May 8, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Allen Webster (64) comes out of the game against the Minnesota Twins during the second inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports

In the 23-year-old’s stead the Red Sox have called up Jose De La Torre. De La Torre was acquired from the Cleveland Indians last year for Brent Lillibridge, who had been previously part of the Kevin Youkilis deal. The right hander features a low 90’s fastball and an above average slider which he mixes with two-seamer and a changeup. He doesn’t overpower hitters, but with good to better command he misses bats and generates a lot of ground ball outs. He performed well in the World Baseball Classic, pitching for Puerto Rico he struck out 12 batters across six innings pitched.

Unfortunately for the Red Sox, De La Torre is not currently on the 40-man roster, so someone will have to be removed to facilitate De La Torre’s call up. The likely solution is one of Franklin Morales, Joel Hanrahan or Alex Hassan being placed on the 60 day disabled list with their respective injuries. The latter two are more likely, with the extent of Hanrahan’s injury presently unknown and a broken foot has prevented Hassan from starting his season.

March 25, 2013; Sarasota, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Jose De La Torre (78) throws a pitch against the against the Baltimore Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The 27-year-old is a little old for the prospect label, but has yet to make his major league debut and has been pitching well for Pawtucket. Currently, De La Torre owns a 1.56 ERA in ten games pitched. In those ten games, he has given up only five hits good for a .089 BAA in 17.1 innings pitched. If he is able to bring some semblance of these numbers with him to Boston, he will provide the Sox with a reliable bullpen arm who can be shuttled between Boston and Pawtucket all season long.

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Feb 25, 2013; Dunedin, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Allen Webster (64) during the bottom of third inning of a spring training split squad game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Florida Exchange Park. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

It appears that the Red Sox will be needing to make a move before long if this continues. Luckily, there’s help on the horizon. Number three prospect Allen Webster has been dominant in Triple-A and looked good in his first major league start a couple of weeks ago, allowing 3 runs (2 earned) with 5 hits allowed and 5 strikeouts in 6 innings. However, he has been filthy with Pawtucket as he holds a 2.70 ERA with 12 hits and 6 walks allowed compared to 26 strikeouts in just 20 innings.

Both pitchers have filthy stuff, but Webster has seemed much more command of his arsenal than Doubront. While Doubront often falls behind and throws lots of pitches early, Webster is able to carve his way through lineups. Of course, his mid-90′s fastball and razor sharp slider help considerably and seemed to work even against a good Kansas City lineup.

I feel that Doubront deserves one more start, and the way things stand, he would face the Twins. If Doubront is unable to pitch well against the Twins, a stint with the PawSox may be necessary. And if Doubront is demoted, it’s going to be Webster who is called up. The way the Red Sox are playing, a youth movement would energize this team even more.

Webster, acquired at the trade deadline last year in the huge deal with the Dodgers showed a lot of poise in his debut and really looks like he will be a major piece to the Red Sox near future puzzle.

Feb 17, 2013; Fort Myers FL, USA; Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Allen Webster (64) poses during photo day at JetBlue Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

His night got off to an eventful start as Alex Gordon hit Webster’s first major league pitch for a double off the Green Monster.  That was followed by an airmailed throw to first by Pedro Ciriaco on an Alcides Escobar infield grounder, allowing Gordon to score.

But Webster minimized the damage by striking out two in the inning and then getting a spectacular diving stab on a grounder up the middle from Dustin Pedroia.

He then proceeded to settle down with a 1-2-3 second inning and went on to pitch well with a line of 6 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K and 84 pitches.  Despite allowing  fifth inning home runs to George Kottaras and Gordon, Webster mixed his pitches well with a fastball around 94-95 to go along with a very good change-up and curve ball.

Offensively, Mike Napoli homered to lead off the second followed by Mike Carp, who is making the most of his limited playing time, hitting a towering double off the Monster that scored Jarrod Saltalamacchia all the way from first to give the Sox a 2-1 lead off Jeremy Guthrie.

Napoli (3-5, 2B, HR) struck again in the fifth as he singled home Daniel Nava to put Boston ahead 4-3 but they left two men on as Salty and Will Middlebrooks could not extend the inning.

They held that lead until the bottom of the eighth when Koji Uehara gave up his first run of the season on a titanic home run into the Monster seats by the Royals Billy Butler to tie it 4-4.

After a squander by the Sox in the ninth in which Jacoby Ellsbury was stranded after singling with one out and stealing second,  lefty Andrew Miller proceeded to walk Sox killer Lorenzo Cain with the bases loaded to put the Royals ahead for good. The Sox went quietly in the tenth vs Greg Holland.

Losing two games in one day after the emotion of Saturday’s win is disappointing but the bottom line is Webster’s performance was the story of this game.  If this is the kind of work Webster can give the Sox in his debut, the sky looks to be the limit for his future.

Next up for the Sox:  the Oakland A’s come to Fenway tomorrow night for the opener of a three game series at 6:35.  It will be Felix Doubront vs A.J. Griffin.

Feb 25, 2013; Dunedin, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Allen Webster (64) against the Toronto Blue Jays during a spring training split squad game at Florida Exchange Park. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Webster allegedly tweaked his mechanics this spring, pitching off the first base side of the rubber rather than the third base side. This was expected to improve his control (career-high 4.21 BB/9 last year) and has had excellent results for the 23 year old right-hander. He struck out 14 and threw to a 1.64 ERA in 11 innings during the spring and in two starts for the PawSox, he has a 0.90 ERA and a 12:3 K:BB ratio in 10 innings.

His stuff is reminiscent of Derek Lowe, as he throws a good sinker even harder than Lowe as it sits in the mid-90′s and has been clocked as high as 98 mph. He mixes that in with a good change and decent slider. I had the privilege to watch him this spring and I was very impressed with both his raw stuff and his polish, as he showed much better command than at any point last year.

