For Starters
The Red Sox suddenly find themselves short on starters. With Tim Wakefield on the DL and Clay Buchholz ineffective, Boston has some decisions to make.
Bartolo Colon isn't going to be ready until later this month. Justin Masterson was just converted to a reliever and I doubt they'd risk it and switch him back.
Beckett, Matsuzaka, Lester and Buchholz are the current healthy starters. My guess is that Buchholz gets sent down in the next 48 hours and the Red Sox make a call to Pawtucket for help. With no scheduled day off in the next 10 days, management will have to work some magic.
Options for the 4th and 5th rotation spots.
Buchholz - I doubt he is a viable option right now. When you read his quotes in the paper, this kid has lost all confidence and is thinking way too much. Go figure it out for the rest of the season (i.e. rest of this month) in the minors.
Charlie Zink - A knuckleballer, he makes the most sense as he's pitched very well at Pawtucket. 13-4, 2.89 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 152.1 IP, 129 H, 43 BB, 94 K. Kevin Cash has proven he can catch the knuckle and the old concern that a team would never carry 2 knucklers at the same time is moot with Wakefield on the DL.
David Pauley - Pauley is no stranger to Boston having made 4 starts over the 2006 and 2007 seasons. He was lit up overall, but has pitched well in Pawtucket this year. 13-4, 3.32 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 135.2 IP, 132 H, 40 BB, 94 K.
Davern Hansack - He started poorly this year at AAA, but has done well of late, posting 3-2, 2.45 ERA in his last 10 starts covering 66 IP. Overall he is 5-10, 4.10 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 125.0 IP, 112 H, 36 BB, 118 K. This BB/K ratio and K/9 are the best of the bunch, so he has a good shot at being called up and pitched fairly well in his brief MLB appearances.
Edgar Martinez - The converted catcher started his pitching career as a reliever, but was converted (again) to a starter earlier this year. So far so good although his control hasn't been good enough. Over his last 10 games (9 of which were starts), he has gone 4-1, 3.75 ERA in 50.1 IP. Overall Martinez is 6-2, 4.03 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 96.0 IP, 77 H, 45 BB, 77 K.
Those are the internal options. Of course we could see a waiver deal or even a Freddie Garcia type acquisition. Given Wakefield's injury doesn't seem too serious and Colon might be helpful later this month, my guess is they go with the AAA players, that's what I'd do.
If it were up to me, I would take Zink and Hansack as Zink has earned a shot and Hansack has pitched for Boston before and didn't stink the place up.
Comments
Hey Andy, tough times of late. Aside from the pitching problems, this line up just isn't hitting right now. Papi doesn't seem to have much power and from the rumors I have been hearing on the radio and readlng this may be a pretty normal thing coming back from a wrist injury. There are some of the opinion that Papi is not quite right and may not be for the rest of this season. What do you think? As we get further into August and further back of the Rays, I don't get a warm and fuzzy about the rest of this season. I know I probably sound like a Sox fan of the pre-2004 era (God knows I was/am one) but I'm having a hard time seeing this team do anything in the postseason even if it makes it. I think they can weather a DL stint for Wake but the bats concern me. I just feel like the Sox are kind of treading water somewhere behind the Rays and in front of the Yanks. I guess that is ok since the Rays are about to enter a much tougher phase of their schedule (after the Oakland series that is) but I just don't feel all that good about the Sox chances to make a run.
That being said, what do you think Theo et al does with the money saved on Manny and Schill next season? Do we go after Tex and figure out what to do with Lowell afterwards? Or go after Sabathia or Sheets? I like the thought of Beckett, CC, Lester, Dice K, and a fifth starter from (Wake, Buccholz, Bard etc). Pretty bad when I am already looking at the hot stove season when we are only 4.5 out of the Division and in the lead for the WC, but....
Posted by: Jack | August 11, 2008 01:47 PM |
Jack, no need to apologize, I am constantly looking past today and this season and trying to figure out "what next." I have a spreadsheet devoted to salay commitments for the Red Sox this year and beyond.
With signed players and players they have under control (with a guess on 2009 salary), the Red Sox have $95mm committed (also including $3mm they owe Edgar Rentaria...yes, Edgar, the bum). They need to make an impact power signing in my book and thus far, only Teixeira fits the bill.
That being said, I would not be at all surprised if Theo deals for a bat using his minor league talent. There are a bunch of young talents in the minors and some are obviously going to be good (see Hanley Ramirez) while others will flop. I bet they go that route. It'll also help them hang on to high draft picks going that route. So that's my take on next year...so far and yes, Sabathia would look good in a Red Sox uni (or 2 sewn together).
As for their offense this year Ortiz looks weak and discouraged about the Manny deal. I'm not sure he'll be good the rest of the way. He has been pretty bad alredy this year. Fortunately, Youkilis and to a less extent, Pedroia, have hit for more power than we expected (Pedro is tied with Ortiz for RBI and only 4 HRs behind).
Lowell just looks awful and probably should go on the DL to rest and slowly work his way back. How can rest be a bad thing if all else has failed him?
For some reason, I'm not worried about Varitek, I think he has been better lately and a guy doesn't just lose it in the middle of a season. I think he'll be productive the rest of the way.
With Tampa, they just put Longoria on the DL along with Crawford and having not made a deadline deal, are going to feel those loses for a bit.
I think the Red Sox could have used an Adam Dunn, but I'm not certain how the trade went down (was it a claim?). Baring any additional moves, the Red Sox need to get healthy, that's all they can do.
Posted by: Andy | August 11, 2008 07:15 PM |
Buchholz' lack of success shows how fragile pitchers can be mentally.
After last year I assumed progress this year, not a step back. He is young enough that with good coaching he should be fine.
I would go with Zink, perhaps Wakefield will be around enough to give advice.
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August 12, 2008 06:48 AM
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