We’ve been following Grapefruit League action for 3 weeks now, and the [tag]Boston Red Sox[/tag] are still no further along in the decision making process to name a closer than they were at the beginning of the month. In fact, the whole situation may be jumbled up a little more with Mike Timlin starting the year on the DL. That Herald article seems to think Julian Tavarez is the front runner now, but I’m not sure.
This spring, 4 names (other than Timlin) have been associated with the Sox closer role; [tag]Julian Tavarez[/tag], [tag]Joel Pineiro[/tag], [tag]Brenden Donnally[/tag] and the x-closer of the future (more on that later), [tag]Craig Hansen[/tag]. Hansen and Donnelly haven’t done a thing this spring to prove they deserve the job. So, let’s just go ahead and cross them off the candidate’s list.
Donnelly - 7.2IP 7.04ERA 8K/5BB
Hansen - 3.0IP 9.00ERA 1K/1BB
Pineiro and Tavarez are doing better, and their race is tougher to call.
Pineiro - 9.2IP 3.72ERA 6K/4BB
Tavarez - 12.2IP 3.55ERA 5K/7BB
I’m going to focus here on K/BB and state that all other things being somewhat equal, Pineiro looks better. I’d rather have the better K/BB in the 9th inning. I also took a look at their 2006 numbers. Pineiro had a 3.48 BB/9 while Tavarez’ was 4.01. That kind of control, along side the extra K/BB Pineiro has shown so far this spring, is what will win this closer job for Piniero.
It’s tough to draft any of these guys yet, unless you have an abnormally large number of bench spots. Over at Mock Draft Central Piniero has an Average Draft Position of 326.83 and Tavarez didn’t make the last list, which ended at 405.33. So, wait until the Sox formally announce this decision before adding anyone to your draft list. And watch the waiver wire in case whoever wins, flounders or the “real” Red Sox closer of the future, [tag]Bryce Cox[/tag], gets the job.
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