11/21/24
March 13, 2006
Looking for The Natural in an age of examiniation. : Charlie Pierce on the Red Sox' Jonathon Papelbon and what it means to labor under the burden of expectation now.
If the Red Sox want to have any chance at all they must bring back Joe Foy and Pumpsie Green.
posted by joromu at 02:21 PM on March 13, 2006
And send them to Israel?
posted by yerfatma at 02:49 PM on March 13, 2006
I think being a Red Sox has to rank up there as being worse than a Maple Leaf - if you can't get over the constant knee-jerk reactions of millions of abused (and abusive fans). I mean, that was an article about the nature of modern hype that managed to both explain the hype-machine AND increase the hype for a kid with barely two months of big league experience. In very few places can that happen without someone's head exploding. This just shows to go ya that if the Leafs ever win the Cup it will not lead to cooler, calmer or more sane fans and media.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 03:07 PM on March 13, 2006
He was going to be the new closer, the new setup man, the new starter. It would be nice to see the Red Sox make a real commitment to getting Papelbon in the starting rotation. I keep hearing about all the great young arms they have but each off-season they go get Matt Clement, Josh Beckett, whoever. Let the young guys get in there. Like Schilling says, he'd like to see Papelbon get 200 innings this year. It sounds like he'll do a good job no matter what his role, but it seems he needs a place in the rotation, now!
posted by dyams at 03:41 PM on March 13, 2006
I agree with you dyams, with one exception: I think Beckett is younger than Papelbon. Or close to it. He's a good young arm (when not on the DL with an arm that's older than the rest of him).
posted by yerfatma at 03:58 PM on March 13, 2006
yerfatma is correct re the very close age of Beckett and Papelbon -- Beckett was born on 5-15-80 (making him 25 to start the season) while Papelbon was born on 11-23-80 (also 25 at the start of the season, but a half-year younger than Beckett). Incidentally, both Baseball Prospectus and Baseball America rank Jon Lester as a better prospect than Papelbon -- which is neither here nor there for purposes of the linked article from the FPP, which seems to be more focused on the coming season (Lester's ETA in the majors looks at this point to be 2007).
posted by holden at 04:11 PM on March 13, 2006
I love Papelbon. Love him.
posted by jerseygirl at 05:50 PM on March 13, 2006
Yeah, Lester got sent down to minor league camp today. It drives me nuts to hear about Next Big Things and then see them brought along slowly, but I always remind myself: Jeff Suppan. Believe it or not, Suppan was touted as "The next Greg Maddux" as a minor leaguer. I guess he must have killed a hooker or something.
posted by yerfatma at 06:25 PM on March 13, 2006
I wasn't even thinking about age, to tell you the truth, but it is hard to believe Beckett is still only 25. It seems he's been around quite a long time (I guess his performance against the Yanks a few years ago took some years off MY life). You can't argue with picking up Beckett, obviously if his health holds up, but I was wondering if you agree with me on this: Sometimes it seems Boston gets caught up trying to hang with the Yankees when it comes to signing/trading for big names. Whether it's to keep the Yankees or another AL team from going after Beckett, for example, I don't know. But I wondered if Red Sox fans are worried they may start slowly letting more and more of these prize young players go instead of giving them a spot in the lineup. Whether it be Marte, Ramirez, or anyone else down the road, you wonder if they get caught up in the whole Yankee big-name frenzy. They may have the answers they're looking for, long-term, right in their own system.
posted by dyams at 06:50 PM on March 13, 2006
Incidentally, both Baseball Prospectus... Damn you, Baseball Prospectus! DAMN YOU!!!
posted by wingnut4life at 07:30 PM on March 13, 2006
Must EVERYBODY talk East Coast? Want the NEXT "Natural"? St. Louis' Albert Pujols is your guy! Shits GOLD, is a true family man and does community up the ass! If Darren McGavin was alive, HE'D have to make shit up to sully AP!
posted by wolfdad at 08:10 PM on March 13, 2006
wolfdad Wonderful choice of words to praise a man...geeze, hope AP's and your kids don't read that...."does community up the ass!" OUCH....
posted by gfinsf at 11:01 PM on March 13, 2006
Must EVERYBODY talk East Coast? Last I checked, the Boston Globe offices were in Boston. Boston Harbor is also in Boston. You will note Boston Harbor empties into the Atlantic (or near to it). As such, I don't think the typical, Michael-Wilbonesque, cries of East Coast bias apply.
