Red Sox manager Terry Francona was questioned a few times today during his press conference after announcing the rotation for games one through four of the ALCS.
And he didn’t like it.
The rotation goes like this …
Game 1: Daisuke Matsuzaka (18-3, 2.90 ERA) vs. James Shields (14-8, 3.56 ERA)
Game 2: Josh Beckett (12-10, 4.03) vs. Scott Kazmir (12-8, 3.49)
Game 3: Jon Lester (16-6, 3.21) vs. Matt Garza (11-9, 3.70)
Game 4: Tim Wakefield (10-11, 4.13) vs. Andy Sonnanstine (13-9, 4.38).
Anyway, Francona was asked about Lester going in Game 3 when he could be ready for Game 2.
He implied that this was the best way to get all of the pitchers an equal amount of rest rather than Beckett being pushed back two more days.
He didn’t like the questions, which were legitimate. But he did have good answers for them.
The point he made is that if it goes seven games, Lester, Beckett and Dice-K will pitch twice. And that Beckett “isn’t too bad of a pitcher.”
Other than it was uneventful day at Fenway.
What is your opinion? Would you put switch Lester and Beckett? To be honest, I would go Lester in Game 2 because he’s the best pitcher on the Red Sox right now. That being said, Beckett will take that game personally against Kazmir. If the series is tied 1-1 going back to Boston, Lester will be in position to take control of it for the Red Sox.
