Lowell hits the DL, Pauley called up, Buchholz done?

Mike Lowell was officially placed on the disabled list today. David Pauley was called up from Pawtucket to take his roster spot.

Charlie Zink was options back to Pawtucket after last night's game, but with the arrival of Paul Byrd earlier this week, the Red Sox now have six starters: Beckett, Matsuazka, Lester, Buchholz, Byrd and Pauley.

Like Zink, Pauley was nasty in Pawtucket (13-4, 3.32 ERA), but Zink's success at AAA did not transfre in Boston... Pauley's didn't either back on April 22nd, when the Angels tagged him for 5 runs over 4 1/3 innings...

Fenway West thinks this move means Buchholz is out... here's what the next few days look like:

The rotation is set through Saturday: Matsuzaka (THU), Byrd (FRI) and Beckett (SAT). Buchholz would have started Friday, but Byrd took his spot. Pauley will likely go on Sunday, setting up Lester for Monday on a normal 5 days rest.

If the plan is to have Buchholz skip a start, he could slide back into the rotation on Saturday the 23rd at Toronto - if they decide to send Pauley back to Pawtucket...

Side Note: Peter Gammons had this to say about in his Q&A session this afternoon:

PJ: Peter, what do you think Buchholz's biggest problem is right now? Mechanical, Mental?

Peter Gammons: All of the above. It's really surprised me because he's such a great athlete but all season he's seemed to have lost his mechanics and when he gets in trouble seems to panic. The great changeup that we saw last year had seemingly disappeared at times. I thought he could be a righthanded Cole Hamels with a great curve ball, a great changeup, and mediocre fastball command but he's lost that.

Bottom Line: I don't see much point in sending Buchholz back down, but there's also no point in holding a roster spot for him if he's not going to pitch... I think he'll get 1 or 2 more starts before the September call-up... and then they'll have more freedom to work with him some more if needed.