Red Sox farm director Mike Hazen addressed Clay Buchholz’ admission that he is frustrated about being stuck in the minors despite a performance that suggests that the pitcher is major-league ready. Hazen said that the pitcher was entitled to feel as if he is ready to graduate from the minors, and that in some respects, it is encouraging to hear Buchholz suggest as much, particularly given how his confidence sank last season.

“There should be an expectation of the player to feel like he’s ready to go to the big leagues…It’s a positive thing when somebody feels like they’ve put a lot of hard work in and they’re ready to make that leap,” said Hazen. “I think we’re reading into it more that he has that confidence, that swagger, to seize the opportunity when it comes. Ultimately, he’s just got to go out and continue to perform every five days. He’s held up his end of the bargain. He’s worked hard. We’ve seen nothing affect his five-day routine outside the white lines.”

Hazen applauded Buchholz’ professionalism throughout 2009. In a season in which he is caught in an organization that has tremendous pitching depth that can lead to even an elite pitching prospect remain in the minors, the pitcher has continued to do everything in his power to prepare between starts and to perform when it is his turn on the mound.

“He’s handled every situation that’s been thrown at him like a pro,” said Hazen. “He’s worked his butt off down in Triple-A. Those things are facts. And his performance has been unbelievable. He has taken care of every ounce of what he can. He needs to continue to do it. We’re proud of him.”

Buchholz, of course, is not the first player to be a victim of minor-league options. Sometimes, players who are major-league ready must simply endure a prolonged apprenticeship in the minors while they wait for an opening, simply because they have options remaining. (For the record, the Sox can option Buchholz throughout both this season and next before they would have to subject him to waivers while doing so.) In 2005, Kevin Youkilis was an example of just such a roster victim when he shuttled between Pawtucket and Boston.

While Buchholz is clearly chomping at the bit to reach the majors, Hazen suggested that the pitcher remains driven to do so in Boston, while suggesting that the right-hander will eventually do just that.

“I believe wholeheartedly that Clay Buchholz wants to pitch for the Boston Red Sox,” said Hazen. “I believe wholeheartedly that both (Buchholz and Michael Bowden) want to be Boston Red Sox and that both of them will be, and that they’ll help us win another World Series. It’s just a matter of the timing of the situation.”

Mike Giardi of NECN conducted a pair of fascinating interviews with the top two Red Sox pitching prospects, Clay Buchholz and Michael Bowden. In the interviews, the two pitchers — who have been close friends since they were both selected by the Red Sox as sandwich picks in the 2005 draft — analyzed their predicament as pitchers who have done virtually everything they need to do to prove that they are ready for the majors, but who are in an organization whose remarkable pitching depth has both of them stuck in Triple-A.

Buchholz and Bowden offered a difference of opinions about the implications of their current minor-league status. Buchholz, who is 4-0 with a 1.75 ERA entering his Monday night start, craves an opportunity to start in the majors, regardless of whether it is in Boston or elsewhere.

“There’s nowhere to go. There’s sort of a logjam up there (on the Boston pitching staff),” Buchholz said in the interview. “They’re doing what they feel is right up there for the team to win. Whenever they come to a problem, they seem to find a way to fix it without me being in the picture. It is what it is. It’s frustrating at times. I’m going out and every fifth day here, helping this team, trying to help this team win and trying to get better every time out.

“I feel like I’m more equipped with everything that I have right now as far as the pitches and the mental aspect. I’m physically healthy to be up there and be able to help that team,” the 24-year-old added. “If not that team, then I want be in the big leagues and I do want to go where I’ll be able to play and go and pitch every fifth day.”

(WEEI.com’s D.J. Bean also recently touched base with Buchholz, a pitcher who was described by PawSox manager Ron Johnson as perhaps “overdue” in his path to the majors. It is worth mentioning that while Buchholz suggested that being in the majors right now is more important than being a member of the Red Sox, he said in the interview that, all things being equal, he would refer to remain in Boston. Moreover, Buchholz has accepted his position in the Sox organization completely in dozens of interviews since the beginning of spring training, suggesting that he is willing to bide behind a group whose abilities are obvious.)

Bowden, 22, is two years younger than Buchholz, and so perhaps that explains part of the reason why he seems to be in less of a hurry to get to the majors. The right-hander, who is 3-3 with a 2.48 ERA, suggested that his priority is to pitch in Boston, even if he will need another year or more to break into the Sox pitching staff on a full-time basis.

