Everyone has done it. I wake up multiple times a week, afraid I may have lost an arm. While sleeping, your arm gets caught underneath your body and the circulation gets cut off, you wake up in a daze, move positions and the feeling comes back. You fall back asleep and wake up good as new, although, when this happens to Josh Beckett and he pitches like shit it’s breaking news.

As Red Sox Nation collectively holds our breath, Beckett is not looking like the ace starting pitcher we all came to know and love from the past 2 years. In his last start (2 1/3 innings, 8 runs, 8 hits against Toronto) he felt a tingling feeling in his pinky and ring finger, and Tito had said that had something to do with his location, and we are all hoping the same.

Apparently this tingly feeling had come from Beckett sleeping on his arm the wrong way the night before, yet he told redsox.com writer Ian Browne that it is something he had been dealing with off and on this season but he had no idea what it was, or where it was coming from.

Now with his next start pushed back until Tuesday against the Yankees in New York, the Bronx Bombers are licking their lips hoping Beckett is not right and they can slip back into the playoff picture, as their window is getting more slim while the days pass.

The problem with his feeling seems to be minor, but with multi-million dollar investments, you can never be too cautious. However, with the Red Sox playoff berth far from a sure thing, we can be sure to all be biting our nails as the rest of the season and our starting pitching dilemma transpires.

Buchholz Looking to Right his Pitching Wrong

It is no secret that young phenom Clay Buchholz is not having the year that everyone expect. It is not his fault, however, that he is not living up to the hype given off of last year’s no-no in his second major league start. It’s tough to forget such a milestone for fans like us. But the season can still be saved for Buchholz.

Pitching coach John Farrell and Clay have seemed to find a flaw in the young guy’s mechanics which may be causing his pitches to drift over the plate and contributed to his 6.35 ERA and 90 hits in 73 and 2/3 innings, including 11 home runs over that time.

Texas Gal over in Center Field turned us on to the idea that Buchholz has been “drifting” in delivery, as show through the PitchFX diagrams in her post. Hopefully with this new light bulb over Clay’s head he will return to his form and help the Sox finished the sweep over the Orioles, more for the kid’s confidence than the team.

Wakefield Plays a Little Toss

After spending 10 days on the DL, Tim Wakefield has got the ball back in his hand and played catch with pitching coach John Farrell for the first time since going on the disabled list with tightness in the back of his right shoulder. The Sawx are hoping after a few more side sessions Wake will be ready to take back to the mound.

Colon to Pitch for Pawtucket this Week

After leaving his third rehab start for the PawSox after one inning with a case of the stomach bug, Bartolo Colon will continue his trail back to Fenway this week against Syracuse Chiefs. David Pauley is listed as the probable starter for tonight on the PawSox website, but Colon could end up getting the start.

Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald reported this morning:

“Wakefield was supposed to start tomorrow’s homestand opener against the Texas Rangers, but instead will go on the disabled list. A replacement has yet to be named, but Michael Bowden, today’s scheduled starter for Triple-A Pawtucket, is a top candidate with Devern Hansack a possibility as well.”

The reports have apparently changed as the Providence Journal’s Sean McAdam reports that budding minor-league knuckleball pitcher, Charlie Zink, is the favorite to finally jump ship to the big leagues. He also mentions that Devern Hansack is another option, but the Sox seem to be leaning towards the knuckleballer.

As for Bowden, it’s a great idea that the Sox not rush the top-regarded prospect to the Majors. He was just called up to AAA and his arm needs more seasoning before he should be considered an option. Look for Bowden to get a chance sometime late next year if things go to plan.

As for Zink, he is certainly no Wakefield, but his 2008 minor league numbers have been spectacular for AAA Pawtucket. As we know with knuckleball pitchers, they can be streaky – the same goes for Zink. Although his 2.89 ERA helps his cause for a couple of spot-starts, the Sox are still considering Hansack. Hansack has some, although limited experience with the big club.

Zink should get the call because of how well he’s pitched this season. Replacing a knuckleballer with another knuckleballer is not a terrible thing. After being seasoned by Wakefield himself, Zink can put his advice to good use and pitch well for the Red Sox during Wakefield’s DL stint.

SoxProspects.com says that Zink is fearless with his knuckleball, even when way behind in the count. He has a mid 80’s fastball and cutter that he can throw for strikes. Click here to read his full prospect report.

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If Zink does get the call, it will be quite difficult to keep the same consistency that Tim Wakefield has set throughout the season. We can make an argument that Wakefield has been the most consistent all year. (It’s very realistic. Lester struggled earlier this season and Beckett hasn’t been Beckett as of late.)

Add this with the struggles of Taylor, er….Clay Buchholz, and the Red Sox have some serious decisions to make, says Rob of The Bottom Line.

Buchholz confidence has to be at an all-time low, even though his post-game interviews makes it seem otherwise. Buchholz was confident he made some good pitches. As for Red Sox Nation, maybe we expected too much, too soon from the kid.

The fact of the matter is that Buchholz’ job is seriously in doubt. If it weren’t for Wakefield’s injury and Bartolo Colon’s setback, Taylor might be sent back down to AAA for more grooming.

I mean, Clay.