Balfour would be fun. A pissed off Balfour would be even more fun. I think he'd have an even bigger chip on his shoulder because of the Orioles fiasco.

Jones, Petricka and Webb should be competing for the spot and let the best man have the job.

 

I think Tyler Danish should be being groomed for a fast track to MLB closer anyway. Obviously not 2014, but I also don't think he should need a ton of time to develop as a closer either. Especially not with the type of stuff he has from an odd arm angle.

I got pooped on for saying something similar last year re: Danish, but I honestly believe he can get MLB right handers out right now. If they're going to go slow with him then it's a pretty good indication they think he can and will be a starter. I like that pick a lot, actually my favorite pitching prospect in the Sox system & should be very fun to watch develop if he can stay healthy.

 

Re: Petricka and Webb I guess it wouldn't be surprising to see them competing with Jones since they did put Hector there out of ST a couple years ago brought Boone Logan with them out of A ball several years ago, but I think that's kind of stupid for them to do. Lindstrom, Jones, and Belisario should be the competition with Lindstrom and Belisario needing to basically beat Jones down and rip the job away from him to take the closers role. Anything even remotely close & Jones should get it. Petricka and Webb need to be competing with others, invites and so on, for any role possible in the pen.

Jones, Petricka and Webb should be competing for the spot and let the best man have the job.

 

I think Tyler Danish should be being groomed for a fast track to MLB closer anyway. Obviously not 2014, but I also don't think he should need a ton of time to develop as a closer either. Especially not with the type of stuff he has from an odd arm angle.

 

I think you will see Danish as a setup-man/closer ala Sale when he first comes up, but he's being groomed as a starter, so that will be temporary unless an injury fear arises.

 

The first and last choices of this poll are kind of the same thing, so one of those.

 

Signing Ryan Madson and dealing him at the deadline would be best option.

Signing Ryan Madson and dealing him at the deadline would be best option.

 

I love how folks assume these sign-and-flips always work. Those who've fallen in love with Theo's return for Feldman need to take a look at the totality of his flipping scheme - more miss than hit, and not inexpensive.

Edited December 21, 201312 yr by Stan Bahnsen

Signing Ryan Madson and dealing him at the deadline would be best option.

If it's a low base on a work-your-way-back type of deal then that's a great move, especially if there's a second year option of some sort. But then I'd make him a setup man to get Jones his reps, and I wouldn't bother bringing him in without a 2nd year potentially attached. While a 1/2 season of a rehabbed closer can bring back substantial value ala the Gagne from Texas to Boston deal, I don't think we could count on it enough to take a 1/2 year from Jones, who actually would bring in a healthy return if he worked out. In general I would doubt that a 1/2 season of a rehabbed closer gets us much more than we could get from Lindstrom already, maybe not even that much if Lindstrom is having a nice year.

 

I like the idea a lot though if he'd give us a deal that offers us some real potential to improve the club beyond his short tenure.

I love how folks assume these sign-and-flips always work. Those who've fallen in love with Theo's return for Feldman need to take a look at the totality of his flipping scheme - more miss than hit, and not inexpensive.

I wanted Arrieta forever! I made threads about it. Hahn needs to listen to me more, he could have gotten Arrieta for a song.

 

In general though the flips return prospects. You are right though, often you get nothing, but it's a nice little way to take a chance at something and maybe deepen the farm a little while taking virtually no risk. If the player fails you waive him if you can, DFA him & eat the money nif you have to, you're not committed to much of anything, and if things work out you can buy a prospect from someone.

I wanted Arrieta forever! I made threads about it. Hahn needs to listen to me more, he could have gotten Arrieta for a song.

 

In general though the flips return prospects. You are right though, often you get nothing, but it's a nice little way to take a chance at something and maybe deepen the farm a little while taking virtually no risk. If the player fails you waive him if you can, DFA him & eat the money nif you have to, you're not committed to much of anything, and if things work out you can buy a prospect from someone.

 

I'm glad we don't have Arrieta. I realize he's the polarizing type that will always entice with upside, but he would have shown more by now if he was ever going to "get" it, imo.

I love how folks assume these sign-and-flips always work. Those who've fallen in love with Theo's return for Feldman need to take a look at the totality of his flipping scheme - more miss than hit, and not inexpensive.

 

It's not an endorsement for flipping more an indictment on "closers."

Like some others have stated, Nate Jones should be the closer. Hope that pitches awesome and that you can them deal him for a nice haul with some controlled years left. I like Nate Jones. I think Daniel Webb is the closer of the future though and I like selling high on relievers. That would be my goal with Jones.

It's not an endorsement for flipping more an indictment on "closers."

I hear ya. I'm more of a develop and flip, than sign and flip guy as it pertains to relievers and our org's strengths.

 

Still bugs me that we didn't get anything better for Sergio, given his performance/age/contract heading into that deal. Should have yielded at least a Davidson-like piece.

 

Forget closer for now, if in July the team is actually good enough for there to be a lot of high leverage innings available in the pen then see about adding a piece and sacrificing a little of the future for the present. That would be a good problem.

 

For now I'd go with closer by committee, with Jones getting the bulk of the chances early.

I think we should just go by committee and hopeful Jones or anyone for that matter takes the reigns and locks it down. If not its not the end of the world, cause we probably won't contend anyways, I believe within the next year Danish, I know hes only 19, but I think hell be a quick riser, will be given the opportunity in the pen and hopefully the closer's role.

I'd love to see Balfour - just because I hate him so much... It'd be fun to enjoy his antics from the other side , ALA AJ circa 2005.

Edited December 22, 201312 yr by hi8is

Love the idea of making Jones a closer this year and hoping we could flip him in either June/July or next year at this time for another near-ready MLB top 100 prospect.

Love the idea of making Jones a closer this year and hoping we could flip him in either June/July or next year at this time for another near-ready MLB top 100 prospect.

 

Thanks. I give Balta half the credit for that one.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-leag...04671--mlb.html