Now that the Red Sox have somewhat settled down from their demise, winning four of five, we can talk sensibly.
The lineup, including and especially leadoff, appears to be a concern moving forward, but the Red Sox starting pitching is too good for this team to fall apart. Or at least it appears that way.
But Curt Schilling’s shoulder — he will have an MRI tomorrow — is something to be concerned about. He is a No. 2 or No. 3 starter, and those pitchers don’t grow on trees or in the minors.
Giving Schilling a two-start respite, at least, is an interesting dilemma.
Who replaces him?:
Kason Gabbard, Pawtucket.
Positives: He is 4-1 over his last 10 starts, not allowing more than 4 runs in any of those starts, posting a 2.91 ERA. He is a lefty, which is always a plus. And he was steady in one start with the Sox, allowing 2 runs over five innings on May 20 against the Braves.
Negatives: Not many, if any. He has averaged less than six innings per start over the stretch in Pawtucket.
Kyle Snyder, Boston.
Positives: Other than three consecutive shaky performances in the bullpen in early to mid-June, he has been rock solid and earned a role with the team. He has been bred as a starter, albeit an average one (three good ones and three bad ones for Sox in 2006). With Joel Pineiro pitching OK in the pen, the Sox have some leeway to give him a shot … Maybe he would be good or even better.
Negatives: He has been good in his role, why change it … He is a 5-inning starter and it might take time to get him even to that point, which the Sox don’t have.
Jon Lester, Pawtucket.
Positives: Maybe it’s time to finally get him here … He looked very good in his last outing, allowing two runs over seven innings last Friday (He is slated to pitch tonight) … His walks are down a bit from last year’s percentage (4.5 to about 2.6 per game) … Like Gabbard, having a lefty starter is a plus.
Negatives: Sox don’t want to rush him back, pointing toward July 1 or All-Star break … They’d like to get him a little more consistent, at 7 innings per outing a few starts in a row.
Devern Hansack, Pawtucket.
Positives: Might be the hottest pitcher of all the options … He has allowed only six earned runs over his last four outings, and has 23 Ks in last 24 innings … He’s 29 and as ready as he’ll ever be.
Negatives: Really don’t know if there are any.
It’s a tough decision, though a good one to have.
It says here Gabbard or Hansack would be the best short-term solution. Both have earned it. With Lester being choice No. 3. But either way, Sox would probably get a decent short-term replacement.
Let me know what your choice would be and why?