“I’ve been in this organization five years. That’s what I’m working towards…That’s my goal and that’s where I want to be,” Bowden told Giardi. “(Being traded is) out of my control. If it’s out of my control, why worry about it. If it happens, it happens. I understand it’s  a business, and that there are opportunities elsewhere. But like I said, I love this organization and I’d hate to leave…I’d rather stay in the minors an extra year or so to play with Boston, and to play in Boston at Fenway, with that group of guys.”

Righthander Michael Bowden was called up by the Red Sox prior to their Sunday night series finale with the Yankees to provide bullpen depth.

Red Sox skipper Terry Francona said before the game that he will stay away from Jonathan Papelbon, Ramon Ramirez and Manny Delcarmen and that Takashi Saito would close for the Red Sox if the need arises.

To make room for Bowden, infield Gil Velazquez was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket. Francona said Bowden will likely head back to Pawtucket following the game to make room for infield Julio Lugo, who will be activated prior to Monday’s game in Cleveland.

“He seems to be moving and not favoring his leg or anything like that,” Francona said of Lugo’s strengthened right knee. “The more he plays, the better he’ll be. I’m sure there’s a little rust there.”

As for how much he’ll be used right away, Francona said he will rely on how Lugo feels to make that determination.

“Some of it is going to depend on how he feels,” Francona said. “We’re not just going to turn him loose and just because he’s on our roster and hurt him. We’ll use some common sense.”

Major-league camp was thinned out a bit, as the Red Sox optioned Michael Bowden to Triple-A Pawtucket and Junichi Tazawa to Double-A Portland, while also re-assigning pitchers Marcus McBeth and Billy Traber to minor-league camp. Bowden and Tazawa are the next wave of Red Sox starting prospects, as both require further minor-league seasoning but have offered evidence that they might be able to contribute to the rotation at some point in 2009. (Clay Buchholz, who has been dominant this spring, is not in the ‘next wave’ starter category by virtue of the fact that he is major-league ready, whether he starts the year in Triple-A Pawtucket or the majors.)

Bowden and Tazawa were interesting studies in contrasts this spring. Bowden, who won his major-league debut last August after a dominating season in the upper minors, struggled in almost all of his starts. He went 0-1 with a 7.59 ERA, and the pitcher who typically exhibits outstanding control allowed 20 baserunners (14 hits, five walks, one hit batter) in his 10.1 innings.

“A little bit inconsistent for him,” said Sox manager Terry Francona, who suggested that the pitcher’s delivery hitches might make him a pitcher who has difficulty finding a rhythm in spring training. “Once he gets to the season, he gets on that roll and then yousee what you have.”

Tazawa, on the other hand, was nothing short of dominant. The right-hander allowed one run in nine innings, striking out 10, walking one and allowing just five hits. He was dominant on the mound, shockingly poised (considering the transition to a new country) on and off of it, and showed other traits such as a delivery time of 1.10 seconds to home plate (“the quickest guy to the plate on the staff,” said Francona) that offer positive signs for his future.

“He had an extraordinary camp,” said Francona. “He just handled everything. Nothing threw him off.”

The team will have Tazawa focus on working out of the windup (he has worked solely out of the stretch in his amateur career) in order to put less stress on his arm, a decision made in deference to the team’s desire to have him continue as a starter. But after spending the spring absorbing lessons from major leaguers, there is certainly reason to believe he could become a contributor at that very level later this year.

OTHER MORNING NOTES

–Josh Beckett will start for the Sox today, and is scheduled to throw roughly 75-80 pitches.

–Kevin Youkilis is taking batting practice this morning, and Francona plans to talk with him to confirm whether he will be ready to game activity on Monday.

–Dustin Pedroia is back in the lineup, having come through all tests well (both Friday’s game and batting practice on Saturday) thus far, and should take three at-bats today.

–Brad Penny is slated to throw three innings and roughly 45 pitches on Monday, in his first Grapefruit League start of the spring.

–Even though Daniel Bard has been overpowering in major-league this spring, his season seems all but certain to commence in the minors. “He’s a young kid,” said Francona. “He needs to go pitch in the minors.”

–The Sox will keep giving Justin Masterson a starter’s workload for now, since the right-hander shows no concern about whether the team employs him as a member of the rotation or a reliever for the regular season. “Because Masterson is not panicky,” said Francona, “we like the idea of keeping him stretched out.”

