sj44-

a good change up for any pitcher is such a weapon.

i’m hoping hughes can develop his sooner than later.

i agree buchholz still has to prove himself over a full year against all kinds of competition as you say.

the time it’s taking for buchholz , hughes , and joba shows it’s not easy to develop starting pitching when you are always a contender for a playoff spot even when teams have all the financial resources that the red sox and yankees have.

there is no luxury like the royals or marlins have to just throw a guy in the fifth spot and let him learn on the job.

Only problem with that is, Wakefield has let it be known that he wants (and deserves, according to him) to start.

In addition, his back issues make it virtually impossible for him to hold up as a relief/starting pitcher.

As it is now, he usually only lasts about half a season as a starter before breaking down.

I like the fastball/changeup combination Buchholz possesses.

However, I want to see him do more than just dominate Toronto and Baltimore. Anybody can beat those teams in August and September when they have mailed in their seasons.

If he can do more than that, the Sox have a keeper.

If not, he’s just another overhyped Sox prospect whom ESPN will build up for trade value at the deadline.

sj44-

i agree.

wakefield may be a victim of his versatility. he can start and relieve either short or long.

his only question at this point is his health which has to be a big concern.

i’m guessing they’ll go with buchholz as the fifth starter and move wakefield to wherever they need .

agreed.

haha, i forgot.

patrick-

the only thing i can think of is they are factoring in age and not expecting jeter, rivera, arod,and posada to keep ahead of projections for their decline.

i think they are a 97 +/- team.

Folks forget he has had his ups and downs and is actually older than both Chamberlain and Hughes.

Not easy to develop young arms in the AL East. Ask Tampa.

It will be interesting to see if the Red Sox just give Buchholz the ball and not bounce him in and out of the rotation.

That will tell us what they really think of him because if he can’t beat out Tim Wakefield for the 5th starters spot, they know something about him we don’t.

blake -

you trying to get me in trouble. me and RAB are like oil and water.

we don’t mix well, but i’ll check it out

on the other hand joba is a year younger, so that’s a factor in joba’s favor.

i think the red sox sending back buchholz to the minors to work on , i think. command of his fastball, helped him as a big league starter. he used to pitch backwards and hitters caught on to it.

i think that the red sox decisiveness that buccholz’s is a starter has helped buchholz too.
the yankees really need to pick a lane with joba. hopefully in the next few weeks joba will have a role he can commit too.

on another red sox note , much of red sox nation is not happy with papelbon. i heard the grumbling mid summer last year on the cape.

i wonder if his time in boston is limited.