The Young Guns

[Station 13]

Bogaerts, Bradley will have a big chance to help this team August/September rolls around. I bet Ranaudo will too. the Sox have shown it will promote pitchers out of AA with Tazawa, Bard, Masterson having little experience in AAA.

[FredLynn]

Yeah, I'm pumped about Bogaerts to AAA. Kid is just 20 years old. Phenomenal talent. And it sounds like they'll be playing him all over the infield. When the September callups hit, I want this kid in Fenway.

 

(though I don't know if that starts his service time clock...not sure how that works)

 

It will be exciting to see how he performs on the Big Stage. That opportunity may come sooner than you think if WMB doesn't start performing. As of right now he is hitting at .199/.635 and ranks last among all AL 3B in fielding percentage. It will be much easier to compete for a playoff spot if our 3B is helping the team. I suspect the FO has a time frame in mind to start trying Bogaerts at 3B with an eye towards giving him a shot there if Middlebrooks' struggles continue.

[BSN07]

It will be exciting to see how he performs on the Big Stage. That opportunity may come sooner than you think if WMB doesn't start performing. As of right now he is hitting at .199/.635 and ranks last among all AL 3B in fielding percentage. It will be much easier to compete for a playoff spot if our 3B is helping the team. I suspect the FO has a time frame in mind to start trying Bogaerts at 3B with an eye towards giving him a shot there if Middlebrooks' struggles continue.

 

Middlebrooks has had a terrible season. His numbers are going to look awful the rest of the season no matter what most likely because of the horrendous start. We should be waiting a couple weeks and then look and see what WMB line looks like since his return from the DL. That will be a more realistic overall view of how he is doing and if a move needs to be made.

[Orange Juiced]

Middlebrooks has had a terrible season. His numbers are going to look awful the rest of the season no matter what most likely because of the horrendous start. We should be waiting a couple weeks and then look and see what WMB line looks like since his return from the DL. That will be a more realistic overall view of how he is doing and if a move needs to be made.

 

What's done is done with WMB. Let's just hope he gets it going from this point on. Who cares what his final season stats look like if he plays pretty well from here on out.

[dupree]

WMB is having a horrible season and no one can deny that. But im not about to write him off i just chalk it up to a sophomore slump. He has many years ahead of him. I would hit him higher in the lineup so he could get more at bats and maybe a couple of hits in a row will get a hit streak and power numbers back up. All im saying is give the kid a lil more time.

[lospunchados]

Workman looked pretty good out there on sunday. Between him Ranaudo, De La Rosa and Webster we should have some solid pitching help down the stretch. Even Alex Wilson was pretty good before his last to outings ( and then he went on the dl).

[Dojji]

Workman had a good debut and is under the radar but let's not get ahead of ourselves. He's got some talent but every young pitcher is wait-and-see until he proves otherwise.

[a700hitter]

Workman looked pretty good out there on sunday. Between him Ranaudo, De La Rosa and Webster we should have some solid pitching help down the stretch. Even Alex Wilson was pretty good before his last to outings ( and then he went on the dl).

I doubt that we will see either Renaudo or De La Rosa starting any games for us this year. Webster cannot be relied upon down the stretch after the several s*** show that he has had. Wilson is bullpen filler, but he has performed adequately. Aceves has apparently ostracized himself with bad behavior. Workman has earned another start. Right now, we have no reliable depth options.

[mvp 78]

Workman had a good debut and is under the radar but let's not get ahead of ourselves. He's got some talent but every young pitcher is wait-and-see until he proves otherwise.

 

Always thought he was to be a bullpen guy. Let's see how it shakes out though. He's looked better than Webster has though.

[Dojji]

I'd say Webster still has a far better chance to be starting successfully in the big leagues in 3 years.

[jacksonianmarch]

Workman showed pitchability, but his stuff doesn't wow you. Webster looks like a scared little child on the mound but he has grown man stuff. He has Verlander type stuff. His breaking ball is filthy, his heater is hard and he even throws a changeup that has good bite. He just hasn't shown the polish nor the attitude I expect from a kid who should dominate in the AL East. Over the long haul, Webster will be given chance after chance due to his god given talent.

[mvp 78]

I'd say Webster still has a far better chance to be starting successfully in the big leagues in 3 years.

 

I agree with you, but the guy with the best "stuff" doesn't always win out. Whatever mental block Webster has, he needs to work through it.

