Number of the Day - 17

17 ... 17 Blown Saves for the Red Sox this season. Only two teams have blown more, 40-75 Baltimore and 57-56 Florida Marlins. Yikes. Now, the Red Sox save percentage is 67%, which ranks them 16th out of 30 teams in baseball. Poor, but not terrible. The problem comes from too MANY save opportunities. The Yankees have 11 blown saves including the one from Mariano yesterday. However, since they often blow teams out, the Yankees only have had 39 save opportunities. The Red Sox have 51 - Fifty One! Nearly one out of every two games is a save opportunity. Papelbon has 6 blown saves this year, matching a high for the year for an entire season. We still have 46 some odd games to play. Although the number of save situations has placed the Red Sox in a difficult predicament, it hasn't lead to an overuse of their closer, Papelbon. His appearences are in-line with the other closers in the league. So what's going on with Pap, and what happens next year?

In the last two years, Papelbon's WHIP (Walks and Hits per Inn Pitched)has been elevated at 1.15 for both years. 2006, 7 and 8 were all under 1.0. Yet, 1.15 isn't terrible. In fact, among the American League closers, it's above average, but not dominant. Mariano Rivera is at 0.71, and hasn't had a season above 1.12 since his first year as a closer at 1.19. Still young and unproven, but Daniel Bard is at 0.86.

The killer has been Pap's ERA. At 3.65, it's almost twice that of last season, and the highest of his career by almost an entire run. He's given up six homeruns and 13 doubles year-to-date, both more than any other full SEASON. His strikeouts per 9 innings pitched is down by almost two. Opponents are only batting .209 against him, but those that hit him, hit him hard. Opponent Slugging Percentage is .379 (compare that to Mariano at a .156 average and .224 slugging). Some of the difference can be attributed to Pap is a fly-ball pitcher, whereas with his cutter Mariano is a ground-ball pitcher. When Mariano gets hit, it's more singles. When Pap gets hit, its for long-balls.

Papelbon is in his contract year. He wants to be paid like a dominant closer. He wants Mariano money. Pap makes slightly below $10mm. Tampa's Rafeal Soriano make $7.25mm; Cincinnati's Francisco Cordero, $11.25mm; The Met's Francisco Rodriguez, $12.1mm; and the seemingly ageless Mariano makes $15mm this year.

Gritty closers are hard to find but, outside of Mariano, don't tend to have long useful lives. Pap had three great seasons, and is currently in his second above average season. He isn't a dominant closer anymore. Closing the save 82% of the time doesn't cut it. Top closers are closing 90+%. Red Sox management is aware of these facts, and will unlikely pay him top dollar - because he isn't worth top dollar. Don't be surprised to see Daniel Bard in that role next year.

BTW, Pap make those saves like a dominant closer should, and the Red Sox are in the wild-card lead.