Comments on: Pitching depth takes a hit

By: Gerry

Gerry — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 05:06:19 +0000

Sorry. April 30. Let’s go Bart and Buck.

By: Gerry

Gerry — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 03:36:29 +0000

If Julio Lugo is already coming back from muscle related issues, we can expect the same from Josh Becket in a week or so. Jimmy is right. In this scenario Wakefield and Lester can open the season in Japan with a strong possibility of coming away with wins against Harden and Blanton, assuming our offense is good. Tavarez and Snyder can do the exhibition games, though I would have preferred Hansack.
In the meantime, Buckholz gets back to AAA to finish his degree. Daisuke is with his wife for the baby, as he should. Becket misses the long plane ride, which is tough on the back. I have made this trip several times. It’s long going over but not debilitating, and Tokyo is wonderul. It is tough coming back . . . flying east is always harder . . . and will take several days to recover.
On March 29, Becket, Daisuke, and perhaps Colon should also be ready to go. We may open the season domestically with Becket, Daisuke, Wake, Lester, Tavarez or Colon, all healthy and rested.
But what happens when, hopefully, Colon and Buckholz are ready to start, say March 30? Assuming no more injuries, who goes to the pen for regular spot starts to keep everyone healhy? Wouldn’t a rotation of Becket, Daisuke, Lester, Colon, Buckholz with Wake in the Pen, pitching only when his pitch gets traction, make the rotation extraordinary again?

By: Jimmy

Jimmy — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 19:45:26 +0000

I don’t think we should be too hasty, Beckett’s back problem will go away (at least its not his shoulder or elbow!!) and he’ll still get his 32-33 starts. Schilling was a hit but a healthy Colon could produce a Schilling-like season for us. We are facing the A’s folks and for two games so honestly who cares if its not Beckett and Dice-K as long as they are pitching in April….

By: Evan Brunell

Evan Brunell — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 17:14:06 +0000

Red Sox optioned RHP Devern Hansack and OF Jonathan Van Every to Triple-A Pawtucket; reassigned RHP Lee Gronkiewicz, LHP Michael Tejera and LHP Jon Switzer to minor league camp.