| In Bean Town, even coming off a World Series | | | | even more successful as he is more familiar with |
| triumph with another awesome pitching rotation | | | | the more grueling MLB schedule and the quality of |
| (the second World Series victory in four years | | | | opposition. |
| after their excruciating drought) there will always | | | | Red Sox lifer Tim Wakefield will be returning to |
| be anxiety about what lies ahead in 2008. | | | | the mound once again offering up his swerving |
| Are the Red Sox the favorite again for the new | | | | floaters for any that dare to hit - or catch - |
| year; and equally - if not more - important, did | | | | them. Jon Lester is healthy and will be ready for a |
| the Red Sox do more in the off season than the | | | | full season of work after his battles off the |
| New York Yankees did to maintain their | | | | mound with cancer. Clay Buchholz - he of the |
| advantage in the constant arms-race? Truth be | | | | no-hitter in his first ever start in the majors - is |
| told, neither of those teams succeeded in landing | | | | expected to be the 5th man in the Red Sox |
| the most coveted of those arms, pitcher Johan | | | | pitching rotation. |
| Santana. But in the broader spectrum, both did | | | | However, in the interest of protecting his young |
| prevent each other from getting him by raising | | | | arm, as well as a performance-level that will not |
| the stakes too high. | | | | always be no-hitter worthy, the 5th spot in the |
| Even without Johan Santana, the Red Sox | | | | rotation will be up for grabs. |
| present a very formidable pitching rotation | | | | Red Sox Pitching Gets a New Man |
| entering the 2008 campaign. At the top of the | | | | The Red Sox acquired former Cy Young winner |
| heap is Josh Beckett, coming off a stellar regular | | | | Bartolo Colon and thus far he has exceeded |
| and postseason effort in 2007. While he will likely | | | | expectations. His arm seems strong and he is |
| miss the opener, he should be good to go for the | | | | dealing his stuff at a high level. His fastball will no |
| rest of the season. His initial move to the | | | | longer top out close to 100, but if it can reliably |
| American League provided some doubts about | | | | stay where it has been thus far, in the low to mid |
| whether he could hang with the long ball hitters of | | | | 90s, then he could certainly fill a void the Red Sox |
| the power league, but last year squashed any | | | | will have in the pitching rotation with injuries to |
| lingering uneasiness. Josh Beckett is an ace that | | | | Schilling and a host of young arms filling out the |
| any team would love to have. | | | | staff in Lester and Buchholz. |
| Red Sox Pitching Veteran The Big Schill | | | | Depending on who is healthy, pitching well and |
| Pitcher Curt Schilling will miss a significant chunk of | | | | ready to go, the Red Sox could deploy a six man |
| the season; he has already been placed on the 60 | | | | rotation at times during the season or have Colon |
| day DL. There is no specific timetable for his | | | | ready for long relief or the occasional start as |
| return to the Red Sox pitching rotation; however, | | | | needed. |
| it is likely that he will be out at least through the | | | | However that last spot in the Red Sox pitching |
| All-Star break. The question for him will be if, at | | | | rotation fills out, the defending World Series |
| 41 years old, he can rehab successfully enough to | | | | champs are presenting a strong front in their |
| perform at his potential after his return. If there is | | | | quest to repeat. Of course, the Red Sox will also |
| one thing everybody knows about Curt Schilling | | | | be aided by having some great fielders behind |
| though, it is to never count him out. | | | | them, such as standout Jacoby Ellsbury covering |
| With Curt Schilling out of the Red Sox pitching | | | | every inch of centerfield (and helping out with |
| rotation for the time being, Daisuke Matsuzaka | | | | Manny Ramirez's leftfield, no doubt). The Red Sox |
| should be the clear number 2 starter. His first | | | | pitching rotation are saying No Johan, no problem, |
| year pitching for the Red Sox showed that a lot | | | | and with their bevy of great arms you can see |
| of the hype was called for, there is certainly | | | | why. |
| some great potential to Dice-k's game. However | | | | So when healthy, you can expect the Red Sox |
| there were also inconsistencies that will need to | | | | pitching rotation to be Josh Beckett, Curt Schilling, |
| be improved upon. | | | | Daisuke Matsuzaka, Tim Wakefield and Jon |
| It should be expected that his sophomore run | | | | Lester, with Clay Buchholz and Bartolo Colon in |
| with the Red Sox pitching rotation should prove | | | | the mix as well. |