Clay Buchholz

I was filled with all sorts of emotions when I got a text a couple of hours ago saying that the Sox had offered Buchholz, Bowden, and Westmoreland for Roy Halladay.  Now rotoworld.com is saying that’s not the case.  For those of you that don’t know, rotoworld.com gives minute by minute updates on sports rumors and updates.  I was all ready to blog about this trade when I read the latest posting saying that this trade offer never happened.  What I want to know is how a rumor like that got started without having any validity to it…then again we’re in the world of sports, so I guess this happens.  I dunno though, I’m not ruling out any trade ideas yet.

Continue reading "Believe in the Sox, but not the Halladay rumors?"

Clay Buchholz Would get his First Start of the Year- and it would be a good one.

 This being the first game since returning from the all-star break the Sox looked to stay in command in the East.  Not knowing if Beckett and Wake would pitch in the all-star game(which they didn't and I personally thought they really should have got Wake in the game)so they made this move. The Sox brought up

Continue reading "Buchholz Gets First Win"

The Boston Red Sox announced on Sunday that Clay Buchholz will be returning to Boston to start Friday night’s game against the Toronot Blue Jays. 

Buchholz has been waiting a while for this call, and who can blame him?  The twenty five-year old has pitched phenomenal in Pawtucket, posting a 7-2 record with a 2.36 era.  On May 25th, he nearly threw a perfect game, but had it broken up in the 9th with a hit.  He finished the game recording a complete game shut-out.  Who wouldn’t want out of Triple-A with a season like that?    

Continue reading "Buchholz is Back"

Smoltz says he’ll be ready to pitch for Boston in just three more starts.  Then you have Clay Buchholz in Pawtuckett with a 3-0 record who nearly threw a perfect game on Monday. 

Continue reading "Sox Thoughts - What Will We Do With ..."

ut Jason Varitek has caught four, starting in 2001 with Hideo Nomo, followed by Derek Lowe in 2002, Clay Buchholz in 2007, and most recently Jon Lester in 2008.  None of those guys are slouches by any measure, however they aren't the most elite pitchers of their era yet either (can't pass judgement on Buchholz or Lester especially as of yet).  And yet, all of these guys have done what some astonishingly elite names such as Roger Clemens, Curt Schilling (who came within one strike of a perfect game with Varitek behind the plate in 2007), Pedro Martinez have never been able to do in some the most illustrious and impressive pitching careers that Major League baseball has ever seen.  With Varitek behind the plate and calling the game, good pitchers become great, and great pitchers can become legendary.  This is not to say that the Red Sox Captain deserves all the credit for his pitchers' success, but it is undeniable that he has a huge impact on the game and the way his pitchers perform.

Continue reading "Rightful Place"

ommand, the Sox could likely fill three or four other holes on the roster, and with young arms like Clay Buchholz, Justin Masterson and Daniel Bard waiting in the wings, why add another expensive arm to the rotation.

Continue reading "Burnett to Boston? Thanks, but no thanks"

In this case, I think hindsight had a stigmatism in each eye. Clay Buchholz, the supposed upcoming rookie phenom hasn't won a game since May, and is currently sporting a jersey that says "Sea Dogs" across the front. So here's the biggest question. What the hell is wrong with him? Mechanics? Some say he's bending his back leg too much. Mental? Could be. Actually, that's probably a lot of the problem. Put him in the bullpen? Might not be a bad idea since he tends to give up most of his runs on the second time through the batting order.

Continue reading "Hype Leads to Disappointment...Usually."

After another miserable outing from Clay Buchholz, the Red Sox have optioned the 24-year old right-hander to their AA affiliate Portland Sea Dogs. This is a good move for all parties. Gets a liability out of the Sox rotation and gives Clay all the time to figure things out without any of the pressures. Hopefully he can figure things out and fight for the #5 rotation slot in Spring Training. With Wakefield's return expected to come next week, it really was only a matter of time that a move was made with Clay, especially with the acquisition of Paul Byrd. No word on who takes Buchholz's roster spot for the short-term until Wakefield returns, might be a reliever, might be a position player. We will find out sometime tomorrow.

Continue reading "Buchholz to Portland"

It was about 1 year ago when young pitcher Clay Buchholz threw a no-hitter against the Baltimore Orioles in only his 2nd major league start. 1 year later, Buchholz has struggled and is currently 2-9 with a 6.75 ERA; losing 7 straight decisions. After a 11-6 loss to the O's, manager Terry Francona announced that Buchholz was demoted to Double A Portland.

