Still at it 8 years later....
http://www.sportshaze.com/boston/bo...ox-tim-wakefield-getting-better-with-age-4229
Boston Red Sox: Tim Wakefield getting better with age
By: Andrew MacDougall Updated June 20, 2011 10:27 PM EST 208 views
Boston Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield won’t wow you with his stuff. Most days, the 44-year-old is lucky if his fastball clocks 85 miles-per-hour on the radar gun. The pitch he uses most often is his knuckleball, known most for it’s erratic, unpredictable motion.
In many ways, Wakefield is like his knuckler. There are times when the knuckleball can’t be stopped, and Wakefield is a tour de force. There are other times, however, when the knuckleball is more like a 75 mile-per-hour lob to home plate, begging to take a seat above the Green Monster, and Wakefield’s stock takes a hit because of it.
Last season was one of those rough stretches. In 2009, Wakefield entered July 1st with an absurd record of 10-3, and was arguably the hottest pitcher on the Sox staff. Fast-forward to July 1st of the 2010 season, and Wakefield was looking at a 2-6 record, yearning for a win.
Wakefield would end last season with only 4 wins to his 10 losses, a dizzying fall-from-grace that would have any management team concerned. Entering 2011, worried is exactly what Sox management seemed to be.
Wakefield began the 2011 season in the bullpen, a place he hadn’t started his season since 2001. He had lost his job to Boston’s luxurious pitching staff. Household names like Josh Beckett, John Lester, Clay Buchholz, John Lackey and Daisuke Matsuzaka, players who earned money and accolades Wakefield could only dream of, became the future focus of the franchise. The grandfather of the pitching staff was all but forgotten about.
He was an important piece in the bullpen, though. It kept an arm in the bullpen that could log big innings when necessary, as well as a potential sixth starter on the roster. Keeping a potential starter from logging innings while keeping the arm loose is a win-win for any team, especially if the pitcher is pushing 45 years old.
It was a thought that if there were an injury, Wakefield would be the first back in to the starting five. After all, Wakefield had spent the better part of the past 10 seasons as a starter. But when Lackey went on the disabled list, the opening went to Alfredo Aceves. Only when Matsuzaka went on the DL were the Sox forced to insert Wakefield into the rotation.
Since being back in the rotation, though, Wakefield has proved to be one of the better pitchers in the rotation.
As a starter, Wakefield has only had two horrible outings. On May 6th, Wakefield gave up 8 runs on 9 hits in 4.1 innings of work for a loss against the Minnesota Twins. Wakefield's other horrible start came June 8th against the New York Yankees, when he gave up 5 runs on 5 hits in 5.1 innings pitched, a game which he actually ended up with the win.
The rest of his games have been rather stellar. He’s given up 3 hits and 1 run in 5.2 innings against the Seattle Mariners, 4 hits and 1 run in 6.2 innings against the Chicago Cubs, and 2 runs on 5 hits in 7 innings of work against the Detroit Tigers.
On Sunday, Wakefield threw another masterful game, hurling 8 innings of 3 hit ball, allowing only 3 runs while striking out a season-high 8 batters against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Recently, he’s been hotter than some of the regulars in the starting rotation. Since coming back from injury, Lackey has given up 11 runs in nearly 20 innings of work over three games. Matsuzaka, before opting for Tommy John surgery, had given up 11 runs in 11.1 innings.
Yet Wakefield was overlooked. He had to wait for his chance. He has that chance now, and he’s holding on to it as tight as he can.
Chances are, with Monday being the return of*Andrew Miller*to the big leagues, and Buchholz coming off the disabled list in two weeks, Wakefield might get the squeeze again. There have been talks about the Sox opening up a six-man rotation, but that doesn’t bode well for anyone, especially pitchers who rely on routine to prepare them for their next start.
If anyone is likely on his way to the bullpen, it’s Wakefield. He spent the late 1990s there, as well as the earlier part of this season, and has previously said he’ll do whatever is necessary for the team to win.
If he does go to the bullpen, he’ll be ready for his call, when injury or fatigue hit the starting rotation. He’ll be ready to remind the Red Sox how important he really is.
What do you think about Tim Wakefield? Is he better off in the bullpen or in the rotation? Comment below and tell me what you think. Follow me on Twitter at @Andy_MacDougall
.
