Our bullpen wasn't very good last season, and I think it was the main reason why we were 72-90 last season.

 

So my question is, which reliever do you think will perform best for us in 2008, and WHICH reliever from the above do you want to have the best numbers this season?

Bobby is the easy answer here... My question would be out of the back of the bullpen, who will have the best year, out of guys like Massett, Wasserman, Ohka, Sisco, and company?

No Ohka, then Bobby.

Bobby is the easy answer here... My question would be out of the back of the bullpen, who will have the best year, out of guys like Massett, Wasserman, Ohka, Sisco, and company?

If last year is any indication, then Wassermann. But it looks like he is probably headed to Charlotte, unfortunately.

 

It better be Jenks. If he scuffles in '08, it's going to be a very long year for Sox fans. Plus he's on my fantasy team, so he better get around 40 saves for me.

I'm going to go with dotel. He has a lot to prove and is going to be given the chance. Plus, when on, his stuff is filthy.

Didn't even need to think about the answer.

I am not sure what the question is "best ERA," "best reliever," or "who do want to have the best year." But I think ERA-wise, it will be Dotel and I want him to have the best year and he will be a pleasant surprise and thus our best reliever...okay so I answered Dotel.

Dotel will have the best season, which I defined as the greatest difference between expectations and results. In other words if Bobby saves 40, only a few blown saves, well that is kind of expected.

Jenks is better than all the rest combined.

 

So yeah, a new poll minus Jenks would be sweet.

Edited March 17, 200818 yr by hammerhead johnson

Matt Thornton, don't know why though

I think Jenks will get his 40+ saves.

Wasserman is my suprise guy this year.. this guy just gets outs! He is the new and improved WUNSCH!

Linebrink will be crafty enough to help bridge the 7th and 8th innings to get to Bobby.. he is a guy that this team desperately needed last year.

If Dotel can be healthy for an entire season- look out! He has NASTY stuff and most hitters will tell you that they HATE batting against this guy.. so if something does go wrong with Bobby, he is a good security.

I think Thorton can be an effective 6th, 7th inning guy. We will be seeing him a lot in the days Danks and Floyd pitch.

Macdougal... i dont know what to say about this guy. He just may be the garbage guy. Pitch in games that we are blown out or blowing the other team out.. this can benefit him and help get him back on track.

And i think the last spot will go to Masset. This team needs a long man/ 6th starter and this guy fits the bill. If Floyd ONCE AGAIN sucks butt early in the season, look for Masset to take his spot in the rotation. If that happens Logan will be brought up.

 

For once the bullpen has decent depth. KW did a really good job with this area of the team this offseason.. Im not worried about our pen, im worried about our SP. Just like everyone else of course.

Jenks will be Jenks, I'm not as high on him as everyone else, but he'll still have a good season.

 

Dotel, if healthy, will be the best reliever. Linebrink, however, is an average pitcher with average stuff, and I'd be shocked if he had an ERA less then 4.5 by seasons end.

Jenks will be Jenks, I'm not as high on him as everyone else, but he'll still have a good season.

 

Dotel, if healthy, will be the best reliever. Linebrink, however, is an average pitcher with average stuff, and I'd be shocked if he had an ERA less then 4.5 by seasons end.

 

Seriesly? You voted for Dotel over Jenks?

 

Jenks should have 100% of the vote in this poll. No excuses.

 

And if anyone thinks otherwise, we need to talk, because I can use some of what you're smoking.

Seriesly? You voted for Dotel over Jenks?

 

Jenks should have 100% of the vote in this poll. No excuses.

 

And if anyone thinks otherwise, we need to talk, because I can use some of what you're smoking.

Jenks is good, and can be dominant at times, but he isn't some god like some are making him out to be. I think Dotel can put up a better season statistically, aside from saves.

Seriesly? You voted for Dotel over Jenks?

 

Jenks should have 100% of the vote in this poll. No excuses.

 

And if anyone thinks otherwise, we need to talk, because I can use some of what you're smoking.

 

 

It just says best ERA not best pitcher. I went with Thornton. You never really know with Bullpen ERA's.

