Jon Lester has gone from inspirational story, to history maker, and to ace material, all over just about a year-and-a-half. The best part for the Red Sox: He's under their control until at least 2013. 2 starter, but he has all the tools to be an ace if he can pull it all together. All signs point to Clay becoming a useful member of the rotation sometime in 2009 and not looking back thereafter. Moreover, he has been lights-out in his most recent starts since being demoted: three earned runs in 15 innings with 18 Ks and one walk. Whatever the case, Buchholz's problems have not drastically affected his minor-league starts this year-he has a 2.30 ERA with 61 Ks and 18 walks in 58-2/3 minor-league innings this season. Others note that many young pitchers struggle in their second season, as opposing batters start to figure them out, and that only those hurlers who can make adjustments find lasting success. Some have blamed Buchholz's problems on new mechanics prescribed by the coaching staff. With one no-hitter under his belt, continued dominance was not out of the question, and at the least a league-average performance seemed guaranteed.īut after a 6.75 ERA and a 1.76 WHIP, 2008 was finally declared a lost season for Clay, and he was sent down to the minors to work out his problems. Still, despite the hiccups this year, the rotation looks to be stable and locked in as one of the A.L.'s best for the next five years or so.Ĭlay Buchholz began 2008 listed by many experts as one of the top prospects in all of baseball. Unfortunately, despite excellent years from Lester, Daisuke, and Wakefield, so far this season, Boston's starters have been middling (sixth in the AL in ERA and WHIP) due to injury, inconsistency, and a serious sophomore slump from Buchholz.
With that kind of talent on the ascent, and with the hope that Matsuzaka could improve his performance, expectations were high for the 2008 rotation. Youngsters Jon Lester, Kason Gabbard, and Clay Buchholz combined for 21 starts over 126-2/3 innings and posted a 3.77 ERA.
2006 RED SOX ROSTER SERIES
The Red Sox rode a Cy Young-caliber season from Beckett, a respectable final season from Schill, a decent rookie year from Daisuke, and inning-eating performances from Wakefield to their seventh World Series title (their second in the past four years).īut as much as their veteran starters drove their success, the Sox were equally dependent on their depth to fill in holes left by injury (Schilling) and incompetence (Julian Tavarez). Beckett was the baby, with a mere seven seasons of major-league experience (Daisuke had pitched eight seasons in Japan before coming to Boston). It was a veteran group: Josh Beckett, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Curt Schilling, and Tim Wakefield. Much of the staff's overall success in 2007 can be attributed to the rotation.
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