Youth movement earlier than expected
NEW YORK -- The players suddenly rotating through the Red Sox roster were not whom manager Terry Francona expected to see at this point in the season. After all, Craig Hansen and Manny Delcarmen had little more than cameos in the big leagues in 2005 and David Pauley was pitching in Double A just two weeks ago.
But with Keith Foulke fighting back stiffness, Mike Timlin on the disabled list, Julian Tavarez working through inconsistency, and David Wells hobbling on an injured right knee and unsure of his future, young pitchers have begun cycling through a staff deemed so deep during spring training that Bronson Arroyo was traded to Cincinnati for slugger Wily Mo Peña.
Suddenly, Francona and his coaching staff have seen a far greater burden heaped upon the five youngest members of the active roster, all of whom are on the pitching staff.
``I don't think you can bring them in bunches just because of where we're playing and our responsibility to try to win and who we're playing against," Francona said. ``It can make it tough.
``But I think with my player development background, maybe I lean hopefully toward having an understanding of young players coming to the major leagues. I get excited about it. I don't think there's one part of me that shies away. I think they bring a certain energy. I think they're good for the veteran players. You have to remember you still have to teach at this level, which I have no problem with.
``Longer term, I think it's great. Shorter term, it makes it a little more difficult."
An early-season injury to center fielder Coco Crisp pressed Peña into full-time duty, and he responded by hitting .321 with 18 RBIs. Now, the same is being asked of the young pitchers, which includes starter Josh Beckett, 26, and closer Jonathan Papelbon, 25.
``We're in a little bit of a rough stretch and not only that, the guys you're leaning on, if they're nicked up, then it gets noticeable," Francona said. ``I think it depends on how much you are relying on them. If you bring a guy up, hit him ninth, or pitch him when you're getting blown out or up a bunch, that's different. The kid last night [Pauley] wasn't pitching in a game where the outcome was decided. The whole game was decided on his outing. And that's a lot to ask."
At this point, however, it's necessary for this club. Foulke and Timlin, as far as Francona would say, seem to be on the path to recovery and might return in the coming days. Wells, and therefore Pauley's slot in the rotation, has no timetable, and he might not return. Fortunately for the Red Sox, the closer role is in Papelbon's capable hands.
``That's the heart of the bullpen, Foulkie, Timlin, and Papelbon right now," Delcarmen said. ``Some tough shoes to fill in. I'm one of those guys that can go back down at any second. I've just got to make the best of it, know that I'm young, hope that I'll be sticking around for a little while. [All the injuries are] in the back of your head. We know what the bullpen is like here. If everybody's healthy, obviously I'll probably be in Pawtucket right now, but we've just got to make the best of it right now."
The key, said Foulke, is to remember that whatever the level, it's just pitching.
``It's still the same game," Foulke said. ``Hopefully you go in there, you get your feet wet, and you don't get too nervous. Once you realize it's the same game you've played [since you were] a little kid, relax, go out there, and throw the ball. I'm not worried. It's June 7. You worry in September, not in June."
