All the recent trade rumors around the Sox have your head spinning? No worries. Evan summarizes everything you need to know leading up to the trade deadline and handicaps the Sox's chances.
Justin Masterson is dominant against right-handed hitters. But lefties reach base well over the league-average. Meaning that Masterson will have trouble until he can establish an "out-pitch" to retire them. Or develop his command more so, which is a possibility. Because currently, Masterson still catches too much of the inner half of the plate, at least against left-handers. And 2009 hasn't been any different either. A relatively small sample, but Masterson's .794 OPS against lefties just isn't going to cut it.
Dontrelle Willis resembled the pitcher who was the 2003 National League Rookie of the Year with Florida.
Michael Bowden resembled a pitcher who could be an American League Rookie of the Year.
Willis allowed two runs over 7 2/3 innings during a rehab start Wednesday for the Toledo Mud Hens against the Pawtucket Red Sox, who won 2-1, behind Bowden.
The Red Sox optioned shortstop Gil Velazquez to Pawtucket, in anticipation of Julio Lugo joining the club tomorrow. In lieu of Velazquez, the Sox brought up Michael Bowden to pitch out of the bullpen. The Sox bullpen is rather beleaguered -- certainly not to the extent of the Yankees, but this was a move sorely needed. If Masterson doesn't go long or it's a blowout by the time Masterson is done, Bowden will get the call.
For those wondering why Clay Buchholz was not recalled, he's injured. Not terribly, but still injured.
Boston's pitching future was on display Monday afternoon at McCoy Stadium -- the future in the person of starter Michael Bowden and reliever Daniel Bard.
Bowden recorded his first Triple-A victory (which is interesting in the sense he won his first major league game last season) as the Pawtucket Red Sox blanked the Lehigh Valley Ironpigs, 2-0.
All indications point to Justin Masterson taking Dice-K's place in the rotation after Dice was placed on the 15-day DL with arm fatigue.
As Masterson prepares to face the Orioles on Patriots Day, the trickle-down effect is significant, especially with the specter of the Josh Beckett suspension hanging over the team.
Masterson was a versatile option out of the bullpen that changes the makeup of the pen significantly. Masterson and Okajima were the two options out of the gate in the seventh and eighth to close out a game with the lead. Now, Saito likely takes Masterson's role, with Manny Delcarmen elevated in a role where the Sox pitch from behind.
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| Salty - phillenium49 |
With Clay Buchholz slowly exhausting his prospect eligibility last season, Michael Bowden emerged by solidifying his status as the next best pitcher in the Sox system. One of Michael's bigger caveats coming out of Waubonsie Valley High School were his somewhat unconventional mechanics.
While they are nothing to be overtly concerned about, there are a few areas that bother me. He's your prototypical long-armer who relies more on arm strength than using his lower body.
Recently, ESPN ranked the Sox system 7th in all of baseball. This was quite a compliment to a team that just this past season graduated four of Baseball America's top five Sox prospects (Buchholz, Ellsbury, Masterson, Lowrie). Led by Director of Amateur Scouting Jason McLeod, the Sox quickly stocked up their system through the amateur draft and international free agency. Their 2008 draft class has arguably the highest potential of any team, and all of that was made possible by the Sox willingness to go over the slot to obtain guys that are considered to have signability issues. Part of the reason that has caused this has been the emergence of top prospects Pedro Alvarez and Matt LaPorta, two unsigned draft picks in 2005 and 2006, respectively. Spending over the slot should be a continuing trend for a team as rich in resources as the Sox, allowing them to remain as one of the top systems in baseball.