posted by yerfatma at 05:40 AM on March 14, 2006
Why don't you post something (coherant with a valid link, not screaming-ish) about the West Coast, WOLFDAD? Last I checked, you didn't subscribe to SpoFi and the rest of us weren't paid journalists.
posted by jerseygirl at 05:59 AM on March 14, 2006
WTF? I'm not getting that check?
posted by yerfatma at 07:10 AM on March 14, 2006
St. Louis' Albert Pujols...shits GOLD...does community up the ass! Anal fixation in aisle five...gonna need a cleanup!
posted by The_Black_Hand at 08:11 AM on March 14, 2006
Yeah sorry, yerfatma. rcade's Pope Squatting speaking engagements went over budget this year and none of us are getting compensation.
posted by jerseygirl at 08:35 AM on March 14, 2006
St. Louis' Albert Pujols...shits GOLD...does community up the ass! He should have taken the jail time over the up-the-ass community service.
posted by jerseygirl at 08:38 AM on March 14, 2006
What the hell has gone wrong with this thread? It's gone straight to incoherent. I'm starting to see why long-time posters have left.
posted by dyams at 09:17 AM on March 14, 2006
It doesn't take much. Some idiot saying HAY I DON'T LIEK WHAT UR TALKIN ABOUT and the following snark, while hilarious, does tend to distract from the original topic.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 09:20 AM on March 14, 2006
Just this thread, dyams? This happens quite across the board.
posted by jerseygirl at 09:47 AM on March 14, 2006
Just this thread, dyams? This happens quite across the board. I know. Believe me, it's been getting more and more annoying, and this is the first time I've said anything.
posted by dyams at 09:57 AM on March 14, 2006
Every potential phenom is generating a fair amount of buzz among each team's respective fans this time of year. A big part of the difference in what gets posted is what papers are covering what team. The coasts will generally have better writers, and Boston and New York are probably the top two destinations for sportswriters. Thus you'll end up with better articles, which make for better reading, and make for better posts, etc. etc. I can say with confidence that the Brewers beat writers aren't for shit. I'd like to post about the potential in Milwaukee's young infield, but most of the coverage goes to the tune of "OMG son of Cecil Fielder is FAT!!! and can't play defense"
posted by rocketman at 10:45 AM on March 14, 2006
But regarding the article: expectations for prospects in Boston and New York have always been pretty high, and in the past ten years have only gotten higher. The level of all-around disappointment when one doesn't pan out has got to be tremendous - and I say this as a fan who is both giddy and anxious regarding the potential of Milwaukee's young infield. I wonder if this rising pressure won't have an effect on player trades/signings, discouraging them from seeking out the Bostons and New Yorks, and pushing them to smaller market teams where they can relax and focus more on playing. Probably not.
posted by rocketman at 10:53 AM on March 14, 2006
Tell me more about Milwaukee's infield, vis-a-vis my roto draft.
posted by yerfatma at 11:48 AM on March 14, 2006
yerfatma -- the Brewers' shortstop, JJ Hardy, looks to be an undervalued commodity in fantasy drafts because a horrible first half last year obscured a really good second half. Two other members of Milwaukee's starting infield -- Rickie Weeks and Prince Fielder at second base and first base, respectively -- are among the top prospects at their positions (although Weeks really doesn't qualify as a prospect any longer due to a long stint with the big club last year). I've seen Fielder projected at around 25 homers and Weeks has some good pop for a second baseman and some pretty decent speed as well. Third base might as well be ignored for purposes of this discussion -- Corey Koskie will get the lions share of at bats, when honors should probably go to uber-utility man Bill Hall.
posted by holden at 01:56 PM on March 14, 2006
A big part of the difference in what gets posted is what papers are covering what team. The coasts will generally have better writers, and Boston and New York are probably the top two destinations for sportswriters. Thus you'll end up with better articles, which make for better reading, and make for better posts, etc. etc. I wish this worked in Los Angeles. Though one of the larger "big market/media" outlets, our sports coverage of teams not Lakers or Angels, in a word, blows. If you read the papers here for information on the Dodgers, you wouldn't even know they had a farm system. I blame it on Bill Plaschke myself. Where is the weepy prose and salivating for our prospects? Nowhere to be found. *straightens bow tie* *clears throat* Pardon me.
posted by lilnemo at 06:35 PM on March 14, 2006
'You're Jon Papelbon. Will you sign my baby?' Too funny. That was a nice little "feel good" story. Just hold on to Theo and keep Duquette far, far away. Hopefully he'll live up to the hype.