Mar 24, 2015; Jupiter, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Brian Johnson (78) throws against the Miami Marlins at Roger Dean Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Prediction: Brian Johnson is a regular addition to the rotation. Justin Masterson to bullpen.
Nothing much left in Pawtucket for Johnson except to get his work in and watch the box scores. The call will come. That call has to come. Manager Kevin Boles will call him into his office and pat him on the back and say: “Kid, you’re going to the big club and probably never coming back.”
The rotation is starting to solidify with three pitchers that make one feel we have a chance at shutting down the opposition – Wade Miley, Buchholz and Eduardo Rodriguez. However, this is not 1895 and a rotation consists of five reliable – or close to reliable – starters and not the three for nine innings each of the Dead Ball Era.
So who gets dumped? Rick Porcello is signed into the next ice age with an enormous contract for being statistically the bottom of the starters barrel in the AL. Masterson is doing his absolute best to match Porcello for getting bopped around. The Red Sox go with Porcello and move Masterson to the bullpen.