Red Sox Pitchers Must Find Ways to Recover from Injuries and Changes

Pitching has always been an area of worry for the Red Sox Nation. Up until these past few seasons, it has also stifled Boston's hopes for a World Series post-season run.

Spring training in Fort Myers, Florida is action-packed on the mound.

John Lester

Last fall, Lester was diagnosed as having a non-Hodgkin's form of lymphoma. He underwent surgery to treat the ailment, Monday marked the first time he has seen action since then.

In a spring training game versus the Minnesota Twins, Lester threw eight pitches, six for strikes, to complete a perfect inning.

Tim Wakefield

The thirteen year veteran knuckle-baller of the team, Wakefield suffered a ribcage injury last summer. Last season marked the first time Wakefield was listen on the DL, and it could not have come at a worse time.

The Boston management learned a valuable lesson last year, when they traded trusted knuckle-ball catch Doug Mirabelli. After back-up catcher Josh Bard was unable to catch Wakefield, the Red Sox were forced to bring Mirabelli back, but then came the ribcage injury.

It seemed as though the majority of injuries all came in a lump, and Wakfield remarks of his time on the bench, "It hurt inside... knowing what the team was going through, I was trying my best to get back on the field, but it was sickening being on the bench not being able to help."

Jonathan Papelbon

Coming out of the bullpen after Wakefield against the Philadelphia Phillies, Papelbon looked strong, as he retired six batters in a row, with four strike-outs.

After spending much of last season as a closer, Papelbon's main focus for this spring training game was to pace himself and keep the mindset of a starter.

With Papelbon working on a starter's position, the closer's place is up-for-grabs. Candidates include Mike Timlin, who is coming off an oblique injury, Joel Pineiro, Brendan Donnelly, and Julian Tavarez.

Curt Schilling

A long-time big name in pitching, Schilling has decided this season needs a change, so he is working on alternating his change-up grip. After working hard on a new change-up for three years, trying out about twenty different grips, Schilling feels 2007 could be the year for its appearance as a major part of his pitching set.

The Red Sox management has made some serious changes in its pitching staff these past few seasons, but with the development of a variety of injuries, positive results have been few and far between.

This upcoming season provides a wealth of hope for the pitching staff, and the time between now and opening day on April 1, the Red Sox faithful will be seeing some exciting adaptations on and off the mound.