11 for 11....WOW!

Fishhead · May 4, 2006

</TD><TD class=ffteams vAlign=top width="53%">58 Jonathan Papelbon, RP
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR class=ffteams vAlign=top><TD class=playerbio width="50%">Height/Weight: 6-4/230
Birthdate: 11/23/1980
Birthplace: Baton Rouge, LA
Bats/Throws: R/R
</TD><TD class=playerbio width="50%">Team: Boston
College: Mississippi State
MLB Experience: 2
2006 Salary: $335,400
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Fishhead · May 4, 2006

0.54 Earned Run Average

SkinsRaj28 · May 4, 2006

Give the league a little time to see him. He's good and has some filthy stuff, but he'll get exposed eventually, as all rookies do. He'll be a good pro, though.

It's harder and takes longer for hitters to see and get used to a reliever than it is a starter. Not as many looks at him.

dmmd98 · May 4, 2006

BJ Ryan 0.00 Era

Fishhead · May 4, 2006

SkinsRaj28 said:
Give the league a little time to see him. He's good and has some filthy stuff, but he'll get exposed eventually, as all rookies do. He'll be a good pro, though.

It's harder and takes longer for hitters to see and get used to a reliever than it is a starter. Not as many looks at him.

I agree.........CALVIN SCHRALDI, case in point.

Bennyshoe · May 4, 2006

He's a local Jacksonville boy. He actually played the field in HS and went to college like that. Then one day he was throwing the ball around the the Miss State coached asked him if he wanted to learn to pitch so he could get more playing time.

He's a savior for Boston. They didn't expect him to do so well in the closer position. Maybe just keep it for until Foulke was ready.

Papelbon did get the loss two nights ago giving up his first earned run of the year however.

I had Boston.

quantumleap · May 5, 2006

SkinsRaj28 said:
Give the league a little time to see him. He's good and has some filthy stuff, but he'll get exposed eventually, as all rookies do. He'll be a good pro, though.

It's harder and takes longer for hitters to see and get used to a reliever than it is a starter. Not as many looks at him.

I believe he pitched last year Skins.

SkinsRaj28 · May 5, 2006

He pitched at the very end of last year...believe he was a September call-up. That's not a big sample size. Lets see how he's doing at the end of this season, and more importantly, after this year.

quantumleap · May 5, 2006

SkinsRaj28 said:
He pitched at the very end of last year...believe he was a September call-up. That's not a big sample size. Lets see how he's doing at the end of this season, and more importantly, after this year.

<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width=575 bgColor=#999999 border=0><TBODY><TR class="textXs white" align=middle><TD width=36>Year</TD><TD width=30>Team</TD><TD width=30>W</TD><TD width=30>L</TD><TD width=35>ERA</TD><TD width=30>G</TD><TD width=30>GS</TD><TD width=30>CG</TD><TD width=30>SHO</TD><TD width=30>SV</TD><TD width=30>SVO</TD><TD width=35>IP</TD><TD width=30>H</TD><TD width=30>R</TD><TD width=30>ER</TD><TD width=30>HR</TD><TD width=30>BB</TD><TD width=30>SO</TD></TR><TR class=textXs align=middle bgColor=#cccccc><TD>2003</TD><TD colSpan=17>No Major League Stats Available</TD></TR><TR class=textXs align=middle bgColor=#cccccc><TD>2004</TD><TD colSpan=17>No Major League Stats Available</TD></TR><TR class=textXs align=middle bgColor=#cccccc><TD>2005</TD><TD>BOS</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>2.65</TD><TD>17</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>34.0</TD><TD>33</TD><TD>11</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>17</TD><TD>34</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

I think I see what you're saying Skins. While he pitched in 17 games he only pitched 34 innings last year which is tough for teams to get a good idea about him.

roach23 · May 5, 2006

man i thought this thread was gonna be about someone about to win the 12 team parlay contest for the $25,000 blackjack hand

Bennyshoe · May 5, 2006

If you remember also he shaved his head into a Rick Vaughn style mohawk a few weeks ago after winning a bet.

