Comments on: Should Justin Masterson start?

By: Eric

Eric — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 04:51:25 +0000

David seems to have a pretty decent perspective on this. I think he stays in the ‘Pen.

By: Eric

Eric — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 04:28:46 +0000

I really don’t know why so many are pushing this Masterson thing so hard. I really think he’s shown a lot of vulnerability. While Theo is showing patience with Buchholz, as it paid off well with Lester, I believe he has his feeling about whether any of this young talent is going to shake out. While he’s let young talent leak out of that clubhouse to go on to play well in others, i.e. Carlos Pena, David Murphy, Kelly Shoppach (who apparently we need back). Bowden and Buchholz aren’t untouchable. We have the likes of Daniel Bard in waiting and its not like Theo is suddenly going to forget how to draft and groom pitchers.
Theo will ultimately have to decide what’s best for the franchise. Having a stronger catcher in waiting? Or having a plethora or potential starting pitchers? If I’m making the decision, I’d say goodbye Michael Bowden, and get Salty fitted for a jersey!

By: Mike

Mike — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 02:45:44 +0000

With their own young pitching prospects, free agents, and trade possibilities, I wouldn’t have wasted a starting slot on Wakefield. The name of the game is ALWAYS pitching, and I don’t feel that Wake is IT. How about Becks, Matso, Lester, Burnett and Lowe. Couple that with their pen additions and that’s the “ballgame”. They wouldn’t even need Tex’s bat. And I’m not real thrilled with paying $25 mil a year for a .300/30/120 man. Isn’t that what Youk gave them this year for little more than chump change?

By: David

David — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 21:01:41 +0000

While Masterson may or may not fit as a starter, I don’t think that we should make decisions such as that based on free agency years down the road. I agree that he should have a chance to try starting, but if the organization decides he would be better off in the bullpen, then that is where he should go. He could be a great help there, and we can cross the free agent bridge when we come to it.

By: Alex

Alex — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 20:32:00 +0000

Masterson needs to be a starter. He has the talent to be a closer and guys like that don’t stick around in free agency if a team already has a closer, like the red sox do. I’m looking toward the future. Masterson’s under the red sox control for the next 5 years i believe with his minor league contract and arbitration. After that, if he’s in the bullpen and fulfilled his potential, another team is GOING to pick him up to a huge deal to be their closer and I won’t be satisfied if we only get 6 years out of a second round draft pick. In my opinion that’s poor handling of any player.

By: Alex

Alex — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 20:31:23 +0000

By: Frank

Frank — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 20:09:48 +0000

I think Masterson stays in the pen at least for this season, if not beyond. He needs a third pitch, especially to get lefties out more consistently. He is essentially a fastball/sinker pitcher. You have to have that 3rd pitch to be an effective starter. He did well in his starts last year because he was still unknown. Right now, those 2 pitches translate better to the bullpen where he is only going through a lineup once.

By: Dan

Dan — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 19:05:59 +0000

I would also like to see Masterson start until he proves that he can’t hack it. And I’m totally against trading Clay or Masterson for a catcher, Bowden to a lesser extent. My honest preference is for a veteran catcher, but not Laird – Benjie Molina. Great defense, and for a Molina, a pretty potent bat. Would probably knock a few over the Monster just like old Chicken Parm. Molina for a season or two, then see where the youngsters are at. Otherwise, every other team with an extra catcher to trade looks at the Sox roster and salivates because of the young talent, and they all will drive hard bargains. Thanks but no thanks.

By: Gerry

Gerry — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 17:39:39 +0000

Well, Bob, you may be right, but let’s see if Theo can work some magic over the next couple of weeks.
But isn’t it crazy that by trading a prospect who could become a great pitcher, we would necessarily have to pay a fortune to a FA to replace him.
And of the FA’s, Burnett, Sheets and Penny are fragile, Lowe wants $15M per until he is 40, and CC will break the bank for years. Makes no sense to me at all.
I would rather, I think, with or without Teix, have a solid catcher like Tek or Gerald Laird and wait a year for Kottaras/Brown/Wagner/Expo to develop than pay the huge price of giving up Buchholz, Bowden, Masterson or Lowrie, who we will need.

By: Evan Longoria

Evan Longoria — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 14:39:15 +0000

GO RAYS!!!!!!