[SoxSport]

They have big decisions to make about pitching before the trade deadline. Should they give up a prospect or two to get another veteran starter like Garza? Epstein might settle for lower level types he knows. Should Henry splurge and go all out for Lee? After all, they have the most wins in baseball right now, and the starting pitching looks a bit shaky--especially with Buchholz refusing to pitch until he feels pain free. The other option is to lean on their pitching prospects and hope they can be enough to stay on top. Really two directions here. I would get Garza if they can get him without giving up their top 3 or 4 prospects. I would not be giving anybody up for still another 3rd baseman like Young. Can't believe they would be serious about that. Their infield depth looks good right now with Drew coming back and Middlebrooks maybe up in August. In the outfield, I would like to see Bradley up again. He looks ready. You pick your spots for a guy like Gomes.

[dupree]

Pitching yes. It has to be top of the list. Either Lee, Garza, or James Shields if he is available.

 

No to any addition at 3rd. Young will cost a prospect which i dont think is a right move when the Sox seem pretty deep in the farm system at 3rd.

 

Also with the addition of Thornton and maybe one more reliever i think this team should be good. I like Brian Wilson as an option. No lose of prospects and when he gets fully back if hes up to it he can close if anyone struggles. But the more and more i think of it i hope they dont trade for Papelbon. I like the young guns coming up and helping out in the bullpen instead of spending so much on Pap.

 

But after the Break with the possible PED suspensions looming and the Deadline with the possibility of this team trading to go all in is very exciting.

[RedSoxNC84]

Pitching yes. It has to be top of the list. Either Lee, Garza, or James Shields if he is available.

 

No to any addition at 3rd. Young will cost a prospect which i dont think is a right move when the Sox seem pretty deep in the farm system at 3rd.

 

Also with the addition of Thornton and maybe one more reliever i think this team should be good. I like Brian Wilson as an option. No lose of prospects and when he gets fully back if hes up to it he can close if anyone struggles. But the more and more i think of it i hope they dont trade for Papelbon. I like the young guns coming up and helping out in the bullpen instead of spending so much on Pap.

 

But after the Break with the possible PED suspensions looming and the Deadline with the possibility of this team trading to go all in is very exciting.

 

Of all the names you listed for SP, I think Shields would be the best option. Lee is better sure, but would cost much much more.

[BornToRun]

Shields won't be cheap if KC makes him available. They gave up their number 1 prospect to land him and if he's getting dealt less than a year after, the royals are gonna want a big haul.

[RedSoxNC84]

Shields won't be cheap if KC makes him available. They gave up their number 1 prospect to land him and if he's getting dealt less than a year after, the royals are gonna want a big haul.

 

Very true. If the sox acquire any starting pitching before the deadline, I highly doubt it will be a big splash trade like that. Probably something more along the lines of a second or third tier pitcher.

[dupree]

If thats all they can get then i would keep the players we have now. Why deal prospects for more mid tier talent. We have a rotation of Game 3 pitchers. We need the guy we can give the ball to in Game 1. People keep talking bout not sacrificing the future and i agree with that on some level, but when you are the Boston Red Sox and the fan base expects to win year after year i believe a front of the rotation guy is a must and we dont have that now. Buch could be that guy but his health is completely up in the air as of now. Im not saying sacrifice the whole farm by no means but you have to give a little to get a little so if a deal for a proven arm is there id say make it but for another mid tier pitcher then let the guys on the farm come up and get experience instead of being traded away for a #3 just doesnt make sense to me.

[User Name]

They have big decisions to make about pitching before the trade deadline. Should they give up a prospect or two to get another veteran starter like Garza? Epstein might settle for lower level types he knows. Should Henry splurge and go all out for Lee? After all, they have the most wins in baseball right now, and the starting pitching looks a bit shaky--especially with Buchholz refusing to pitch until he feels pain free. The other option is to lean on their pitching prospects and hope they can be enough to stay on top. Really two directions here. I would get Garza if they can get him without giving up their top 3 or 4 prospects. I would not be giving anybody up for still another 3rd baseman like Young. Can't believe they would be serious about that. Their infield depth looks good right now with Drew coming back and Middlebrooks maybe up in August. In the outfield, I would like to see Bradley up again. He looks ready. You pick your spots for a guy like Gomes.

 

How do you know Buchholz is "refusing to pitch". For all we know, they could be (and probably are) holding him back until he's 100%, as they should. Stop making s*** up.

[a700hitter]

How do you know Buchholz is "refusing to pitch". For all we know, they could be (and probably are) holding him back until he's 100%, as they should. Stop making s*** up.

