returning to the bullpen anytime soon, if at all.  But is this what’s best for the team, a bullpen without Bard who has proven he can handle the late inning pressures over transitioning into a fourth, maybe a third starter.  Is Daniel Bard being selfish over wanting to become a starter?

Bard came out shortly after the 2011 season and made it known that he wanted to become a starter.  One fact that gets lost in all this chatter is that the Red Sox management also wanted Bard to become a starter, something that all but forced Bobby Valentine’s hand to put #51 into the rotation.  Last week Bard made an appearance out of the bullpen once again putting the analysis of why he should be the closer into full blown motion.

Bard was quick to point out that after his eighth inning work in Minnesota that he does not want to pitch out of the pen.  He wants to start.  Bard even went as far as to say that he didn’t want to pitch out of the pen during his starts in fear of the health of his arm and his career.  That statement sounds selfish, but the organization hasn’t exactly backed Bard during this whole ordeal.

Rather than come out and state that Bard would start, Valentine and others continue to skirt the issue at hand, dragging on the possibility that Bard could return to the bullpen.  Bard doesn’t want that and we know that some of the higher management don’t want that.  Then why can’t the management, namely Cherington come out and state that Daniel Bard will be a starter, plain and simple.  Show a little support for the 26-year old if that’s the career you want for him.

With his latest start on Friday Bard may have solidified his spot in the rotation.  That coupled with some arms getting healthy that will certainly help the bullpen (Rich Hill) and Bard’s value may be better suited to pitch every fifth day.

Of course there is the money side of things to consider. Starters in Boston typically cash in with the high rewarding contracts, just ask Josh Beckett and Jon Lester. Where as closers don’t get the same offers; just ask Jonathan Papelbon.  I highly doubt that money is what’s driving Bard’s desire to become a starter.  It’s more about the challenge of succeeding as a starter and proving he can do it, as most kids grow up with dreams of starting in the majors and not closing.

In short, this is not Daniel Bard being selfish, rather another case of how management dropped the ball and exposing one of their own to the vulnerability of public scrutiny.

Should the Red Sox decide to promote Aaron Cook next week the rotation could become crowded and Bard’s name is surely to rise as the most logical and beneficial move when looking at putting someone in the bullpen.  Management will get a second chance to pull Bard from the fire if they truly believe in him as a starter.  If they don’t then maybe it’s them who should be scrutinized a little more and let Bard focus on what he’s good at, pitching.

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April 5, 2012; Detroit, MI, USA; Boston Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine (25) takes the ball from relief pitcher Mark Melancon (37) during the ninth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Detorit won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-US PRESSWIRE

Here I’ll give you the 5 biggest concerns for the stumbling ball club.

1.) Josh Beckett’s Thumb

As the poster boy for the beer, chicken and video game “scandal” from ’11, Josh Beckett was expected to make amends to the fan base by returning to his mid-2011 form when he had a low 2.00 ERA. Things didn’t go as planned in his first outing as he got shellacked to the tune of 5 HR, 7H, 7 ER, 1BB in 4 2/3 IP against the Detroit Tigers.

During spring training Alfredo Aceves “leaked” a story that Beckett had visited two doctors to address an undisclosed thumb issue. Beckett confirmed the story and added that he’s had issues with the thumb going back 18 months– that’s an issue. On a team lacking arms, the Red Sox can’t afford to lose Beckett or send him out in the form he displayed on April 7th.

If they can’t get this issue straightened out, the Sox may be in trouble in terms of an already ineffective starting rotation.

2.) The Bullpen Won’t Cut It

The loss of Jonathan Papelbon to free agency was supposed to be offset by acquisitions of Mark Melancon and Andrew Bailey in the offseason. Problem is, Bailey hasn’t thrown a pitch and likely won’t until June or later as he injured his thumb in a spring game and required surgery to repair the UCL.

Mark Melancon has thrown some pitches for the Sox but is yet to prove that he can get American League hitters out.

Alfredo Aceves finally got an out in the Red Sox’ only win of the season but there is still concern as to whether or not he can consistently close games.

The bottom line is there’s too much uncertainty in the Sox’ bullpen to begin the season. Until the roles can be defined and the back end can be solidified, this team will have trouble locking down wins in the late innings.

3.) Kevin Youkilis Looks Out of Place

For a guy who had the worst season of his career in 2011 and required surgery in the offseason, a hot start was the best thing that could’ve happened in 2011. Unfortunately it’s been the exact opposite.