–Outfielder Jonathan Van Every will remain in a boot for about four or five days after undergoing an MRI on his right ankle, sprained on March 12.

Today’s Red Sox lineup:

Ellsbury, 8
Pedroia, 4
Ortiz, DH
Lowell, 5
Bay, 7
Baldelli, 9
Varitek, 2
Lowrie, 6
McAnulty, 3

Beckett, SP

JUPITER, Fla. — That was Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell talking about Justin Masterson, who turned in another solid outing, this time going  two innings, giving up just a hit and a walk. As Farrrell points out, Masterson once again implemented the change-up he had left behind when making the move to the bullpen last season at a key time. (It was an emphasis the pitcher pointed out early on in camp.)

“He’s a pitcher,” said Farrell after the Red Sox’ 4-2 loss to the Cardinals, Thursday at Roger Dean Stadium. “It doesn’t matter if it’s the first inning, the eighth inning, the ninth inning, he goes out and gets people out. I think one of the big keys today was the 2-0 pitch to Ankiel where he threw a change-up with a man in scoring position for a ground out to first. It shows, again, one of our goals for him coming in was not only incorporate the wind-up but to get a feel for the change-up which he got away from in the relieving role last year. He’s been very good, very good.”

In nine spring training innings, Masterson hasn’t allowed a run, while walking just two. When asked if the hurler’s role would have to be soon defined, Farrell said, “There’s a lot that can happen in the next couple of weeks. But again we’ve got the candidates in the rotation. It will be encouraging tomorrow with Brad Penny taking the mound again, Clay Buchholz has been outstanding. Provided everybody continues to do their job it will make our decision difficult but in a good way.” (Penny is throwing in a minor league, inter-squad game Friday.)

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The Red Sox announced that they had signed 19 players on the 40-man roster to contracts for the 2009 season. The deadline to do so is March 11.

Agreeing to terms were pitchers Michael Bowden ($400,000), Clay Buchholz ($413,500), Manny Delcarmen ($476,000), Felix Doubront ($400,000), Miguel Gonzalez ($400,000), Devern Hansack ($402,000), Hunter Jones ($400,000), Jon Lester (terms unavailable), Wes Littleton ($412,750), Justin Masterson ($415,500) and Ramon Ramirez ($441,000); catchers Dusty Brown ($400,000), George Kottaras ($400,000) and Mark Wagner ($400,000); infielders Chris Carter ($400,000), Argenis Diaz ($400,000), and Jed Lowrie ($414,000); and outfielders Jacoby Ellsbury ($449,500) and Jonathan Van Every ($400,000).

Lester, of course, was reported on Sunday to be close to signing a five-year contract. Though he and the club agreed to terms on a one-year deal, as per a Major League Baseball procedural requirement, the two sides are free to continue negotiating a long-term deal.

Note that all of those are contract values are for players while they are playing in the majors. They will receive far smaller salaries if optioned to the minors.

The Red Sox prospect watch is back on from Fort Myers. Over the last couple of years, the significance of a robust player development system has become obvious in watching farm products play key roles in the past two playoff runs. As such, spring training provides a great opportunity to glimpse those folks who might contribute in 2009 or beyond.

–Minor-league and major-league pitchers typically separate for their throwing sessions during spring training. For what it’s worth, whereas a young pitcher such as Justin Masterson joined the group that included Tin Wakefield, Josh Beckett, Manny Delcarmen, Jon Lester and Javy Lopez, among others, Clay Buchholz and Michael Bowden joined the minor-league brethren.

–Bowden said that, in his second tour at Athletes’ Performance in Pensacola, Fla., the intensity of the program was ramped up to match his needs and demands. Bowden is known as something of a gym rat — Portland pitching coach Mike Cather has said that he would often have to be kicked out of the weight room.

–Buchholz sounded a note of humility about his struggles of a year ago, when he was one of just two pitchers in the majors with an ERA of 6.75 or worse and at least 75 innings (Josh Fogg was the other). He acknowledged that he wouldn’t be handed a rotation job in spring training this year, and said that he hopes to prove his suitability to be a member of the Red Sox rotation at some point this year. Buchholz did hear the trade rumors involving his name this winter (most prominently, the Rangers’ interest in acquiring him for catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia), and revealed that he’d met Nolan Ryan — a pitcher whom he idolized growing up — on a couple occasions in the past. Ryan, of course, said cryptically at the winter meetings that Buchholz would look excellent in a Rangers uniform.

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