Any thoughts on who is going to be sent down? There doesn't seem an obvious pitching choice, which means they'll have a three man bench. (Kotaras, Baldelli and Lugo, assuming Bates is sent down.) And, if Lowell and Lowrie come back too... does this mean they're finally going to release Lugo?

They'll have to make more moves that just getting Buchholz up and down: both Lowrie and Lowell are about ready to be activated as well. So perhaps it's something like:

1. Bates down, Buchholz up.
2. Buchholz down, Lowell up.
3. Lowrie up, Lugo DFA'd.

1. Bates down, Buchholz up.
2. Buchholz down, Lowell up.
3. Lowrie up, Lugo DFA'd.

Agreed on 1/2, not on 3. I have a feeling that Lugo is going on the DL/bereavement list. On Thursday he wasn't with the team due to a "serious family issue" and didn't get used to pinch run on Friday despite an obvious spot for it (Bates was used instead) so I suspect something is up. Lugo has been pretty quiet all year, sort of taking over the Coco Crisp good veteran backup role and he's hit fine (.287/.352/.367). He's not been a $9 million player certainly but I can't imagine they would DFA him.

In terms of Lugo, as much heat as he's taken from the fan base, he seems to have been pretty classy about the whole thing. His hitting has been fine - his problem (if you want to call it that) is that he has a 4 year, $36 million contract. At $9 million a year, you expect a SS who be, well, better than he is. If he was making $4 million a year, he could probably be traded pretty easily for a PTBNL, or even kept as a backup middle infielder...and you probably wouldn't be hearing much about him.

The contract makes him set for life...but in exchange, his unofficial name has to be Julio "9 million a year" Lugo for four years.

mothers, lock up your laptops!

Calling up Buchholz without trading or sending down one of their pitchers doesn't make much sense unless they're going to a six-man rotation. No current starter would move into relief. Which leaves moving Buchholz into relief. Which is not really a bad idea, I guess, except that the Sox really don't need an 8th reliever. No team does.

Ultimately, I think Saito gets traded for a minor-leaguer. There's no reason for the team to carry 13 pitchers. But unless it happens over the ASG, Buchholz is going to be on the train to and from Pawtucket for a while.

Calling up Buchholz without trading or sending down one of their pitchers doesn't make much sense unless they're going to a six-man rotation.

Its one start - he'll be sent down after.

So much for my proposed Aaron Bates Motel handle.

In order to give their starters extra rest during the All-Star break

This makes it sound like they're going to have Buchholz start five straight games or something. Is bumping back each starter's first post-ASB start by one day really enough "extra rest" to bother with?

In terms of Lugo, as much heat as he's taken from the fan base, he seems to have been pretty classy about the whole thing. His hitting has been fine - his problem (if you want to call it that) is that he has a 4 year, $36 million contract.

The problem with Lugo isn't his contract; it is that he has flat out sucked for the first two years while making that much money. Even this year he's hitting well enough, but seemingly makes a feilding error any time he gets a start. He's been classy about it, but I think a fair amount of that is that he knows just how bad he's been.

The Buchholz thing really isn't about rest; it's about giving the starters a concrete schedule from the beginning of the break onwards.

Maybe they should have Wakefield start five straight games to give their (other) starters a rest. Or bring back Charlie Zink to do the honors. They have some wiggle room, it's not like they have more than a 0.01% chance of missing the playoffs.

With the ASG break, the off day Thursday, and the last day that Wakefield pitched being July 8th, the team's excuse makes little sense to me. Rumor is that they are showcasing Buchholz.

Or bring back Charlie Zink to do the honors.

That would be a great way to vault the Sox into 3rd place.

It seems pretty clear that they're showcasing Buchholz to me, but for what trade? Halliday is unlikely (though it isn't impossible) to be traded directly to the Sox. What other big name players are out there? The Sox have room for improvement at shortstop, in center field, and at first base.

I don't think they'd trade Buchholz for anything less than an ace starting pitcher. They've got "depth" there, but most of it is (a) performing in a pedestrian manner, and (b) old/recently injured. It's largely an illusory depth (and Buchholz is part of it, representing (c) has performed brilliantly in the minor leagues, but so-so in the majors so far).

So much for my proposed Aaron Bates Motel handle

Dropped like a regular Alphonse and Arbogaston...

I don't think they are showcasing him, I think they are mollifying him. He has been pretty upfront at his disappointment at not pitching in the Majors with the type of season he is having and I think they are giving him a little taste of the big leagues to keep him happy and motivated.

I don't think they are showcasing him, I think they are mollifying him. He has been pretty upfront at his disappointment at not pitching in the Majors with the type of season he is having and I think they are giving him a little taste of the big leagues to keep him happy and motivated.

Agree. Still, it's clear that for him to get a shot this year, another pitcher has to go. Maybe they'll invent a DL issue for Delcarmen or something.

I think the Lugo frustration is that he gets paid a lot of money to suck. Aaron Bates sucks, but because he's getting paid the minimum for 15 days, nobody is going to boo him. If Lugo was playing good D, getting on base at a .350 clip, popping out 10-15 HRs with 30 2Bs, we wouldn't be booing him, either.

Whatever. I thin the organization is really trying to baby Wakefield, Penny, and Smoltz, and if they can buy an extra day of rest for all three of them going into the second half, and reward Buchholz for a nice season so far, why not?

It could be worse. Lugo could be Alfonso Soriano.

any chance Masterson gets sent down for a little rest and re-tooling?

Hmmm. Maybe. But I don't know how much being sent down would help him. The Red Sox know his confidence level, though, so whatever they decide on him is probably the right thing.

The problem with Lugo isn't his contract; it is that he has flat out sucked for the first two years. Even this year he's hitting well enough, but seemingly makes a feilding error any time he gets a start.

FWIW, as a Red Sox fan, this is my view of Lugo. He seems to commit an error every game he plays in. It's annoying. I couldn't care less how much they pay him, it's not my money, and it hasn't seemed to stop the Sox from buying whomever they want (the Yankees excepted).

For me it's not so much the money he gets paid--it's the lack of upside he represents.

I don't think they are showcasing him, I think they are mollifying him. He has been pretty upfront at his disappointment at not pitching in the Majors with the type of season he is having and I think they are giving him a little taste of the big leagues to keep him happy and motivated.

I don't think these things are mutually exclusive. It makes sense for Buchholz' development to get him starts in the majors, it makes sense for Buchholz' happiness to show him they see him as a major leaguer, and it makes sense for the Sox to showcase their top prospect.