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Keith Foulke Retires

Tiny by danvail on

WTAM 1100 is reporting that Keith Foulke has retired (2/16/07).  Looks like Shapirio doesn't subscribe to "Retiring Closers Quarterly".  

Borowski is obviously in the closer's seat, but who else is going to make the bullpen now?  Do we have any outside options at closer?

I have little confidence in Borowski...

[editor's note, by Ryan] Here's the link to the story.

[editor's note, by Jay] Buster Olney is reporting the same story at ESPN.com.

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Re: Keith Foulke Retirement
I'm leery to trust one-source stories but it is being reported ... ugh ... I really hope that is wrong

by Fios on Feb 16, 2007 7:22 AM EST   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retirement
I had always hoped that Cabrera would emerge as the closer of the future. Tony Sipp also has closer potential. Like it or not it's time to audition some of the kids, hopefully Carmona won't be included.

by exileincincy on Feb 16, 2007 7:22 AM EST   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
That's too bad about Foulke. His elbow must hurt a lot to walk away from $5M or more.

What about this addition of Cliff Politte? Did he get a minor-league deal? He had some good seasons, especially in 2005, but is there anything left in his tank?

by kov on Feb 16, 2007 8:40 AM EST   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
Yes, a minor league deal and won't be ready to pitch for a while (ala Mulder) due to his surgery.

by exileincincy on Feb 16, 2007 9:03 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
Politte did get a minor league contract.  According to the reports I have seen, he is still rehabbing and will not pitch off a mound in game conditions until March.  It is unlikely he will be ready to start the season even if his fastball is back.

Better to find out about Foulke now rather than later.  Wonder if the Politte signing is just a coincidence?  Think the Tribe knew it was coming?

IndianInkSlinger

by sdtribefan on Feb 16, 2007 9:08 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
The Politte signing is inconsequential compared to Foulke retiring.  I doubt there is any connection at all.

by Jay on Feb 16, 2007 9:10 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
Hi Jay,

I think my post accurately describes the realtive level of consequence quite well, but thanks for the elaboration.  As for connection, maybe, maybe not. :)

IndianInkSlinger

by sdtribefan on Feb 16, 2007 9:33 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
Isn't the first day of spring training supposed to be filled with hope?  This pretty much takes a lot of the wind out of the sails for me personally.  It's too bad - but at least this allows Shapiro a bit of time to try to find a backup solution.

sigh

by mjmarble on Feb 16, 2007 9:02 AM EST   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
Wind out of your sails.  I never considered Foulke to be anything more then another arm to compete for some bullpen time.  After watching him struggle to stay healthy for the last 2 years I don't think this should shock any one.  Was it worth the gamble, maybe.  But to seriously think he would return to 2004 levels was not only short sighted but foolish.  In the end I do not think this will have that big of an impact on the season.  Foulke has not shown much desire to play baseball since winning the World Series with the Boston Red Sox.  I really never understood why he was considered a good pickup to begin with, based on his injuries and poor numbers.  Just ask any Red Sox fan on what they think of Foulke after 2004.
Swing and a big miss

by 5tribetipies on Feb 16, 2007 1:01 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
Why be so negative?  It hasn't cost the tribe much.  And the point of gathering a quantity of reliever is just this, that some wouldn't work out. It's a portfolio strategy that any entry level analyist would comprehend.

What was foolish about it. It was a one year contract, and Foulke had pitched really well at the end of the year.  Who could get in his mind that he really didn't want to pitch again. I can't even decide what I want to do this weekend.  Hey, stuff happens.  Shapiro isn't stupid, although you must think he is. If he KNEW Foulke would retire, he wouldn't have spent the time signing him.  But I guess you think he knew this and signed him anyway.

As for Red Sox fans, who cares!  They should just be happy they won one and have a luxury tax system that cements the HUGE competitive advantage they share with the Yankees.  They shouldn't be bitching.  If we had that advantage, Manny would be in our right field, and we'd also have Thome and Sexton and Giles and Omar and Colon and we'd buy any spare parts from the marketplace.  And we'd probably have a championship or two.

Hey Jay, Foulke could have been Tom Hanks 1991!  See, I'm agreeing.

by Bogalusa Bomber on Feb 16, 2007 1:26 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
Agreed on all scores.  There was nothing "foolish" about thinking he had a solid chance, if healthy, to be as good as he was a few years ago, when he was healthy.

