Who Is The Red Sox Closer?

Bailey is on the DL, and Hanrahan had to leave the game last night, so there is a serious question about who will be the Red Sox closer until one of those guys return. Most people think it'll be Koji Uehara, which I'm fine with. He has been playing well, and I like the way he is always way overexcited. 

Yet, I have a feeling I agree with DP here that I would rather see Tazawa. It's not that I don't think Uehara can do it, because I think he can, it's more about changing roles on a team. I like Uehara in that 7th/8th inning spot, and Tazawa has done nothing wrong over the last two year to make me think he can't handle thing. 

Going forward is going to be really interesting for the Red Sox. I like Bailey a lot, but he never stays healthy. It's hard to be impressed by anything Hanrahan has done. Even if Tazawa or Uehara take over the closer role and do well the Red Sox are going to have some bullpen problems if Bailey and Hanrahan can't be healthy and effective. Going into the season I thought the Sox bullpen was actually the strongest part of their team, now it looks like it could be the one part they made need to improve through trade.

I say trade because there doesn't seem to be a ton of internal options if these guys end up not being able to stay on the field. Bard seems to be a lost cause. I guess if the season was coming to a close you could call up young starter and have them do it, but they have all been doing well and I don't want to fuck with their progress. I hate flip flopping starters to relief roles, way to many cautionary tales to go down that road again.

9 Toronto, 7 Red Sox

A couple weeks ago, Bob wrote in a rant piece "I told you Lester was good", well after last night I'm starting to wonder if our "ace" is turning back into the Jon Lester of the past 2 years. In his previous start Jon Lester walked 6, in this start Lester walked only 2, but gave up 6 runs. He needs to be a lot more consistent if the Red Sox want to make the playoffs.

But with Lester sucking, the Sox did have a chance to win the game as they tied the game up and even took the lead at the top of the 7th. But then the bottom of the 7th happened, Junichi Tazawa surrendered a two-run homer to Encarnacion. Then Joel Hanrahan came on for the bottom of the 8th and gave up a run of his own. I guess that puts any discussion to bed on who are closer will be.

This loss, sucks. But hopefully the Sox can shake it off.

P.S. How good is David Ortiz, he's like reincarnation of Barry Bonds, it's ridiculous.

6 Sox, 3 Indians

I know it's against the Indians and that pill popping douche Francona, but this Red Sox team is fucking unstoppable. It doesn't matter which pitcher we face, which team, the World Series march is impressive.

Yesterday the Red Sox faced a red hot and former Sox pitcher Justin Masterson. We made his day miserable, he barely made it through 5 innings allowed 11 hits and 4ERs. The Sox were all over him from start to finish. Alfredo Aceves coasted through five innings, Mike Napoli and Daniel Nava drove in two runs apiece.

The Red Sox have the best bullpen in baseball. Aceves did a great job through 5 innings, but our relievers were more impressive. 4 innings letting up zero hits and 6 Ks. Taz, Koji and Bailey are just awesome.

World Series or Bust.

P.S. John Farrell has already accomplished more as the Red Sox manager than Francona did during his whole time here.

8 Baltimore, 5 Red Sox

I can take a loss like this. Championships will have bumps in the road when your striving to it. Joel Hanrahan had a bad game...... whatever. Not a big deal.

The positives are that Ryan Dempster had a pretty decent outing with 5 innings, 1 ER, 7 Ks and then the crazy 88's in Uehara and Taz both pitched hitless innings with 2 Ks each and Bailey (despite the walk) pitched pretty well.

If this becomes an issue with Hanrahan I would feel comfortable making any of those guys the closer.

So is Nava going to be the next hype train guy the Sox are going to pump up, dude has cranked the ball since being in there for Jackie Bradley Jr.

It sucks we blew the game, but like I can say, the positives heavily outweighed the negatives in this game.

Still winning the championship.