My best guess would be that the Red Sox do not useFoulke as the closer, but rather this year’s first round draft pick, Hansen (St.Johns). To date, it was tough to get him signed (Boras), but he got major money, and throws harder than anyone on the Staff right now, and a great curve ball to boot. I think this is the closer in September, not Foulke. However, Foulke will be in the bullpen.

I agree, Raf. With the likes of the Red Sox or the Yanks, the only needed requirement will be for hot bats, and there is no pitching staff in the league going to be able to stop either. Their may be one or two pitchers, but not four or five, and definitely no complete bullpen will do the job.

Where I don’t disagree is with the pitching. Neither one of these staffs would win in the playoffs right now
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You’d be suprised. All you need to do is get hot at the right time.

The White Sox staff was lights out in 1993, and that didn’t get them anywhere in the playoffs

I disagree, if the red sox take schilling out of the closer’s role and put keith foulke back there it will be a disaster. schilling hasnt been the most reliable guy out of the pen but hes doing a much better job than foulke. I dont think foulke will ever recover from the overuse him and embree suffered last year in the alcs. this september will be very interesting considering the al east plays each other all month long.

and everyone is forgetting anaheim, when they are fully rested I truly believe they are the team to beat, Oakland will not continue playing at the rate they are and will falter at some point.

“Live as brave men; and if fortune is adverse, front its blows with brave hearts.”
-Cicero

In other words: Yanks fans should only worry about what the team can control, i.e., its play on the field. Worrying about injuries, etc. is worrying about things out of human control.

Go Yanks & Go Rangers. It’s very simple.

I don’t anticipate Curt back into the rotation within two weeks or so, and I pay very close attentiont to it. Curt has pitched out of the pen pretty effectively (for a guy who’s not a bullpen guy anyhow), but they can’t very well move him right now. Manny Delcarmen was cruising along nicely until today’s little fiasco, and Timlin and Myers have yet to really hiccup, so my best guess is about three weeks. I think when the Foulke project is complete and he’s able to go out and pitch effectively, they will bring up John Papelbon from Pawtucket, leave Delcarmen, Timlin, Bradford, and Myers in the pen and move Schilling back into the rotation. I would assume that either Miller or Arroryo will go to the pen, and the long guy will be Jon Papelbon, who up unitl this weeks move to the pen, is a starting pitcher. I would also assume that they Sox will call up the St.Johns closer they drafted this year, ala Houston Street, as he has been pretty much lights out so far.
My guess is that’s way too much info for Yanks fans – sorry, just answering the question.
Also, Yanks and Sox pound A’s pitching, in particular, Barry Zito.

Well, the Red Sox split a series with the White Sox and didn’t exactly mash the starters, so it’s hard to tell how they’ll do in a short series. And I wouldn’t be so quick to forget the pitching of a certain A’s team that has made a Giambi-like resurgence. Who knows if other teams are intimidated by them, but they are legit, and no team will be eager to see them in the playoffs.

When is Schilling going back to the rotation?

Also with Schilling, the difference is very minimal. As is pointed out on YFvSF’s new thread about Randy Johnson’s deal: Schilling was about 12million dollars cheaper and nearly four years younger, so the risk, while still big, was not as big for the Red Sox to offer Schilling the third year. All for nill now though, as the Red Sox did what they set out to do when getting him.

Yeah, I can’t explain it with Curt – his success was immediate, however there was a run tacked onto his ERA with the switch.
Hah – I don’t really agree, or disagree. I think there are postions on both teams with slack defense. For the Yanks, it’s centerfield, which seems to be pretty grim a situation. For the Sox, it SS, and we all hope Edgah’s golden glove shows up soon. Other than that, Cora is just as good at second as Pokey Reese was, and with Graffanino and Olerud, the first base spot could be just the same as last year.
Where I don’t disagree is with the pitching. Neither one of these staffs would win in the playoffs right now, but you have to ask youself this: is this the year that the bat gets it done? Outside of Chicago, the pitching that will show up in the AL playoffs are not really that intimidating. Boston has already beaten those guys once, and we will soon see what NY can do with them.
I think either team can make it through if they make it – especially if they are on a roll. The only difference is the Yanks will have to try to stay in the race while undergoing the pitching woes that the Red Sox are not.
If Schilling comes back even at 80%, I think the situation is really improved there. On the same note, if Pavaon and RJ pitch well enough to win, it’s still a toss up.

as a yankees fan i have to say carl pavano is a baby and he should be ashamed of himself for not having the guts to pitch in the big leagues anymore, and regardless of who makes the playoffs i see the sox and yankees making quick exits in the first round. the red sox defense is the only one who can challenge the yankees as being the absolute worst in the big leagues. money just doesnt do what it used to do.