Pitching Remains a Strength for 2010

The Red Sox starting rotation should have several household names next year. Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz & Dice-K are all expected back, barring any moves in trade deals.

Beckett had a great middle 3 months of the season where he was unhittable for a stretch of about 15 starts. He started slow in May & early June, then lost his magic again in mid-August & September. Once a Cy Young candidate he finished with 16 wins & 200+ innings, the most innings in his career. You might say that 2009 was at times like 2007 & at times like 2008. If Josh is healthy in 2010, he will remain one of the toughest pitchers in the bigs. Beckett is also in a contract year which never hurts a player's results.

If Beckett is 1A, Jon Lester became 1B last year. After a slow start, Jon became the most dependable starter down the stretch. He amassed over 200 K's & 200+ innings. As a show of confidence by Terry Francona, Lester got the start in Game 1 of the playoffs over Beckett. I look for more good things from Lester in 2010.

Clay Buchholz finally made it back to the big show & it looks like he is here to stay. After experimenting with Smoltz & Penny in the 1st half, Clay had several good starts in the 2nd half & also pitched a quality game in the playoffs that he should have won. Buchholz can now relax & get ready in Spring Training for a 30+ start season with the big club in 2010.

The most disappointing starter was, by far, Dice-K. They should do away with the World Baseball Classic. Period. We lost an 18-game winner in 2008 because of it. Dice showed that he still had good stuff when he & his arm were in proper shape. How about the Sox take back the part of his salary proportionate to his time on the DL? I bet the MLB Players Association would like that. Next year the Sox monitor Matzusaka for Day 1 in Spring Training to keep him healthy for the regular season. Or maybe he is someone that they would trade, if he agrees to waive his no-trade clause. There has been some bad blood.

Will Tim Wakefield come back from surgery & pitch at 43? Will Michael Bowden finally emerge? Will the Sox trade for a 5th starter? All good questions that will be answered in time. However, the 1st 4 spots look to stack-up well against any other rotation.