Red Sox manager Terry Francona has his work cut out in terms of setting the pitching rotation for the upcoming ALDS against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The Red Sox, who went 4-5 against the Halos during the regular season, are facing the Angels for the third time in three years and the fourth time since 2004.
In this case, familiarity may be the manager's strongest asset. Pitching staff holdovers from last year — when the Red Sox dispatched the Angels three games to one — include Jon Lester, Daisuke Matsuzaka and Josh Beckett, with Tim Wakefield and Paul Byrd waiting in the wings. Relief pitchers Manny Delcarmen, Hideki Okajima and closer Jonathan Papelbon have also been here before.
But Francona, who last week became the second most successful manager in Red Sox franchise history (behind only Hall of Famer Joe Cronin), must now juggle injuries as well as pitchers. While there is heavy speculation that Francona will name lefty Jon Lester as the Game 1 starter in the ALDS, Francona denies that he has made any decisions regarding his playoff pitching staff.
Though it would stand to reason that Beckett would be the Game 1 starter, Francona, pitching coach John Farrell and the team's medical staff are treating Beckett's recent back soreness with caution by taking extra care not to overtax the righty before the playoffs begin. Francona could decide to staff an extra pitcher to give Beckett, Lester, Matsuzaka or Buchholz some relief should the need arise.
Regardless, this familiarity between the Red Sox and the Angels could be a detriment or benefit to either team. Angels manager Mike Scioscia has been with the Angels since 2000, and several Angels players are familiar with the Red Sox, including likely starters John Lackey, Joe Saunders, Jered Weaver and former Tampa Bay Ray Scott Kazmir.