Continue reading "Buchholz demoted"

I realize we’re playing the Batimore Orioles here, but you still gotta give these guys credit.  During a time like this where we are scared to look at our pitching rotation because of injuries, our offense has sure helped us out. 

Continue reading "Supporting the Team"

Pushing Clay Buchholz's next start back two days accomplishes what? The Red Sox are having him start Sunday's game against the same Blue Jays he'd be pitching against tonight. The organization

Continue reading "Slugfest '08?"

You know, I’ve been reading so much about Buchholz lately that I feel bad just bringing his name up right now.  He’s pitching bad, and he knows he’s pitching bad.  So I’m going to go down a different road here:  How about moving Buchholz from the rotation into the bullpen?

Continue reading "Why not move Buchholz to the pen? ..."

Remember last postseason when Josh Beckett was making three of the best teams in Major League Baseball look like the Bad News Bears? It was right about then everyone anointed him the anchor of the Boston pitching staff and forecasted a shelf or two full of Cy Young trophies.

Continue reading "Ladies and Gentlemen, Jon Lester ..."

A Fenway experience wouldn't be a Fenway experience if it weren't for certain things: There's the smell of the sausage vendors outside, the cloud of traffic from the Kenmore T stop to the park, all those friendly and amiable scalpers, and, of course, the abundance of easy-to-find, affordable parking. OK, so I made that last part up.

Continue reading "Nuts and bolts and a day-late granny"

ate and in the clubhouse than behind it, Varitek has caught no-hitters from Hideo Nomo, Derek Lowe, Clay Buchholz and, now, Jon Lester's. He's the first catcher in major league history to catch four no-hitters, and that's no coincidence.

Continue reading "No-no? Yes Yes!"

unlike the past two seasons, he is expected to be a vital cog in the rotation.

While Boston views Clay Buchholz as having great upside, they are still not counting on him to be more than a fifth starter during the course of the season and will most likely be sharing starts with Curt Schilling and Bartolo Colon if and when either of them make it back to the Big League rotation. Lester, on the other hand, is going to be counted to provide them with quality innings when he is on the mound, especially after Boston’s reluctance to include him in any significant package for Johan Santana. If Lester falters and fails to develop into the Andy Petitte-type the Boston views him as, they will be sorry they didn’t do more to acquire Santana.

Continue reading "MLB 2008 Season Preview: American Leauge East"

Dustin Pedroia winning the Rookie of the Year and Jonathan Papelbon definitively closing out games. Clay Buchholz pitched a no hitter in his second major league start, Jacoby Ellsbury stepped in when he was needed and became a vital part of the offense, and Jon Lester got the win in the World Series clincher. All are expected to be key contributors to the team this season. However, this influx of talent from the minors has not left this cupboard bare as Boston’s farm system still ranks in Baseball America’s top 5. Here are some of the next big prospects to keep an eye on in camp this spring and follow their progress this summer.

Continue reading "Boston Farm System Still Flush With Prospects"

It is all but certain that Clay Buchholz will be the fifth starter, but when? The indications before Schilling went down was that Buchholz would begin the year in Pawtucket so the Red Sox could more closely monitor his innings and would be eased into the rotation later. Now that Schilling is gone will they put Buchholz in the rotation from the start, or will they still hold him out and go with some one like Julian Tavarez or Kyle Snyder as the fifth starter for now?

Continue reading "Boston Red Sox Spring Training Stories To Follow"

s to do what.

There'll be a struggle to determine the team's fifth starter (Jon Lester or Clay Buchholz), which I touched on previously and there'll be an even more striking struggle out at center field as management works at a decision between Coco Crisp and the new kid on the block, Jacoby Ellsbury.

Continue reading "Is Coco 'crisp' enough?"

'll be a struggle for the fifth position in the rotation with lefty Jon Lester and right-hander Clay Buchholz leading the pack.

Remember Buchholz? I didn't, until I was reminded of his no-hitter against the Orioles last September. He went 3-1 last year with an ERA of 1.59, which is, as they say, not too shabby, although it remains to be seen whether he'll develop into the 'ace' that he has all the potential to be.

Continue reading "Getting closer"