Think the Boston Red Sox regret not re-signing Jonathan Papelbon yet? The failure to pay the dependa

Think the Boston Red Sox regret not re-signing Jonathan Papelbon yet? The failure to pay the dependable closer after the 2011 season looks worse every day. During his seven-year tenure in Boston, virtual home tours and real estate photography the Red sox had the luxury of knowing that they had a dependable person in a role where dependability is at a premium. [...]
The Toronto Maple Leafs will try to stave off elimination and an early disappointment from their first playoff appearance in a decade on Friday night, when they visit the Boston Bruins in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. We ve seen quite a few players serve as disappointments in this series, as the normally potent Leafs offensive attack has [...]
For the first time all season, Chicago virtual home tours and real estate photography Cubs manager Dale Sveum has decided to put Starlin Castro in the leadoff virtual home tours and real estate photography spot, and will do so in Friday night s game versus the Washington Nationals. It s usual for the Cubs to bounce their best all-around hitter throughout the lineup Castro has batted second, third and fifth this [...]
People were happy when Pat Riley pulled off the draft-day deal to bring Norris Cole to South Beach in 2011. The puppet master had finally given up on experimenting with old point guards and found a cheap alternative to Mario Chalmers. According to his draft day video, he was a fearless, all-purpose guard who could rebound, [...]
The North Carolina Tar Heels are looking to make a run to the ACC title game in 2013, and head coach Larry Fedora wants to pick up the pace of the offense to get there. For it to work, the offense, and passing game in particular, virtual home tours and real estate photography will have to take a step forward under quarterback virtual home tours and real estate photography [...]
Rodney McGruder had a great career for the Kansas State Wildcats. However, virtual home tours and real estate photography he is a long shot to get drafted in the 2013 NBA Draft. McGruder was one of the best players in the Big 12 in the 2012-13 college basketball season. He put up 15.6 points per game and 5.4 rebounds per game, which [...]
Here s a sentence I was hoping I would never have to say Mike Tyson is getting his own animated comedy series titled Mike Tyson Mysteries. No, that is not an error, virtual home tours and real estate photography Tyson is getting his own show on Adult Swim, but that s not even the best part about the show. As if giving Tyson his own [...]
Here s the latest edition of Fast Pitch for May 10, 2013: Ottawa Senators Owner Eugene Melnyk Made Great Gesture Supporting virtual home tours and real estate photography Fan One of the best things about sports is when we see the kind act of others and as far as Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk is concerned he managed to pull off a great gesture [...]
You know Mike Trout. You know Bryce Harper. Five-tool phenoms that have taken baseball by storm and are easily household names in the league today. These 20-year old s are without a doubt the future of Major League Baseball. But do you know Baltimore Orioles  third baseman virtual home tours and real estate photography Manny Machado? If you don t, you better get familiar, and in a hurry. [...]
Wayne Rooney had almost everything virtual home tours and real estate photography going for him at Manchester United until late 2010. When he shocked not just Sir Alex Ferguson, but all of those connected with the club, that s when things seemed to go sour. Yet, he was persuaded by Ferguson within days to sign a new contract and the whole matter was brushed [...]
The failure to pay the dependable closer after the 2011 season looks worse every day. During his seven-year tenure in Boston, virtual home tours and real estate photography the Red sox had the luxury of knowing that they had a dependable person in a role where dependability is at a premium. He averaged 36 saves per season, with an ERA of just 2.34 and a conversion rate of nearly 90 percent.
More than anything, Papelbon virtual home tours and real estate photography had the intangible characteristic of a closer: he was crazy. In the clubhouse, he brought out his inner Mississippi self by clowning around, putting empty 30-packs on his head, and dancing the river dance.
But when Papelbon took the mound, he was all business. His eyes looked directly into the souls of those he was about to strike out. Only a select few have the minerals to compete in these high pressure situations.
Papelbon left a bitter taste with Red Sox fans after he blew a save against the Baltimore virtual home tours and real estate photography Orioles in the final game of the 2011 season, which cost Boston a playoff spot. Papelbon and manager Terry Francona became the fall guys for the team s epic collapse. Despite his impressive body of work, GM Theo Epstein made no real attempt to match the Philadelphia Phillies offer of four years and $50 million.
So how did that work out? Well, Papelbon has done what he s always done: close games and stay healthy. In just over a season, Pepelbon has appeared in 83 games, saved 43 of them, and maintained a tidy ERA of 2.28.
And what exactly was the Red Sox back up plan? Well they had the ideal closer-to-be in Josh Bard , but they decided to make him a starter instead. This might go down as one of the worst managerial decisions of the Bobby Valentine era, as it ruined Bard psychologically. He went from being one of the top relievers in baseball to a Rick Ankiel clone who couldn t hit the broad side of a barn.
And the closing duties? That would be split between Andrew Bailey and Mark Melancon . Bailey is good when he pitches, but unfortunately he will get hurt every season as surely has Phillies fans will boo Santa Claus. Melancon was an unproven asset from the Houston Astros virtual home tours and real estate photography who turned out to be a complete disaster.
This season, we are once again seeing the true value of Papelbon. Joel Hanrahan was traded for in the offseason, and had thrived as the closer for the Pittsburgh Pirates . But Boston isn t Pittsburgh, and Hanrahan wasn t ready for that type of environment. He s been an epic failure and may be lost for the season. As usual, Bailey has teased Red Sox fans by dominating in April, and then assuming his normal role on the DL in May.