hell, let's see how it holds up over his first appearance.

he's garbage. glad he's out of seattle!

So Mike Edelman, a HUGE Red Sox apologist, has decided that Pineiro is a good closer because he watched 3.2 innings and analyzed another 36 innings of his? God. What happened to research on the Internet? Sample sizes surrender. That's piss poor analysis.

Hmm ... to believe the Seattle fans who want to see Pineiro crash and burn or believe the Boston fans who are very unsure how Pineiro will do and are trying to find positive elements?

We'll let Pineiro do the talking on the field, but I think it bothers the Mariner fans that Pineiro, you know, DID WELL after dropping his arm slot and moving to relief.

I don't mind the Sox signing him - nothing wrong with taking a chance, and I'm sure they have some numbers to back up their hunch. But how on earth does he get $4 million? What bargaining leverage could he have possibly had if the Sox offered him $1 million? Would he have held out for a better offer, coming off of his 6+ ERA? That's the only thing that really bugs me.

Well Mike, this is a world in which Gil Meche turns a barely 0.500 career into a 50 mil+ deal and Jason Marquis and his 5.00+ ERA is deemed good enough for a 30+ mil deal. So Piniero getting 4 mil is not that shocking after all.

I agree, Mike, but don't discount the effects of a clinically insane market -- after all, Jason Marquis got $21 million coming off one of the worst seasons for a starting pitcher in documented history. $4 million to Pineiro suddenly doesn't look so bad.

Nobody is calling Piniero a "good closer". That's yet to be seen. People are just saying that the guy's got good pure stuff, and he realized a bit of success in the bullpen last year. Yes, it was in a pitcher's park, and yes, there was no pressure on him. We know.

Throwing some of that info out there isn't a bad thing. If people can wrap their heads around it and have some hope for the guy instead of assuming he's crap and going to suck, maybe he'll actually stick instead of pulling a Tavarez and bugging out the first time the Fenway crowd boos him.

Nobody's expecting miracles from the guy. If he can come out and save 25-30 games with a 3.00 ERA and doesn't walk guys, I'll be pleasantly surprised.

If he can come out and save 25-30 games with a 3.00 ERA and doesn't walk guys, I'll be recovering from a heart attack.

This is classic Red Sox PR. Everyone's in the best shape of their lives (except Schilling, because he's not getting a contract), every signing is the best FA signing ever, every trade strengthens the team. It's the same plot lines every off-season. Some of it is closer to the truth than others. Joel Pinero is not.