Red Sox News

State Of The Sox: Starting Pitching

Starters Once Again Red Sox Strength

A 'State Of The Red Sox' 5-Part Series

BOSTON (WBZ) ― It's nice to have the Red Sox and the game of baseball back, isn't it? This off-season has been way too quiet for me. Nothing like 2004 when the Red Sox had a story in both papers every day in the off-season, except for one day. One day! How about that?

So with that said, let's begin to look ahead to the 2008 Boston Red Sox. We will bring you a five-part preview of the team as it shapes up for Spring Training down in Fort Myers, Florida.

We'll break down the starting pitching, bullpen, infield (including catchers and DH), outfield, and a general overview. So, let's get right to it.


Part 1: Starting Pitching 

The starting rotation was obviously a strength for the 2007 World Champions, especially in the play-offs. This year it could very well be the same. However things have changed with the news on Curt Schilling.

Curt Schilling

The 41 year-old's shoulder/bicep injury is not good news. That's the bottom line. I know there was a great deal of "he said, he said" going on, but the biggest part of the whole story is that no matter what course of treatment was or is taken, Curt Schilling is out until at least the All-Star break. And I stress "at least."

Even though Schilling is a rare pitcher who still is winning at the age of 40 (see postseason 11-2 record), there is no guarantee that he'll be able to contribute anything at all in 2008. That, my friends, is not good news.

I know the staff still has the potential to be very good and that most thought Schilling was going to move on anyway, it still would have been a whole lot nicer to have him pitching for the Boston Red Sox.

He may indeed come back, and the best way to look at it is, like I said, he's the winningest pitcher in postseason history so he knows what to do in October Bum shoulder and all.

But trust me on this: he will definitely be missed.

Josh Beckett

Last season started and ended with Josh Beckett. He was dominant from April through October. I remember talking with pitching coach John Farrell during the year and he said Beckett was throwing 92-93 MPH in his bullpen sessions. That's how strong he was. Beckett made 30 starts, going 20-7 while throwing 200-2/3rd innings, giving up just 189 hits, walking only 40 and striking out 194. In the postseason, he was even better. Beckett went 4-0 with a 1.20 ERA. He threw 30 innings, giving up just 19 hits, while walking just 2 batters and striking out 35.

Can we expect similar numbers again this season? Maybe not wins and losses, but much like the great pitchers that come into their own in their late 20's there's no reason why he can't come close (barring injuries, of course). Go look at Pedro Martinez or Johan Santana. They both have put up great numbers year after year. Expect the same from Beckett.

Daisuke Matsuzaka

Daisuke Matsuzaka is an interesting story to watch in 2008. Following all (and way too much as it turns out) the hype of December thru March, Matsuzaka had an "up and down" 2007. He finished a respectable 15-12 with a 4.40 ERA. In 204.2 innings, Matsuzaka gave up 191 hits while walking 80 and striking out 201. He also appeared to tire out in the 2nd half as he went just 5-6 with a 5.19 ERA. Following a bit more rest in between starts in September, Matsuzaka went 2-1 in the postseason, including huge wins in Game 7 of the ALCS against Cleveland and Game 3 of the World Series vs. Colorado.

The Red Sox are expecting huge things from Matsuzaka this coming season now that he's had a year to adjust to American baseball. Everything should be easier for him with less pressure. It wouldn't surprise me to see Matsuzaka have a monster year winning 18-20 games to form a solid 1-2 punch with Josh Beckett.

Tim Wakefield

Tim Wakefield just keeps going and going and going… The 41 year-old, who had his $4 million option picked up by the Sox, made 31 starts a year ago going 17-12 with a 4.76 ERA. Remarkable. Unfortunately, Wake struggled in his only postseason start (Game 4 @ Cleveland) and had to be shut down due to a bad shoulder the rest of the way. The only question remaining coming into 2008 is can he stay healthy. If he does, expect 30-plus starts and 11-17 wins.

Jon Lester

Jon Lester is another interesting starter. The sky is the limit for this 24-year-old lefthander. Having fully recovered from lymphoma and not having to worry about being traded to Minnesota for Johan Santana, Lester comes into camp ready for a big year. He finished 2007 strong, throwing as well as he had all season long. His fastball had that heavy movement, something all power pitchers strive for. His breaking ball was sharp. Of course, his remarkable cancer-surviving story climaxed with Lester starting and winning the clinching Game 4 of the World Series in Colorado. Lester went 5-2/3rds brilliant shutout innings, giving up just 3 hits, while walking 3 and striking out 3. That was arguably the best sports story of 2007.

As for 2008, the Sox are expecting big things from him as the 4th or 5th starter. Lester is as well. I think it said a lot that Boston wasn't willing to give up both Lester and Jacoby Ellsbury for Johan Santana and that the Sox reportedly may have taken him off the table completely after January 1. It will be interesting to see if Lester can get to an elite level. If he can, it will make the loss of Schilling much easier to take.

Clay Buchholz

Clay Buchholz is the X factor of the 2008 Boston Red Sox. He was awesome in his brief time in Boston, highlighted by his no-hitter against the Baltimore Orioles on September 1st. He was later shut down by the Sox Baseball Ops department due to "fatigue" in his shoulder. He pitched close to 150 innings last season. He is one of the players to definitely watch in Spring Training. Can he emerge as a solid starter? Like Lester, if he can pitch well, Schilling's injury won't be felt as much.

Julian Tavarez

Julian Tavarez can fill in as a starter if need be. Tavarez made 23 starts in 2007 and came up with some very big outings when Terry Francona and John Farrell needed them. I know he was surprised when the Red Sox picked up his 2008 option. He was hoping to hook on with another team as a starter. Who knows, he may end up being an important player in the 2008 ballclub.

Overview

Heading into February it certainly looked like the Red Sox had a great deal of depth in their starting rotation. After trading away Bronson Arroyo in 2006 you can bet Theo Epstein won't make that mistake again. It sure will be interesting how things shake out in 2008. Will the Sox do as they did in 2007 and make sure that Josh Beckett and all the starters get a two week vacation at some point to gear up for the postseason (if they get there)? Who will emerge as the 4th and 5th starters? Will Daisuke and Jon Lester take things to another level? Will Theo pull off a trade to acquire even more depth?

The Sox success obviously begins and ends with their rotation. We've seen that in both World Series winning seasons. This staff has a chance to be special, dominant. It is the strength of the team. You could have 5 guys with 10 or more wins.

If that happens.....watch out.


Coming Up:

Bullpen
Infield
Outfield
Team Overview

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