The Red Sox exercised Tim Wakefield's $4 million option on Friday. In 2009, Wakefield will become the first pitcher in Red Sox history to pitch 15 consecutive seasons with the team.
Wakefield had 18 quality starts, second only to Jon Lester. His 112 ERA+ was his best performance since 2003. From May 28 to the end of the season -- the last two-thirds of the year -- Wakefield posted a 3.61 ERA in 20 starts. Included in that stretch was a nine-start run (May 28 to July 12), where he had a 2.13 ERA in 63.1 innings.
Yay for Wake, one of my sentimental favorites!
ReplyDeleteGood. I hope he keeps making quality starts until he's fifty so he can bury the team wins records.
ReplyDeleteAnd he is a total bargain at $4.
ReplyDeleteso he can bury the team wins records
Amen, brother! I got nothing against Denton Young, but when it comes to Fat Billy ...
He's got 164 -- he needs 29 more to set a new franchise record! Should be some time in 2011.
(He already has the record for losses!)
He put a dent in the record, it's true, but he's not young anymore. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteHopefully he can do it.
I think it's foolish to have Wakefield on the staff. We'll end up complaining about him the way we do about Timlin.
ReplyDeleteL-girl said...
ReplyDeleteI think it's foolish to have Wakefield on the staff.
I think it would be foolish to turn an option of 4 million dollars, for a guy who at a period of time was your most dominant pitcher....I think the Red Sox have made it clear that Wake will leave when he wants to....I have no problem with that..
for a guy who at a period of time was your most dominant pitcher
ReplyDeleteDoesn't it matter what period that was?
Hey, I know it's a minority opinion. I just think it's high time to trim the senior section of the roster.
L-girl said...
ReplyDeletefor a guy who at a period of time was your most dominant pitcher
Doesn't it matter what period that was?
I mean this year......Wake only gave up 7 hits or more in 8 games, Beckett-13 , Lester-16, Dice-K-4....that might not mean much....he just won't hurt ya.......age doesn't make much of a difference if you still can play.......
I think if you look at Wakefield's overall numbers, you couldn't say he was our most dominant pitcher this year.
ReplyDeleteAge means a guy is nearing or at the end of his career. There's no getting around it.
Whether it's Wake, Varitek, whoever, it's like we have to keep every aging hero of yesterday, until everyone is screaming for their heads.
L-girl said...
ReplyDeleteI think if you look at Wakefield's overall numbers, you couldn't say he was our most dominant pitcher this year.
I said for a period of time...I just can't see giving someonelse 4 mil. that would be better than him...so at his value he's a steal
I said for a period of time...
ReplyDeleteI know, but I think you're slicing it a little too thin to be meaningful.
so at his value he's a steal
Not if he sucks.
I know, but I think you're slicing it a little too thin to be meaningful.
ReplyDeleteIn 15 starts between May 28 and August 31 -- exactly half of Wakefield's starts in 2008 -- he had a 2.91 ERA.
Not crazy about the personal catcher crap, but he's a serious bargain.
Bargain or not, there's the potential to be very sorry.
ReplyDeleteThe last pitcher you said was such a bargain was David Wells. It's not much of an argument.