Sox rotation changes

[jacksonianmarch]

BOSTON -- The most significant cause and effect from the Red Sox's rainout on Thursday against the Mariners is that Daisuke Matsuzaka's next start will now be on Tuesday in Toronto instead of Monday at Fenway Park against the Angels.

 

With rain pushing Matsuzaka's next start back one day, the right-hander is now set up to face the Yankees twice in the span of five days.

 

Assuming there are no more weather glitches, Matsuzaka will pitch the ESPN Sunday night game against the Yankees at Fenway Park on April 22. He'd then kick off the three-game series in the Bronx on April 27.

 

Fellow Japanese star Hideki Matsui will still be on the disabled list during the first meeting, but there's a chance that he'll be recovered enough from his injured hamstring to face Matsuzaka and the Red Sox in that second outing.

 

In modifying the rotation, Red Sox manager Terry Francona simply pushed Tim Wakefield, Thursday's scheduled starter, to Friday night's contest against the Angels. Curt Schilling and Josh Beckett will stay on their scheduled days, Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

 

Julian Tavarez, who was originally slated to start Friday night against the Angels, will get bumped back to Monday, which gives Matsuzaka a chance to pitch on the five days of rest that he was so accustomed to in Japan.

[schillingouttheks]

Good. One less start from Tavarez = increase in chance of winning a game.

 

EDIT: Nevermind, read it wrong. At least his start gets pushed back a bit.

[jacksonianmarch]

So now

 

Wake

Schilling

Beckett

Tavarez

DMats

 

are scheduled to pitch in that order.

[Cocos Disciples]

Good, I would rather have Tavarez face the Angels, a weaker hitting club, than the Blue Jays.

[jacksonianmarch]

Is it really going to matter? BTW, does this line him up with Hansack now?

[ORS]

Monday is against the Angels, so Tavarez will face them. And, Hansack pitched yesterday, so it does line them up.

[jacksonianmarch]

Monday is against the Angels' date=' so Tavarez will face them. And, Hansack pitched yesterday, so it does line them up.[/quote']

 

interesting, both that Tavarez is still in the rotation and that they dont line them up.

[ORS]

interesting' date=' both that Tavarez is still in the rotation and that they dont line them up.[/quote']

It does line them up. Hansack pitched Wednesday, rests Thurs - Sun, throws Monday (if Pawtuckett has a game).

[RedSoxRooter]

Is it really going to matter?

 

YES! Jeez, I'm taking Monday off for the Patriots Day game and now Tavarez is the pitcher??????? Way to kill a vacation day for me. :angry:

 

ugh.

[jacksonianmarch]

YES! Jeez, I'm taking Monday off for the Patriots Day game and now Tavarez is the pitcher??????? Way to kill a vacation day for me. :angry:

 

ugh.

 

you'll get to see Jered Weaver though.

[jacksonianmarch]

It does line them up. Hansack pitched Wednesday' date=' rests Thurs - Sun, throws Monday (if Pawtuckett has a game).[/quote']

 

 

Hmmmm. Interesting.

[schillingouttheks]

Obviously, the leash on Tavarez is getting even shorter after just one start. I would rather see Hansack up here with the big club anyway. At least he pounds the strike zone and makes the batters work. When Tavarez loses his command, it gets very, very bad. His WHIP isn't exactly the most encouraging thing, and by the 5th inning he's up to around 85-90 pitches and can't go for the sixth. He does the bare minimum to become eligible for the W (God granting us a lead by the fifth..) and then has to leave the game. I wouldn't mind Tavarez so much if he could eat innings, but he can't even do that.

[Thumper]

What's the deal with Lester? I haven't been able to find any updates on him.

[jacksonianmarch]

What's the deal with Lester? I haven't been able to find any updates on him.

 

have you been looking?

[ksushi]

Lester has done well in rehab, getting up there on the radar gun, looking good. He will pitch in the bigs this year.

[Thumper]

Lester has done well in rehab' date=' getting up there on the radar gun, looking good. He will pitch in the bigs this year.[/quote']

 

Have they said when he'll start? Sometime this Summer?

