Who would you replace Buchholz with in the rotation?

[TomRicardo]

You write that as if there were some guarantee that their fastball command is going to improve. That seems a rather heroic assumption, especially for pitchers who really aren't that young. Both Ranaudo and DLR are well outside their TJ recovery windows. Webster, if I recall started pitching late, and so may still have hope. Barnes is still adjusting to AAA. Though most future aces don't need such adjustments after basically conservative promotion timetables these guys have all had.

 
Says who?  Because I can name more exceptions to this rule in my head than pitchers that follow it.
 
Also a blue chip prospect doesn't mean ace.  it means that they can definitely contribute to a major league team.  I would say Ranuado, Webster, and Owens would all be considered blue chip.  Barnes could be considered as well.

 

[KillerBs]

The question of who among the various candidates we replace Buchholz with is certainly far less important than making the decision to replace him. The Sox have dug themselves a significant hole and simply cannot afford to give starts to Buchholz now given how he has pitched in his first 10 starts this year.   
 
Personally, tho I trust the Sox to make the right call here, I would prefer to see Rubby get the first chance here as he seems the best bet to come up and be a plus starter the rest of 2014. From what I gather he sits at 94-95, gets a lot of ground balls and keeps the ball in the park. He doesn't need great command with that kind of stuff.

 

[Puffy]

If it is really a matter of the "knee issue" keeping Buchholz out of the rotation for 1 turn, it could be as simple as giving that start to Capuano, who has pitched capably this year in his role in the bullpen, to be sure, but has been a decent ML starting pitcher as recently as last year.

 

[KillerBs]

If it is really a matter of the "knee issue" keeping Buchholz out of the rotation for 1 turn, it could be as simple as giving that start to Capuano, who has pitched capably this year in his role in the bullpen, to be sure, but has been a decent ML starting pitcher as recently as last year.

 
Doesn't it seem more likely that we are looking at a more protracted period of downtime for Buchholz followed by a rehab stint of a start or two in PAW?  They really need to get this guy right before sending him back out there.
 
I definitely do not like the Capuano to the rotation idea. Given that this is looking more and more like the proverbial bridge year, and given the major ?s re 3/5 of this rotation, we really should be trying to figure out soon what we have from one or more of the DeLaRosa/Webster/Ranaudo group. I know I would rather watch one of these guys get a chance than see Capuano chuck 5+ decent innings. Who knows? Maybe one of the kids gets on a roll at the ML level and helps us get back in the race.

 

[Sprowl]

You write that as if there were some guarantee that their fastball command is going to improve. That seems a rather heroic assumption, especially for pitchers who really aren't that young. Both Ranaudo and DLR are well outside their TJ recovery windows. Webster, if I recall started pitching late, and so may still have hope. Barnes is still adjusting to AAA. Though most future aces don't need such adjustments after basically conservative promotion timetables these guys have all had.

 
It's not a guarantee, but a high likelihood that starting pitcher prospects will improve their fastball command as they develop through their twenties. For most pitchers, it is a necessary development if they are to be effective major league starters, and for many starting prospects, fastball command does indeed develop.
 
That was the expectation with Jon Lester (especially during his wild days of 2006), and eventually the reality (by 2008). That was the expectation with Clay Buchholz (especially during his spectacular collapse in 2008 following the change in his arm slot), and eventually the reality (by 2009 -- at least when he's not in the throes of back or neck injuries). That was the expectation with Felix Doubront; the reality is still up for grabs. If fastball command doesn't develop, they fail, and are traded, demoted or converted to reliever.

 

[koufax37]

Bard was diagnosed with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome this winter dating back to when he started losing it at the end of 2011. His struggles had nothing to do with starting.

The only "blue chip" pitching prospect in the Red Sox farm system is Henry Owens. One of the reasons people say things like, "there's no such thing as a pitching prospect" is because people apply the term way too loosely.

 
I don't think his struggles had nothing to do with starting, but it is certainly only a piece among other factors.  Additionally Valentine pressured him to be someone else (asking why he didn't throw more changeups in a spring training start), rather than continue to be the pitcher he was.  I still think he could have been a successful starter, and view the botching of his conversion (if you look at his games one by one, he was almost always left in a couple batters too long, he didn't throw enough fastballs, etc) as one of the darkest points of the Valentine era, and hope he can eventually have a successful return to middle relief.

 

[Drek717]

Rubby for the following reasons:
1. He's the oldest, therefore he's the one where an answer on his future is needed the soonest.
2. He is, in my opinion, throwing the best in AAA.  Nice K/9, well improved BB/9 from last year, and going into the 6th inning with regularity now which is huge for him.
3. He has the biggest previous ML sample of the three, so he has a better idea what he's actually in for when making the jump.
4. Even if Clay figures it out and takes his spot back in a month Rubby is likely (or should be) the first guy up if there is an injury in the 'pen, so it'd be a good chance to confirm if he belongs at the top of that list.
 
Webster has seen both his K/9 and BB/9 improve over the last month (ignoring the egg he laid on Sunday) and so would be well suited to continue his growth at that level.  Ranaudo is only just starting to show flashes of reasonable command himself and has less AAA time than the other two.  Therefore I think you go with Rubby as the first guy and see what he's got.  If he can't hack it as a starter now it's time to look at him as a reliever, where he could still be a lights out option there.

