Too many starters, what a happy problem. Thought we could start some helathy chat here on this very interesting problem of riches.
The RS clearly have a log-jam with 7 guys who are viable MLB starters. As I see it the status of each of the 7:
Beckett: We go as far as the ace will carry us. Aside from the start in Philly (and every starter has bad days) Josh over the last month looks like 2007 Beckett. Under the RS control through the 2010 season, he is going nowhere and the RS are reluctant to even lessen his starts in 6 man rotation.
Lester: After a slow start (like Beckett) Lester looks like an emerging elite left handed ace. His K to BB ratio is awesome. Like Beckett it is hard to lose some of his starts in a 6 man rotation.
Wakefield: Ageless it seems. Best start to a season in a number of years, most consistent starter season to date. Older making the up and down of the bullpen less likely and an inning eater as a starter.
Dice-K: Is hurt or what? The guy has won a boat load of games in his first two season in MLB. But he sucks for the moment. Complex situation. Can't really go to the BP with his 45 minute warm up routine and trading him after posting $50M because he is in a rut is probably unwise and he has no trade making it complicated. If he isn't hurt he may not be willing to go on the DL and optioning him to Pawtucket may be problematic too. What to do?
Penny: Gets better every start. Plus velocity, improving command. A number 2 on a lot of staffs. With Smoltz unproven and Dice K in a rut do you risk trading him?
Smoltz: They have already reserved a HOF slot for the man. Coming off of surgery the RS likely want to control his work, which is best done as a starter and not as a reliever. Betting against his being good, even at 42 and coming off of surgery is not a wise wager.
Buchholz: Either Penny or Smoltz may not have been signed if Clay Buchholz did not stink so bad in MLB in 2008. But he did really stink. But clearly learned from failure and would be starting on almost every other MLB team. What more can he learn in Pawtucket?
So if you were Theo Epstein for a day, what do you do?
The RS clearly have a log-jam with 7 guys who are viable MLB starters. As I see it the status of each of the 7:
Beckett: We go as far as the ace will carry us. Aside from the start in Philly (and every starter has bad days) Josh over the last month looks like 2007 Beckett. Under the RS control through the 2010 season, he is going nowhere and the RS are reluctant to even lessen his starts in 6 man rotation.
Lester: After a slow start (like Beckett) Lester looks like an emerging elite left handed ace. His K to BB ratio is awesome. Like Beckett it is hard to lose some of his starts in a 6 man rotation.
Wakefield: Ageless it seems. Best start to a season in a number of years, most consistent starter season to date. Older making the up and down of the bullpen less likely and an inning eater as a starter.
Dice-K: Is hurt or what? The guy has won a boat load of games in his first two season in MLB. But he sucks for the moment. Complex situation. Can't really go to the BP with his 45 minute warm up routine and trading him after posting $50M because he is in a rut is probably unwise and he has no trade making it complicated. If he isn't hurt he may not be willing to go on the DL and optioning him to Pawtucket may be problematic too. What to do?
Penny: Gets better every start. Plus velocity, improving command. A number 2 on a lot of staffs. With Smoltz unproven and Dice K in a rut do you risk trading him?
Smoltz: They have already reserved a HOF slot for the man. Coming off of surgery the RS likely want to control his work, which is best done as a starter and not as a reliever. Betting against his being good, even at 42 and coming off of surgery is not a wise wager.
Buchholz: Either Penny or Smoltz may not have been signed if Clay Buchholz did not stink so bad in MLB in 2008. But he did really stink. But clearly learned from failure and would be starting on almost every other MLB team. What more can he learn in Pawtucket?
So if you were Theo Epstein for a day, what do you do?