The Docs did tell him that he couldn't injure it worse by pitching. Draw your own conclusions. And then there is this:

Citing soreness, Clay Buchholz reavows need to be 100 percent

Neck and shoulder pain still holding Sox pitcher back

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

 

Dan Duggan, Notebook

 

NEW YORK — Clay Buchholz won’t return to the Red Sox rotation until he is 100 percent healthy.

 

When exactly that will be is anyone’s guess.

 

Buchholz threw a bullpen session Sunday in Oakland and felt soreness in his neck and shoulder area. Buchholz, who hasn’t pitched since June 8, won’t throw another bullpen session until Thursday.

 

“I’m not going to go out and do something that’s going to cost me the rest of the season,” Buchholz said. “I want to be 100 percent the next time I get on the mound, so that’s what I’m going to do.”

 

Buchholz was at Citi Field yesterday after earning his second All-Star selection on the strength of a 9-0 record and a 1.71 ERA built mostly before the injury became a factor. Buchholz initially was not expected to miss an extended period of time, but he hasn’t been able to get comfortable enough to return.

 

He wants to pitch a simulated game before making a rehab start. Although team doctors told Buchholz he isn’t at risk for further injury, he is determined to proceed cautiously.

 

“I just don’t know what it would lead to if I did just keep throwing, throwing, throwing on it,” Buchholz said. “It’s like picking a scab. I don’t want to be messing with this forever. I don’t know how long it’s going to take, but regardless of how long it takes, I want it to just be done in one time and not have to keep going back two starts and then going back on the DL. In a frustrating way, that’s sort of my mindset.

- See more at: http://bostonherald.com/sports/red_sox_mlb/boston_red_sox/2013/07/citing_soreness_clay_buchholz_reavows_need_to_be_100#sthash.2cuRDn4e.dpuf

Edited July 17, 2013 by a700hitter

[jacksonianmarch]

Do the docs even know what he has? I highly doubt that a guy who has had pain for nearly 2 months in his shoulder and neck couldn't make it worse by pitching.

[dupree]

Yeah u would think that the pain he has being experiencing would just get worse with more pitching. But who knows. I was watching Intentional Talk and Buch walked behind Chris and Kevin and he had his glove on walking infront of Pedey so maybe he is making progress.

[jacksonianmarch]

Either the guy is the softest pitcher in baseball (possible) or he has an injury that is worse than let on

[jung]

Buch has not really talked about "pain" in the sense that people even players talk about pain. He has said he has "discomfort" ...."does not feel right" and wants to be at 100% before coming back. The doctors must know what it is cause they have said he cannot hurt it worse if he pitches with it. There are compensation injuries to consider but at any rate, the docs must know what hit is in order to claim he cannot hurt it worse pitching with it.

[User Name]

Do the docs even know what he has? I highly doubt that a guy who has had pain for nearly 2 months in his shoulder and neck couldn't make it worse by pitching.

 

As repulsive as it is to say it, ^this. It's common sense.

[lospunchados]

I understand Buccholz somewhat wanting to be 100 percent. The redsox are winning and there have been alot of pitchers over the years who mess up there mechanics, don't throw properly and then need shoulder or elbow surgery because of it.

[SoxSport]

As usual, there isn't enough information to make a judgement on Buchholz. The doctors said the same thing about Ortiz--he could play with the foot pain without further damage, but he waited until his salary would be affected to come back. Some guys play with pain, other guys don't.

[jacksonianmarch]

Lingering pain in the shoulder that's initially billed as bursitis? And now they're saying trapezius area? So that localized it to the posterior shoulder. I wonder how his rotator cuff is doing.

[Youk Of The Nation]

Lingering pain in the shoulder that's initially billed as bursitis? And now they're saying trapezius area? So that localized it to the posterior shoulder. I wonder how his rotator cuff is doing.

 

Of course you do.

[jung]

A rotator cuff injury is not that hard to diagnose. If it is a rotator cuff he is headed to surgery sooner or later. However the way they started this whole thing is not suggestive of a rotator cuff.

 

I don't think it is that serious. I am more inclined to take Buch at his word that he simply refuses to pitch at less than 100%. Again as I have stated elsewhere he continues to discuss "discomfort". He does not come right out and talk about pain. That is a hell of a spot to leave the Sox in though. Buch claims to be at 90% now. Do we think 90% of Buch is better than anything Workman or Webster or Ace have to offer?