Really? Ask the Orioles, Yankees, Angels, Astros, Dodgers, Twins and a handful of other clubs ... right now if they would trade their closer for Foulke straight up.
As a closer, you are only as good as your last 3-5 performances. It's not a role that tolerates long "slumps."
His past track record may buy him a little more time than the average Joe, but if he continues at this rate for 1-2 weeks, I'd say his job is in jeoparady. Even if its a temporary removal from the role.
Living here in Boston, I am privy to some interviews that maybe some others haven't had access to. On an interview on WEEI, Francona basically said he was glad Foulke was in the middle year of a three year deal, because it was nonsensical to have people talk about him not being the closer.
Case Closed - Look at Terry's faith in that bum Kevin Millar, and how is still hitting in the 5 hole. You've got to think he has at least as much faith in Foulke as he does in Millar.....just to put it in perspective for ya.....
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Really? Ask the Orioles, Yankees, Angels, Astros, Dodgers, Twins and a handful of other clubs ... right now if they would trade their closer for Foulke straight up.
As a closer, you are only as good as your last 3-5 performances. It's not a role that tolerates long "slumps."
His past track record may buy him a little more time than the average Joe, but if he continues at this rate for 1-2 weeks, I'd say his job is in jeoparady. Even if its a temporary removal from the role.
Look at Foulke's past years and tell me he's not one of the top closers in the game. There are only a handful of pitchers I'd take over him right now. Pitchers struggle......especially closers. But, more likely that not, at the end of the year, he'll end up with the same numbers he has. He's not overpowering, so it's not that he's losing speed. He doesn't have wicked breaking balls, so that's not the reason. He just is simply not locating his pitches. That will come back to him. He was perfect for the first two outs. If one of those gappers doesn't fall in, then we're not having this discussion.
[url]http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/stats/player.php?id=453973[/url]
Going to huge someday.
Foulke isn't getting removed, but the comment about him being a top 5 closer is an absolute joke - made me spit up a little of this butterscotch pudding when i first read it
Really? Ask the Orioles, Yankees, Angels, Astros, Dodgers, Twins and a handful of other clubs ... right now if they would trade their closer for Foulke straight up.
As a closer, you are only as good as your last 3-5 performances. It's not a role that tolerates long "slumps."
His past track record may buy him a little more time than the average Joe, but if he continues at this rate for 1-2 weeks, I'd say his job is in jeoparady. Even if its a temporary removal from the role.
don't be foolish. foulke IS a top 5 closer, and that won't change anytime soon.
bselig wrote:Foulke isn't getting removed, but the comment about him being a top 5 closer is an absolute joke - made me spit up a little of this butterscotch pudding when i first read it
Who would go ahead of him?
I see:
Mo
Lidge
Gagne (when healthy)
Nathan (maybe)
Wagner (maybe)
I can't see putting B.J. Ryan or F. Rodriguez in that category yet, b/c they've been good closers for what? A month?
[url]http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/stats/player.php?id=453973[/url]
Going to huge someday.
I heard some commentator remark that closers on teams that go deep into the postseason could underperform next season because their arm gets overworked. So far the 4 CS closers include Mariano (bad), Foulke (bad), Isringhausen (injured), and Lidge (good).
Maybe there's something to that.
[b]Bold Predictions:[/b]
Grady Sizemore will have more value than Jason Bay regardless of draft position
Aramis Ramirez in 155 G will hit over .300 40 HR 110 RBIs
Brian McCann will have more value than Jorge Posada regardless of draft position
bselig wrote:Foulke isn't getting removed, but the comment about him being a top 5 closer is an absolute joke - made me spit up a little of this butterscotch pudding when i first read it
It seems like EVERY time you comment on this board, you're spitting something that you're eating/drinking up. How's the monitor looking?
bselig wrote:Foulke isn't getting removed, but the comment about him being a top 5 closer is an absolute joke - made me spit up a little of this butterscotch pudding when i first read it
Who would go ahead of him?
I see: Mo Lidge Gagne (when healthy) Nathan (maybe) Wagner (maybe)
I can't see putting B.J. Ryan or F. Rodriguez in that category yet, b/c they've been good closers for what? A month?
krod is better than foulke. Foulke isnt a top 5 closer.
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by agchris02 » Wed May 11, 2005 5:10 pm 
