Red Sox pick up Wakefield's Option

[S2M]

1 year 4 million....

God help us......

John, what say you?

[conversationpc]

Wakefield pitched as well this year as he has in several years. He's still a valuable and fairly reliable starting pitcher.

[Enigma869]

1 year 4 million....

God help us......

John, what say you?

I say that 4 million is chump change for a starting pitcher in MLB. Listen, Wakefield is older than dirt, but as Dave alluded to, the guy's numbers weren't bad for the old fuck that he is. Even at his advanced age, he still manages to pitch a good amount of innings each season. He's nothing more than a fifth starter, and I believe that's how he'll be used. If nothing else, he's not a bad guy to have in the clubhouse for the young guys on the team. Wakefield will always be one of the classiest guys in sports. He's always been a class guy on and off the field, and I will always wish for good things to happen to the guy. For a guy without a ton of talent, he's put together quite the impressive career for himself. Having said all of that, my opinion is that Wakefield is done, Varitek is done, and Ortiz may be done! Hopefully with Ortiz, it's just a question of getting the wrist healthy.


John from Boston

[conversationpc]

If nothing else, he's not a bad guy to have in the clubhouse for the young guys on the team. Wakefield will always be one of the classiest guys in sports. He's always been a class guy on and off the field, and I will always wish for good things to happen to the guy.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

[Saint John]

Well worth the money. A bargain.

[Don]

Wakefield reminds me of Moyer, a guy who just gets by year after year, but is greatful for the opportunity. I'm so glad to see Jamie get a ring, now in the twilight of his career.

[Gin and Tonic Sky]

great move by the Sox, its good to see that some players still do spend their whole careers in one organisation.

He'll be remembered like Pesky - a Sox lifer that people can always look up to .

[Enigma869]

great move by the Sox, its good to see that some players still do spend their whole careers in one organisation.

He'll be remembered like Pesky - a Sox lifer that people can always look up to .

Well, that's not entirely true. While Wakefield has spent most of his career with the Red Sox, the Red Sox only got him after the Pittsburgh Pirates cut him! Wakefield was actually on the starting staff of the Pirates, when they last made the playoffs (when Bonds and Bonilla were there).


John from Boston

[Uno_up]

1 year 4 million....

God help us......

Knuckleballers can remain effective years beyond other types of pitchers due to the low-stress delivery on the arm.
Hell, fellow-knuckleballer Phil Niekro had 121 wins AFTER the age of 40! (he retired at forty-eight).
Other knuckleballers and their age of retirement:

Joe Niekro 43
Jesse Haines 43
Tom Candiotti 41
Charlie Hough 46
Ted Lyons 45
Early Wynn 43
Hoyt Wilhelm 49
Freddie Fitzsimmons 41
Dutch Leonard 44
Warren Spahn 44 (added the knuckler, thereby extending his career an extra two years)

Like others have said, $4 million is a good deal for a starter these days.

[S2M]

1 year 4 million....

God help us......

Knuckleballers can remain effective years beyond other types of pitchers due to the low-stress delivery on the arm.
Hell, fellow-knuckleballer Phil Niekro had 121 wins AFTER the age of 40! (he retired at forty-eight).
Other knuckleballers and their age of retirement:

Joe Niekro 43
Jesse Haines 43
Tom Candiotti 41
Charlie Hough 46
Ted Lyons 45
Early Wynn 43
Hoyt Wilhelm 49
Freddie Fitzsimmons 41
Dutch Leonard 44
Warren Spahn 44 (added the knuckler, thereby extending his career an extra two years)

Like others have said, $4 million is a good deal for a starter these days.

Wake needs to be in a humid city for his knuckle to be effective.....I'm surprised he's had as much success here as he's had.....

[Enigma869]

Wake needs to be in a humid city for his knuckle to be effective

You've obviously never been to Boston. I've spent a summer in North Carolina and spent endless summers in the great city of Boston, and I can tell you that NC has nothing on Boston in the humidity department, during the summer months. While Boston isn't nearly as oppressively hot, we get more than our share of humidity in the summer months. If you ever fly into Logan Airport, I think it will become quite apparent to you that any city that sits directly on the Atlantic Ocean (as Boston does) has plenty of humidity! Oceans=Humidity!


John from Boston

[S2M]

Wake needs to be in a humid city for his knuckle to be effective

You've obviously never been to Boston. I've spent a summer in North Carolina and spent endless summers in the great city of Boston, and I can tell you that NC has nothing on Boston in the humidity department, during the summer months. While Boston isn't nearly as oppressively hot, we get more than our share of humidity in the summer months. If you ever fly into Logan Airport, I think it will become quite apparent to you that any city that sits directly on the Atlantic Ocean (as Boston does) has plenty of humidity! Oceans=Humidity!


John from Boston

John, with all due respect, you know I live 20 miles from Boston. I've been to Boston. I went to college in Boston. I lived on Commonwealth ave.

Instead of picking my words apart part and parcel, read what I wrote.

On numerous occasions I've seen Tim's hands wrapped in heat on cold autumn days....Being able to grip the ball is more neccesary for a knuckler than a regular pitcher.....He struggles in the cold. Does well in the humidity.

Stop being a prick, and a know-it-all.....We have a forum KIA already - Stu.

[Enigma869]

John, with all due respect, you know I live 20 miles from Boston. I've been to Boston. I went to college in Boston. I lived on Commonwealth ave.

Instead of picking my words apart part and parcel, read what I wrote.

On numerous occasions I've seen Tim's hands wrapped in heat on cold autumn days....Being able to grip the ball is more neccesary for a knuckler than a regular pitcher.....He struggles in the cold. Does well in the humidity.

Stop being a prick, and a know-it-all.....We have a forum KIA already - Stu.

Sorry dude...I actually had no idea you were my neighbor. I always thought you were a Detroit dude, because I didn't think Lions fans existed in Massachusetts! If you're from here, then you probably know that some dopes think it's snowing in July up here, so I just had to set you straight.

By the way, I've been a rabid baseball fan for over 30 years, so yes, I agree that the knuckleball does well in heat and humidity! I was simply making the point that Boston doesn't have a short supply of those conditions, unless we're talking about April and September


John from Boston

[S2M]

John, with all due respect, you know I live 20 miles from Boston. I've been to Boston. I went to college in Boston. I lived on Commonwealth ave.

Instead of picking my words apart part and parcel, read what I wrote.

On numerous occasions I've seen Tim's hands wrapped in heat on cold autumn days....Being able to grip the ball is more neccesary for a knuckler than a regular pitcher.....He struggles in the cold. Does well in the humidity.

Stop being a prick, and a know-it-all.....We have a forum KIA already - Stu.

Sorry dude...I actually had no idea you were my neighbor. I always thought you were a Detroit dude, because I didn't think Lions fans existed in Massachusetts! If you're from here, then you probably know that some dopes think it's snowing in July up here, so I just had to set you straight.

By the way, I've been a rabid baseball fan for over 30 years, so yes, I agree that the knuckleball does well in heat and humidity! I was simply making the point that Boston doesn't have a short supply of those conditions, unless we're talking about April and September


John from Boston

If you ain't crying, you ain't sorry.....

Grew up a Pats 'fan': Grogan, Morgan, Cunningham....etc. Father was a HUGE fan, and I had to comply.

About the time I ditched religion, I ditched the Pats. Barry was a Heisman winner, and hitched my wagon to the Lions.....Go figure.