[simple simon]

seems to me if the Sox lose another to the Yankees (which seems likely at this point) they should seriously consider starting Paplebon

he has wanted to be in the rotation all season, seems he should get his chance

the rest of the starters havent amounted to much of anything lately and it seems with a few more loses the play-off hopes are pretty well gone

time to think about next season

we have the hitters lined up pretty well for next season id say

what we need is pitching, very very badly

so, i say, why not give Paplebon his shot in the rotation now ? see if he has what it takes to be a starter for next year

[EmpireWF]

All of a sudden, can he make a switch? Plus if he's in the rotation, who's the Boston closer going to be?

[simple simon]

Originally Posted by EmpireWF

All of a sudden, can he make a switch? Plus if he's in the rotation, who's the Boston closer going to be?

not sure if he could slide right in to going 6+ innings, but he has been quietly complaining about not being a starter all season

i say it's time to see what he's got

as for a closer, i think they have 2 options

let foulke do it, he was pretty good the other night and if not does it really matter ? the season is pretty much in the crapper at this point

heck let Paplebom work up to 6+ innings, pitch a few games by commity

[MJHMarc]

I think if the Red Sox want to make this giant switch, they should first adjust Papelbon to pitching in more innings. I would first throw him in the pen as a middle or long reliever and see how well he throws. If he shows progress, I would give him a spot in the rotation.

But, I don't see why they would want one of the league's top closers to start. Why mess with perfection?

I can understand a SP change in a CP. Eric Gagne is/was an excellent example of that manuever.

[Burlington Bears]

I think that a move of Papelbon to the rotation would be awful for the red sox given where they are in the season for several reasons.

1) They have no one to fill the closer role. Timlin could probably be adequate but he has struggled lately and at this point in his career he cannot handle it. Delcarmen and Hansen are both clearly not ready and even if one of these guys were ready, you would just be weakining the bullpen which has been very shaky lately.
2) They would have to stretch out Papelbon. This is a process that would probably include about two weeks of middle to long relief. If this were to happen then the Red Sox would virtually lose arguabally their best pitcher for two weeks in the middle of a pennant race.
3) Papelbon would be nowhere near as dominant in the starters role as he is in the closers role.

I have no problem with the Red Sox eventually turning Papelbon into a starter and I think it will have to be in the off-season in a year or two when Hansen or Delcarmen are clearly ready to take over the job.

[simple simon]

BB, that's all well and good assuming they have a chance left

but they dont