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More on Buchholz
Clay Buchholz finished his start in Triple A Pawtucket today like any other, just another day in a place he preferred not to be. He allowed four earned runs on eights hits in 5 1/3 innings in a loss. He could have been better. He retreated to the clubhouse thinking nothing out of the ordinary.
With starters Tim Wakefield and Josh Beckett pitching in the All-Star game, the Red Sox wanted to clarify their opening pitching rotation for the second half. In the process, they gave Buchholz the opportunity both he and a loud segment of Red Sox fans have clamored for.
“The stress of being [in Pawtucket] and all that stuff, I’ve said it a couple of times that I’ve put a lot of that on myself for the season I had last year,” Buchholz told the Pawtucket Times. “That’s how things go, but opportunities come up. And I’m glad I was the guy they went to for it.”
The Red Sox plan for Buchholz to make one start and then rejoin the PawSox. After Buchholz pitches, the Red Sox’ rotation for the remaining two games in Toronto and three games in Texas will be Brad Penny, Jon Lester, John Smoltz, Beckett, and Wakefield.
Francona and the Sox chose Buchholz for multiple reasons. The start fell on the day he would have pitched next. Choosing a pitcher outside the regular rotation eliminated any confusion – Francona envisioned a scenario in which Smoltz decided whether he should throw a bullpen session while seeing how much Wakefield threw in Tuesday’s All-Star Game.
“We are trying to incorporate rest, trying to keep everybody consistent, not one guy 10 days [of rest] and one guy 15,” Francona said. “We are real comfortable with the way this is setting up. I think there’s some validity to, give Buch the ball and go. I think it will help us all the way around.”
After Buchholz’s disastrous two stints in the Sox' rotation last season, he righted his career this spring training and in the first half of the season in the minor leagues. Buchholz is 7-2 with a 2.36 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP, second best in the International League. The start, in a way, will be a reward for Buchholz’s impressive first half.
“That’s part of it,” Francona said. “He’s very important to what we’re doing, obviously, in the future. I don’t think that we would just do that. It lines up real well. It should benefit him and us.”
Buchholz became a sensation at the end of 2007, when he fired a no-hitter against the Orioles in his second big-league start. After a miserable 2008 spring training, he joined the starting rotation and never recaptured his 2007 success. His confidence crumbled, and he finished the season with Double A Portland.
This spring training, Buchholz restored his confidence, carrying an ERA of less than 1.00 for most of March. While he dominated at Triple A, Buchholz became frustrated at being stuck in the minors. On Friday, for one day, Buchholz will have his chance.
“I’m happy for him,” Beckett said. “I really am. That might give everybody else an extra day of recovery time, give you that extra day of rest.”
Adam: Buchholz is in the Intertnational league (AAA) not Portland in the Eastern league (AA) !!!
JP: "...well, any deal has to start with Clay of course. I'll send some guys out to Pawtucket."
Theo: "Don't bother. I'll save you the trouble."
The guy threw a no hitter......he has no where to go but down......trade him
Clay could not compete with Kazmir when they were headlined two weeks ago.
Kazmir was lights out even though he is struggling in the majors.
Clay exploded with 5 walks and did not get by the third inning!
This is a chance against Toronto who is 2-8 in their last ten. Be careful what you wish for!
He has time to think and prepare for this one!
Great news...I was just having this conversation w/my dad. I told him I thought we'd see Clay up before the month ended. Little did I know!
This is why Tito is the best mangaer in baseball...bar none.
I wish they'd send Penny to Pawtucket, or just about anywhere else, and give Buchholz a real chance.
I think that you are going to see a deal with the Jays if clay pitches well on fri. I see Clay Bucholtz Daniel Bard Jed Lowrie and Micheal Bowden going to Toronto for Doc Halliday and John MacDonald or if MacDonald isnt in the deal I see a separate trade with Oakland to bring Nomar back to Boston to spell Nick Green and Mike Lowell incase either get injured
1 start is like a big tease. It's like throwing a starving dog a morsel of food! No matter how he performs he's going right back down after the game. If I was him I would demand a trade. I wouldn"t waste any more bullets in the bush leagues and take the chance of blowing out my arm and missing out on a big payday. His agent needs to force the sox hand before he blows his career.
Seriously, can you please have others proofread your articles before posting online? I know the Globe is cutting back, but that does not warrant the myriad grammatical errors.
This is why Tito is a friggin genius. Thinking of everyone at every level of the game. HE is going to go down as one of the greats of all time and will have earned the respect and admiration that few managers really get in there career.
Sounds to me like they are show casing him for the Blue Jays for the possible Halliday trade.
Adam is referring to last season. Buchholz eventually ended that season at Portland in search of confidence and consistency. He's not referring to this season.
This orginization is pretty brilliant.
Gee Whiz, Bob, can you even read? The post says he finished LAST season in AA and refers to him in the International League this season.
They are going to trade Penny soon and they want to see if he can pitch in the majors before they make the move. Or they are offering Buchholz in a trade and want to showcase him before the other team pulls the trigger. Halladay?
Very happy for Buchholz.
Very unhappy that the conspiracy theorists are going to go freaking insane all this week.
Could this be a audition for Buchholz, in front of the Toronto organization, in advance of a trade for Roy Hallady?
JP: "Clay looks good. Do we have a deal?"
Theo: "OK, let's do it. Clay's yours."
JP: "Done. John Macdonald is yours."
@Bat Insider
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