Fact is, he wasn't healthy.  And fact is, given that he wasn't healthy, we caught a lucky break that he retired now, rather than pitching through pain for a few weeks for his $5 million.  Who knows if the Indians even had insured that -- or if any insurance company was willing to insure it.

by Jay on Feb 16, 2007 3:53 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
This is a blow -- not debilitating, especially since he seems to be walking away from the money.  This does little to hurt our overall depth, which is kind of immense, but Foulke uniquely had the potential to dominate.

Foulke's spot on the 25-man presumably is taken by Matt Miller, who likely would have started the season in Buffalo barring injury to a key reliever.

by Jay on Feb 16, 2007 9:06 AM EST   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
ESPN is confirming this: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2767796

I suppose, as mjmarble said, the "silver lining" is that the team knows this now as opposed to three or four months down the road

by Fios on Feb 16, 2007 9:06 AM EST   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
Why do they refer to Foulke as an "Indian's reliever" when he hasn't relieved anything ?  In fact, he just gave collective Tribe fan a large case of indigestion.  

Is it too early in the morning to partake ?  I guess it's 5 o'clock somewhere ...  Damn !

by SpringTrainingFun on Feb 16, 2007 9:19 AM EST   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
It's 4:20 here.  Literally.

by mjmarble on Feb 16, 2007 9:21 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
Actually, I think I shall go have a drink for all of you who still have a Friday to work.

by mjmarble on Feb 16, 2007 9:22 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
As I recall, 4:20 isn't a time to grab a drink...

by Thommy on Feb 16, 2007 10:19 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
It's just after midnight here.  Perfect time for a drink.

by Bogalusa Bomber on Feb 16, 2007 10:31 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
That's why I kinda clarified what I was going out for.  Normally, my personal preference is for a beer or vodka instead of the other things...

by mjmarble on Feb 16, 2007 10:59 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
i think you meant "figuratively"

by emil minty on Feb 16, 2007 4:08 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
Actually, I live in Bulgaria.  It was 4:20 when I posted that.

by mjmarble on Feb 16, 2007 4:54 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
i misspoke.  i meant that your implication was both literal and figurative.  or so i assume.  

by emil minty on Feb 16, 2007 5:01 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
Heard it's a good time to buy real estate in Bulgaria.  And drink too.

by Bogalusa Bomber on Feb 16, 2007 11:03 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
Yes.  And Yes. :)  Rakia is definitely an acquired taste.

by mjmarble on Feb 17, 2007 4:28 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
Some thoughts:

1.  I'm disappointed, but not entirely surprised.  I remember a Jim Rome interview Foulke did in 2005 where he talked about how he really didn't enjoy playing baseball, and wasn't that competitive.

That was my primary concern with signing him, and I wouldn't at all be surprised if it's not an injury, but just a lack of desire that prompts his retirement.

  1.  On the bright side, we signed him late, so it's not like we really relied on the signing by abstaining from signing another closer (although we may have been more active in the Mike Gonzales deal).  

  2.  This could turn out to be a Juan Gon- Grady scenario, where a young talent emerges, and we're glad not to have Foulke in the way, sucking up 5 mill.  

by Alvaro Espinoza on Feb 16, 2007 9:37 AM EST   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
You wonder if this nudges the door back open just a bit on a potential trade match with a team that has both a reliever and the slick-fielding back up shortstop.  

I don't suppose that such a deal is ever likely to happen, but it seems a waste to go into 2007 with all of a sudden, at least like $7MM to play with (whatever Foulke was owed, plus I think we had extra cash)?  

by cheech99 on Feb 16, 2007 9:42 AM EST   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
It makes the non-acquisition of Mike Gonzalez hurt that much more.  Schuerholz saw the opportunity and grabbed it.

by SpringTrainingFun on Feb 16, 2007 9:52 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
Always harder to make that kind of deal in late February as opposed to late December.  Not impossible though.  

by cheech99 on Feb 16, 2007 9:53 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
I don't think we ever had a serious conversation about Gonzalez.  Just because we were willing to pay good cash for a reliever doesn't mean we were willing to give up significant talent and cash.  Geez, they asked for Victor!

by Jay on Feb 16, 2007 10:39 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
I know the paper said they asked for Victor, but that doesn't mean that's what the Tribe would have had to give up.  The Tribe can ask for Miguel Cabrera and/or Dontrelle Willis but it doesn't mean they'll get them.  

