http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2006/10/30/for-those-of-you-who-think-im-a-shill-for-the-sox-front-office/ Media, Baseball, Boston, the Red Sox, Music, Literature, and Mnookins Fri, 16 May 2008 20:45:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2006/10/30/for-those-of-you-who-think-im-a-shill-for-the-sox-front-office/#comment-42557 Fri, 18 May 2007 13:57:29 +0000 http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2006/10/30/for-those-of-you-who-think-im-a-shill-for-the-sox-front-office/#comment-42557 [...] Timlin Filed under: Mike Timlin, Hideki Okajima by Seth Mnookin @ 9:55 am Digg Del.icio.us Subscribe to RSS Feed Hideki “Darkman” Okajima continued his otherworldly run yesterday, prompting thisvalentine from Jackie MacMullan. I agree with pretty much everything in there — how can one not have a man-crush on the biggest HO on the team? — except for this shout out to Mike Timlin: “In other years, a prolonged stint for [Timlin] on the disabled list would have been a daily cause for angst, or at least some serious hand-wringing.” It’s not that I don’t like Timlin (although I don’t, particularly) or appreciate what he’s done for the Sox…it’s just that I’ve always thought re-signing Timlin was a mistake. He’s one of the few heart-attack inducing guys in the pen. If his absolute suckitude during last year’s Boston Massacre didn’t give evidence that there’s precious little gas left in his tank, the sheer idiocy of blaming the team’s offense for the Sox’s ‘06 woes demonstrated he’s not, um, the team player he’s always been made out to be. The only Timlin related cause of angst that I’ll have is when he comes off the disabled list. You know I’m right: if last night in the top of the ninth you heard the shuffling strains of “Black Betty” coming through Fenway’s PA…well, you would have been worried. [...] […] Timlin Filed under: Mike Timlin, Hideki Okajima by Seth Mnookin @ 9:55 am Digg Del.icio.us Subscribe to RSS Feed Hideki “Darkman” Okajima continued his otherworldly run yesterday, prompting thisvalentine from Jackie MacMullan. I agree with pretty much everything in there — how can one not have a man-crush on the biggest HO on the team? — except for this shout out to Mike Timlin: “In other years, a prolonged stint for [Timlin] on the disabled list would have been a daily cause for angst, or at least some serious hand-wringing.” It’s not that I don’t like Timlin (although I don’t, particularly) or appreciate what he’s done for the Sox…it’s just that I’ve always thought re-signing Timlin was a mistake. He’s one of the few heart-attack inducing guys in the pen. If his absolute suckitude during last year’s Boston Massacre didn’t give evidence that there’s precious little gas left in his tank, the sheer idiocy of blaming the team’s offense for the Sox’s ‘06 woes demonstrated he’s not, um, the team player he’s always been made out to be. The only Timlin related cause of angst that I’ll have is when he comes off the disabled list. You know I’m right: if last night in the top of the ninth you heard the shuffling strains of “Black Betty” coming through Fenway’s PA…well, you would have been worried. […]

]]> http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2006/10/30/for-those-of-you-who-think-im-a-shill-for-the-sox-front-office/#comment-1864 Wed, 01 Nov 2006 01:00:17 +0000 http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2006/10/30/for-those-of-you-who-think-im-a-shill-for-the-sox-front-office/#comment-1864 For me the crazy thing is when I saw they re-signed Timlin for 2.8 million my first thought was, hey, great, 2.8 million isn't that much, see how he does and if he bombs let him go. Easy when it ain't my 2.8 million. You guys that point out the bad numbers from the last 2 years and say they're overpaying-well, you're right. I guess what I have to admit now is that I love everyone from the 2004 team and I want them to stick around as long as possible. For me the crazy thing is when I saw they re-signed Timlin for 2.8 million my first thought was, hey, great, 2.8 million isn’t that much, see how he does and if he bombs let him go. Easy when it ain’t my 2.8 million. You guys that point out the bad numbers from the last 2 years and say they’re overpaying-well, you’re right. I guess what I have to admit now is that I love everyone from the 2004 team and I want them to stick around as long as possible.

]]> http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2006/10/30/for-those-of-you-who-think-im-a-shill-for-the-sox-front-office/#comment-1863 Tue, 31 Oct 2006 23:49:58 +0000 http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2006/10/30/for-those-of-you-who-think-im-a-shill-for-the-sox-front-office/#comment-1863 I'm really torn on this because Timlin has been one of my favorite players. You cannot ignore his suck-o stats last year. But you cannot ignore his presence in the clubhouse, either. I plan to close my eyes and pray it works out. And I vow not to boo him if it collapses on itself. And, yeah, they overpaid. Is it possible they move him out of the set-up role, to a 6th- or 7th-inning guy? And I cannot help but wonder if this is a move to keep him in the organization in some capacity when he retires. I’m really torn on this because Timlin has been one of my favorite players.
You cannot ignore his suck-o stats last year.
But you cannot ignore his presence in the clubhouse, either.
I plan to close my eyes and pray it works out. And I vow not to boo him if it collapses on itself.
And, yeah, they overpaid.
Is it possible they move him out of the set-up role, to a 6th- or 7th-inning guy?
And I cannot help but wonder if this is a move to keep him in the organization in some capacity when he retires.

