Part of the upswing in walks is because strike machine Curt Schilling is no longer in the rotation. Meanwhile, Daisuke Matsuzaka is 10-1 with a 2.65 ERA, but he's walked 57 batters in 88 1/3 innings, after allowing 80 walks in 204 2/3 innings last season.
"We've got to get him one inning beyond with the same number of pitches he's throwing," Farrell said of Matsuzaka. "That's what we're hoping to see here over the next few starts."
Farrell said he loves Matsuzaka's competitiveness and the fact he never gives in. He also loves that opponents are 0 for 11 against Matsuzaka with the bases loaded. But he could do without those situations.
"I think it's just a matter of him continuing to repeat his delivery consistently," Farrell said. "There are some areas he needs to get better with, but you can't deny the overall results."
Farrell's other views on the staff:
Josh Beckett - "He's been on the right track for quite a while. He had a stretch of four or five starts coming out of spring training where he was in a little bit of catch-up mode because of the in juries, but he's been very, very good since. He's a tremendous competitor, and we've seen what Josh can do in the biggest games." In other words, no worries.
Jon Lester - "He's been very consistent, especially after the first three starts, and he's met his expectations for getting deep in games, as we saw in his last start [7 1/3 innings against the Twins July 8] before the break. We always have a projected target threshold for every guy. We're thinking he can go 190-200 innings at this pace. He's gone from being very deliberate - and I'm not saying he was unsure of himself - to one who attacks hitters, and his pace of game is at a much brisker pace now."
