Empyreal Environs

Despite the previously cited reason of increased injury risk in the closing role, Jonathan Papelbon will resume his spot in the bullpen as the relief ace. None of the potential closers acquired in the offseason proved fit, and with Mike Timlin starting the season on the disabled list, Papelbon himself expressed his desire to once again close.

This thread on Sons of Sam Horn has Eric Van and Tangotiger extrapolating Papelbon’s relief numbers to starting statistics. Admittedly, the analysis doesn’t include how Papelbon may improve the starting pitchers he will bolster. With traffic cop Julian Tavarez currently being touted as the fifth starter and Jon Lester and Kyle Snyder also in the mix, any support that Papelbon can provide will be more than necessary.

22 March 2007 ∙ 7:21 PM ∙ 2007 News ∙ Permalink ∙ Comments: 0
Tags: bullpen ∙ Papelbon (Jonathan)

Your Turn at Bat
There’s still time to enter a charity raffle for an authentic bat signed by 25 members of the 2004 World Champion Red Sox. (I hadn’t typed that in a while; still feels good to do so.) Proceeds will be divided between the Villa Augustina School and Crispin’s House, both in the Goffstown/Manchester, New Hampshire area. The Villa Augustina School was established by the Religious of Jesus and Mary, a congregation founded in France by Claudine Thévenet in 1818. Crispin’s House, founded by a judge and police chief in 1989, is a non-denominational organization dedicated to reducing juvenile delinquency in the Goffstown area.

Like Being at 4 Yawkey Way
The Mini Fenway Park will be opening this summer in Quincy, Massachusetts. The replica will provide a place for kids aged 4 through 17 to pretend they are little Pedroias. (That’s not redundant, at least for not for the six-year olds.) You can contribute to the park by attending the charity event at the real Fenway Park’s State Street Pavilion on April 7. If you aren’t low on lucre, you can also bid on a Fenway Park license plate emblazoned with a significant Red Sox number, like an eight or perhaps even an eleven.

8 March 2007 ∙ 7:49 PM ∙ Meta ∙ Permalink ∙ Comments: 0
Tags: charity ∙ Mini Fenway Park