Also, Lackey's good outing vs the Puerto Rico team isn't reflected in his numbers.

When Red Sox pitching hold other teams to 4ER or fewer, it's only good when they score more runs. It's all about game to game, not aggregate during the season splits.

Lackey looks solid, but it's a small sample. I'm expected big things from Lackey and Dumpster.

I'm with you, Roy. If they can stay healthy,  and that's a big if, it could be a solid rotation.

Too many posters like to focus on the negative and complain, so it seems one key thing, something more important than any of the other so-called issues, has been overlooked.

STARTING PITCHING

Here is the spring ERA of the Sox five projected starters so far:

Lester 14 IP, 1.29 ERA
Buchholz 8.1 IP, 0.00 ERA
Dempster 8.2 IP, 2.08 ERA
Doubront 4.2 IP, 3.86 ERA
Lackey 6.2 IP, 8.10 ERA

I'm the last one to make too much of small samples and especially spring stats. But considering the issues of starting pitching the Sox had last year, you've got to be encouraged by what we've seen from the starters so far.

Lackey's ERA is high -- again small sample -- but even he has shown a lot of good things. We'll see how things work out going forward this spring and once the season starts, but so far, I'm loving what the starters have been doing.

Too many posters like to focus on the negative and complain, so it seems one key thing, something more important than any of the other so-called issues, has been overlooked.

STARTING PITCHING

Here is the spring ERA of the Sox five projected starters so far:

Lester 14 IP, 1.29 ERA
Buchholz 8.1 IP, 0.00 ERA
Dempster 8.2 IP, 2.08 ERA
Doubront 4.2 IP, 3.86 ERA
Lackey 6.2 IP, 8.10 ERA

I'm the last one to make too much of small samples and especially spring stats. But considering the issues of starting pitching the Sox had last year, you've got to be encouraged by what we've seen from the starters so far.

Lackey's ERA is high -- again small sample -- but even he has shown a lot of good things. We'll see how things work out going forward this spring and once the season starts, but so far, I'm loving what the starters have been doing.

 Just think if the starters could have that ERA aginst major league batters? It's a small sample of wishful thinking.....So far i'm only watching and not worrying.

In response to ConanObrien's comment:

and Jerry and Don are in good shape laugh wise during blow outs

 Has J-Bay noted that you are a newbie and shouted out that you are Triumph who was banned and is returning once again with another Yazzer alias? Shame on you and shame on J-Bay for being inconsistent and selective.

TO ALL CONCERNED. CONANOBRIEN is the old TRIUMPH, YAZZER, DEERHUNTER. I imagine that his next moniker will be BillMaher.

In response to ConanObrien's comment:

and Jerry and Don are in good shape laugh wise during blow outs

 Has J-Bay noted that you are a newbie and shouted out that you are Triumph who was banned and is returning once again with another Yazzer alias? Shame on you and shame on J-Bay for being inconsistent and selective.

TO ALL CONCERNED. CONANOBRIEN is the old TRIUMPH, YAZZER, DEERHUNTER. I imagine that his next moniker will be BillMaher.

You beat me to the punch roy. I was just going to start a thread about Buchholz and his non existent ERA. I'm hoping Buch is finally turning into the pitcher he was projected to be.

In response to carnie's comment:

You beat me to the punch roy. I was just going to start a thread about Buchholz and his non existent ERA. I'm hoping Buch is finally turning into the pitcher he was projected to be.

I think he's been that pitcher for awhile. He had that great 2010 season and was pitching well (3.48  ERA) in 2011 when he hurt is back. He basically finished rehabbing his back in the first six starts of 2012 when his ERA was 9.09. But from then on (23 starts) he was pretty good with a 3.62 ERA. And until he faded in his last two starts, his ERA was 3.08 for 21 consecutive starts, and that includes a 5.1 IP, 7 ER game and a 6 IP, 5 ER game.

So I'm not to concerned about Buchholz's ability to pitch well if he stays healthy like he did in 2010.

Our starters will finish in the bottom half of the AL in ERA. Just a wild hunch.

In response to royf19's comment:

In response to carnie's comment:

You beat me to the punch roy. I was just going to start a thread about Buchholz and his non existent ERA. I'm hoping Buch is finally turning into the pitcher he was projected to be.

I think he's been that pitcher for awhile. He had that great 2010 season and was pitching well (3.48  ERA) in 2011 when he hurt is back. He basically finished rehabbing his back in the first six starts of 2012 when his ERA was 9.09. But from then on (23 starts) he was pretty good with a 3.62 ERA. And until he faded in his last two starts, his ERA was 3.08 for 21 consecutive starts, and that includes a 5.1 IP, 7 ER game and a 6 IP, 5 ER game.

So I'm not to concerned about Buchholz's ability to pitch well if he stays healthy like he did in 2010.

I agree. Buch is deadly when healthy. 

Back injuries are tough to predict or totally cure. I'm hoping for the best.