Jenks is good, and can be dominant at times, but he isn't some god like some are making him out to be. I think Dotel can put up a better season statistically, aside from saves.

 

We're talking about the same Bobby Jenks that retired 41 consecutive batters last year, yeah? Didn't he have a 0.89 WHIP and .198 BAA? The scary thing is that he ain't even peaking yet.

 

If you look at his 2007 strikeout ratio, he underachieved big time. He had less than 8 strikeouts per 9 IP. He should be in the 10 range this year.

 

I don't know, man. The guy looks like an elite closer to me. A top 10 reliever in the MLB, no doubt.

It just says best ERA not best pitcher. I went with Thornton. You never really know with Bullpen ERA's.

 

When you're slaughtering people with the WHIP/BAA/KPER9IP trio, it stands to reason that your ERA will be supreme. I see Bobby improving on his 2.77 ERA, simply because he underachieved in K per 9 IP last year.

We're talking about the same Bobby Jenks that retired 41 consecutive batters last year, yeah? Didn't he have a 0.89 WHIP and .198 BAA? The scary thing is that he ain't even peaking yet.

 

If you look at his 2007 strikeout ratio, he underachieved big time. He had less than 8 strikeouts per 9 IP. He should be in the 10 range this year.

 

I don't know, man. The guy looks like an elite closer to me. A top 10 reliever in the MLB, no doubt.

Top 5.

I have to go with Boone.He seems like he is really starting to come into his own and they are going to use him mostly at times when he has the lefty on lefty advantage.He is the safe bet to me.

We're talking about the same Bobby Jenks that retired 41 consecutive batters last year, yeah? Didn't he have a 0.89 WHIP and .198 BAA? The scary thing is that he ain't even peaking yet.

 

If you look at his 2007 strikeout ratio, he underachieved big time. He had less than 8 strikeouts per 9 IP. He should be in the 10 range this year.

 

I don't know, man. The guy looks like an elite closer to me. A top 10 reliever in the MLB, no doubt.

Did you not read the part where I said he can be dominant?

 

Jenks can be dominant at times, but then again he can be s***. We saw this last year where at one point he couldn't get anyone on the Orioles out, but then had a dominant streak.

 

If Jenks isn't getting his fastball above at least 96 or 97, he turns from a top of the line closer to a finesse pitcher. When your fastball is as straight as Jenks, you either need to blow it by hitters or locate it perfectly. Jenks does look fatter this season though, and that might be a good think. Jenks' best fastball came when he was at his heaviest. Perhaps when he was that big he had a perfect arm slot that helped him add a couple mph. However, when he lost weight he might have lost that slot.

 

And, I just realized the question asked who will have the best ERA, and that could be anyone, and I would bet it would be Dotel if he's healthy.

Jenks can be dominant at times, but then again he can be s***.

 

You're trying to tell me that he's inconsistent, but a 0.89 WHIP and a .198 BAA over the course of an entire season tell me otherwise.

 

And as I indicated before, when you smash people in those categories, along with K per 9IP, your ERA is gonna be outstanding by default.

 

For every Sox fan that has Octavio Dotel finishing better in all statistical categories besides saves (your precise words), there are about 50,000 that would completely dismiss that possibility. That's all I'm saying.

You're trying to tell me that he's inconsistent, but a 0.89 WHIP and a .198 BAA over the course of an entire season tell me otherwise.

 

And as I indicated before, when you smash people in those categories, along with K per 9IP, your ERA is gonna be outstanding by default.

 

For every Sox fan that has Octavio Dotel finishing better in all statistical categories besides saves (your precise words), there are about 50,000 that would completely dismiss that possibility. That's all I'm saying.

I said better season statistically. When did a better season statistically automatically become every single stat?

 

Jenks had a great season last year, no one is dening that. Most of those great stats came with his great second half however. I have watched Jenks his whole career, so one season isn't going to change my opinion of him. I see him getting 40(+) saves, around a 3 ERA, and a 1.15(+/-) WHIP.

 

I don't think it's too far fetched to think someone, especially a reliever can put up a better ERA, or WHIP, or whatever then Jenks can.

Seriesly?