So Julian Tavarez is the front-runner to be the Red Sox closer.
Julian Tavarez.
Wow.
As I shake my head and mutter to myself, let’s look at this from a fantasy perspective first. Even if Tavarez is officially named Boston’s closer, he’s still not worth more than a buck or two, and he shouldn’t be taken until the final rounds of a straight draft.
There’s so much not to like here. Tavarez doesn’t have the dominance a big-league closer needs. Heck, his 5.11 K/9 last year wasn’t even league-average, much less closer-worthy. Tavarez’ control isn’t exactly impeccable, either. He walked 44 in 98 2/3 innings last season. That’s obviously way too many for a ninth-inning pitcher.
As for mental makeup -- the “guile” Ron Shandler speaks of -- well, that’s a laugh. Tavarez’ mercurial moodiness is not a good trait for a closer to have. Ice water doesn’t run through his veins -- more like Tabasco sauce. This is a disaster waiting to happen.
Saves are saves, but don’t expect Tavarez to get many of them. He won’t last long as a closer.
From a real-life perspective, making Tavarez the closer is even more exasperating. The Sox spend $140 million, and they can’t find a stud to nail down the ninth inning? The Sox can spend $50 million just to talk to someone, but they can’t afford a quality closer?
