Tim Wakefield

[moebarguy]

I'm just curious about Wakefield's shoulder injury. Is he going to be healthy enough to start the season? Can anyone link me to a report of some kind...thanks.

[sharrock]

I don't remember where I have read updates but I do recall all signs indicating he would be ready by the start of the season. But I also took not that I never read he would be ready at the start of spring training so I assume there is a touch of wait-and-see to it. Hopefully we'll have better information after a few throwing sessions.

[Imgran]

http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080215&content_id=2375130&vkey=spt2008news&fext=.jsp&c_id=bos

What is a SLAP tear? It is an acronym for superior labrum anterior to posterior. The best part about it for Wakefield is that it didn't linger.

All Wakefield needed was rest. And after the Red Sox won the World Series -- with cancer survivor Jon Lester winning the clinching game in Wakefield's spot -- Wakefield had plenty of time to do just that.

And now familiar No. 49 is back in Spring Training, ready to kick off season No. 14 with the Red Sox.

The injury, as emotionally devastating as it was at the time, has done nothing to diminish Wakefield's fire for pitching. He still has a thirst to keep chugging along through his 40s. Wakefield will be 42 on Aug. 2. Has he decided how much longer he wants to pitch?

"Not yet," said Wakefield. "I'll let my wife decide that one."

Before Wakefield calls it a career and becomes a full-time dad and husband, he has some goals he'd like to reach.

The first is 200 career wins. The second is 192 wins in a Boston uniform, which is the club record, held by Cy Young and Roger Clemens.

[-Kyle-]

That would be a great way to have himself remembered, similar to Jamie Moyer on the Mariners. Both were solid pitchers who pitched for a long time for their team. Leading the team in wins shows "loyalty" or whatever. Just a good way for him to be remembered as win leader of the Red Sox, I hope he makes it.

[DoubleX]

I don't know if Wakefield will get to 200 wins or 192 with the Red Sox. He's at 168 career wins now, and 154 with the Red Sox. He's won an average of 13 games a year the past 5 seasons, and he's been a full time starter during that span. So if he maintains that average, he won't get to 200/192 until 2010 at the earliest, when he'll be 44. Being a knuckleballer, he could hold on, but how likely is it that he'll still be a full time starter with the Sox beyond this year? Beckett and Matsuzaka are locked up, then there is at least Lester, Buchholz, and Masterson coming from the farm, and you have to think more could be on the way by 2010, and you'd also think the Sox will bring in a veteran or two at some point. It's not out of the realm of possibility, but I'd bet against it right now.

[riredsox]

My guess is he'll reach 200 wins and 192+ in a Boston uniform, but for now, we'll just have to use the good ol' wait an' see.

[riredsox]

Forgot to add this-sorry. What if he exceeds that average? Then he'll get there earlier-and younger. His Boston Baseball scouting report says "expect 12-15 wins, and about as many losses a season from Wake..." This was before his shoulder, but knuckleballers hang on for a long time, so he'll defenatly give it a run for his money.