[86spike]

Was that his last game?

Should it be?

[bosockboy]

I honestly think it is. I think his body has broken down to the point where it might not be worth the effort to make another run at it. And even knuckleballers eventually lose it.

We go through this every winter, and if he can even pitch to his standards for a half a season then he is well worth 4 million dollars.

It just seems like a good time to go out, having made the All Star team. And a third ring would be the cherry on the sundae.

This post has been edited by bosockboy: 30 September 2009 - 08:51 PM

[86spike]

In the end, if he wants to come back, I don't see the team saying no thanks.

So it'll come down to him and how hard it is to work through the pain.

[YouLookAdopted]

Assuming he's healthy to start the season next year, he'll be back. I think the all-time wins record is important to him in the same way the appearance record was important to Timlin and I think Theo will accommodate him as long as he can pass himself off as a viable #5. Might not be the right decision in terms of wins/losses though.

[joyofsox]

He needs 18 wins for 193 -- and the franchise record.

I REALLY want him to get that -- but I can't see how he could do that without also pitching into 2011.

[86spike]

A bulging/ruptured disc is nothing to laugh at.

I wonder if he's going under the knife this winter.

[Flynn4ever]

He needs 18 wins for 193 -- and the franchise record.
I REALLY want him to get that -- but I can't see how he could do that without also pitching into 2011.

Agreed that would be nice to witness, but the way he's been throwing since his injury this seems well out of reach and would hurt the team for him to try it. If he came back in Spring pitching like he did in the first half, 2011 would be reasonable. In the end, I'm sure Timmy wouldn't put his stats over the Sox chances to win.

[Red(s)HawksFan]

I think there's no doubt Wakefield goes under the knife this winter, whether he plans to pitch again or not. Surgery is probably necessary just for him to be pain-free going forward.

I think he'll re-up, have the surgery and give it his best shot to be ready for spring training. If he reaches a point where he doesn't think he can cut it, I think he hangs it up. What I don't see him doing is lingering on the DL, perhaps making a couple rehab starts and trying to be a second half pitcher like Schilling did. If he's not on the Opening Day roster, I think he'll officially retire.

[Jim Ed Rice in HOF]

A bulging/ruptured disc is nothing to laugh at.

I wonder if he's going under the knife this winter.

It sounds like it based on this on WEEI.com from 8/30. Below is a quote from the article. If the surgery doesn't solve his problems, I can't see him coming back.

As things currently stand, Wakefield anticipates that he will require offseason surgery to remove the bone fragment. That could change if the symptoms disappear, but in all likelihood, he will undergo what the pitcher believes and hopes will be a relatively minor procedure this winter.

“I think surgery is inevitable in this situation,” he said. “I think it’s a situation where they’re just going to have to go in there and pull that spur out or that piece out. I think that in itself will relieve a lot of the symptoms and it’s not a huge deal where I’m going to be on the shelf rehabbing for two months. It’s more of a two-week type of thing. Let the wound of the surgery heal up and then be ready to go.”

[yecul]

He was going to get an injury of some kind and he was going to suck after.

The compelling reason to not want him back would be to either work in a young pitcher (Bowden, Tazawa) or acquire a superior one (FA, trade). The former doesn't seem like something you want to bend over backwards to accomplish and the latter is indeterminate at the moment.

Yes, I think it's likely he is back. No, I don't want any plan for the season to revolve on him staying healthy for 30+ potentially quality starts. If they want to setup some kind of Clemens system with him, then that's fine. Maybe better conditioning/treatment would help (fewer innings?).

Given that the contract is small and he's something of a fixture for the organization plus a good teammate/community guy to boot I will be surprised if he's not welcomed back. Assuming that he wants to play more, of course. I agree with the above that he is eyeing the win total -- who wouldn't. That's two years though.

[Carmen Fanzone]

I think he'll re-up, have the surgery and give it his best shot to be ready for spring training. If he reaches a point where he doesn't think he can cut it, I think he hangs it up. What I don't see him doing is lingering on the DL, perhaps making a couple rehab starts and trying to be a second half pitcher like Schilling did. If he's not on the Opening Day roster, I think he'll officially retire.

