Jon Lester is 11-2 with a 2.14 ERA since the end of May. Beckett, although considered the Ace of the staff, struggled a bit in August but has turned it around recently. Buchholz has come up big when the Sox needed him most, down the stretch run. Daisuke Matsuzaka has shown signs of improvement in his return to the rotation and you always have the depth of Tim Wakefield, although back problems persist. All that being said, the rotation for the postseason should be as follows: 1. Beckett, 2. Lester, 3. Buchholz, 4. Matsuzaka, 5. Wakefield. Although Lester has proved to be most consistent, Beckett has a postseason resume a mile long. He thrives when the pressure is on and he WILL get the job done! The consistency of Lester, in my opinion, has proved to be the biggest factor in the Red Sox success this year. However, we can't forget about the late season aquisitions of Victor Martinez, making for a dangerous number 3 hitter, and Alex Gonzalez to solidify the infield and give them some more production at the bottom of the lineup. All things considered, the key to the Sox winning a title this year could very well rest on the shoulders of young Clay Buchholz. You know you got Beckett and you know you got Lester. Will Buccholz buckle under the unwavering pressure of playoff baseball? Has he finally matured into the pitcher he's expected to be? What better place to answer that than the postseason? Time will tell. Seeding aside, the Red Sox are very good, they're confident, they're experienced, and they never say die. Watch out, boys, it's October, and the Sox are hungry!