Through his first 20 at bats, Youkilis has just 2 hits for a .100 BA, and even more telling of his struggles is the fact that he has yet to draw a single walk. For a player like Youk who excels in on-base skills, this is concerning.

Watching his at bats tells the story better than any statistic could. He looks terrible. I’m worried that there are still physical issues with Youkilis and if that’s the case it will hurt the Red Sox in several ways. Anybody anxious to see a Punto, Aviles left side of the infield on a daily basis?

4.) Will Clay Buchholz Be Effective?

The importance of an effective Clay Buchholz in 2012 could prove even more significant if there is something wrong with Josh Beckett but either way his success will play a huge role in the teams success.

In that regard, his start against the Tigers was a bit concerning. Buchholz again showed inability to finish hitters off and get quick outs–a problem he had in ’11 before the back injury that sidelined him and ended his season in June.

There’s a good chance Clay turns it around soon as he gets comfortable in game situations again but if you’re a Sox fan it’s still in the back of your mind. With a young back end and possibly an injured number 2 starter, the Red Sox will depend on Buchholz more than ever before.

5.) The Clubhouse Still Reeks of Negativity

When the hammer came down after the ’11 season, the Red Sox were damaged in more ways than a few. There was a PR nightmare, personnel changes, reputations ruined and players calling out teammates. It was a circus and the carousel still spins today in the Red Sox’ clubhouse.

Just yesterday, Buster Olney told WEEI’s Mut & Merloni radio show that during spring training he overheard a heated conversation between two players who were still trying to figure out who the mole was that revealed the beer and chicken scandal to the media.

Before that, Josh Beckett told Rob Bradford of WEEI.com that “they can go [expletive] themselves” when referring to anyone who thinks he was wrong for worrying about off the field issues.

It’s quite clear that the negative impact September had still permeates through the clubhouse. Until the team can get over this and form an identity they won’t be able to get back to the level of play needed to compete in the loaded AL East.

Conclusion

The Red Sox had many questions heading into 2011 as well and they were still the best team in baseball through August so maybe these things will work themselves out but until they do, the Red Sox will have a hard time breaking out of this slump.

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August 24, 2011; Arlington, TX, USA; Boston Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek (33) and relief pitcher Jonathan Papelbon (right) congratulate each other after beating the Texas Rangers at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. The Red Sox won 13-2. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-US PRESSWIRE

In the fall of 2011-after a historic collapse- the Red Sox and their fans added a new personality to the long list of players we “love to hate”.

The fact that Jonathan Papelbon signed a 4 year $50 million contract to finish games in Philly seemed to rub Red Sox fans the wrong way. Of course it didn’t help when Pap-In an attempt to brown-nose his new fan base- went on the record saying this,

The difference between Boston and Philadelphia, the Boston fans are a little bit more hysterical when it comes to the game of baseball. The Philly fans tend to know the game a little better, being in the National League, you know, the way the game is played.

These comments infuriated many Red Sox fans -including myself- as it seemed our former closer was attempting to rub salt in the most painful wound we suffered this offseason.

The thing is as much as I’d like to say I’m glad Jonathan Papelbon and his “larger than life” ego are gone from Fenway for good, it’s simply not the case. Especially when you look at the back end of the Sox’ bullpen going into the 2012 season.

The less than stellar performance of Mark Melancon combined with Andrew Baileys inability to stay on the mound have left me longing for the days when Pap was breaking down the Irish Jig on the mound after devastating his opponent with his splitter.

In six seasons with the Red Sox from ’06-’11, Papelbon posted a 2.33 ERA in 429 IP with 219 saves spanning 396 appearances. With the exception of 2010, the Phillies’ new closer was automatic for the Sox and more importantly he was durable.

Every spring since 2006, Pap provided the Red Sox with a reliable piece to build the bullpen around. Andrew Bailey has already proven that his presence in the bullpen will be the complete opposite. How can you build around a player that spends more time on the DL than on the mound?

Short answer.. You can’t.

In the scheme of things, the Red Sox just weren’t willing to open up their wallets the way the Phillies did and I don’t fault them for that. A four year contract for a closer carries significant risk, especially when it’s for $12.5 million per year and the Sox were smart for not ponying up the money. That doesn’t mean Ben Cherington and company won’t lose a few nights sleep in ’12 wishing they could have found a way to keep “Shipping up to Boston” playing in the ninth at Fenway.