I don't think anyone here would think that V-Mart is only equal with LaRoche.  V-Mart is the better player so one can assume that the Tribe could have acquired Gonzalez for less.

by SpringTrainingFun on Feb 16, 2007 5:51 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
I thought signing Foulke was one of the better moves that Shapiro made this winter. This is dissapointing.
Wait 'til next year... or something like that

by fwembt on Feb 16, 2007 9:56 AM EST   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
I agree that Miller (if healthy) is the most likely to take his spot on the roster, but the loan bright spot is that we actually have another spring training battle to watch.  I believe Cabrera and Davis are both out of options, so I didn't really think there was a battle.  Now there's going to be a battle for the last spot with lots of people with options (Miller, Mastny, Perez, Mujica, and Lara).

Any thoughts on who takes his place on the 40-man?  I'm not really sure how that works, do they need to fill right away, after he officially retires?

by TheCooler on Feb 16, 2007 10:01 AM EST   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
No.  Sipp isn't even on the roster.

by Jay on Feb 16, 2007 10:40 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
to take foulke's place on the 40-man, i think was the question in the post i was answering.

not (quite) foolish enough consider him a realistic shot for closer, i like the plan to close him in beef for the year.  i don't however, think shap considers jobo a reliable option, and i think wedgie would be open to being pleasantly surprised by some youngster's performance in spring training.  if someone were to surprise out of spring training, eddy mu seems far, far more likely than sipp at this point.

i would love to see them give perez a look, but i know i'm dreaming on that one.  

by emil minty on Feb 16, 2007 10:53 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
They don't have to put anyone on the 40-man until he's needed on the 25-man, and probably won't.  There are still 11 relievers on the 40-man, counting Perez but not Carmona, and only seven relief spots on the 25-man.

by Jay on Feb 16, 2007 4:00 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
If Borowski doesn't seem rock solid by some cutoff point in the next month, does Shap trade prospects for a closer? Seems like this is "the year" for Shap, and I don't see him going into April with the closer situation up in the air.

by mcrose on Feb 16, 2007 10:10 AM EST   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
Which closer is available?

by mkwng on Feb 16, 2007 10:17 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
Cordero's name has been floated around as has Linebrink. :)
IndianInkSlinger

by sdtribefan on Feb 16, 2007 10:23 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
Is Cordero available according to anyone but Jeff Passan?  Didn't we have a mega-load of complaints about writers making up trade rumors in a recent diary about a report that suggested we were trading CC to the Mets?

by mkwng on Feb 16, 2007 11:45 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
Beats me.  I read it on SI and Maller.  Between them, they are batting below .100.  :)
IndianInkSlinger

by sdtribefan on Feb 16, 2007 3:58 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
Chad Cordero could be....Nats probably won't be needing many saves this year.  He'll have a new contract by Tuesday, but a few teams(like Boston) need help too.  I'd make a phone call to Washington just to see what it'd take...

by Chiefroy on Feb 16, 2007 10:25 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
Turnbow is no longer closing but has a good track record, no injury.

I'm sure everybody will wait and see how Borowski and the rest of the pen looks over the next 3 weeks. I just can't see them not making a move outside the organization if it seems iffy by then.

by mcrose on Feb 16, 2007 10:54 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
Every time I've seen Turnbow pitch he's been lit up like a Christmas tree. Is there something I don't know?

by exileincincy on Feb 16, 2007 10:58 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
I went and looked at Turnbow's history. Promising except the wheels totally fell off last year. What happened and can it be fixed?

by exileincincy on Feb 16, 2007 11:15 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
please no turnbow.  danny graves was enough.

by emil minty on Feb 16, 2007 11:18 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
If Shap decides he needs to make a trade, he will use much the same criteria he had when pursuing free agents for the same role: a successful history of closing and a valid chance that they would be able to do so again. Turnbow is one of the people on that list, no doubt.

I'm not sure Graves would be - he was a longshot reclamation project from the getgo. Turnbow was an all-star last year.

by mcrose on Feb 16, 2007 12:51 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
He also had a 6.87 ERA.  All-star, schmall-star.

by nickjs21 on Feb 16, 2007 1:32 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
By the end of June, Turnbow had saved 23 games and had an era around 3. In '05, he saved 40 games with an era under 2 and a BAA under .200 I'd say he was a legitimate all-star at that point.

