Keith Law/Will Carroll Chat Recap

Jake (Salt Lake): Do you think Lester is ready to be called up during Schilling's DL stint? Is he striking out enough batters? Thanks.

Keith Law: (2:10 PM ET ) His stuff isn't all the way back, which is why his K rate is down, but I'm more concerned about how well he'll hold up deeper into the summer. Fatigue is the big factor for him in 2007.

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Jim: (Irvine, CA):: Rank the following...Lincecum, Bailey, Hughes, Buchholz, Gallardo. Keep up the good work...

Keith Law: (2:11 PM ET ) Hm, good question. As starters, probably Hughes, Gallardo, Buchholz, Lincecum, Bailey. But if he becomes a reliever, Lincecum rules them all.

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Bob Winthrop: Hi Keith. We read alot about Bucholz and Bowden. I was just wondering if you liked Kris Johnson or Justin Masterson? As always thank you.

Keith Law: (2:13 PM ET ) I like Masterson quite a bit, but as a reliever - a true sinker/slider guy, not a "sinker/slider guy" who doesn't sink the fastball. Never seen Johnson, but I should see him whenever he gets to AA.

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Ryan (Vancouver): What is wrong with Julio Lugo? Seriously, is there something we can do to help? He looks lost.

Keith Law: (2:27 PM ET ) If you happen to find his bat lying around somewhere, I'm pretty sure the Red Sox would accept it COD.

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Khalid (Boston): Dustin Pedroia 2007 ROY, thoughts?

Keith Law: (2:32 PM ET ) I'd probably go Guthrie, Willits, Pedroia. Maybe flip the last two. Pedroia could easily win it if the season ended today - high batting average on a prominent team.

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Kevin (Boston): Dice-K and Okajiema have no place in the AL ROY discussion?

Keith Law: (2:43 PM ET ) 4th and 5th, respectively - but I believe the ballot (which I don't get anyway!) only has three spots.

Paul (Atlanta): Keith, love the chats. What kind of player does Jed Lowrie project to be? Love his OBP.

Keith Law: (3:05 PM ET ) Slap-hitting guy who'll take a walk, was pretty rough at 2b in college (which was the last time I saw him - team USA, in Keene, as a matter of fact). Needs to hit for average to be an everyday player in the big leagues, because I don't see any power in that swing.

Jay (West Dover, VT): Keith, I know Beckett has been outstanding, but is Theo regretting trading Hanley at all? With Julio Lugo batting .201, Theo HAS to think "what if" with Hanley Ramirez emerging has one of the best short stops in the game.

Keith Law: (3:13 PM ET ) Except for the fact that Hanley is a brutal defensive shortstop. Now, put him in CF and we can talk.

Ted Fischer (Boston): Any thoughts on Schilling? The MRI was reportedly negative, but he's going on the DL anyways. Is there still cause for Concern?

Will Carroll: I think we have to see if rest cures it. On the heels of Jason Schmidt, it's right to be skittish, but Schilling is nothing if not self-aware.

patman (Tusk-a-loosa): What's up with Schilling? Just a case of coming down with the 40's or something more serious? Maybe Shilling will be the guy to give the currently popular Sunday Starter idea a modern day try. Seems like a perfect fit to me - he and the Red Sox front office seem to be smart enough and grasp the game well enough to understand that ~24 starts by a well rested Schilling and working off days and spot starts around him could be better than trying to get 33 starts out of a Schilling whose body doesn't recover as fast as it used to which leads to inconsistancy from start to start and you still only get 24 starts out of him anyway and have to work spot starters around stints on the DL. Schill could use the extra two days to do more Q&A on his blog and put some office time in with his video game company. He could probably make a midweek relief appearance from time to time too to contribute a few more innings to the team.

Will Carroll: Tusk-a-loosa? Is that a Big Al reference?

No answer here, but I like the discussion enough to just post this. You're right -- he's the right guy, they're the right team.

Gibson Rules (Philly): Where is Matt Clement?

Will Carroll: Rehabbing and being an object lesson for Jason Schmidt. Clement's injuries were a bit more serious, but you could call him the downside projection for Schmidt. Last I heard, September was iffy for a Clement return.

Ok, I cannot do a chat from my massage chair. Which sucks, because it felt great.