Carter ,Velazquez, Buchholz and the Rotation.

Chris Carter is now out here on the left coast with the Red Sox to add a big bat to the bench. With Pedroia out tonight Velazquez will most likely remain with the team as a utility infielder for one more day. Carter should be activated tomorrow and Velazquez will go back to the PawSox, assuming Pedroia can go.

Clay Buchholz threw another great game today, his ERA over the last 6 starts in 1.03. Last season fans were wondering why the Sox were taking so long to get him out of the bigs, myself included. Now people wonder why he is still in AAA. If Brad Penny struggles tomorrow the calls for Buchholz will only grow louder. Masterson's outing last night did not did make it seem like he was a viable option to keep in the rotation for much longer. Dice-K will be back with the team after the West Coast trip and Smoltz is about a month away. Where does Clay fit? I think the Red Sox are keeping him in Pawtucket until there is another injury to a starter, even if it is a made up injury like the one that might be coming if Lester has another bad outing. Smoltz is going to get his shot as a starter before Clay is a full time member of the rotation but Buchholz will be with the team at some point when the next injury arises. Brad Penny may be on borrowed time but Clay's performance today did not change that. Penny will have to have two more terrible performances if the Red Sox are going to take him out of the rotation before Smoltz is ready. Bringing Clay up right before Smoltz joins the team does not make much sense; it will only be done if the Red Sox have no choice but to do it.