BTW, I'm not stuck on the guy - I'm just saying that a trade means a different list of players than the FA's we pursued this offseason, and I don't think there would be a high profile trade for an established closer - that would cost too much.

by mcrose on Feb 16, 2007 2:57 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
2005 was some kind of bizzare anomaly.  the .250 babip doesn't fully explain it, but it helps.  if you look at his 2003 and 2004 numbers at AAA, they're much closer to his 2006 than his 2005.  his k/9 was high, but his whip was always above 1.5.

by emil minty on Feb 16, 2007 2:01 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
He was great in '05 and fine until July last year. I believe it was a mechanical issue, not an injury. He had closed 51 out of 55 from the '06 all-star game going back, with an era around 2.

by mcrose on Feb 16, 2007 11:17 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
I don't want Turnbow.  We got guys with same or better talent and the same problems.  

Waiting three weeks before making a move could mean no Chad Cordero available.  Boston, Florida, Tampa, Cincy, and maybe the Cubs or Giants all are potential bidders for closer help.  If Isringhausen or another closer goes down in ST, add another team to the mix.

If we think we need to make a trade, make the call now, before we're shut out.

by Chiefroy on Feb 16, 2007 11:35 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
I just don't think Shap will make that decision now. He's much more likely to review his options and have a period to see just how effective the redundancy he  spent his offseason building into the pen is likely to be.

He went through a lot of trouble to avoid trading valuable players. He'll go through some more before he decides he needs to.

by mcrose on Feb 16, 2007 12:56 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
You may be right.  I'm not sure we HAVE to make a trade for a closer, but losing Foulke now is essentially the same as never signing him.  I liked the Borowski signing, but preferred him as a partime closer....not THE guy.  If JoBo has arm trouble or struggles in the AL away from that park in Fla....we're back where we were last year.

Granted, the young arms should perform better and a closer may emerge, but Shapiro obviously wanted more of a sure thing for the 9th and was hedging his bet.  Hernandez probably should not be counted on as a possible closer, imo.

We plugged a hole by trading Kouz and we have chips to move if there is a fit with Washington.
I believe they'll get enough of a return from somebody that will tempt them into a trade.  I wouldn't be willing to part with one of our starter prospects, but they may accept one of the young pen arms we have plus an OF like Franky/BenF/Snyder/Barton/Choo.  Maybe they'd accept Asdrubal in a package, if we took Guzman's contract off their hands.

More likely to me however, they'll be able to get a young starter or SS from some other team.  

by Chiefroy on Feb 16, 2007 1:56 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
One option is to avoid the cost of trading for an established closer and target a setup guy in the mold of Calero or Howry to restore the depth at the back of the bullpen. JoeBo closes, the newguy takes the setup role, and the other roles remain the same as planned.

by mcrose on Feb 16, 2007 3:13 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
mlb.com:

"We no longer have a closer controversy," Shapiro said. "Joe Borowski's our closer."

It's possible that several clubs, most notably the Cardinals and Rangers, will have bullpen arms to deal this spring, but Shapiro said he is going to stand pat with what he has for now.

"We'll tell our scouts to pay closer attention and highlight guys we had conversations about this winter," Shapiro said. "But we would like to get a full look at our guys in camp. Those guys will get opportunities, and they'll get better looks."

by Chiefroy on Feb 16, 2007 4:15 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
Truthfully, I can't image Shapiro coming out and saying that they need to go out and trade for a guy. It would sound pretty desperate and reduce any leverage he has in making a deal.

by hans on Feb 16, 2007 4:20 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
sorry should say "imagine" instead of image.

by hans on Feb 16, 2007 4:21 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
Somebody should emerge as we have good options (or at least numerous ones), so Shapiro doesn't have to do anything.

by Thommy on Feb 16, 2007 10:22 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

Wow.
This is surprising and disappointing.  I had that rosy spring training outlook going, convinced that Foulke would regain his '05 form.  

by mkwng on Feb 16, 2007 10:16 AM EST   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
Well, it's not like losing Manny (or Albert or Thome), but it's a kick in the pants anyway.  As others have said, perhaps this will allow a kid to emerge, and it's better that he's done now than in June.
Railing against the sacrifice bunt since 2000.

by jdudas on Feb 16, 2007 10:18 AM EST   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
I feel the same this morning the same way I did when LeCharles Bently blew his knee out in the first contact drill of the Browns' training camp.

by TheCooler on Feb 16, 2007 10:23 AM EST   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
Yeah, that was my first thought too: Jeez, can't one Cleveland team make it through the first day of camp without losing a player? Although I guess the Cavs didn't lose anybody -- knock on wood.

But Foulke's retirement isn't nearly as debilitating as Bentley's was -- I really believe that Bentley's injury completely destroyed any chances the Browns had of being competitive last season, instantly. Whereas with Foulke it's more like Bob Hallen, a guy who was expected to contribute but not carry the team.

