And One Makes Four.

Julian Tavarez is a Red Sox. He, along with Guillermo Mota and Rudy (I can hear the cheers now. Rudy Rudy) Seanez, will join Mike Timlin for late inning pitching time. So much, if not all, of this delicate balance is predicated on Keith Foulke recovering his at times almost unhittableness of 2003 and 2004. If he is back and effective, and that's a hell of a big if, I think everything and everybody will fall into place as the worst bullpen of the American league in 2005 transforms itself phoenix-like into an effective but beautiful machine designed to shut other teams up, and shut 'em down. Thank you Mr. Springsteen for the verbage.
There is another side of the coin. That being Foulkie's return to mediocrity. Unthinkable, but we must ponder because who is to say his change up will be back to fooling hitters by being set up with fastballs that have regained their zip. Change of speed and location come down to two knees, both needed to stablize and balance the body as it moves toward the plate. We'll find out if Keith Foulke has the two knees needed soon enough. Until then, there's a deal coming sometime. We have too many starting pitchers. I am basing my ''06 outlook on one sure thing. Jon Papelbon will be in the starting rotation. I've been saying this since Theo left. It was what he wanted. Now the club is said to still be welcoming his advice. Hey club, Papelbon belongs in the 2006 rotation. If anything else happens and this is not to be the case, part of the Sox' off season plans did not work. It's just that we don't know what these plans are. But more key than anything other that a healthy Curt Schilling is the back to stopper status of Foulkie. There lies our fortunes.