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Clay Buchholz: Jon Lester should be Red Sox Opening Day starter 02.19.13 at 2:09 pm ET
By Rob Bradford

Jon Lester

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Unlike two years ago, when then-Red Sox manager Terry Francona informed Jon Lester during the offseason he would the team’s Opening Day starter, current Sox manager John Farrell has not identified his starting pitcher for the Sox’ season-opener April 1 at Yankee Stadium.

One of two two candidates for the honor, Clay Buchholz, had no hesitation when talking about the subject.

“Jonny Lester should be the guy,” Buchholz told WEEI.com after the team’s Tuesday workout. “He’s been the horse over the last four years for us. I don’t think you can go in any other direction with it. He’s just been our guy who has gone out there, who is a hard-throowing lefty, who had pretty special off-speed stuff. So I think that’s a good guy to have out there to set the tone for everybody else.”

Lester has been the Opening Day starter the past two seasons, having taken over for Josh Beckett, who got the nod in 2009 and ’10. If the lefty does start the first game this season, it would mark the first time a Red Sox pitcher has been named Opening Day starter three straight years since Pedro Martinez, who pitched seven straight openers from 1998-’04.

After struggling in the ’11 opener, Lester pitched well during ’12 Opening Day, one run on six hits over seven innings in a loss to Detroit.

“I don’t see any way he has lost the responsibility to have that roll,” Buchholz said. “I think you’ll get the same answer from anybody else on the staff.”

Other members of the Red Sox starting staff who have gotten Opening Day starts are Ryan Dempster — who started his fourth opener last season — and John Lackey (2).

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  • Kenkarken

    I totally agree he should be the opening day starter with Seattle.

  • Toefur

    Time for Johnny-boy to put on his big-boy pants and step into the role of ACE – how was he anointed the ace?  What has he done to earn that distinction?

  • Anonymous

    The only ACE in camp is Pedro and he is not on the roster.
    So Lester has to man up and get it done, and please hold the whine.

  • Bernardcurtin

    By default.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_WW4SUGV5J6Y7R5MVPAWVIWAJFU Dennis

    Buch,this kid always sounds scared to me,and they should’nt give an opinion on who should start.Farrel has’nt decided yet at least not publicly.It may not sound serious to some but its the little things that pile up.He should have said its up to the manager.Just last week he said that Lackey was the ace,whats wrong with this.Could you immagine Pedro making the same comment? This kid lacks confidence to consider himself beneath Lackey as a pitcher.It may be me reading to much into it but it kind of bothers me when he opens his mouth.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_WW4SUGV5J6Y7R5MVPAWVIWAJFU Dennis

    Lester will start being a lefty,but a whiner he’s not.Because he reacts a certain way to the umps don’t make him a cry baby.Last year was the only full year that he won under 15 games.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_WW4SUGV5J6Y7R5MVPAWVIWAJFU Dennis

    I hope you don’t consider Buch to be the ace,that kid puts the whole staff above himself.He had one very good year and i hope Pedro shows him how to get a little attitude.You don’t win in the majors without plenty of attitude.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_WW4SUGV5J6Y7R5MVPAWVIWAJFU Dennis

    Who would you start against the lefthanded power of the Yankees,it has to be Lester.If he does’nt do well we’ll be out of it at the end of April.

  • molly

     Good one. Tired of this guys act. Get him out of town. 

  • Pedro time

    Inmates along with Aceves want to run the prison. This staff has more mouth than ability. Pedro needs to shut him up.

  • Paul

    I would not strat Lester and send a message that he has to earn his due this year. I’d start Dempster. Buccholz opinion does not matter.

    Lester is a mid-rotation guy , not a #1 or #2.

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