Sox' young pitchers get plugged in
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Lefthanded pitcher Jon Lester is one of many rookie call-ups the Red Sox have had to make this season.
(Globe Staff Photo / Barry Chin)
Globe Staff Photo / Barry Chin
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Of the seemingly deep starting staff that arrived in Fort Myers, Fla., back in February, this startling fact remains: It's only mid June, and already the Red Sox have had to put in more than a few calls to the minors. With one of those original seven starting pitchers in Cincinnati (Bronson Arroyo), another seeing a doctor in San Diego (David Wells), and a third at the back end of the bullpen (Jonathan Papelbon), suddenly two 22-year-olds found themselves being worked into a rotation that started old (three past 39 years) and got young quickly.
Though David Pauley was shipped to Pawtucket after his latest start, Sunday against the Rangers, it appears that Jon Lester has -- unless he really pitches himself out of it -- found a home in the Red Sox rotation. Because, well, he's needed.
Curt Schilling remains the only starter without a single question, as recent revelations of problems with Tim Wakefield's back and Matt Clement's right biceps, plus Josh Beckett's three-game slump threaten to put the Sox in a league with the Yankees in terms of issues.
``Every pitch that he throws is a major league pitch," said Pauley of Lester, his teammate in 2005 with Double A Portland. ``He's got a good fastball, obviously, developing a really good cutter, and changeup and curveball are plus pitches for him.
``He's making his strides just like I did. He's got some good opportunities up here and I know he'll go well. He's got a good head on his shoulders."
Though self-described as ``kind of a loner," Lester said having a number of young players -- all graduates of the Red Sox minor league system -- sharing locker space near him has helped in the transition from McCoy Stadium to Fenway Park.
``If I have a question that I maybe am a little embarrassed to ask these guys [the veterans], I can run over to them," Lester said, specifically mentioning Papelbon, Pauley, Manny Delcarmen, and Craig Hansen (sent to Pawtucket to make room for Lester). ``It's nice because they're probably feeling the same thing I am. It's nice to have them up here."
In three games over the weekend against Texas, the Red Sox showcased the fruits of their farm system, though the two starters not named Beckett came in with vastly different expectations and vastly different name recognition. And even though Lester was the one saddled with the temporary locker in the clubhouse, he's the one that survived to make the trip yesterday to Minnesota, after a 4 1/3-inning debut in which he allowed three runs on five hits, striking out four and walking four. He's the one, with Papelbon, on whom the blood pressure levels of Red Sox fans will likely depend in the not-too-distant future.
``I think if anybody comes up here, they're going to have the hype, they're going to have the pressure," Lester said. ``This is a hard place to play, but it's a fun place to play from what I've heard and from what people have said.
``The crowd is awesome, the energy is unbelievable. Anybody that comes up here, it's going to be difficult for him."
Pauley, for now, will get his starts in Pawtucket, his first trip there. Lester, for now, will get his starts with the Boston version of the Red Sox. Manager Terry Francona has not yet officially announced when those will come, but Lester is a member of the rotation. And for at least one of those former starters, that seems to be a very good thing.
``We were the 1-2 punch down there," Papelbon said of his time in the minors with Lester. ``We fed off each other and learned from each other. We developed in very similar fashions. It was great to have a guy like that who you can go out there and be able to compete with and lay it on the line with.
``It's tough [to pitch in Boston], but it comes with the territory. You've got to be able to understand that going into it, know what's going to happen, especially in Boston. You're going to have the lights on you and the pressure's going to be on. You've got to be able to respond to that going in."
Lester knows that. And if you ask those he's spent the most time with, it seems he's going to be just fine.
Gabe Kapler was promoted from Double A Portland to Pawtucket and went 2 for 5 with 2 RBIs last night in the PawSox' 8-6 win over Richmond, their sixth straight. Over his three-game stint with Portland, Kapler went 4 for 10 with 2 RBIs . . . With his three-run blast Sunday, David Ortiz now has at least one walkoff homer in each of the past five seasons. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it is the first time a player has accomplished such a feat since Fred McGriff from 1993-97.
AFTERNOON UPDATES For news updates heading into tonight's Red Sox-Twins game, go to www.boston.com/redsox.
