Tonight's rainout at Fenway v. O's has mixed blessings. Extra day for pitchers on DL to get healthy (Lackey and Dice-K). However, 'Sox were hitting their stride. The walkoff win against those O's could be one of those moments when a team can look back and cite it as a turning point in the season.
'Sox have to juggle their starting rotation. Thank goodness for having Wake on staff. Will be interesting to see how Aceves does in a start. Bowden was recalled to take his place in the bullpen. Not sure how Felix D. is doing in AAA. I checked on his status and found this from NESN:
Could we see Felix Doubront up at some point if John Lackey or Daisuke Matsuzaka do not pick it up? And would they just put one of them on the disabled list to make room for Felix? Also, is it confirmed that Felix is on the DL in the minors now?
-- Cody Bedell
Hi Cody, you answered one of your questions already. Doubront is on the DL with a strained groin, so he was not an immediate option when Lackey was placed on the DL on Monday. Tim Wakefield will probably take Lackey's spot in the rotation.
As for Doubront's status going forward, he is a great replacement option when healthy. The problem is, he has had loads of physical issues. You might recall that Doubront was shut down near the end of 2010 with shoulder problems, and then missed most of spring training with elbow tightness. Now the groin issue. He is young and talented and could very well see some action in the majors this year, so long as he maintains some degree of health.
-- Cody Bedell
Hi Cody, you answered one of your questions already. Doubront is on the DL with a strained groin, so he was not an immediate option when Lackey was placed on the DL on Monday. Tim Wakefield will probably take Lackey's spot in the rotation.
As for Doubront's status going forward, he is a great replacement option when healthy. The problem is, he has had loads of physical issues. You might recall that Doubront was shut down near the end of 2010 with shoulder problems, and then missed most of spring training with elbow tightness. Now the groin issue. He is young and talented and could very well see some action in the majors this year, so long as he maintains some degree of health.
It goes to show that a team can never have enough pitching. Plus, Jenks and Wheeler on the DL.
Let's read between the lines with Lackey. He's not injured. He's got personal issues that are preventing him from pitching well. Either way--in the rotation or on the DL--he's not helping us right now. I really believe that in order for the Sox to get quality out of him later on in the season, they had to give him the time he needs right now to address the situation in his personal life. If he needs the time with his wife right now, so be it. I don't want him pitching when his head's not in the game, and it hasn't been for his last few starts.
ReplyDeleteHow does stuff like this keep happening to Dice-K? Is he cheating and throwing at home during the day when he's not scheduled to start? I thought we were managing him better these days?? How many times has he been on the DL since he's been to Boston? Shoulder, elbow, WBC-enduced fatigue. Really, for the money, this guy shouldn't even breathe funny without checking with the trainers. I thought we were all on the same page, but guess not.
I don't care if Jenks comes back or not. That's bad to say, but that's reality. He cannot pitch, period! He's always been a big guy, but honestly, his weight does not help his cause. He needs to shed about 50 pounds. He'd find he'd be a much more effective pitcher. I can't stomach him coming into a close game and blowing it for us 'cause his "kitchen" gets in the way of his velocity. (See the Dennis Eckersley Dictionary for the defintion of this one!)
I'm not impressed with Wheeler either. He was lights out against us when he was with the Rays. Just goes to show that not everyone can take Boston. Once again, Theo's track record of signing pitchers is rearing its ugly head!!