Mr.Smith · May 5, 2006

closers are one or two pitch ponies who throw their arms out in a couple years and retire. this guy is much better than that. This guy can potentially be a hall of fame type starter with a long career. they need to get a closer and move Papelbon into the rotation where he belongs.

Boston starting pitching is not good enough.

BIGSHOTMAXXX · May 5, 2006

Don't forget good old Tom Gordan, he is 9 for 9. I wonder if these two guys are the only ones in the league that HAVEN'T blown saves yet?

SkinsRaj28 · May 5, 2006

Mr. Smith said:
this guy is much better than that. This guy can potentially be a hall of fame type starter with a long career.

That's eerily similar to what people were saying about Mark Prior and Kerry Wood a few years ago, something I'm sure they also said about Doc Gooden as well...and we all know how that panned out.

Let him put together five filthy years, then start talking about the HOF. Anything before that is just silly.

Mr.Smith · May 5, 2006

I only said " potential".

but you dont burn a guy out with potential like he has as a closer. the only reason he went to the bullpen last year when he came up is because thats where help was needed. this guy is a starter

FairWarning · May 5, 2006

BIGSHOTMAXXX said:
Don't forget good old Tom Gordan, he is 9 for 9. I wonder if these two guys are the only ones in the league that HAVEN'T blown saves yet?

Ryan Dempster has saved his last 20+ games.

joeyfitzclick · May 5, 2006

"If you remember also he shaved his head into a Rick Vaughn style mohawk a few weeks ago after winning a bet."

I think you meant to say after losing a bet. Did you see the head on him ?

quantumleap · May 5, 2006

11 down, 73 to go!

Monday, July 05, 2004
Gagne's Save Streak Ends At 84 Straight

Fishhead · May 5, 2006

quantumleap said:
11 down, 73 to go!

Monday, July 05, 2004
Gagne's Save Streak Ends At 84 Straight

Yes, but PAP is a stone cold ROOKIE.

Bennyshoe · May 5, 2006

joeyfitzclick said:
"If you remember also he shaved his head into a Rick Vaughn style mohawk a few weeks ago after winning a bet."

I think you meant to say after losing a bet. Did you see the head on him ?

No no no. That was the strange part of it. He WON a bet with Kevin Youkalis. Here is the article about it.

TORONTO -- A new meaning of the phrase "price of success" was on full display in the Red Sox's clubhouse Saturday morning, when closer Jonathan Papelbon walked through the room with a fresh Mohawk.

That was the cost of Papelbon's lights out start.
Papelbon had a friendly wager with teammate Kevin Youkilis that hinged on him opening the season with 10 scoreless innings. The phenom closer crossed that threshold Friday night by blanking the Blue Jays for 2 1/3 innings.

In a back room of the clubhouse Saturday morning, the razor came out and Papelbon sheepishly came out with his new 'do.

Who gave him the Mohawk?
"No comment, no comment," said Papelbon, who entered Saturday's game with a Major League-leading seven saves.

He later muttered "Rock" under his breath and said, "I'll just say he's a catcher. I'll just give you that. You guys can figure it out."

Logic would seem to indicate that bullpen catcher Jason Larocque was the man who scalped Papelbon.

So what happened with this wager with Youkilis?

"Unfortunately, I ended up winning," said Papelbon. "He had to hit .350 with five bombs."

It is unclear what price Youkilis might have paid, considering his head was recently shaved.

Papelbon, who has given up just four hits over 10 1/3 innings, wasn't too worried about his new look.

"I'm all good. I'm married now, man. All I've got is one person to answer to," he said.

Papelbon wasn't sure how long he'd keep the Mohawk.

"I don't know. We'll see. We'll play it by ear," said Papelbon.
Keith Foulke, who has had plenty of success as a closer, seemed bemused by the whole thing. "I think I've had enough time [in the Major Leagues] where I don't make silly bets like that. If you're gonna pitch that well and make bets, it's not to pitch well and embarrass yourself," laughed Foulke. "Like I said, I don't think it looks that bad on him, I think it fits his personality."

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060422&content_id=1412894&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb