Buchholz. Masterson. Rotation. Bullp...Pawtucket.

by Allen Chace on Jul 1, 2008 4:47 AM EDT in Open Thread

Aren't these two guys we'd love to see back in action soon?

Clay Buchholz, btw, threw 5 shutout innings last night for Pawtucket. He needed only 60 pitches to do so, striking out 3 and allowing 5 baserunners. His three starts previous (6 2/3 IP, 5 H, 2 BB, 7 K; 5 IP, 1 H, 0 BB, 6 K; 6 IP, 6 H, 2 BB, 8 K) were also very good, and the Sox have clearly been trying to keep him from being overworked, and not so curiously, on the same schedule as Justin Masterson. Between Pawtucket and Boston, he's only at 81 innings at the halfway point. He's in good shape to be able to last most of, if not the entire rest of the way. We can also assume that he's been putting in a lot of work on his fastball command and his trust in the pitch.

via d.yimg.com

Reliever?

Who hasn't enjoyed watching Justin Masterson? He's been giving it his all, has shown the ability to shrug off bad pitches or innings, and has flashed some good stuff in the process. However, can I admit that I'm not thrilled at the idea of a pitcher who's given up 26 BBs in 48 IP headed to the bullpen? His command has not been what we were led to believe, and while his hit-rate has been good, we can't expect that to continue as it has. The alarming propensity for giving up HRs isn't conducive to the role either. I've seen the calls for sending him to the pen, and I simply don't agree. If Buchholz comes up, Masterson should go down. And maybe that move should happen before Justin's next turn in the rotation.

Sure, it means that Chris Smith without doubt goes down so that Mike Timlin can come back up and team with Oki to challenge our collective sanity. But hey. That was probably going to happen anyway. And maybe, just maybe, we need to get Masterson ready to be a relief pitcher for a few weeks, to determine whether a move for someone such as Brian Fuentes would make sense.

Do you folks want to make a trade for a reliever? Do we need to do so? Just where has 2007 Oki gone? Also. I have to apologize, as I went on a tirade in the comments the other night about Okajima just as much if not moreso than anyone else. The issue was, truly, the offense and perhaps to a lesser degree Tito.

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I think it's pretty clear that Masterson just is holding Buchholz's place

While Masterson gave the Sox a huge lift, it’s pretty clear that he needs more time in the minors. Buchholz has a much higher ceiling, and I expect him to be called up after the ASB. Also let’s not forget Bartolo Colon, who might get important innings in the second half.

As for the pen, Paps, MDC, Hansen, Aardsma, and J-Lo should be enough provided the starters do their jobs. Trading for relievers is always risky and there isn’t much out there.

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Jul 1, 2008 7:19 AM EDT 0 recs

Agreed

Nobody wants to trade a good reliever, because they’re somewhat hard to find these days. As for Masterson, yeah, he done a good job holding the place for ~~Schilling~~ Buchholz, who’s our best ~~300 years old super healthy pitcher we done a great job by getting him to come back this year~~ prospect. However, I wouldn’t expect too much of Colon. He’s always injured, and sometimes he sucks. Let’s hope he can give us anything good.

I wanna believe Masterson is bullpen stuff, but he walks a lot of guys and give up tons of HR these days. I don’t know. He’s still young, so he might figure it out.

It's the same old story. Boy finds girl, boy loses girl, girl finds boy, boy forgets girl, boy remembers girl, girls dies in a tragic blimp accident over the Orange Bowl on New Year's Day.

by MerryGoByeBye on Jul 1, 2008 1:35 PM EDT up 0 recs

The best options will come from within.

Masterson, Smith and, eeek, Timlin to the pen when it comes to crunch time.

Unless Shapiro will give us Borowski for Carter, Hansack and Tejeda.

Bottom 9th B:1 S:0 O:0 With Bill Mueller batting, Dave Roberts steals (1) 2nd base.

by britsoxfan on Jul 1, 2008 8:21 AM EDT 0 recs

I still think Jon Rauch would be a solid acquisition.

Plus, look at him! Jon Rauch: half human, half alpaca.

Bottom 9th B:1 S:0 O:0 With Bill Mueller batting, Dave Roberts steals (1) 2nd base.

by britsoxfan on Jul 1, 2008 8:25 AM EDT up 0 recs

Looks like he’s about to rip a big one…

"You know you're having a bad day when the fifth inning rolls around and they drag the warning track." - Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles pitcher, 1992.

by SoxDevil on Jul 1, 2008 1:43 PM EDT up 0 recs

Corrected.

“Unless Shapiro will give us ~~Borowski~~ Perez or Kobayashi for Carter, Hansack and Tejeda.”

by 0157H7 on Jul 1, 2008 12:41 PM EDT up 0 recs

Do you mean Michael Tejera?

I think Oscar Tejeda was traded to the Rangers in the Gagme deal.

"You know you're having a bad day when the fifth inning rolls around and they drag the warning track." - Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles pitcher, 1992.

by SoxDevil on Jul 1, 2008 1:38 PM EDT up 0 recs

Nah, that was Engel Beltre.

Also, for the record, and I’m sure ALL of you realise… I wasn’t serious about trading for Joe Borowski. He’s the man who killed my love of fantasy baseball… Damn you, JoeBo.

Bottom 9th B:1 S:0 O:0 With Bill Mueller batting, Dave Roberts steals (1) 2nd base.

by britsoxfan on Jul 1, 2008 2:14 PM EDT up 0 recs

Kobayashi

is like 35 years old and looks shakey on the mound. I would much rather have Bettancourt, just to keep him away from the Yankees, Angels, White Sox or Tigers.

by SoxAcumen on Jul 2, 2008 4:20 PM EDT up 0 recs

Kobayashi?

Manny ain't the only bad man.

by tommy.otm on Jul 3, 2008 1:17 PM EDT up 0 recs

Masterson needs some more seasoning

He has been a good replacement, but he’s leaving the ball up too much recently. Too many HRs for a sinkerballer. Send him down, let him get his feel back, bring him back up to sure up the pen in a month.

I’m hoping Bard and Bowden move up to AAA soon. I don’t think they have much left to prove at AA, and if either of them excels they could help down the stretch (probably Bard more than Bowden, IMO).

I’m pretty psyched for Buchholz to get back up here.

Manny ain't the only bad man.

by tommy.otm on Jul 1, 2008 9:21 AM EDT 0 recs

trading for a reliever

Every time I hear that phrase, I think if Jeff Bagwell.

I don’t think the Sox need a new reliver that much. What they need is for Oki to pitch the way he did in April and May. Now that June is over, perhaps his form will return?

The recent problems the Sox have been having are also due to weak hitting. I’m hoping that if Oki and Ortiz return to form, the Sox should be fine.

by RickD on Jul 1, 2008 12:40 PM EDT 0 recs

The Sox have enough talent in the pen already. Hansen and Delcarmen both have the tools to get outs in tough situations. It’s just that one (or both) of them needs to step up. Aardsma has also been pretty good. And J-Lo has been hot as well.

I don’t want them to trade for a reliever. The ones that are readily available would probably be mediocre, and the ones that are really good (ex. Huston Street) will cost us Buchholz.

One concern I have with Masterson is that he is not going deep into games. His longest outing was 6.13, when he went 6 and 2/3s; most outings he pitches 6 innings. Combined with his control problems, and you have Daisuke 2.0. Buchholz also has this problem (though he is the only one of the three to have pitched more than 7 innings). The more short starts we get from these pitchers, the more the pen will be taxed.

by 0157H7 on Jul 1, 2008 1:10 PM EDT 0 recs

Masterson has a lot to be proud of during this ML stint.

His stats have been regressing to the norm after posting an unsustainable BABIP, but giving up the long ball is not generally his thing. It should be clear to Masterson and the Red Sox what he should work on in the minors to improve in the majors. He’s doing well enough to hold his head high when he gets sent back to the ‘Bucket , which is a good thing for his development.

Masterson is very Derek Lowe-esque, but without the “Derek Lowe face.” I’d rather keep him as a starter. I think he’ll have the capacity to go deep into games on a regular basis. We can always trade him for another need if necessary.

"You know you're having a bad day when the fifth inning rolls around and they drag the warning track." - Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles pitcher, 1992.

by SoxDevil on Jul 1, 2008 1:43 PM EDT up 0 recs

Also

Great pic. Man, how I miss Papi.

It's the same old story. Boy finds girl, boy loses girl, girl finds boy, boy forgets girl, boy remembers girl, girls dies in a tragic blimp accident over the Orange Bowl on New Year's Day.

by MerryGoByeBye on Jul 1, 2008 1:41 PM EDT 0 recs

From mlb.com

“Mr. June: J.D. Drew, Red Sox. The Boston right fielder led all Major Leaguers in June with 12 home runs (through June 29) while batting .337 with 27 RBIs in 26 games. He also slugged .848, had an on-base percentage of .462 and his 78 total bases were more than any Major Leaguer except Ian Kinsler of Texas (also 78).”

How many of you last season thought that some day you might read something like that? I didn’t. Not this good.

It's the same old story. Boy finds girl, boy loses girl, girl finds boy, boy forgets girl, boy remembers girl, girls dies in a tragic blimp accident over the Orange Bowl on New Year's Day.

by MerryGoByeBye on Jul 1, 2008 1:48 PM EDT 0 recs

I sure hope Huston Street is still availiable

By the way Engel Beltre not Oscar Tejeda was sent to Texas for Gagne.

Friendship is like peeing on yourself: everyone can see it, but only you get the warm feeling that it brings.

by sox-inda-south on Jul 1, 2008 2:09 PM EDT 0 recs

Fuentes

B. Fuentes would be an even worse disaster than Fat Man Eric Gagne. I seriously pray that Theo will not waste a can coke on this gas can.

Remember what the Sox did to Fuentes in the WS. That is what will happen to this guy in the AL East.

Masterson has been exceptional for a rookie, far more consistent and with greater potential than Buchholz. Seriously, yes i said it. Masterson is the Sox best pitching prospect. He is willing to throw his fastball/sinker to anyone on any count and Buchholz is not.

IMO I think the Sox should explore Raunch and Rafael Bettancourt. Indians will listen.

by SoxAcumen on Jul 1, 2008 2:14 PM EDT 0 recs

five letters

babip

by jjbooth74 on Jul 1, 2008 2:35 PM EDT up 0 recs

I have to disagree.

Masterson has the makings of a great pitcher, but Buchholz has to be ranked higher. The latter has great breaking pitches (the curve and change) and a good to great fastball. Buchholz has thrown a no-hitter, and pitched deeper into games than Masterson. I don’t think Masterson has the velocity to be as dominant with his sinker as other pitchers (Wang). That said, even great sinkerballers can be slapped around – Wang is often terrible against the Sox, for example.

by 0157H7 on Jul 1, 2008 2:39 PM EDT up 0 recs

Masterson is not a better prospect than Buch

He also won’t be better than Lester and, most likely, Bowden. Masterson will be a very good pitcher, but let’s not get crazy on him. I still think he, Masterson, will hit the pen, even giving so many HR’s and walking quite a few dudes in his ML starts.

It's the same old story. Boy finds girl, boy loses girl, girl finds boy, boy forgets girl, boy remembers girl, girls dies in a tragic blimp accident over the Orange Bowl on New Year's Day.

by MerryGoByeBye on Jul 1, 2008 2:41 PM EDT up 0 recs

I know, I know

Everyone is just giddy about Buchholz and I love him too, but watching Masterson get into jams…he just seems to have that “something” that great pitchers have. To me its a lack of fear and major confidence in his stuff. Again to me Buchholz looks scared some times and his fastball is FAR from great. In fact I would say its his worst pitch out of the 3.

MLB hitters have figured out that Buchholz will not throw his fast ball in jams and he gets pounded for it.

But, Hey, what a great problem to have…two great young arms both with tons of potential.

Lester is by far the best out of the three. I will probably get hammered for saying that, but I am just not as impressed with Buchholz’s toughness on the mound as I am with Masterson and Lester.

Fuentes is still a gas can, there is no debate there.

by SoxAcumen on Jul 2, 2008 4:18 PM EDT up 0 recs

Patience, SoxAcumen-san

Buchholz will be a very good pitcher. He’s been in AAA working on his fastball extensively.

“The idea was to work on fastball command,” Francona said of Buchholz’s stint in Pawtucket. “Consistency, and we slightly adjusted his arm angle to create two-seam movement.
“We didn’t want to run him down there for just one or two starts. We made him throw his fastball. I don’t know if it was a hard count, but we told him, ‘Make yourself do this.’ “

Buchholz’s changeup and curve are so good, he could fall back on those pitches to get hitters out, which is why the Sox told him not to worry about results, Francona said.

He probably still has some work to do, but he will be money. All in due time.

Manny ain't the only bad man.

by tommy.otm on Jul 3, 2008 1:29 PM EDT up 0 recs

Take a look

at the last two outing for Fuentes…no way, will he be coming to Fenway.

by 4thturn on Jul 1, 2008 3:05 PM EDT up 0 recs

no trade for a reliever

as heartbreaking as it was to watch chris smith take over for timlin in hte “taking us out of the game in the 6th inning” department, i don’t think the sox should go trading for any hot relievers. relievers are ALL streaky. there are very very few who are very good every year (rivera, hopefully paps, percival, hoffman, krod….... anyone else..?). even from first half to second half, stats are not always consistent. just look at oki last year… absolutely dominant until august.

i think theo learned his lesson with gagne. if they go after a reliever it will be someone to take over the less important innings (replace timlin), not a premiere setup guy.

by jjbooth74 on Jul 1, 2008 2:39 PM EDT 0 recs