]]> http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2006/10/30/for-those-of-you-who-think-im-a-shill-for-the-sox-front-office/#comment-1859 Tue, 31 Oct 2006 21:20:57 +0000 http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2006/10/30/for-those-of-you-who-think-im-a-shill-for-the-sox-front-office/#comment-1859 Given where many of the former '04ers have ended up, am I crazy to think that the Sox signed him in part because they didn't want to see him take his knowledge (and what's left of his skill) to the Yanks? Given where many of the former ‘04ers have ended up, am I crazy to think that the Sox signed him in part because they didn’t want to see him take his knowledge (and what’s left of his skill) to the Yanks?

]]> http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2006/10/30/for-those-of-you-who-think-im-a-shill-for-the-sox-front-office/#comment-1851 Tue, 31 Oct 2006 15:04:37 +0000 http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2006/10/30/for-those-of-you-who-think-im-a-shill-for-the-sox-front-office/#comment-1851 I agree - bringing him back wasn't the mistake. He probably would have been slightly undervalued on the market (front office shouldn't make their decisions based on who blew the most sox yankees games). But they paid 3x more than they should have. The Patriots would never have dont something like this. I agree - bringing him back wasn’t the mistake. He probably would have been slightly undervalued on the market (front office shouldn’t make their decisions based on who blew the most sox yankees games). But they paid 3x more than they should have. The Patriots would never have dont something like this.

]]> http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2006/10/30/for-those-of-you-who-think-im-a-shill-for-the-sox-front-office/#comment-1850 Tue, 31 Oct 2006 15:00:21 +0000 http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2006/10/30/for-those-of-you-who-think-im-a-shill-for-the-sox-front-office/#comment-1850 "...if a lingering injury caused him to suck that bad, shouldn't he have stayed on the DL?" So many injuries and physical problems, guys playing when they shouldn't, poor medical judgements, etc. How much of this because of new medical staff and trainers? How much did the FO charge for the privelege of being the Official Red Sox Hospital? “…if a lingering injury caused him to suck that bad, shouldn’t he have stayed on the DL?” So many injuries and physical problems, guys playing when they shouldn’t, poor medical judgements, etc. How much of this because of new medical staff and trainers? How much did the FO charge for the privelege of being the Official Red Sox Hospital?

]]> http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2006/10/30/for-those-of-you-who-think-im-a-shill-for-the-sox-front-office/#comment-1849 Tue, 31 Oct 2006 14:02:41 +0000 http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2006/10/30/for-those-of-you-who-think-im-a-shill-for-the-sox-front-office/#comment-1849 I have been saying this exact thing for a couple of years. In 2003 he was flat out dominant in the playoffs (except for game 7 in which he was thrown to the wolves by Grady). In 2004 he was good. In 2005 he had a good ERA but blew a lot of games by letting inherited runners score. If he was brought in to start an inning he was pretty effective but if you brought him in with runners on he would give up a bases clearing double on cue. Since his ERA was intact because he inherited the runners a lot of people continued to act as if he was getting the job done. Last year it all came crashing down because he was ineffective all around. I have no problem bringing this guy back but he needs to be used correctly. He has to have his innnings reduced to 40-50, should not be used on back to back days and he should NEVER be brought in with men on. I can't understand why Francona can't see his ineffectiveness with men on. With the lack of good relief arms out there I think they need him back but in a lesser role. He simply isn't the bridge that he used to be. I have been saying this exact thing for a couple of years. In 2003 he was flat out dominant in the playoffs (except for game 7 in which he was thrown to the wolves by Grady). In 2004 he was good. In 2005 he had a good ERA but blew a lot of games by letting inherited runners score. If he was brought in to start an inning he was pretty effective but if you brought him in with runners on he would give up a bases clearing double on cue. Since his ERA was intact because he inherited the runners a lot of people continued to act as if he was getting the job done. Last year it all came crashing down because he was ineffective all around. I have no problem bringing this guy back but he needs to be used correctly. He has to have his innnings reduced to 40-50, should not be used on back to back days and he should NEVER be brought in with men on. I can’t understand why Francona can’t see his ineffectiveness with men on. With the lack of good relief arms out there I think they need him back but in a lesser role. He simply isn’t the bridge that he used to be.

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