Jonathan Pabelbon is the Red Sox' best closer since Who?

Answer 1

Period so far. The Redsox have never had a first class closer before. Reardon piled up saves but he was not dominent. He just got the job done more often than not. Nobody feared seeing Reardon or any other Redsox closer. Flash Gordon was starting to look like he would be a first class closer, then got hurt before he could really establish himself. When he came back from his 100th arm surgery he was very ordinary as a closer and didn't close again until this year.

Lack of a closer has been a big cause of Redsox failure to reach the postseason. Against somebody like Eck, Rivera, Hoffman Bucky Dent wouldn't have hit that HR. The Sox might have avoided one of many late season collapses over the last 30 years. Clemens might have an extra 30-50 wins, Pedro might have an extra dozen career wins. So far Pabelbon when he's in the game he's almost unhittable. That is a real closer. Not a Lee Smith or a Jeff Reardon who on a good year survive all the walks and hits they give up, on a bad year can have ERAs in the 4s and even 5s when those walks and hits come back to haunt them. Even in Smith's or Reardon's best years every batter went up there thinking they had a good chance of getting a hit. When Gossage came up batters just hoped to survive the AB much less get a hit. When Eck or Riveria take the mound the hitter is just hoping to get lucky. They go to bat thinking they have no chance because statistically they don't. Beating them mentally like that makes all the difference in a crucial game. That's where closers are MOST important and why a real closer is crucial to success and a poser will get rocked at the worst time.

Answer 2

Since the Red Sox are only 3/4ths of the way through the season it's a little hard to compare, anything can happen in the next 40 games. That's why they play 162. Here are some of the better Red Sox relievers/years to compare. They are not listed in any order...That said, Papelbon is having a great season so far, be fun to see him finish the way he's started...

J Papelbon - 2006 -
G-53 IP-61.0 H-33 HR-3 HBP-1 BB-12 SO-63
H9-4.87 HR9-.443 BB9-1.77 SO9-9.30

Tom Burgmeier - 1980 -
G-62 IP-99.0 H-87 HR-3 HBP-2 BB-20 SO-54
H9-7.91 HR9-.273 BB9-1.82 SO9-4.91

Dick Radatz - 1964 -
G-79 IP-157.0 H-103 HR-13 HBP-7 BB-58 SO-181
H9-5.90 HR9-.745 BB9-3.32 SO9-10.38

Tom Gordon - 1998 -
G-73 IP-79.1 H-55 HR-2 HBP-0 BB-25 SO-78
H9-6.24 HR9-.227 BB9-2.84 SO9-8.85

Jeff Gray - 1991 -
G-50 IP-61.2 H-39 HR-7 HBP-1 BB-10 SO-41
H9-5.69 HR9-1.02 BB9-1.46 SO9-5.98

Dennis Lamp - 1989 -
G-42 IP-112.1 H-96 HR-4 HBP-0 BB-27 SO-61
H9-7.69 HR9-.320 BB9-2.16 SO9-4.89

John Wyatt - 1967 -
G-60 IP-93.1 H-71 HR-6 HBP-2 BB-39 SO-68
H9-6.85 HR9-.579 BB-3.76 SO9-6.56

Bob Klinger - 1946 -
G-28 IP-57.0 H-49 HR-1 HBP-1 BB-25 SO-16
H9-7.74 HR9-.158 BB9-3.95 SO9-2.53

Mike Fornieles - 1960 -
G-70 IP-109.0 H-86 HR-6 HBP-6 BB-49 SO-64
H9-7.10 HR9-.495 BB9-4.05 SO9-5.28

Kieth Foulke - 2004 -
G-72 IP-83.0 H-63 HR-8 HBP-6 BB-15 SO-79
H9-6.83 HR9-867 BB9-1.63 SO9-8.57

Ellis Kinder - 1953 -
G-69 IP-107.0 H-84 HR-8 HBP-2 BB-38 SO-39

Answer 3

I would say Foulke in 2004. He did not have the same regular season as Papelbon is having now, but he proved his worth in the post season (I am a Red Sox fan, and I would say it was Mariano like in 2004).

Before that the only one that would ever compare would be "The Monster," Dick Raditz back in the mid 1960's (The Sox were awful, but he was dominant).

Those are the only two, ever.

Answer 4

Eric Gagne Los Angeles Dodgers 84 Consecutive saves.

Answer 5

Jeff Reardon, the bearded Rolaids guy from the 80's
Also I think Lee Smith spent some time as a Red Sock.

I may be going back too far, but nobody else stands out in my head right at the moment.

Answer 6

Flash Gordon

Answer 7

No idea who this "Pabelbon" is. Is he related to "Pabel" Bure?

Anyway, I will take you back. All the way back to the future, Conan, to the year 2004 and Keith Foulke. Is there a point to this question? Yes, two pts!

Answer 8

pabelbon will continue to crumble and fade away. his pitches dont have much movement and without control he is useless. a john rocker without the 7 train comments

Answer 9

tom gordon, or keith foulke if he wasn't injured

Answer 10

I dunno but man alive he about gave me a heart attack in last Sunday's game!
GO SOX