I think its just the opposite. I could see him being on "the Smoltz plan" in which he's told to take it slow and easy with an eye toward joining the rotation part way through the summer when there inevitably tends to be an opening in the rotation somewhere. Even if he's not ready by spring training or Opening day, he could be the same kind of low cost rehab lottery ticket that guys like Smoltz or Penny have been.

[smastroyin]

I think that this bet is largely about his ability to even perform. The Sox would like him back, I assume he would like to pitch, the knife is going to answer the question of whether he can.

[86spike]

I don't buy that "it's simple surgery and in 2 weeks I'll be all better" thing.

If that was true, he would have done it in August.

[BucketOBalls]

I don't buy that "it's simple surgery and in 2 weeks I'll be all better" thing.

If that was true, he would have done it in August.

Well, it's probably two week+rehab after the layoff type deal.

It's possible he volunteered/was asked to put it off due to questions about the other starters. The depth is a little thin right now, and was worse before Dice-K came back.

[Plympton91]

As long as the prognosis for the success of the surgery is good and the timeline for full recovery is well in advance of spring training, I think the Red Sox should pick up the option with little hesitation. He was still the same old Wakefield up until the back flared up, and that's well worth the $4 million. Plus, both Bowden and Tazawa clearly need at least another 100 innings in Pawtucket, and no other starting pitching prospect is even ready for AAA (maybe Dubront, but I don't think he'll do well if they push him), so he's not blocking anybody.

The trick will be to have a backup option to Wakefield who is a much better than Bowden and willing to be in the PawSox rotation if Wake is healthy. That's a very narrow needle to thread. Perhaps Byrd would be willing to spend the early part of next season "on retainer." Pay him $300,000 to play with his kids, but add in incentives up to a couple million on the stipulation that he can be ready to start a major league game within two weeks if the Red Sox call. That would be the kind of innovative thing this front office would be the first to implement.

[Toe Nash]

For selfish reasons, I hope he comes back so I can stand and cheer as hard as I can when he walks off the field the final time.

Unfortunately, it's hard to predict when that will be.

[biollante]

Wake is written off all the time. If he can pitch next season, I think he will play. If the injuries swallow him up, he may fold up the tent. Either way, the ride has been great and I've always enjoyed him being on the team. Having a Sox team without him would be strange. Kind of like when Yaz left. Not too many players stay with one team this long anymore. I miss that about professional sports in this modern era.

[FelixMantilla]

Wake has gotten a little plobby the last few years. Have the surgery, lose some weight and see how he feels in the spring.

[yecul]

Wake has gotten a little plobby the last few years. Have the surgery, lose some weight and see how he feels in the spring.

In a bubble, yes, totally agree that is the approach you have to take if he wants back.

Unfortunately it's going to present some problems as he is likely to miss time and/or be ineffective, but the uncertaintainty of his availability will result in some hampering of their ability to bring in quality depth.

Maybe they get another Smoltz type again and face those roster issues when he is ready. Maybe Wake himself fills that role. Yada yada. Hard to really project this stuff. That's just a potential hiccup that Wake woudl bring.

[jtn46]

I've gotta think injury presumably taking him off the postseason roster for the 2nd straight season has to weigh pretty heavy on him.

Wakefield will turn 44 next August. It's completely irresponsible to assume he's going to make 30 starts in a season in which he turns 44. Wakefield figures to throw 100-150 innings with an above average ERA. That's a nice baseline for the minimum the FO should pursue. If it's not there for a reasonable price, hang onto him. If it is, though, I would prefer the FO go in that direction (overpaying for Lackey if that's what it takes...). The 2009 Red Sox have demonstrated that it's extremely difficult to have a healthy and effective rotation that's 6 or 7 pitchers deep. There is no Clay Buchholz in them minors next year waiting for an opportunity to save this team's ass.