It was also announced that pitcher Clay Buchholz will be going to the Arizona Fall League for a month on the plan of throwing approximately 25 innings. Other members of the Red Sox organization who will participate in the AFL are first baseman Aaron Bates, outfielder Josh Reddick, catcher Mark Wagner, and pitchers T.J. Large, Ryne Lawson, and Beau Vaughan

3. Weren't these guys supposed to be impact pitchers by now?

Clay Buchholz (Scorpions) and Philip Hughes (Javelinas) were both seen as future aces and players who should be established parts, if not star-level performers, in the rotations of the Red Sox and Yankees. For Buchholz, it's a matter of mechanics that fell apart as he went 2-9 for Boston this year with a 6.75 ERA in 16 games. That said, there is some semblance of hope, as he ended the year with a pair of dominant starts for Double-A Portland, allowing just seven hits in 15 innings while walking one and striking out 18. For Hughes, it's more of an inability to stay healthy, but as with Buchholz there were some signs of life toward the end of the year, notably a pair of late-season outings for the Yankees, he allowed just nine hits over 12 innings while striking out ten. With solid performances in the desert, both could be lined up for another opportunity to begin the season in the big leagues, and both of them still have tremendous potential.

Boston right-hander Clay Buchholz worked three strong innings on Friday, amping it up to 93-96 with good command for the first inning, after which he lost the handle briefly, recovering for a solid third inning. Both secondary pitches remain well above-average, although it was clear he was there to work on fastball command, as he threw predominantly heaters.

Any chance they sent Clay to the AFL in part as a hedge against the possibility that they might need him in the playoffs?

If Beckett is done for the playoffs -- and it sure looks like his useless -- Buchholz is the only pitcher the Sox have who's both still pitching and capable of providing the Sox with above-average innings.

I may go catch a game on Wednesday, what are the odds that Clay is pitching? I can't sort out a rotation on their site...

A veteran scout from another major league team, who requested anonymity, followed Scottsdale for two weeks and provided these reports on the four most prominent Sox prospects:

Clay Buchholz

2008 (Portland and Pawtucket): 11 games, 2008 5-2, 2.30

2008 Red Sox 2-9, 6.75 in 16 games

Arizona Fall League: 4 games, 1-1, 2.60

“I think he’s gained some of his swagger back. He lost some confidence during the year, but his velocity was back. He was throwing 91-95, and was free and easy. He had a dominant curveball and a plus change. He didn’t need his slider. He looked focused on the mound. It looked to me like his arm slot was the same as it used to be, with a high three-quarters release, which adds to the depth of his breaking ball. This guy has three plus pitches and should be a front-of-the-rotation starter. His ceiling is very high. Some people were worried about his makeup and arm, but he seemed fine here.”

Yesterday was not Buchholz’s best outing of the fall — he allowed four runs on five hits in 3 2/3 innings while walking four and fanning five in an 11-7 Scottsdale loss to Peo Saguaros – but Epstein was still encouraged by what Buchholz accomplished in his 21 fall innings.

“As a whole,” said Epstein, “it was a constructive development time. I think he regained his confidence, his stuff was crisp and he tweaked his delivery out of the stretch. We’re very glad he went (to the AFL). It allowed him to write a little different ending to his season.”

Overall, Buchholz finished 1-2 with a 3.86 ERA in five outings.

“His shoulder is extremely strong,” said Epstein, noting that wasn’t the case at the end of the 2007 season. “He’s one of the strongest, most durable pitchers in the organization, because he’s dedicated himself (to the team’s prescribed shoulder-strengthening program).”

In his last three starts in the AFL, Buchholz went 0-2 and in 13 innings, allowed 9 runs on 17 hits, 7 walks, and 10 strikeouts.

Not good.