 

[soxhop411]

Brian MacPherson ‏@brianmacp  1m
I don't have binoculars, but I believe Alex Wilson is playing catch in the outfield. If he's here, Clay Buchholz is probably on the DL.

 

[nolasoxfan]

Buchholz to DL. A. Wilson called up per Rotoworld.

Edit, confirming soxhop411

 

[O Captain! My Captain!]

confirmed on NESN just now

 

[Reverend]

 
I don't think his struggles had nothing to do with starting, but it is certainly only a piece among other factors.  Additionally Valentine pressured him to be someone else (asking why he didn't throw more changeups in a spring training start), rather than continue to be the pitcher he was.  I still think he could have been a successful starter, and view the botching of his conversion (if you look at his games one by one, he was almost always left in a couple batters too long, he didn't throw enough fastballs, etc) as one of the darkest points of the Valentine era, and hope he can eventually have a successful return to middle relief.

 
Are we thinking of the same Daniel Bard? Because the guy I'm thinking of started a game on June 3rd that year, walked 6 while hitting 2 in under 2 innings and was so wild that the Jays retaliated what appeared to be twice during the rest of the game, which might be unprecedented, and didn't draw a warning from the ump or retaliation from the Red Sox.
 
I dunno what happened to him, but he's the only pitcher I've ever seen where I felt it was fundamentally unethical to trot him out there.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQc951wFs6w
 
Which is to say, I think they can screw some of these guys up. I'm not sure there's any good way to tell what will screw them up when playing with their roles ahead of time though. We do know that Farrell really believes in the importance of stable roles, especially for the pitchers, so that could definitely influence what they do.

 

[soxhop411]

“@RyanHannable: According to @BWMcGair03, Steven Wright will start for the @PawSox Sat. in Norfolk. Anthony Ranaudo was the scheduled starter. Interesting.”


https://twitter.com/RyanHannable/status/472116741590765568

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

https://twitter.com/PeteAbe/status/472117360921706496

 

[chrisfont9]

https://twitter.com/PeteAbe/status/472117360921706496

And Rubby is still listed as the starter for PawSox tonight, though Pete Abe said that could change, according to Farrell.

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

And Rubby is still listed as the starter for PawSox tonight, though Pete Abe said that could change, according to Farrell.

 
And it has.
 
https://twitter.com/BWMcGair03/status/472121966670118912

 

[soxhop411]

 
And it has.
 

https://twitter.com/BWMcGair03/status/472121966670118912

https://twitter.com/BWMcGair03/status/472121966670118912

link to tweet

So then why are both scratched?

 

[Sprowl]

So then why are both scratched?

 
Keeps both options open. There's no harm in a AAA pitcher missing an occasional start -- their pitch and innings counts need to be controlled in any case.

 

[WenZink]

 
Keeps both options open. There's no harm in a AAA pitcher missing an occasional start -- their pitch and innings counts need to be controlled in any case.

 
Maybe they just want to give Rubby a couple days' extra rest.
 
Edit: now I get it... RDLR to pitch for the Sox on Saturday, and Ranaudo to pitch for Pawtucket on Saturday (couldn't go tonight for RDLR, since he pitched on Monday.)

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

Perhaps Ruby is getting the start tomorrow in place of Workman (or piggybacking on his start or vice-versa) and Ranaudo is starting on Saturday in Buchholz's place?

 

[HomeRunBaker]

So then why are both scratched?

One is going to replace Clay......Ranaudo would be on his regular rest while Rubby would be on 6 days rest. The other is the emergency spot starter and/or call-up if Wilson is used multiple innings tonight. It's responsible management by Cherington.

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

 
Maybe they just want to give Rubby a couple days' extra rest.
 
Edit: now I get it... RDLR to pitch for the Sox on Saturday, and Ranaudo to pitch for Pawtucket on Saturday (couldn't go tonight for RDLR, since he pitched on Monday.)

 
I'm not sure you're quite getting it.  RDLR was scratched from his scheduled start tonight.  Ranaudo has already been scratched from his scheduled start on Saturday (with Steven Wright being listed in his place).  So both guys appear to be preparing for a call-up...the question is which one is actually going to be on the mound at Fenway on Saturday.

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

 
I'm not sure you're quite getting it.  RDLR was scratched from his scheduled start tonight.  Ranaudo has already been scratched from his scheduled start on Saturday (with Steven Wright being listed in his place).  So both guys appear to be preparing for a call-up...the question is which one is actually going to be on the mound at Fenway on Saturday.

Wonder if they plan on throwing Workman in the pen and DLing someone else. Everyone seems healthy though.

 

[soxhop411]

Ryan Hannable ‏@RyanHannable  4m
De La Rosa starting Saturday.

 

[WenZink]

 
I'm not sure you're quite getting it.  RDLR was scratched from his scheduled start tonight.  Ranaudo has already been scratched from his scheduled start on Saturday (with Steven Wright being listed in his place).  So both guys appear to be preparing for a call-up...the question is which one is actually going to be on the mound at Fenway on Saturday.

 
I meant to say that Ranaudo will start on Sunday, per the tweet by Brendan McGair, Thursday afternoon, that had Ranaudo saying he's starting vs Norfolk on Sunday.

 

[jhogan88]

Lester
Lackey
Peavy
Workman
Ranaudo/Webster
 
With the hope that Clay/Doubront regain their form to move Workman to the bullpen. Henry Owens will be in the mix--only a matter of time.