My projected 2008 Charlotte roster

[NorthSideSox72]

I might be wrong, but wasn't that a move made out of necessity when Honel crashed and burned and (late in the year) when Russell went to the 'pen?

 

He certainly did have success, both as a starter and a reliever, I guess the crucial point will be whether the Sox think his arm will hold up under a 150 inning burden. You hear great things about him character/makeup-wise, so I hope he stays healthy and succeeds.

That may have been the impetus, but then, there were other options too. Hard to say. I am sure you are right, they will be careful with his arm. His innings in his starts were like 3 or 4 innings at the beginning, then they kept adding more and more, until he pitched almost 8 innings at the end. With an offseason to strengthen up, we'll see what he can do.