This sucks, but they'll be fine. I for one am looking forward to seeing Fernando Cabrera take over the closer spot come mid-June.

by mrich on Feb 16, 2007 10:32 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
i'm with you. going into every sports season i'm optimistic, and i remember just where i was when i heard bentley was gone for the season and i'll remember where i was upon hearing foulke's decision to hang it up.
i'm discouraged because like others, I expected him to be the closer throughout the season, with borowski setting up.  
but i'm also excited at the opportunity for a young guy to take advantage of a spot in the pen.  then pen obviously was the maker in 2005 and the breaker in 2006.  however more blame falls on the deadweights of last year, sauerbeck, graves, mota, etc., whereas some of the younger guys were impressive at times. I hope to see Sipp or Mujica really rise to the occasion and play a prominent part in the bullpen shuffle.  I always hate seeing Wedge lose faith in a guy and only get him in a game every week and a half, for like 2 batters in the 6th.

by brad on Feb 16, 2007 10:34 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
Crap.

I was just thinking about the Bently accident...  I'm really not convinced we do have an internal solution that Shapiro is comfortable with (not including Borowski), otherwise, why sign Foulke to close?  I don't want a repeat of last year because we're struggling to find someone, mid-season, who can throw strikes in the 9th inning.  I'm just grateful that we didn't break camp and then have Foulke's arm fall off.  

by Pronk33 on Feb 16, 2007 12:00 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
Same here.
If I had a nickel for every time I heard "...and Victor Martinez grounds into a double play", i'd be rich.

by Rayman on Feb 16, 2007 1:37 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
The primary concern, of course, is being competitive in '07 but the reality is that Foulke was not a long-term solution at closer even if he had been healthy and successful this year. And neither is Borowski. Rather than finding another injured, aging, broken down arm (e.g., Hermanson), I'm hoping that Cabrera gets a serious opportunity early on to assert himself. The possible silver lining to this set-back is that we're forced to find our future, long term closer within our own ranks.

by exileincincy on Feb 16, 2007 10:42 AM EST   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
Witness the etiology of a trademark Shaprio move, made now permanent in his repertoire: The overstocking of semi-fungible commodities.  He certainly trended this way recently, what with our 6 outfielders and 27 relief candidates, but this is just the kind of event that reinforces the behavior for life.

Mind you, this isn't a bad thing. Despite the popular backlash against the Nixon signing, I'll take all the (good) major league quality players we can stock.

by Thommy on Feb 16, 2007 10:45 AM EST   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
I think this board has been waiting for some interesting news. We didn't want news this interesting.

by oxforddave on Feb 16, 2007 11:09 AM EST   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
Congratulations to the 11% who predicted that Foulke would be the underperformer. http://www.letsgotribe.com/story/2007/2/7/13557/55006

by oxforddave on Feb 16, 2007 11:12 AM EST   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
Heh, yeah, this pretty much settles that debate.

by Jeffrey R on Feb 16, 2007 12:42 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
Foulke has a big lead.  But the other guys are still in it.  If someone were horrendously, stupendeously, Guillermo Mota like bad, that's worse than not being on the field.

by portlandtribefan on Feb 16, 2007 3:56 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
Good point.  Foulke will be neither good nor awful this season; he basically is at replacement level.  And unlike other guys who will play at replacement level, he basically just cut us a check for $5 million.

by Jay on Feb 16, 2007 4:02 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
While Shapiro can not be 100% blamed for this, there WERE reports that Foulke was on the verge of retiring if he couldn't get a "close to home" job.  Add in the fact that he rejected the BoSox offer of around the same money the Indians gave, its kind of difficult for me to believe that Shapiro did not atleast THINK that when he decided to spend the money on Foulke rather then another close.
Governor's Cup in '07!

by Brandini on Feb 16, 2007 11:41 AM EST   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
man!  this Foulke thing feels like Browns spill over.  

we can't waste this year auditioning and developing a closer that may or may not emerge.

RE: potential trade match with a team that has both a reliever and the slick-fielding back up shortstop.

If someone like Cabrera does not step up BIG in spring training, a trade of one of the three near term big free agents (CC, Westbrook, Haf) that Shapiro decides is not signable could be the answer for closer, ss, etc.

this is the year to compete for the lead....man this is dissappointing;  I want the warm spring training feeling back

by Dallas Tribe on Feb 16, 2007 11:56 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

Re: Keith Foulke Retires
well then foulke should have told him that directly. He's not a little kid. If a playe