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Every Red Sox fan knows that Jonathan Papelbon is one of the greatest closers in the game today. His ability to mentally prepare for the final inning is remarkable and it helped him become the all-time saves leader in the club’s history.  He also has the ego to go along with the role, often appearing a little edgy and arrogant.  Some say “that’s just Paps” and for some it rubbed them the wrong way.  Either way, Boston fans grew to love Papelbon as he delivered on a more than consistent basis throughout his seven years while wearing a Red Sox uniform.

He also speaks his mind, a characteristic that many found enjoyable and likable.  Now that he’s in Philadelphia to become the Phillies new closer he continue to speak his mind, only this time it was a direct shot at the Red Sox fans; the same ones who religiously devoted their trust and belief in him.

On 94WIP’s Angelo Cataldi and The Morning Team, a Philadelphia sports radio show, Papelbon spoke out and fired a shot directly into the hearts of every Red Sox fan ever to occupy a seat at Fenway Park.

“The Philly fans tend to know the game a little better being in the National League, you know, the way the game is played.”

Perhaps his resentment comes from the fact that the Sox organization didn’t really approach Papelbon when the off season began, something he also commented on.

 ”They didn’t really come at me the way I was expecting them to come at me in the offseason,” saying that he was valuing “interest” and “loyalty.” - courtesy of NESN.

Papelbon did try and cover his comments a little when he admitted that Boston fans are completely submerged in the Red Sox.

“It’s a religion. It’s a way of life. They come to the field and they expect certain things out of players. It’s an environment where you put up or shut up. I enjoyed that. It got my motor running every day.”

While words don’t produce results, they can certainly get a fan base riled up and that may be exactly what Papelbon did.  His other motive for the war of words could be to try and have that likability factor with the Philly faithful, a way to try and connect with his new fan base.

When asked about the Yankees and the possibility of wearing pin stripes, the obnoxious Papelbon admitted he would have listened and entertained the idea had they come calling, proving that loyalty is a word that is best left unused.

For a man that has an ego the size of Manhattan, he has once again proven that his mouth may be just as big.  Let’s just hope that his ERA doesn’t balloon to match the prior two or he may be finding out that the City of Brotherly Love is just the opposite.

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It became one of the most recognized entrance songs in all of baseball.  The speakers at Fenway Park would blast the tune of “Shipping Up To Boston” by the Dropkick Murphys every time the bullpen door would swing open and out stepped number 58.  But recently Jonathan Papelbon was given the cold shoulder and experienced first hand what it’s like to be on the outside of the Red Sox organization and not having the fans support.

When the Dropkick Murphy’s bass player and lead singer Ken Casey told ESPN.com that Papelbon can no longer use the band’s hit song for his entrance in Philadelphia, it was another reminder of how passionate and loyal Red Sox fans can be.

Papelbon and Casey developed a friendship during Pap’s tenure in Boston, so deep in fact that Papelbon will continue to support Casey’s charity The Claddagh Fund.  But business is business and baseball is baseball and that’s where Casey draws the line.  As a result, Paps will have to find a new entrance song as Casey points out.

“He can’t use ’Shipping Up To Boston,that’s a Boston song.” - courtesy of NESN.

How do you like us now Jonathan?  I hope you weren’t banking on having the support of Red Sox Nation despite pitching for another team.  Because as you of all people should know, this is a tight knit group of fans no matter where they’re located or what they do for a living.  From music icons to corn farmers, Red Sox Nation is one and united we shall stand.

Everyone can be replaced including the closer who set the Red Sox record for career saves.  And perhaps even the entrance song can be replaced, something that Casey doesn’t want to see.  Casey has said he will reach out to Andrew Bailey in an attempt to persuade the new Sox closer to continue to use the song when he enters the game.

Whether or not this is the right thing to do will remain to be seen.  But for now, it’s safe to say that the right thing was done by giving Papelbon what he deserves; no love from a Red Sox fan.

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September 27, 2011; Baltimore, MD, USA; Boston Red Sox closer

“I think Daniel has a phenomenal career ahead of him, and in my opinion, there’s no reason why he can’t start. I think Daniel can do whatever he wants to do. He’s that good. And he’s matured into a phenomenal pitcher and is only going to get better, and I think the sky’s the limit for him. It truly, really is.”

Bobby Valentine? Ben Cherington? Bob McClure?

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Mar. 12, 2010; Peoria, AZ, USA; Kansas City Royals pitching coach Bob McClure against the Seattle Mariners at Peoria Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

To all the citizens of Red Sox Nation, who worry about whether Daniel, The Pen Bard, can step up to a slot in the rotation, new Boston pitching coach, Bob McClure says, he did it and so did many of the Old School starters, even Hall of Famer, Jim Palmer.

