Concern over new pitchers

With the surgery and subsequent hospitalization of Dave Wallace for what looks like a good chunk of the 2006 season, and Jason Varitek leaving for the World Baseball Classic this week, numerous individuals have expressed some concern over the effectiveness of the Sox' staff coming out of the April gates. In all honesty, I think they really have no need to worry. Al Nipper, who pitched for the Sox for several years, has been named interim pitching coach after having spent a little bit of time around the staff in '05 and serving as bullpen coach. Though he doesn't have the same comfort level around Terry Francona, and the younger pitchers lose some of the cushion provided by Wallace's 2.5 years of continuity, Nipper has been lauded as being intelligent and confident as a coach in his own right. And as far as Varitek, we all know how hard he works. He's been doing his part to catch the guys he needs to catch before his departure with Team USA, and if anything his absence is going to allow his backup (whomever that may be) to jell with the new staff. The pitchers will be fine. What we should all be concerned about is Wallace's health. Get well soon, Dave.