He had 37 saves, with a 1.85 ERA, and a 0.77 WHIP, and that was a below-average performance for him. The year before, he finished the season with a 0.92 ERA.
There has been talk about him moving to the starting rotation before, and the Red Sox were smart to leave him where he is. His intensity is made for the closer role. If he stays a closer his entire career, he will leave this game as the best closer ever to pitch. And, yes, I'm a Yankees fan, who loves Mariano Rivera. But, as of right now, Papelbon is a better closer than Rivera. It's mostly due to Rivera's age, and recent decline, but it's still the case.
With all that said, I believe that the Boston Red Sox will repeat as World Series Champions in 2008.
I don't want it to happen, but I have to admit that this team is just too good, and has the potential to get even better as the season goes along.
On a side note, if they do get Johan Santana, and only give up Lester and some non-pertinent starters on their team (such as Crisp), you can erase everything I said about the Tigers, and just make it a one-team race to the finish.
Yes, every year, the Yankees have a chance at winning the title, and I'm not giving up on this team, but their bullpen is too much garbage to consider standing a chance against these two teams in a playoff series. And, signing Latroy Hawkins is NOT the answer. They will need to score 12 runs a game to keep things close in those series!
Please let me be wrong.
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