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It’s Pre-Season Ranking Time and we citizens of Red Sox Nation are interested to know if our team is highly-ranked, injustly ranked, or judged just rank.   And, just as we are smarting for a good argument at the neighborhood tavern, in walks MLB.com Columnist, Anthony Castrovince, and tells us that he has created a Top Ten for three categories: Lineup, Starting Rotation, and Bullpen.

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From May through August of last season the Boston Red Sox were the best team in baseball.  They compiled a red hot record of 72-37 and made everyone forget about the dismal April record of 11-15 that was shadowed by an ugly 2-10 start. This team was that good and seemed to be destined for great things. Then September happened and here we are on the verge of Spring Training with many penciling the Red Sox headed for doom and disaster.  But why?  Why can’t this team be one of the greatest team’s this season, make a run at the division and get into the dance known as October baseball.

This is a team that was littered with offense last season.  They scored the most runs, had the best on-base and slugging percentage and the second best batting average in all of baseball.  And not much has changed with this linuep.  Gone are Marco Scutaro, Jed Lowrie and Josh Reddick, but let’s be honest they weren’t the cog in the offensive wheel.  Rather it was mainly Jacoby Ellsbury, Dustin Pedroia, Adrian Gonzalez and David Ortiz being the main culprits to damage opposing pitchers ERA.  Kevin Youkilis, when healthy, is also a key contributor to the Sox winning ways, something that was a challenge yet again in 2011.

New faces such as Cody Ross, Ryan Sweeney, Kelly Shoppach and Nick Punto will be asked to fill in what the departed provided.  That shouldn’t be a problem, considering we’re talking about the bottom part of the lineup.  Now, the new four may not completely replace what the former gave, it is reasonable to expect fairly similar production, especially from Cody Ross, a specialist against left-handed pitching.

But we all know that the offense isn’t the area in question; its the pitching.  With the top three starters set and Daniel Bard given every opportunity to transform into a solid number four guy, there is still way too much speculation as to what this rotation can provide.

Last season the Red Sox pitching was in the bottom half of the league averages.  22nd in ERA, 16th in WHIP, 9th in BAA and 28th in quality starts.  But keep this in mind.  John Lackey and Tim Wakefield combined for over 300 innings last season and we all know how ineffective Lackey was.  Even Wakefield wasn’t Mr. Reliable investing more interest in his personal achievements than the team’s. And yet this team was still the best in baseball for a four-month span with both Lackey and Wake on the mound.

So is it unreasonable to expect that Daniel Bard can produce better numbers than John Lackey did last year?  Bard should be able to have an ERA well under 6.00.  The fifth spot in the rotation could end up being a starter by committee and there again a combo of Carlos Silva, Aaron Cook and/or Alfredo Aceves should be able to do what Wakefield did.

The bullpen is another area that will determine the Sox success. Gone is Jonathan Papelbon and that leaves a huge hole.  Mark Melancon and Andrew Bailey were acquired to fill that void and as one reader pointed out, Melancon could be the diamond in the rough. Here’s a guy that saved 20 games last year in what wasn’t a full season as the closer.  We hear how high the Yankees were on this guy when they had him in their system and now he’s a Red Sox.

Should Bailey struggle, I would expect Bobby V to give Melancon every opportunity to take over the role.  Can they replace Papelbon?  That’s a tall order given he could be viewed as the second best closer in the game.  But the best predictor of future behavior is by past performance.  If that holds true, then the Sox bullpen should be just fine.

So there it is.  Call me crazy, call me ludicrous, call me what you want.  But why can’t this team replicate the successes they had in 2011 when they were the best team in baseball for four months.  This entire organization has been cast as a proverbial group of losers thanks to one month of castaway performances.  The raw talent remains and a new leader with a firecracker style is now in charge and that can’t be a bad thing.  It’s going to be a good year!

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Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-

While the Red Sox starting rotation isn’t any closer to being finalized, one thing we do know is who is going to occupy the bullpen.  Aside from a minor move and/or tweak during Spring Training, the main culprits appear to be set and the bullpen band certainly has a few new faces.

We’ve come to appreciate a bullpen that arguably had one of the best one-two punches in the major leagues.  That combo is gone, but we now have an intriguing new set-up man and closer who could prove to do some pretty big things in Boston. With that, let’s take a look at some of the projections for the bullpen members.  (more…)