Tim Wakefield has been on the DL with a strained lower back, hamstring and calf since his last start on July 8. Wakefield will be replacing Brad Penny in the rotation who hasn’t won a game since July 24 against Baltimore. Wakefield has gone 11-3 with a 4.31 ERA for the Red Sox this season while making his first All-Star Game appearance in his 17 year career. In his last rehab assignment with Pawtucket, Wakefield went 5 and 2/3 innings allowing only 1 run, getting the win. Wake will get the nod for Boston on Wednesday night against the Chicago White Sox.
The expectations aren’t high for Wakefield to come back and pick up where he left off at the All-Star break according to manager Terry Francona. The fact that Francona is able to say, “he sure could help us” after seeing the last outing by Brad Penny, shows that the Red Sox have not opted out of the pennant race to settle for the AL Wild Card. No manager is willing to put a starter out there after coming off the DL without thinking about two aspects first. Can this guy win? and Is this guy healthy enough to return to the starting rotation? Obviously Tito has answered both of those questions giving Wake the opportunity to pitch against Chicago.
Matsuzaka’s Return
An easy decision by the Red Sox to place Tim Wakefield back into the starting rotation and remove a struggling Brad Penny seems like an effortless move. The bigger decision is going to be after September call ups when Daisuke Matsuzaka ends his run on the DL and returns to the team is, who is Dice-K going to replace?
Clay Buchholz has put in some great work over the past few outings and shown that he can be en effective three or four man in the rotation. Junichi Tazawa has also proven that if needed he will also be able to perform at a high level after his scoreless six innings against the New York Yankees in a 14-1 win over the weekend. Begging the question, Which of the two would be more suitable for the starting rotation?
Chuck Hanf seems to be obsessed with Buchholz in a similar way that I feel about the newcomer Tazawa for the rotation. From a managerial perspective, I am already assuming that once Dice-K returns, we will have seen the last of Tazawa in a starters role and he will be moved to the bullpen for some added help that we do need. I still have the prayer of seeing the possibility of a six-man rotation and what kind of success, if any, it could produce for Boston.
Thanks to BOldenburg for the photo of Tim Wakefield.
Thanks to JustABigGeek for the photo of Daisuke Matsuzaka.
If Dice is able to come back, he’s definately in for Tazawa. Tazawa did not perform badly on Saturday, but he was definately on the hot seat several times, giving up well hit balls. Forunately was able to shut the Yanks down when men were in scoring position. He needs more seasoning, IMO.
I agree with you that Dice-K will replace Tazawa, either moving him to the bullpen or sending him back down to the minors, I’m just not sure if that’s going to be the best decision for the team based on Matsuzaka’s performance when he was in the starting rotation.
I’m also a huge fan of seeing what a six-man rotation could do for us by giving Beckett and Lester extra rest and making Dice-K and Tazawa comfortable to what they were used to in Japan. I’m sure Buchholz would benefit as well.
I am very excited to see Wakefield come back. I know that we can not expect to be the same as he was before the All-Star break, but I hope that we can get some decent outings from him. Dice- K? I’m still reserving judgement.
I completely agree on both aspects Julia. I’m hoping for the best, but I just don’t see Dice-K coming back and going 8 innings per start with an era under 3.