RealGM

more likely/less likely than not.


bonus: delcarmen will be reliable enough to provide some rest to oki and pap? more likely/less likely than not?


your thoughts are appreciated.

Hanson I would say hasn't showed any huge signs of improvement between two years ago and last year.. as a matter of fact did he get worse? So I would say no not yet.

Delcarmen I would say definitly. He might even be better then Okajima this year.

Hansen showed signs last season of improving for like 4-5 week stretches. He pitched well in the AFL as well. His fastball was showing life again, albeit at a lower velocity than his college days, and his slider had regained some of it nasty break but he couldn't throw it for strikes consistently. He underwent a procedure to cure his sleep apnea so it may be the case that he wasn't getting enough rest and it was throwing his body off. I think he makes the leap this season and becomes a solid middle reliever taking over for Oki in 2009. mahalo
~Chach~

Delcarmen is already ready. He proved it last year and at the end of the 2006 season as well. He's not putting up a 2.05 ERA again, but he's #3 behind Papelbon and Okajima.

Hansen, who knows. Everyone thought he would be in Boston for good a couple months after being drafted. He still has the 97 MPH fastball and the slider is there he just can't control it. I thought he was the best pitching prospect in the system when he, Lester and Papelbon were knocking on the door. I think I might have erred there. I'd bet against Hansen at this point, sleep apnea or not.

i think delcarmen is just growing into it, i have none of the concerns i have about hansen with manny.

however, i still have faith in hansen's talent. the head games are hard to manage, but the man has the skills. i havent been following him as much as other minor leaguers so i cant reallys give odds, but i wont be surprised by big success, mediocre success, or a flameout. expecting mediocre success at the moment i suppose.