Wouldn't That Be Nice?

From the Herald's Horrigan, today, comes this take on our closer-to-be, name to be announced sooner than we think, and his opinion is a feeling I've echoed here at PRSF. Read this blurb....the entire article is linked with this post's title. Click on it.......

"Publicly, the Red Sox are saying that they expect Jonathan Papelbon's successor at closer to emerge from a veteran group that includes Joel Pineiro, Mike Timlin, Brendan Donnelly and Julian Tavarez. (Peter here...a BIG "BUT" COMING! An implied one disguised as the words "privately, however")..........
Privately, however, some important members of the organization are quietly hoping that Craig Hansen or Manny Delcarmen steps forward this spring to seize the job, never to relinquish it for years to come."

Peter here..."seize it, for years to come." Boy, that sounds nice. As Mo Rivera might be entering his last year doing what he does best for the New York Yankees, the Red Sox, our Sox, are in need of a closer. Hansen, all 6 foot 5 inches of him, shows so much promise. What a perfect time for him to mature, to blossom into an elite force for a pitching staff that many teams are in awe of. He had difficulties with a changing arm angle last year, changes that affected his fastball and killer slider.

Said Tito...."This kid needs to pitch a little," Francona said Feb. 6. "If we were convinced he could do it [close] -- and I hope we do reach that decision -- we would have a heck of a decision to make. I hope that happens."

I hope that happens too! And read the Horrigan article for all the details by clicking above, and then hope one of the most pleasant surprises that RSN will enjoy is Craig Hansen....or Little Manny. Or both. One a set-up guy, one the man who we will call on in the ninth. "The buck stops here" guy. Much like Paps last year. And yes, that would be so sweet.