Buck the Difference Maker

No ace. 5 number 3 starters. That's the knock on the Red Sox pitching staff. If, & this is a very very big if, Clay Buchholz can pitch 150 to 175 quality innings, Buck will emerge as the missing Red Sox ace. For a period of time over his 8 year career Buck was dominant. Continual injuries have left him less than dependable & less than durable over the rigors of a full season. He has pitched less than 1,000 innings, so there are a lot of bullets left in his right arm. In 2010, for instance, Buchholz was 17-7 in 173 innings with a 2.33 ERA. We know he has the raw stuff, raw talent. Whether he has the mental makeup or the physical makeup to be an ace is another thing. The Sox could use him to step up & lead this younger staff in 2015. Buck is age 30 & he is signed to 2 more club friendly options in 2016 & 2017. But you can't be part of the solution unless you take your turn every 5th day, something that has eluded the lanky righty the last 3 seasons. He may be pitching for his future in Boston. No doubt that Buck can be a difference maker. Question is will he be?