question for REDSOX NATION

[bucksox]

I drafted Foulke toward the end of my draft. If he returns to form it will be a great pick up. My question is what is the word about if he falters? Should I pick up Hansen in my minors? I have heard he has the most likely chance to be next in line. Any input?

[ClarkAddison]

If Foulke faulters a more likely move would be that Papelbon moves to closer, Arroyo is the set up guy along with Timlin. The rotation would be Schilling, Wakefield, Clement, Beckett and Wells.

Longer term - perhaps towards end of this season or next year - Hansen targeted for closer position with Papelbon moved back to being a starter. The Red Sox really want Hansen to get more work as reliever at the Triple A level before bringing him in to this spot right now.

[aardvarks]

I haven't heard anything lately but I believe it will be Timlin.

[PocketRockets]

I also hear Timlin would fill in for Foulke

[BronXBombers51]

Timlin then Hansen.

[Ender]

So they are gonna actually start Wells instead of Arroyo, that must suck for Red Sox fans~. I'm sure his back will act up and he'll be on the DL by june so at least you don't have to watch him pitch that long.

[ClarkAddison]

So they are gonna actually start Wells instead of Arroyo, that must suck for Red Sox fans~. I'm sure his back will act up and he'll be on the DL by june so at least you don't have to watch him pitch that long.

Not really - if you look at Wells and Arroyo's numbers for last year they are almost identical. Now Wells is a year older and coming off knee surgery so the edge goes to Arroyo. But if they keep both Arroyo much better suited to operate out of the pen than Wells. I still expect at some point one of these 3 to get dealt - Wells, Arroyo or Clement.

[thedude]

I don't know why people are saying timlin...

Paplebon is the guy who will close if foulke falters. Tito wants Paplebon to close. They only way that it would be someone else is if the FO mandates that Paplebon must be in the rotation. Francona has said on many occasions that he loves Paplebon as the closer.

The Red Sox don't like Timlin as the closer, so he will likely stay at setup regardless of what happens to Foulke. The only reason he closed last year is because there was no other choice.

[redsoxflyfishr]

This questions was addressed at redsox.com a couple of weeks ago in the mailbag q & a. Timlin will be back at his role as a set up man. The concensus on redsox message boards seems to be the closing duties would fall to either Papelbon or Hansen...although I wouldn't expect to see Hansen until late this year. I don't see Arroyo getting the thumbs up to take Foulke's place. Although I really like Arroyo out of the bullpen. But I agree there's a good chance Arroyo gets traded soon. My bet is Papelbon.

[hersch223]

As far as Foulke goes, ESPN ran on its ticker yesterday that he had "artificial fluid injections" in both knees. I have no idea what that is, but it doesn't sound good.