Baseball Prospectus notes an interesting last-minute lineup change for the Boston Red Sox today: Terry Francona, apparently concerned with the status of Tim Wakefield's back, has decided not to include Wakefield on the postseason roster. Instead, catcher Kevin Cash will be on the squad. According to BP, Francona made the decision because Cash allows for greater flexibility, including for speedster Jacob Ellsbury, who Francona expects to use in plenty of pinch running situations.
(UPDATE: This is only for the ALDS, pending Wakefield's condition. Phew. And now back to my premature whining.)
Where this leaves us, though, is with a severe lack of Tim Wakefield. Thus, allow me, if I may, an attempt at a proper eulogy: when Wakefield is on -- and that's about a 50/50 proposition -- there is nothing in baseball more aesthetically captivating than watching Wakefield float knuckler after knuckler past confused hitters. That we will lose that pleasure this year, or lose the equally thrilling threat of a Wakefield stinker, is already the biggest disappointment of the postseason.
Well, except for that Matt Holliday slide. That really sucked.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-02-2007 @ 11:29PM
Pat Lackey said...
The Sox can re-adjust the roster after the LDS, should they advance that far. I think they just need one less starter since they chose the more spaced out series and wanted to give Wake a chance to rest up for the LCS, should they get that far and need him in the rotation.
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10-02-2007 @ 11:22PM
Matt D'Agostino said...
Tim Wakefield has always been a BIG PART of this team's success........when healthy....I want to see him pitch......Tim you're a class act all the way and fans will be rooting for your return in the playoffs.
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10-05-2007 @ 11:24PM
ken said...
well " wake " needs a rest his back is bad right now according to the medical reports i heard about or read about i hope he has a complete and fast recovery and if the sox make it to the ALCS he is added i like watching him here in st pete when he pitches here at the TROP that ball is all over the place he is a class act and always ready to pitch if he is needed i remeber him pitching a few days in a row back in mid 90's GET WELL SOON "WAKE" WE NEED YOU BACK SOON
GO RED SOX
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10-03-2007 @ 2:05AM
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