So many decisions for the Sox this week. Although part of me knows they will be carefully made, and will be accompanied by personal discussions with each player before announcements, this team seems so buttoned down I half expected the decisions to be posted when I turned on the computer this morning.
Here’s what I expected to see:
Daisuke Matsuzaka’s arm will be shut down for at least a week and he will be placed on the DL until after the ASB, with a slow rehab in Florida and through Portland and Pawtucket, to regain strength and command.
John Smoltz will be activated against the Marlins, and will be on a pitch count of 80.
Wakefield, Penny & Smoltz will face the Marlins. Lester, Beckett and Wake will face the Braves.
Future bullpen star Daniel Bard will be sent to Pawtucket specifically to work on command issues identified over his past several games. Lefty Hunter Jones will be recalled during this time, as a situational lefty and alternative for middle relief considering the pitch count of J. Smoltz
.
Kevin Youkilis will not play Tuesday in order to provide a second day off. Mark Kotsay will play 1b in his stead, who will get some needed AB’s. If needed, Nick Green has experience at 1b.
Jacoby Ellsbury will return to the leadoff position, and Pedroia (after 2 days off) to the # 2 spot. Jacoby appears ready for the pressure of this role, and Dustin would benefit from a drop in the order.
The Tuesday lineup will be Ellsbury, Pedroia, Drew, Bay, Lowell, Ortiz, Kotsay, Kottaras, Green. Wakefield.
Jed Lowrie will begin rehab games this week.
No trades are imminent for the Red Sox. With Lowrie returning, Papi rebounding, Daisuke on the DL, and Smoltz arriving from Pawtucket, there is no need for this 1st place team to consider trades until the deadline approaches and needs for the stretch run, if any, are made clear.
Gotta love this team. The best in the world? Not yet, but getting close.
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I think the bigger issue with Daisuke is will he “agree” to go on the DL if there’s isn’t a legit injury (which I don’t think he would say that there is).
According to MLBtrade rummors:
“Buchholz told Mike Giardi of NECN.com that he’s ready to help Boston, but said “if not that team, I want to be in the big leagues and I do want to go somewhere where I’ll be able to play and pitch every fifth day.”"
Sounds to me like Buchholz is growing impatient with his situation. And I don’t blame him.
He said in an interview that he is not feeling 100%. He clearly had “fatigued arm” issues after the WBC. He is clearly not pitching 100%. An alternative would be to put him into the Pen and use him minimally while his arm and control improves. I think he would go to rehab instead.
I do not agree with some that his “posting fee” should be held against his salary. That was Boras generated, and as usual favored NYY until Theo and the front office stepped up for multiple good reasons, including landing Daisuke and keeping him off the Yankees.
That posting fee has thus far brought us Daisuke, Oki, Takashi Saito, Juni Tazawa, a World Series (see Daisuke & Oki, 2007) and top tier respect among Japanese fans and players eyeing MLB. Nevertheless, Daisuke isn’t earning his $8+MM salary this year because of the WBC. He needs to do whatever it takes to get it back together.
Time for Clay to show a little loyalty for Boston. He begged Theo and Tito to draft him and give him a chance. After 2007 he was no longer the top prospect or top trade chip, and needed another chance for professional and personal reasons, which they gave him. His time in AZ, Portland, Pawtucket seems to have turned his career around again and he is about ready to get to the Show and stay there. If the impatience of youth trumps the patience of the team that recruited and supported him, he will certainly bring us a big name in a trade.
After 2008 . . . he was no longer. Sorry