October 31, 2008

Wakefield Coming Back For 2009

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.

13 comments:

Amy said...

Yay for Wake, one of my sentimental favorites!

Benjamin said...

Good. I hope he keeps making quality starts until he's fifty so he can bury the team wins records.

allan said...

And he is a total bargain at $4.

so 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!)

Jere said...

He put a dent in the record, it's true, but he's not young anymore. Sigh.

Hopefully he can do it.

laura k said...

I think it's foolish to have Wakefield on the staff. We'll end up complaining about him the way we do about Timlin.

9casey said...

L-girl said...
I 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..

laura k said...

for a guy who at a period of time was your most dominant pitcher

Doesn'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.

9casey said...

L-girl said...
for 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.......

laura k said...

I think if you look at Wakefield's overall numbers, you couldn't say he was our most dominant pitcher this year.

Age 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.

9casey said...

L-girl said...
I 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

laura k said...

I said for a period of time...

I 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.

allan said...

I know, but I think you're slicing it a little too thin to be meaningful.

In 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.

laura k said...

Bargain or not, there's the potential to be very sorry.

The last pitcher you said was such a bargain was David Wells. It's not much of an argument.