Still Awake

We're not exactly breaking news here in mentioning that Tim Wakefield's annual option year was picked up, ensuring him a 15th season as a member of the Red Sox. This inevitably invited a round of grousing from those who dislike the all-or-nothing nature of his game, the weak-hitting specialist he requires as a catcher, or the inevitable catastrophe that results when he's called upon in the postseason. I can sympathize with all three of these arguments. To the latter two, I'd ask two questions: 1. Is there such a thing as a good-hitting backup catcher? 2. Would Wakefield keep getting postseason starts if he were having terrible regular seasons? 

The answer to both questions, but especially the second, is, "Of course not." In fact, Wakefield -- who hasn't been viewed as anything more than a fourth starter in years -- provides a good deal more than his $4 million-per-year cost.

Since 2003, when Wakefield was made a full-time starter again, his worst seasonal ERA+ has been 100. He's started at least 30 games in each of those seasons except 2006. In those six years, he has a 106 ERA+. Here are some pitchers no more than two ERA+ points better than Wakefield since 2003 (and at least 900 innings pitched), and how much each made in 2008:

• Ted Lilly, 107, $8 million
• Dontrelle Willis, 107, $7 million 
• Barry Zito 107, $14.5 million
• Aaron Harang, 106, $6.75 million
• Tim Wakefield, 106, $4 million 
• Cliff Lee, 105, $4 million
• Jon Garland, 105, $12 million
• Tom Glavine, 104, $8 million
• Greg Maddux, 104, $10 million
• Jamie Moyer, 103, $6 million
• Jeff Suppan, 103, $8.25 million
• Gil Meche, 102, $11.4 million

A few other notes on Wakefield's 14-year career with Boston: He's thrown at least 140 innings every season -- even the ones where he was used mostly as a reliever. Only Mike Mussina and Greg Maddux have matched that in the same time span. Only nine starting pitchers have even thrown at least 2,500 innings the same 14-year span as Wakefield. By necessity, to be given that many innings, they all have ERA+ over 100, and not a single one of them are (or have been) considered any less than valuable for their teams:

1. Pedro Martinez, 156
2. Randy Johnson, 150
3. Greg Maddux, 133 
4. Tom Glavine, 122 
5. Mike Mussina, 119 
6. Andy Pettitte, 116 
7. Jamie Moyer, 110 
8. Tim Wakefield, 110 
9. Kenny Rogers, 108    

 This Sox fan, at least, welcomes Wakefield back for 2009.