[Anuj09]

hes going to make 2 more starts in A then they will test him again to see if hes cancer free still and then he will be promoted to AA or AAA until they feel hes ready i think

[riverside sluggers]

Obviously' date=' the leash on Tavarez is getting even shorter after just one start. I would rather see Hansack up here with the big club anyway. At least he pounds the strike zone and makes the batters work. When Tavarez loses his command, it gets very, very bad. His WHIP isn't exactly the most encouraging thing, and by the 5th inning he's up to around 85-90 pitches and can't go for the sixth. He does the bare minimum to become eligible for the W (God granting us a lead by the fifth..) and then has to leave the game. I wouldn't mind Tavarez so much if he could eat innings, but he can't even do that.[/quote']

 

Something else that bothers me is this certain move he does... even when there is no one on second, he'll wind up in his pitching motion and look back at 2nd base, then quickly fire the ball to home plate. When he does that its either been a "ball" or a hit.

[jacksonianmarch]

Something else that bothers me is this certain move he does... even when there is no one on second' date=' he'll wind up in his pitching motion and look back at 2nd base, then quickly fire the ball to home plate. When he does that its either been a "ball" or a hit.[/quote']

 

Its called a laredo. David Cone used to do that with 2 strikes. You sacrifice a little control for some deception and a few more mph.

[BSN07]

Well having Dice-K going twice in 5 days against the NYY should let us see if he will be affective against better lineups. It still early tho so I won't use these two games as what he will do for his whole career...

[ANiMAL]

Tavarez is a weird guy; he does the laredo, and he rolls the ball to 1st after the ball is hit back to him. I hope he doesnt pitch on monday because im leaving school early to watch the game, and i want it to be worth my time.

[BSN07]

Hansack had another great starts in AAA, id rather see him as the 5th starter, and Julian Taveraz checking tickets at the gate.......

[jacksonianmarch]

Tavarez is a weird guy; he does the laredo' date=' and he rolls the ball to 1st after the ball is hit back to him. I hope he doesnt pitch on monday because im leaving school early to watch the game, and i want it to be worth my time.[/quote']

 

the best part about Cone's was that instead of throwing it overhard, he went sidearm out of that motion and really f***ed with hitters.

[Papelbon58]

I think Lester is back by late May, and I think Devern Hansack will replace Tavarez after Julian sucks in another start this week. Hansack will then move to relief when Lester comes back and somebody will get placed on waivers.

[ORS]

I think Lester is making 4 more starts in Greenville, so that takes him up to the first week in May. Then he'll be in AAA for at least a month. Mid-June feels like the right timeframe provided he's performing. If he shows a need for more work, then he should stay down there all season if Hansack takes the 5th spot and runs with it. Maybe a spot start or two if there's a double-header or injury.

[jacksonianmarch]

I had heard he was makng 4 starts total in Greenville then he'd be sent to AAA for an undetermined amount of time.

[jacksonianmarch]

I think Lester is making 4 more starts in Greenville' date=' so that takes him up to the first week in May. Then he'll be in AAA for at least a month. Mid-June feels like the right timeframe provided he's performing. If he shows a need for more work, then he should stay down there all season if Hansack takes the 5th spot and runs with it. Maybe a spot start or two if there's a double-header or injury.[/quote']

 

I think it is in the best interests of the sox to bring up Hansack and see if he can hold down the spot. If he holds the spot down relatively well (4.5-5ish ERA, 6IP/start) then you can let Lester recoup in Pawtucket for the season. I still think that no matter how strong he looks he will need a season. It is a marathon, not a sprint.

[ORS]

I had heard he was makng 4 starts total in Greenville then he'd be sent to AAA for an undetermined amount of time.

You're right. I had it mixed up. He still shouldn't even get consideration until mid-June or later. And, I disagree with the opinion that he should stay down all year no matter what. If there's a need and he's throwing strong with improved command, then he should be the first guy up (after Hansack).

[jacksonianmarch]

You're right. I had it mixed up. He still shouldn't even get consideration until mid-June or later. And' date=' I disagree with the opinion that he should stay down all year no matter what. If there's a need and he's throwing strong with improved command, then he should be the first guy up (after Hansack).[/quote']

 

I agree with that. But they should exhaust their options first. I dont see why Hansack should be passed over.

 

The list should go

 

1. Tavarez- already gagging on the workload

2. Hansack- dominating AAA

3. Lester

 

if the top 2 cannot do it then it is lester's job. But if one of the top two is holding it down relatively well, I dont hand the job to lester just cause he is supposedly ready.

[MANNYHOF24]

This next week we are really going to get an idea of how good DiceK is. He faces Toronto then the Yankees twice. It's going to be a tough challenge for him.