It ought to be interesting to see how he handles himself against a young and aggressive Kansas City lineup. Plus, if he pitches well, will the Red Sox send him down? It may create problems when John Lackey returns, but the Red Sox may be able to make room for him in the bullpen and for occasional spot starts. Even if this is a one-and-done deal, it’ll be neat to watch one of the top prospects in the system pitch in the majors.

Feb 25, 2013; Dunedin, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Allen Webster (64) during the bottom of third inning of a spring training split squad game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Florida Exchange Park. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Injuries obviously happen, and almost every team will have to rely on more than five starting pitchers the entire year. It’s very unlikely that we’ll see Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz, Ryan Dempster, Felix Doubront, and John Lackey making every single start in 2013. If they don’t, however, the Red Sox will be in a much better place than they’ve been the past few years. The Red Sox’ revamped farm system plus the Dodgers trade is finally starting to produce some impact prospects, including pitchers like Rubby de la Rosa, Allen Webster, Matt Barnes, and Brandon Workman, all of whom could contribute in 2013.

Workman and Barnes aren’t in big league camp, but Webster and de la Rosa have really made names for themselves this spring. De la Rosa struggled in yesterday’s loss to the Marlins, but has shown some great stuff this spring save for a couple of rough outings. Webster, on the other hand, has been nearly flawless. He allowed just an unearned run on three hits while striking out three today, and has a 1.64 ERA and 14 strikeouts in 11 innings this spring.

If the Red Sox suffer from injuries to their starting rotation, it’s likely to be Webster or de la Rosa as the first to be called up. Both should begin the season at Triple-A Pawtucket and will more than likely see Fenway Park before season’s end. Even if big league results aren’t fantastic for these two phenoms, it’ll be much more fun to watch them than the mediocre stuff of Aaron Cook and Daisuke Matsuzaka.

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Feb 25, 2013; Dunedin, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Allen Webster (64) during the bottom of third inning of a spring training split squad game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Florida Exchange Park. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

De La Rosa and Webster have been nothing short of spectacular in the opening weeks of Boston’s spring season. De La Rosa has been clocked a number of times at or near 100 mph and Webster has regularly been gunned in the mid to high nineties

The two combined have pitched 9 innings, have a .90 ERA, .625 WHIP, 1 walk and eight strike outs. Without getting too far ahead of myself the Dodger/Red Sox deal is currently looking like one of the greatest steals in recent memory.

De La Rosa, who is coming back from Tommy John surgery and will be 24 today, has been electric early on. He has not backed down to any hitter and has thrown hard, harder, hardest with movement. His presence, if consistent, could make the back end of Boston’s bullpen very stout.

Depending on how things go with Felix Doubront, injuries in the starting rotation or Boston’s middle relief, Webster could become a key component on a number of dimensions.

One thing is certain. Boston currently has more pitching options than they’ve had in the last three seasons. If this dynamic duo continues to perform as they have to date. Boston could do a whole lot better than .500 in 2013.

Tonight’s the night, I’m gonna push it to the limit
I live all of my years in a single minute

Fill my eyes with that double vision
No disguise for that double vision
Ooh, when it gets through to me, it’s always new to me
My double vision always seems to get the best of me, the best of me, yeah-eah eah-eah-hey
- Double Vision, Foreigner 

Feb 25, 2013; Dunedin, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Allen Webster (64) during the bottom of third inning of a spring training split squad game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Florida Exchange Park. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

OK, so he’s pitched two innings so far and while he tossed nothing but goose eggs over those two frames it’s not the stats that have me stoked. It’s the radar gun pop that Captain Tommy John is putting out there. De La Rosa has been clocked on the gun twice at 100 mph. That’s some serious cheese kids, especially in spring training. The Red Sox haven’t seen that since the early and mid 2000s when Jonathan Papelbon and Daniel Bard combined to mow down and saw in half opponents’ bats.

In the age of ever-more refined elbow surgery, recovery from Tommy John means not if you can come back but how well you come back. Advances in surgical techniques and post-operative physical therapy are not only getting pitchers back in the game but truly turning them into $6 million men. At $482,000, De La Rosa could prove to be Magic Johnson’s Waterloo and Boston’s steal. When combined with 23-year old Allen Webster, you’ve got the potential for a bona fide Dodger twin killing.

Webster spanked the radar gun at 98 mph in his first Grapefruit League outing. Think about Webster as a harder throwing Derek Lowe. When he’s on he’s got a killer sinker. With that much speed behind it the sinker is sure to deaden many a bat and induce limp ground ball outs.

It took one Google search for me to find out if my theory was right. My top hit was an SI.com article featuring, guess who, both De La Rosa and Webster. De La Rosa’s minor league coach was quoted in an interview with WEEI’s Alex Speier. “Just kind of imagine Derek Lowe with sharper, harder and gnarlier secondaries… The sink is insane,” said Chuck Crim. “Granted, Derek could control that sink and start it and end it where he wanted to. That takes years of experience with that type of a pitch. But there’s not too many, if you look at hard sinker guys, there’s not too many to compare it to. Normally guys don’t throw sinkers with that kind of movement that hard…”

That’s a ringing endorsement that I can live with and hopefully one that proves Ben Cherington has been making all the right moves.

Fire! I’ll take you to burn 
Fire! I’m gonna take you to learn 
I’ll see you burn
- Fire, Pete Townshend 

With Youk’s value in free fall, only the clinically-diagnosable rabid Red Sox fan calling into sports talk radio still fantasizes about acquiring a #4 slot starter in a one-for-one trade.

But, there is a viable 3-team deal with the Sox, Dodgers, and Astros out there.

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