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Boston Red Sox General Manager
Theo Epstein, 32, may be the "boy wonder" when it comes
to assembling a good baseball team, but you have to "wonder"
about the "boy" not being able to create a competent
bullpen.
Having been through Mark Malaska,
B.K. Kim, Mark Mantei, Chad Fox, Mike Remlinger and a host of
other opposites of Dennis Eckersley, there have been few signs
of "relief" in the Boston Red Sox bullpen. This vulnerability
not only puts a potential damper on this season, but it also
creates an incompatibility to, at this writing , one of the most
remarkable young pitchers in recent Major League Baseball history
-- the emergence of Jonathan Papelbon.
Possessing an ERA well under
1.00 and with only one blown save in 21 attempts, Papelbon appears
to be one of those special pitchers that comes along only a few
times in a generation. Wise beyond his 25 years and with the
poise of a grizzled veteran pitcher, Papelbon has almost singlehandedly
held together a weak bullpen. Mike Timlin, although injured part
of the season, has also been a positive factor, also, using his
guile, good fastball and excellent control to create, with Papelbon,
a dynamic duo.
Otherwise, the bullpen is a mess,
courtesy of Julian (Freddy Krueger) Tavarez, Rudy Seanez, the
aptly-named David Riske (just traded a few hours ago to the Chicago
White Sox for Javier Lopex) and other disasters that bring back
memories of Jim Burton, Dana Kiecker and Matt White. Younger
pitchers like Jermaine Van Buren, Manny DelCarmen and especially
Craig Hansen have true upside, but it would be unfair to count
on them to help turn the bullpen completely around.
True, the starting rotation is
no bed of roses either as the Red Sox cannot rely on Tim Wakefield,
Matt Clement and possibly David Wells (he's out with a knee injury
at a hefty age 43). Curt Schilling has been a blessing in the
number one role, and Josh Beckett, although inconsistent, is
too talented to be stuck in his current semi-rut. The Red Sox
could have really used Bronson Arroyo now, who is burning up
the National League on the Cincinnati Reds after being traded
by the Sox for outfield prospect Wily Mo Pena. The Sox couldn't
move Clement because of his salary and fragile soul, so Arroyo,
who wanted to stay, got the ax. That move has created obvious
problems, as Arroyo could have been valuable in the starting
rotation or in a relief role.
Somehow, one gets the feeling
that Epstein will make a deal for a quality starting pitcher
around or after the all-star break (Dontrelle Willis, perhaps?),
unless a prospect like Jon Lester steps in and makes waves. But
the bullpen is the bigger concern. Who is out there that can
go beyond the basic cookie-cutter stiff? Can Epstein get a quality
reliever without giving up a prospect?
The only upside to having an
incomplete bullpen is that most other teams fall into the same
boat. Currently, the Red Sox' perennial nemesis, the New York
Yankees are in a similar situation with Scott Proctor,the great
Mariano Rivera doing well, but not much beyond that. The Yankees
have a distinct advantage, however, over the Red Sox, no matter
how bad things get (and they have, with all the injuries) --
they just know how to win.
Given Epstein's track record
in not obtaining quality relievers, the challenge is on to rectify
perhaps his greatest weakness as a general manager. There has
to be some relief in sight, however, or we'll end up chanting
the cliche we fear the most: "Just wait until next year."
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