Guillen on Adkins

[gosox41]

Before Ozzie gets too much praise for somehow getting through to flip flop Frank and Magglio, in the batting order I just want to offer up this quote he had on Jon Adkins:

"I love that kid."

Sounds to me like Adkinds in going to head north with the team. IMHO, Adkins is a lousy pitcher. If he does have success at the major league level it will be the exception not the rule considering his minor league numbers, age, history of injury, etc.

So when people wonder why I'm not more excited about this team here's why:

1. Adkins
2. Koch
3. Takatsu
4. Wunsch

Adkinds is a bum. Koch lost his fastball last season and sucked. The velocity hasn't returned this year. Why should I think he'll return to anywhere near his fromer self when he lost his best pitch.

Takatsu, while a good PR move, is proving what I thought. It may be only spring, but as I stated when the Sox signed him, there has been a downward sprial in his WHIP and K/BB ratio in Japan. Not a good sign for a pitcher. Takatsu is a specialist

Wunsch is the best of the bunch but he is also a specialist. I only lumped him in here because I don't think 1/3 of the Sox bullpen needs to be made up of specialists.

Remember the starting rotation is going to have Schoenweis and probably Wright in it. Two guys who haven't proven to be very good pitchers. Schoenweis should be peaking in his career right now. Wright does have upside and is still a question mark. Who's going to back these guys up when they do their 5-6 IP on consecutive days? 'Every Day' Martes arm isn't truly made of rubber. And Politte has a history of injuries. If the Sox do decide to keep 7 relievers, that may include Mike Jackson, another guy who is old and prone to injuries.

The very least the Sox could do is ship out Adkins and let Grilli make the team. He has a good arm and could serve as a long reliever. Who else in the bullpen can boast that?

Bob

[Frater Perdurabo]

When I saw the title of this thread, for a moment I thought to myself, "Funny, Ozzie doesn't look like he needs to lose weight." :smile:

[delben91]

Originally posted by gosox41


The very least the Sox could do is ship out Adkins and let Grilli make the team. He has a good arm and could serve as a long reliever. Who else in the bullpen can boast that?

Bob

Well, throughout his minor league career Adkins has been a starter. So, he could physically handle long relief. Though I agree with you that I don't think the Sox should let him near the bullpen, I also don't think Grilli's an outstanding alternative. Likely the only alternative out there though, that the Sox will pay for at least.

[Tekijawa]

Originally posted by gosox41
I don't think 1/3 of the Sox bullpen needs to be made up of specialists.

Wait until Schoenwiese heads back to the pen... then it will all be specialists!

[duke of dorwood]

He should get a shot-has a live arm-and Mr Zero appears to be another Jim Parque type.

:butter

Sayonara

[jeremyb1]

Originally posted by gosox41
Wunsch is the best of the bunch but he is also a specialist. I only lumped him in here because I don't think 1/3 of the Sox bullpen needs to be made up of specialists.

Remember the starting rotation is going to have Schoenweis and probably Wright in it. Two guys who haven't proven to be very good pitchers. Schoenweis should be peaking in his career right now. Wright does have upside and is still a question mark.

Two points. First relief pitching in the modern day is all about specialization. If you have the right pitchers to retire the right hitters in key situations, what is the problem? Also, you're assuming Takatsu breaks with the club and according to today's articles there's not much better than a 50-50 chance of that right now.

With Schoenweis and Wright, something else to remember is that these two guys would probably be two of our better relievers if they were in the pen instead of the rotation. A pen of Koch, Politte, Marte, Schoeneweis, Wunsch, Wright, and Jackson/Adkins/Takatsu/Ginter would be a huge upgrade over what we have right now in my opinion.