Statement: I don't trust Clay Buchholz on the mound.

[Soxfan1]

I just wanted to say that.

[Thumper]

You could atleast spell his name right if you're going to discuss distrusting him...

[yeszir]

Fixed the spelling

[Soxfan1]

Thanks. I went back to do it and it was done. =]

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

Buchholz will get things straightened out. A number of pretty good pitchers currently in baseball were anywhere from below-average to putrid in their first or second full season in the majors (Maddux, Webb, Bonderman, Greinke, Mulder to name a few). If Clay doesn't get it together this year, I'm pretty sure he'll take his lumps, make some adjustments in the offseason/next year's ST, and be a lot better next season.

[Rdsxmbnt]

I just wanted to say that.

 

Good for you, but like it or not he is the fifth starter (notice how he isn't the ace or anything). By and large he is the best pitching prospect to take the mound for the Red Sox in over a decade and instead of toying around with him by constantly putting him back and forth on the Pawtucket shuttle he deserves a chance to get things straight here.

 

He already pitched in AAA for a large portion of this season and dominated those hitters, he needs to learn on the job and as long as there is a fifth starters hole open we might as well fill it with someone with potential. Bartolo Colon isn't walking through that door and if he did he'd be fat and injured.

 

Three MONTHS ago I didn't trust Jon Lester to do anything and now he's one of the best starters in the AL. Maybe some people don't get it but for every Hanley Ramirez and Pedro Martinez who instantly comes in and succeeds there is a Jon Lester and Greg Maddux with tremendous talent who take some time to adjust.

[Anuj09]

Keep in mind hes pitching in the pressure cooker that is the AL East. That said i doubt he is Craig Hansen 2.0 - he'll get it together - his stuff is too good.

 

just for fun anyone care to name this starter?

here are stats from his first full season in the bigs

 

14 8 5.43 33 33 0 0 0 0 179.0 188 113 108 30 11 81 161

[BigPapiEnFuego]

send him down until next season. Or make him a september call up. But please. Give someone else a chance.

[Bostonownsyou]

I say gove Clay 1 more start. If he is a scumbag again then see you in 09. I saw him not quit last night maybe thats just wishfull thinking by me, but sometimes when a guy gets punched in the chin and still battles and eats innings (6 ip 4 er) you wonder if he is settling down.

[Dojji]

I say gove Clay 1 more start. If he is a scumbag again then see you in 09. I saw him not quit last night maybe thats just wishfull thinking by me' date=' but sometimes when a guy gets punched in the chin and still battles and eats innings (6 ip 4 er) you wonder if he is settling down.[/quote']

 

 

Getting through the 6th was a nice sign of progress. We were in this game if the offense could have done something about it.

[High Mileage]

Not much love for a guy who threw a no-hitter for you...

[schillingouttheks]

Getting through the 6th was a nice sign of progress. We were in this game if the offense could have done something about it.

 

I was just about to say this.

 

Like Kilo said... Clay had a bad inning. The offense had a bad night. 6 IP with 4 ER isn't bad from your FIFTH starter.

[schillingouttheks]

Not much love for a guy who threw a no-hitter for you...

 

Doesn't change that he's been struggling. Getting better, but still struggling in certain aspects. Hideo Nomo threw a no-hitter for us too. Should I show him a ton of love?

 

All that said, Buchholz will be fine in the long run. His stuff is just too good.

[High Mileage]

Hideo Nomo threw a no-hitter for us too. Should I show him a ton of love?

 

That was a long time ago.

[schillingouttheks]

I know. I was just using your logic to bust your chops a little. Don't worry about it.

[High Mileage]

I know. I was just using your logic to bust your chops a little. Don't worry about it.

 

It's cool.

[Dojji]

Not much love for a guy who threw a no-hitter for you...

 

Wouldn't say Royals fans have much room to argue that point after how they turned on Bannister despite a very decent year he put together for the club last season.

[TheKilo]

send him down until next season. Or make him a september call up. But please. Give someone else a chance.

 

Who's a better option than Buchholz right now?

[Paradisecity]

Masterson?

 

I don't know how confident in that I am, just playing devil's advocate. THat would hurt our bullpen more, too.

[rician blast]

Hideo Nomo threw a no-hitter for us too. Should I show him a ton of love?

 

Only if you love him long time, joe.

[schillingouttheks]

Only if you love him long time' date=' joe.[/quote']

 

Oh God.

[TheKilo]

Masterson?

 

I don't know how confident in that I am, just playing devil's advocate. THat would hurt our bullpen more, too.

 

While I agree that Masterson right now would be the better starter, I am not very confident in his secondary pitches (while Buchholz's are very good). I think Masterson's stuff plays up better in the BP for the rest of the year. Plus, Buchholz's lack of FB command will kill him in the bullpen.

 

IOW:

 

Buchholz in rotation, Masterson in BP >> vice-versa

[Paradisecity]

Yeah I'm inclined to agree with that.

[Dojji]

While I agree that Masterson right now would be the better starter, I am not very confident in his secondary pitches (while Buchholz's are very good). I think Masterson's stuff plays up better in the BP for the rest of the year. Plus, Buchholz's lack of FB command will kill him in the bullpen.

 

IOW:

 

Buchholz in rotation, Masterson in BP >> vice-versa

 

 

I think the concern about Masterson's secondary pitches is warranted, but a little exaggerated because that sinker of his is so good. When it's on, that's pretty much all he has to throw, especially since he can mix speeds with it. Masterson's had good outings -- whole starts -- where he's mostly just thrown a ton of sinkers and mixed in a slider or two to keep them guessing. Buchholz can't do the reverse with his curve -- we know, because he's tried. Maybe he could, though, in the pen.

[BSN07]

Buchholz is going to fine. He has the stuff and make up to be a big time pitcher. let's not forget how young he is. There not too many pitchers that come in at his age and don't struggle to some extent. Let's also not forget, Beckett showed flashes of how great he could be(03 WS), but never put a solid season together until last year. Sometimes it takes time and work, lets give him the chance to do both.

[BoSox21]

im not worried about Buchholz. just like Lester, he needs the starts to go out there and just figure it out. he doesnt deserve to go back to Triple A cause hes proven hes past that level

[ORS]

The question isn't, "Has Clay mastered AAA?", at least I hope it isn't. No, the question is, "Does Clay give us the best opportunity to win?". Not sure about that. In each of his last 3-4 starts there have been reasons to be encouraged. That said, there have been reasons to be disappointed as well. Hitters seem to see the ball very well out of his hand, because if he makes a mistake, it's getting hammered. At the same time, he doesn't seem to tip his pitch at all because his offspeed stuff is so effective.

 

He needs to spend the winter trying to be able to locate his FB inside a soup can nailed to a board. He gets command of his FB and he'll dominate.

[BoSox21]

The question isn't' date=' "Has Clay mastered AAA?", at least I hope it isn't. No, the question is, "Does Clay give us the best opportunity to win?".[/quote']

 

its a little of column A and a little of column B I think. Two of the goals of the organization right now are developing a potential future ace on Buchholz and giving the team the best chance to win possible. I still think that's Buchholz as I've seen improvement lately, enough improvement to warrant a few more starts. Going back to Triple A won't do any favors for his development

[Soxfan1]

lolwut

[TheKilo]

Is it too late to change my mind?

 

Buchholz needs to be sent down to AAA and he needs to go back to his old mechanics. He shouldn't see Boston again until 2009.

 

Call up Zink, Bowden, or Hansack.