Is Buchholz an Ace?

[NZSox]

Technically no. Aces don't show up one season, vanish for two seasons, then show up again.

 

That said, he's pitching like an ace right now. To be honest, true 'aces' are established long-term dominant pitchers.

 

He's absolutely dealing right now though. Love it.

[redsoxbeatz]

He will be considered an ace eventually and then this season will be looked back at as an ace season.

[Bellhorn04]

That said, he's pitching like an ace right now. To be honest, true 'aces' are established long-term dominant pitchers.

 

From what I gather from reading people's opinions of what an ace is, to me the consensus seems to be that an ace is a pitcher who is a possible Hall of Famer, or a certain one.

 

The Red Sox have therefore had 4 true aces in the last 50 years, Tiant, Clemens, Pedro and Schilling.

[RedSoxNC84]

From what I gather from reading people's opinions of what an ace is, to me the consensus seems to be that an ace is a pitcher who is a possible Hall of Famer, or a certain one.

 

The Red Sox have therefore had 4 true aces in the last 50 years, Tiant, Clemens, Pedro and Schilling.

 

I do however think that Buchholz may end up closer to a #1 than Lester.

[BSN07]

From what I gather from reading people's opinions of what an ace is, to me the consensus seems to be that an ace is a pitcher who is a possible Hall of Famer, or a certain one.

 

The Red Sox have therefore had 4 true aces in the last 50 years, Tiant, Clemens, Pedro and Schilling.

 

It very's. You can talk about Aces in the league or the Ace of a team but just because he is the Ace of his team doesn't make him in Ace in the league. An Ace to me is a guy you expect to win every time out, a shut down guy, someone who ends losing streaks, a horse that sort of thing. In the league right now imo are Aces(in no particular order),

 

Verlander

Kershaw

Cain

Felix

CC(was prior to this season for a long stretch)

Price

Weaver

Hammels

 

 

That's it. The next group are guys with Ace type stuff and have shown stretches of dominance but still have inconsistency's/ injury issues the keep them out of my top group, this group are guys like,

 

Strasburg(he could arguably be in the Aces group, I just held him off because of his DL history)

Grienke

Gio

Lester

Darvish

Lee

Cueto

 

I think Buccholz is almost in this group but he has to show he can give you those kind of innings year in and year out, I think you could add him in the next group with guys like Shields, Wilson, Latos, Bailey, Johnson of the world.

 

I'm probably missing good SP on these lists but they aren't complete just used to give an idea of how I judge what an Ace is.

[User Name]

Cliff Lee is the textbook definition of an ace.

[BSN07]

Cliff Lee is the textbook definition of an ace.

 

I wouldn't argue too hard about him being in the "Aces" group. He'r right there. I probably held his age against him and bumped him down a notch.

[jacksonianmarch]

You cant really jump the gun here, though. An ace is someone who has proven durability and effectiveness plus a stopper quality to them. Buch has proven effective in stints and even for an injury shortened season, but he's never really had that 200IP season with 32+ starts. I'd put Strasburg in the same category since he hasnt done that either

[Youk Of The Nation]

It very's. You can talk about Aces in the league or the Ace of a team but just because he is the Ace of his team doesn't make him in Ace in the league. An Ace to me is a guy you expect to win every time out, a shut down guy, someone who ends losing streaks, a horse that sort of thing. In the league right now imo are Aces(in no particular order),

 

Verlander

Kershaw

Cain

Felix

CC(was prior to this season for a long stretch)

Price

Weaver

Hammels

 

 

That's it. The next group are guys with Ace type stuff and have shown stretches of dominance but still have inconsistency's/ injury issues the keep them out of my top group, this group are guys like,

 

Strasburg(he could arguably be in the Aces group, I just held him off because of his DL history)

Grienke

Gio

Lester

Darvish

Lee

Cueto

 

I think Buccholz is almost in this group but he has to show he can give you those kind of innings year in and year out, I think you could add him in the next group with guys like Shields, Wilson, Latos, Bailey, Johnson of the world.

 

I'm probably missing good SP on these lists but they aren't complete just used to give an idea of how I judge what an Ace is.

 

Halladay?

