Red Sox pitchers
The four Sox starters each got a WS win. Schilling (age 40) may not be back - but Beckett (27), Dice-K (27), and Lester (23) are tied up for the next few years at least. Buchholz (22) appears primed to join the rotation next season - and Wakefield (40) is a question mark.
Papelbon (26) is the closer for a while - while Delcarmen (25) and Okajima (31) are around for at least next year. I don’t know if Timlin (41) has another year in him or not.
No guarantees… a lot can happen - but if pitching wins championships, gotta like the Sox going into 2008 in that department. And if somebody out of Masterson, Bowden, or Hansen shows they’re ready in ST… or the Sox find another Okajima somewhere (as unlikely as that seems)… or Donnelly (36) returns to form in the bullpen - well… even better.
October 29th, 2007 at 3:56 pm
The Sox are stacked right now… with several young arms, and payroll flexibility. All nice things to have. Beckett’s health is the single most important piece for the Red Sox return to the World Series next year. They do not win it all this year without him, and while Dice-K, lester and Buchholz are all pitchers with very nice upside, Beckett is the true ace of the staff that will be forced again to come up huge next year.
October 29th, 2007 at 4:03 pm
I’m not sure what you mean by “forced” - but I agree with your general point that he is key to them repeating their pillar-to-post success this year. For a guy entering his prime, I submit that a 2008 (and 2009) similar to 2007 is likely. It’s not a guarantee… but it’s likely.
This isn’t 45-yr-old Roger Clemens. This is a 27-yr-old with great stuff who’s clearly made the adjustment to pitching in the American League.
He is undoubtedly the staff ace - and that’ll allow Dice-K, Buchholz, and Lester to develop without feeling like one of *them* has to be “the Man”. I think that has a positive impact.
On a related note, I will not be the least bit surprised to see a Beckett-like jump from Year 1 to Year 2 for Dice-K. Does that mean I expect him to be as dominant in 2008 as Beckett was in 2007, especially postseason? Not necessarily, although its possible. Rather, my point is that I expect a sub-4.00 ERA from him… possibly down in the 3.60 to 3.70 range.