Boston’s Ridiculous Pitching Depth Pt. 2

As mentioned in Part 1 of my look at Boston’s starting pitching depth, the organization is blessed with an abundance of hurlers. The club has six veteran pitchers penciled in for five spots in the 2009 rotation. But there are four more talented pitchers standings on the outside edge of the mound looking in: Justin Masterson, Clay Buchholz, Michael Bowden, and Junichi Tazawa.

Masterson has the best shot at breaking camp with Boston, even if five of the six veteran hurlers are healthy. The right-hander appeared in 36 games with the big club in 2008, including nine starts, and acquitted himself nicely. Armed with a bowling ball that averages around 90 mph, as well as a nice slider, Masterson induces a lot of ground balls (54.3 GB% in 2008). He just needs to show a little more control (4.08 BB/9) and he could be dominating – as long as he has competent infield defence behind him. Masterson likely won’t be a huge asset to Fantasy Baseball owners, unless he wriggles his way into a starting gig because he’s not going to wrestle the closer’s job away from Jonathan Papelbon in the bullpen.

The 2008 season was supposed to be a breakout party for Buchholz, but that obviously did not happen. After making a name for himself in 2007 by throwing a no-hitter in September in just his second big league start, the right-hander (who rarely struggled even in the minors) regressed considerably and posted a 6.75 ERA in 16 games (15 starts). He allowed 93 hits in 76 innings and posted an out-of-character walk rate of 4.86 BB/9. Relegated to the minors for the remainder of the season, Buchholz rebounded which gives hope for 2009 and beyond. He just needs another opportunity, which will not come easily in Boston.

Bowden has quietly crept up the organizational ladder since being selected 47th overall in the 2005 amateur baseball draft. The 22-year-old hurler has a little more youth on his side than Masterson and Buchholz. He also has just 45 innings of experience above Double-A, so more time in Triple-A certainly will not hurt his value. Regardless, he held his own in one emergency big league start so there is no reason to think he won’t be ready if called upon.

Tazawa was Boston’s big international free agent signing this off-season. He was given a three-year, $3.3 million dollar big league contract after signing out of Japan, but the expectation is that he will begin his North American career in Double-A. As a Japanese amateur, there is not a whole lot of concrete data on him but reports suggest he has a low-to-mid 90s fastball and a plus breaking ball. Don’t expect the 22-year-old to surface in Boston for an significant period of time in 2009 but keep him in mind for 2010 and beyond.

From a Fantasy perspective, you have to consider Masterson as having the most impact potential this coming season. Buchholz would be next in line, followed by Bowden and the mysterious Mr. Tazawa. All four pitchers would have a pretty good shot of beginning 2009 in the starting rotation for most other teams in Major League Baseball. Given Boston’s position as a ‘Big Market Team’ you have to be impressed by the fact the club puts so much effort into developing and holding on to the homemade talent.