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Pitching paradise

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Updated Jun 26, 2009 7:30 PM ET
     
 
WASHINGTON - Every team spends most of its offseason trying to build pitching depth. Then, from spring training on, they usually watch it disappear. So forgive anyone associated with the Red Sox for thinking deep thoughts about their own pitching depth last night. With John Smoltz beginning his 2009 season, it was the perfect moment to acknowledge that - knock on wood - their depth remains as deep as ever. ``The Baseball gods will get you every time (if you talk about having a surplus),'' general manager Theo Epstein said before last night's game against the Nationals, ``but I think nearly anyone taking an objective look at this situation would see that we're looking pretty good on depth and we're looking pretty good on quality, too.'' Even with the loss of Daisuke Matsuzaka last week for an unknown time, the impact was minimal. ``Now, we're pretty content to be where we're at and that's even after we had an injury occur to a key pitcher,'' said Epstein. ``The timing worked out pretty well with Smoltz being ready and even if someone should go down now, we have (Clay) Buchholz ready to be called up from the minors.'' Patience in waiting for Smoltz has not been difficult for Epstein. ``This was more or less the plan all along, so it hasn't been that difficult to be patient because we've had the surplus of starting pitching,'' he said. ``We haven't had to rush anybody.'' With the July 31 trading deadline creeping up, the chatter for pitching will only increase. Even if the Sox are not looking to make a move - and right now, with the best record in the AL, there are no indications that they are - their pitching depth makes it inevitable that other teams will come calling. ``Just because you have a surplus doesn't mean you move someone and just because you move someone doesn't mean you have a surplus,'' said Epstein. Manager Terry Francona credited the strategy of Epstein and his Baseball operations staff. ``Our payroll is good. There's no getting around that,'' said Francona. ``The guys in uniform know we're lucky to be allowed to get the players we get. I think there's some hesitance, especially with pitchers, to give contracts or to get a guy you have to get. Someone's going to say he said (CC Sabathia's) not worth it. That's not where I'm going with this, I think CC's awesome. ``For any organization, those are some tough decisions. I think, OK, if you're not going to do that, how are you going to get around it and still be good? So, I think our guys got very creative. The same reasons why we have enough depth is why we don't have to rush guys.''
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