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http://www.sportshaze.com/boston/bo...ox-tim-wakefield-getting-better-with-age-4229
Boston Red Sox: Tim Wakefield getting better with age
By: Andrew MacDougall Updated June 20, 2011 10:27 PM EST 208 views
Boston Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield won’t wow you with his stuff. Most days, the 44-year-old is lucky if his fastball clocks 85 miles-per-hour on the radar gun. The pitch he uses most often is his knuckleball, known most for it’s erratic, unpredictable motion.
In many ways, Wakefield is like his knuckler. There are times when the knuckleball can’t be stopped, and Wakefield is a tour de force. There are other times, however, when the knuckleball is more like a 75 mile-per-hour lob to home plate, begging to take a seat above the Green Monster, and Wakefield’s stock takes a hit because of it.
Last season was one of those rough stretches. In 2009, Wakefield entered July 1st with an absurd record of 10-3, and was arguably the hottest pitcher on the Sox staff. Fast-forward to July 1st of the 2010 season, and Wakefield was looking at a 2-6 record, yearning for a win.
Wakefield would end last season with only 4 wins to his 10 losses, a dizzying fall-from-grace that would have any management team concerned. Entering 2011, worried is exactly what Sox management seemed to be.
Wakefield began the 2011 season in the bullpen, a place he hadn’t started his season since 2001. He had lost his job to Boston’s luxurious pitching staff. Household names like Josh Beckett, John Lester, Clay Buchholz, John Lackey and Daisuke Matsuzaka, players who earned money and accolades Wakefield could only dream of, became the future focus of the franchise. The grandfather of the pitching staff was all but forgotten about.
He was an important piece in the bullpen, though. It kept an arm in the bullpen that could log big innings when necessary, as well as a potential sixth starter on the roster. Keeping a potential starter from logging innings while keeping the arm loose is a win-win for any team, especially if the pitcher is pushing 45 years old.
It was a thought that if there were an injury, Wakefield would be the first back in to the starting five. After all, Wakefield had spent the better part of the past 10 seasons as a starter. But when Lackey went on the disabled list, the opening went to Alfredo Aceves. Only when Matsuzaka went on the DL were the Sox forced to insert Wakefield into the rotation.
Since being back in the rotation, though, Wakefield has proved to be one of the better pitchers in the rotation.
As a starter, Wakefield has only had two horrible outings. On May 6th, Wakefield gave up 8 runs on 9 hits in 4.1 innings of work for a loss against the Minnesota Twins. Wakefield's other horrible start came June 8th against the New York Yankees, when he gave up 5 runs on 5 hits in 5.1 innings pitched, a game which he actually ended up with the win.
The rest of his games have been rather stellar. He’s given up 3 hits and 1 run in 5.2 innings against the Seattle Mariners, 4 hits and 1 run in 6.2 innings against the Chicago Cubs, and 2 runs on 5 hits in 7 innings of work against the Detroit Tigers.
On Sunday, Wakefield threw another masterful game, hurling 8 innings of 3 hit ball, allowing only 3 runs while striking out a season-high 8 batters against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Recently, he’s been hotter than some of the regulars in the starting rotation. Since coming back from injury, Lackey has given up 11 runs in nearly 20 innings of work over three games. Matsuzaka, before opting for Tommy John surgery, had given up 11 runs in 11.1 innings.
Yet Wakefield was overlooked. He had to wait for his chance. He has that chance now, and he’s holding on to it as tight as he can.
Chances are, with Monday being the return of*Andrew Miller*to the big leagues, and Buchholz coming off the disabled list in two weeks, Wakefield might get the squeeze again. There have been talks about the Sox opening up a six-man rotation, but that doesn’t bode well for anyone, especially pitchers who rely on routine to prepare them for their next start.
If anyone is likely on his way to the bullpen, it’s Wakefield. He spent the late 1990s there, as well as the earlier part of this season, and has previously said he’ll do whatever is necessary for the team to win.
If he does go to the bullpen, he’ll be ready for his call, when injury or fatigue hit the starting rotation. He’ll be ready to remind the Red Sox how important he really is.
What do you think about Tim Wakefield? Is he better off in the bullpen or in the rotation? Comment below and tell me what you think. Follow me on Twitter at @Andy_MacDougall
.
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197 | 0 Comments
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Once upon a time, the Sox couldn’t keep a player at shortstop. Nowadays, they have four potential shortstops they could plug in. Where does that leave them?
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