The idea that Papelbon is an "accident waiting to happen" is purely wishful thinking on your part. As a result of his off-season workout program, he is supremely conditioned even before spring training, with greater lower body strength than he used to have, putting less strain on his shoulder.
Please, I don't WISH an injury on someone whose living depends on being healthy. Papalbon is unproved. He gets credit for last year, of course buy look at the number of innings he pitched, You want to know WHY he only pitched so few innings? Because the Sox only wanted to use him when absolutely necessary in the beginning of the year to save him for later in the year. They could because the Sox, as they normally do got off to a fast start and the NYY suffered injuries to ALL their starters and had to bring up minor leaguers in April and May to fill the slots where needed.
Let's see what happens when he has to make almost twice the appearances as he did last year. If he performs consistently I will be the first to acknowledge his ability.
I only brought up the sparse winning record in post season and the ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory because RS fans trash every accomplishment made by the NYY as either luck or as being "bought" as if they somehow broke the rules. I mentioned 78 and 1918 and left out a few such as 1986 against the Met's. You guys accuse the 2004 NYY as choking in some sort of retaliation for your record. Don't you realize by doing that you minimize what was a great accomplishment for your team?
I NEVER heard a NYY fan alibi that loss. The simple fact is after taking the first three games the NYY played to not lose rather then to win. That never works and they paid a price.
If you seriously think you can simply pluck a prospect and expect him to put up Manny like numbers then you are not knowledgeable about the game. You also don't seem to get that without a Manny behind him Ortiz goes back to his .282 lifetime average, not because I want it to be or because I say so but because Manny IS the reason he is hitting like he does.
As for the SI predictions? Please, if you don't know by now they are the kiss of death then you are beyond hope.
As long as you're not on the cover, it's all right. ;-)