How far can we go?

[jzfran]

How far will we go this year?

[nsulham]

All depends how the bullpen situation shakes out. If Foulke is right when he comes back and looks like the Foulke he can be, and Schill is strong enough and healthy enough to start and give them 6-7 a start, I think they can go as far as possible.

If, however, Foulke is still not right and Schill has to stay in the pen I don't like their chances much at all. If they can get Foulke back to where he was then everything else will fall in line.

[thomasps3]

In all honesty, I believe we have as much a chance of going to the WS this year as we did last year. Sulham is right, the key componenet is how effective Foulke will be when he gets back. That will either:
A. Dictate Schill stays in the bullpen, weakening the rotation or,

B. Allow Schilling to move to the rotation with a solid, if unspectacular bullpen

Two wildcards, however:

1. The emergence of Hanses, Papelbon, Delcarmen in determining the strength of the 'pen. Hansen has a chance to be this year's K-Rod, an adequate set-up man to Foulke, or if pressed, into a closer's role

2. Schilling, if moved to the rotation, does he have enough gas in that ankle of his? At this point, I really am feeling hard pressed to say I have a lot of faith in that being the case.

I voted for losing in the ALCS, as I just think we don't have the pitching we had last year.

[OToddWalker]

Good point on the prospect (no longer prospects, i guess) factor. Papelbon, with a few more starts, could certainly settle into that last starting slot that we've been looking for. I faced Delcarmen in high school, so it certainly sways my opinion, but I like his game, and can guarantee a minor but important presence come autumn.

Let's just hope fellas.