he couldn`t do any worse than Smoltz! maybe better?

WOW. I thought he'd wind up with a nervous breakdown after the other night. Well, I guess anything after that Yankee game has to feel like less pressure.

I wonder why the Red Sox management is showing confidence in this very young, inexperienced pitcher over a Bowden? Maybe this brings an intrigue and international attention to the game but I don't believe that in a pennant race that going with the flash in the pan success of limited outings with Pawtucket and Portland outways several good outings at the major league level for Bowden. What does this say about Boston's confidence in Bowden? They won't trade him and they won't give him a big start. What do they intend to use him for?

I am afraid that Junichi Tazawa is Japanese for Craig Hansen.

Bowden was bombed for 6 runs in three innings a night ago for the Paw Sox.
This kid has not been bombed yet plus he has four pitches to Bowdens two!
He deserves a shot.

How many young first starters have beat us this year? A LOT

Let's hope the 3 amigos from the far east can save redsox season.

There is more to calling up a player than just adding them to roster. There are rules for home many times you can call up a player and send them down before you have to expose them to waivers. That is why you see players like Bates come up for a short term because they haven't used any of his options yet while a player like Chris Carter who is out of options is not called up. Same with Bowden, they probably don't want to burn up his options.

Tazawa has pitched well all year at different levels and without the bumps that Bowden initially experienced as he moved up. Neither he nor Bowden are over-powering and rely on control/command. Tazawa had had more rest before his call-up and pitching (which he likely would not have done had Friday's game not gone 15 innings). In essence, he is not a flash in the pan, is quite similar to Bowden, and it was then more opportune to bring him up. Since he displayed poise under stressful circumstances, it was worth giving him a shot at starting. What would have been negative, would have been to send him back down and elevate Bowden for Tuesday

I think Tazawa will do pretty well in a Red Sox uniform. Despite the home run allowed the other night, he pitched more than decently for somebody that young, coming from the Japanese industrial league, on his MLB debut. I am sure they have thought of Bowden, but considering his really poor last outing, they decided to give Tazawa a chance.

"What does this say about Boston's confidence in Bowden?"

I've been wondering about that too. Maybe the Globe writer will go after that story? (Or maybe there is no story. Maybe it's merely about the number of options each player has. Still, Bowden figured to be the next call-up, didn't he?)

I don't think the Sox are interested in intrigue or international attention at this point in the season. I think they're interested in winning the game. And they obviously feel that Tazawa gives them the best chance of doing it.

The Red Sox almost never call up a pitcher until they turn 23. I think the numbers say that when a pitcher is called up before 23 it greatly arms their later-career effectiveness. Bowden is 22.

See him next year.

The Japanese translation of "Tazawa" is "Bobby Sprowl"

He has actually had a better season than Bowden but what really is the difference?Bowden,Tazawa or Bobby Sprowl.He's 23 and a former Beer League pitcher whats not too like....

Anybody would be better than Smoltz-that guy was totally useless.

Bring Schilling back.

The Sox are on a roll - Watch out Detroit.

Don't give up on Smoltz, my fair-weather friends.

Awesome... Our Pitching Staff is Awesome........

Maybe next year.....

No... It is called the Red Sox are running out of pitchers... Way to go Bard tonight! Bullpen is in taters... Maybe they can get Penny and Beckett to pitch only on 3 days rest for the remainder of the season

he showed a lot of poise in the stadium in his first call. Granted he was the losing pitcher, but he threw a lot of decent pitches in what for even a more experienced player would be an overwhelmingly nervous situation.

the red sox are good team when they play in their LITTLE LEAGUE BALLPARK When they play in real ballparks they are just another ball club,they proof that this weekend.

I agree with the Bowden commentaries. How/why did "Taz" get these coveted starts? Sox fans have been anticipating Bowden on the mound for quite some time. In fact, he's pitched well in his debuts, to date.

I love it. It's great to see the young guys get a chance instead of rolling out burned up has beens like smoltz.

Hey Frank, regarding your moronic statement "the Red Sox are (a) good team when they play in their little league ballpark": Firstly, their road record currently stands at 27-31 (.466) which is fifth best in the A.L. Not great maybe, but not "just another ball club." And secondly, you may have forgotten (or just chose to ignore) that the Sox have won two World Series in the past six years, which of course no one else has done.