The Red Sox really had no mysteries when it came to their first 4 starters. Beckett, Lester, Matzuzaka & Wakefield were already penciled in as the 1-2-3-4 of the 2009 rotation.
The #5 spot was the only one up for grabs. The Sox had Brad Penny, Clay Buchholz & Justin Masterson all available for the last spot. Tito answered that question yesterday when Buccholz was sent to Pawtucket & Masterson returned to the bullpen. Brad Penny gets the fifth starter's job for now.
Talk about a log-jam of starters, wait until John Smoltz is ready to go around June 1st. Given that Wakefield, Beckett & Penny were injured last year I expect that Buchholz & Smoltz will both see plenty of time on the mound. Even if all stay healthy, letting each starter skip a turn or two in the dog days of summer will keep them fresh for a stretch run & the playoffs.
The Sox went for safety in numbers. So far it's worked out.
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