Dang, I didn't even realize he was a PawSock. Was he involved in some trade? I remember his Tampa Bay debut in 2003 -- started our strong and then fizzled. Or fizzizzled, as the kids today like to say.
I think they signed him as a minor league free agent. I vaguely remember him pitching against the Sox as well - I think it was in Fenway and Manny hit a huge HR. But I don't think it was his debut - he pitched for the Cubs in like 97 or 98.In fact he was one of the top rated prospects in baseball for a while, but I guess he fizzizzled.
I'm surprised they wouldn't go with one of the prospects - like an Alvarez, Lester or Paplebon. although maybe they are thinking the person they bring up will be up for a while and they don't want to throw a kid right into the fire. And if he fails, send him back with damaged confidence. Last year when they brought up Alvarez, everyone knew it was for one game only, so there is less risk. I guess.
I am not sure, but I believe that if they brought up Alvarez again that he would be out of options.
My guess is they want a guy with some ML experience...
Also, the guy they bring up is probably headed to the pen around May 10 or so when Miller comes back.
Halama will be in the rotation. Who does that leave for long relief right now, come to think of it? Blaine Neal? Yikes!!!
The offense better step up and carry for a while. And Foulke should get the extra work he is complaining about not getting.
By the way...Here in Boston fans are panicked!!! It is crazy. Everyone is calling EEI and saying what a huge mistake it was to let Lowe go...Um, if Clement (last start aside) got the run support that Lowe got last year he'd be 3-1 right now...It is nuts...
Comments like, "Lowe was one of the winningest pitchers in baseball" flying all over the place...
Yeah, I can imagine that the city is paniced (is that the correct spelling, not sure, too lazy to look up). So the city is in a panic. I caught a bit of EEI yesterday and it was kind of funny.
If you had told me last year at this time the Sox would win the WS but struggle the next year, well stealing a line from Denis Leary I would have said "you can have my left nut."
Its early and its not like the Yanks or O's are looking like they will run away with it. The O's look okay, but not many people think they will keep it up.
I think you are right about them wanting to have a pitcher with ML experience - especially since they will likely be around for more than a cup of coffee.
Not bringing up Alvarez has nothing to do with options. The whole options thing works something like this - there are probably a few tweaks in this but this is my understanding:
Once a player has been on the 40 man roster more than 3 years they then have to clear waivers in order to be sent back down. So since he was drafted in 2003 and made his debut in 2004 (he was probably placed on the 40 man roster the day that he was brought up last year - more on that in a second), the Sox can send him up and down with impunity until the end of 2007 (I think - not sure how the mid year thing works - but once you have the options on a player in a year, you have them for the whole year - there is no limit to the number of times a player can go up or down.)
The other thing that creates havoc for sending them down is if they are signed to a MLB contract.
The other piece of the 40 man roster is that a player has to be on the 40 man roster within 3 years of being drafted or else he is subject to the rule 5 draft. so essentially a team can have the player under their control for up to 6 years.
Dang, I didn't even realize he was a PawSock. Was he involved in some trade? I remember his Tampa Bay debut in 2003 -- started our strong and then fizzled. Or fizzizzled, as the kids today like to say.
ReplyDeleteI think they signed him as a minor league free agent. I vaguely remember him pitching against the Sox as well - I think it was in Fenway and Manny hit a huge HR. But I don't think it was his debut - he pitched for the Cubs in like 97 or 98.In fact he was one of the top rated prospects in baseball for a while, but I guess he fizzizzled.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised they wouldn't go with one of the prospects - like an Alvarez, Lester or Paplebon. although maybe they are thinking the person they bring up will be up for a while and they don't want to throw a kid right into the fire. And if he fails, send him back with damaged confidence. Last year when they brought up Alvarez, everyone knew it was for one game only, so there is less risk. I guess.
I am not sure, but I believe that if they brought up Alvarez again that he would be out of options.
ReplyDeleteMy guess is they want a guy with some ML experience...
Also, the guy they bring up is probably headed to the pen around May 10 or so when Miller comes back.
Halama will be in the rotation. Who does that leave for long relief right now, come to think of it? Blaine Neal? Yikes!!!
The offense better step up and carry for a while. And Foulke should get the extra work he is complaining about not getting.
By the way...Here in Boston fans are panicked!!! It is crazy. Everyone is calling EEI and saying what a huge mistake it was to let Lowe go...Um, if Clement (last start aside) got the run support that Lowe got last year he'd be 3-1 right now...It is nuts...
Comments like, "Lowe was one of the winningest pitchers in baseball" flying all over the place...
Yeah, I can imagine that the city is paniced (is that the correct spelling, not sure, too lazy to look up). So the city is in a panic. I caught a bit of EEI yesterday and it was kind of funny.
ReplyDeleteIf you had told me last year at this time the Sox would win the WS but struggle the next year, well stealing a line from Denis Leary I would have said "you can have my left nut."
Its early and its not like the Yanks or O's are looking like they will run away with it. The O's look okay, but not many people think they will keep it up.
I think you are right about them wanting to have a pitcher with ML experience - especially since they will likely be around for more than a cup of coffee.
Not bringing up Alvarez has nothing to do with options. The whole options thing works something like this - there are probably a few tweaks in this but this is my understanding:
Once a player has been on the 40 man roster more than 3 years they then have to clear waivers in order to be sent back down. So since he was drafted in 2003 and made his debut in 2004 (he was probably placed on the 40 man roster the day that he was brought up last year - more on that in a second), the Sox can send him up and down with impunity until the end of 2007 (I think - not sure how the mid year thing works - but once you have the options on a player in a year, you have them for the whole year - there is no limit to the number of times a player can go up or down.)
The other thing that creates havoc for sending them down is if they are signed to a MLB contract.
The other piece of the 40 man roster is that a player has to be on the 40 man roster within 3 years of being drafted or else he is subject to the rule 5 draft. so essentially a team can have the player under their control for up to 6 years.
Hopefully that made some sense.