[jacksonianmarch]

Halladay was in that category before his shoulder woes, massive drop in velo and concurrent loss of command

[BSN07]

Halladay?

 

Halladay was in the top tier. I would put him in the 2nd tier now. He is a great compliment to Lee and Hammels. But I don't consider him an ace anymore. I think he's the 3rd best pitcher on his team.

[Palodios]

Halladay was in the top tier. I would put him in the 2nd tier now. He is a great compliment to Lee and Hammels. But I don't consider him an ace anymore. I think he's the 3rd best pitcher on his team.

 

In all fairness, there are a few pitchers on the A-list that would be the 3rd best pitcher in Philly.

[Orange Juiced]

Buchholz is a very talented pitcher who has the ability to be a Cy Young Award contender. He needs to demonstrate durability and consistency, and if he does, then yes, he'll rightly be considered an "ace". His ceiling is very much in the upper tier of MLB starters. Will he reach that ceiling? Only time will tell.

[iortiz]

Has the talent but needs durability and consistency. Verlander is what I call an "ace"

[Scottish Red Sox Fan]

He's pitching his ass off right now and it's good to see. I think it's still too early to view him as an ace though.

[a700hitter]

We just need Buch and Lester to be very good and the bottom 3 to take their regular turns and provide average production. We don't need an ace.

[Palodios]

We don't need an ace.

 

Can I quote you on that one?

[BSN07]

Can I quote you on that one?

 

I had to read it 3 times Funny how quick things change

[User Name]

I had to read it 3 times Funny how quick things change

 

Mass of contradictions.....

[a700hitter]

Can I quote you on that one?

I gave up the hopes of getting an ace a long time ago. Tht's why I wanted to strengthen the middle and bottom of the rotation in the offseason. No aces were on the market and dreams of Felix were just pipe dreams. Even mid market teams are re-signing their aces. I was pretty consistent about this all offseason.

[RedSoxNC84]

Mike carp for ace

[Dojji]

You know, it's beginning to look like he might really have turned the corner.

 

What an impressive performance to start the year.

[a700hitter]

You know, it's beginning to look like he might really have turned the corner.

 

What an impressive performance to start the year.

Aces win games when they don't have their best stuff. If he remains healthy and puts up 200 innings, he's there.

[BSN07]

He's had a great April. Still has May, June, July, August, September and hopefully October to get through.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Aces win games when they don't have their best stuff. If he remains healthy and puts up 200 innings, he's there.

 

All we can go by right now is their performance thus far this season.

 

And right now, we've got two bonafide aces on the staff in Lester and Buchholz. Both had off nights the past 2 nights, Lester against the best offense in the AL in terms of runs scored, and both got the W's.

 

Extremely encouraging, and unless something dramatic changes, they could both be in the running for the Cy this year.

[Station 13]

Aces are consistent, Clay been anything but. He can go toes to toes with the other team #1, but we need him to do it over the course of a season. Loving what I seen this early, quality pitches to get outs and put batters away without a high pitch count.

[Dojji]

His boogeyman has always been a combination of health and fastball command. So far he seems to have both well under control.

[User Name]

All we can go by right now is their performance thus far this season.

 

And right now, we've got two bonafide aces on the staff in Lester and Buchholz. Both had off nights the past 2 nights, Lester against the best offense in the AL in terms of runs scored, and both got the W's.

 

Extremely encouraging, and unless something dramatic changes, they could both be in the running for the Cy this year.

 

7.2 IP of 2 ER, 8 baserunners and 10 K ball is an off-night for Buch? You may wanna temper your expectations there bud.

[SoxFanForsyth]

7.2 IP of 2 ER, 8 baserunners and 10 K ball is an off-night for Buch? You may wanna temper your expectations there bud.

 

Did you read anything from last night? He was struggling the first 3 innings with his 2 seamer, fighting himself, and then it clicked in the 4th inning and he cruised.

[User Name]

Did you read anything from last night? He was struggling the first 3 innings with his 2 seamer, fighting himself, and then it clicked in the 4th inning and he cruised.

 

Yes but that happens. The end result was excellent, and it ended up being a very very good outing.