Clay Buchholz...

16

"Just because we say something, doesn't mean we are going to do it." Thats what the head office of the Boston Red Sox must be saying about now.

Going back to September 2, 2007... The day after Clay Buchholz threw his first career no-hitter. It was the day in which it was decided that Buchholz was to be moved to the bullpen for the rest of the year. He had already racked up a season's worth of innings in Triple-A, and Boston doesn't want to get the future of their franchise hurt. Baseball fans believed that this was only to save his arm for the rest of the year. It would also serve the team well because he could be a huge part of a run in the playoffs.

Then, something unexpected happened... The New York Yankees pulled to within 2 1/2 games of the Sox in the division. With the magic number for games to clinch the division (9) is the same as it was 3 days ago. This means that the Yankees need to lose 9 or their next 11 games or the Red Sox must win 9 of their next 10 games or any combination of the two for the Sox to remain on top of the division in the end.

With the Yankees on a hot streak (8-2 in their last 10 games), the Red Sox look desperate. And they have yet to look as desperate as they do right now... they are going back on their own rules and giving Clay Buchholz the start today. It will be Clay's first start (and second appearance) since the no-no in Fenway Park over two weeks ago.

So much for saving the "secret weapon" for the playoffs. First, they have to wrap up the Division Title which has belong to New York for too long.

The young gun will take on the Toronto Blue Jays in Canada tonight at 7:07pm (et).

The Yankees are at home throwing veteran Andy Pettite against the Baltimore Orioles.

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NFL-MLBGuruSoccer Kid

801 days ago

Score 1

Pettite is definitely going to beat Baltimore, so we'll need Bucholz to stir up some more magic or else the Sox will be on the verge on becoming the biggest laughingstock in the Majors. They had a 14 1/2 game lead, for crying out loud, the race never hould have gotten this tight....

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801 days ago

Score 1

I am starting to believe this conversation I've head in my mind for a while is about to become true:

Yankee fan (that has only one fact in his mind) vs. stuck up Red Sox fan (that has only one fact on his mind):

Stuck up Red Sox fan: We swept you in '04 when you were up 3 games.

Yankee fan: Dude, shut up. At least we didn't lose a 14 1/2 game lead when you had the lead.

Falcon02520Legend

801 days ago

Score 2

Thats may become true... but for now, this is how it goes:

Stuck up Red Sox fan: We swept you in '04 when you were up 3 games.

Yankee fan: Dude, shut up. We've won 26 World Series.

801 days ago

Score 1

...going on 27 this year.

Falcon02520Legend

801 days ago

Score 1

Come'on, more like staying at 26 for 86 years (that should be their punishment for being Yankees)

801 days ago

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I want 87, but let's not be selfish.

IbeargRed-Shirting

801 days ago

Score 1

Even if the Red Sox lose the division they will still make the playoffs, so if they're pitching Bucholz out of a panic because they think they might lose the division its a huge mistake. However if they want to rest their other starters so they'll be fresh for the playoffs and they think bucholz is fresh and not overworked (some arbitrary number set before the season aside) i see no problem with it.

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801 days ago

Score 1

Clay Buchholz isn't going to do wonders for the Red Sox. First off, he pitched a no hitter? WOW!! Really? I think we all know that. Just because he's been pitching really well for 18 innings doesn't mean that he can make another team do worse and his team better.

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801 days ago

Score 1

It's not the pitching that's screwing them up; it's the little things, like not scoring with the runners in scoring position. Big game: David Ortiz is up with the bases loaded, down by 1, he pops out to Derek Jeter. Curt Schilling pitched in the 8th inning against the Yanks when Francona should've put someone like Manny Delcarmen in to start. Yesterday, Eric Gagne does what he does best: F*** up the lead for the Red Sox. It's all adding up, and the Yankees are getting closer and closer. I honestly think the Yankees will take the division because of all of these little "mistakes" if you wanna call it that.

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Falcon02520Legend

801 days ago

Score 1

How even is this: '07 Gagne = '07 Mota

801 days ago

Score 1

No, man. At least Eric Gagne was once GOOD during the season. Mota has always sucked.

801 days ago

Score 1

Who the heck has a saves 16 of 17 and achieves a 2.16 ERA and a 1.050 WHIP with a SUCKY team and then turns 180 degrees with a 9.00 ERA and a 2.143 WHIP in 15 games with one DECENT team? I know Steinbrenner's paying him...

Silencer76AAA-er

801 days ago

Score 2

The key thing that everyone overlooks here: Boston still leads the division. They have the luxury of having to worry about no one but themselves. If they take care of business, it doesn't matter if the Yankees win. They can't gain ground if the Sox win their own games.

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801 days ago

Score 1

That's a good point, Silencer. And you're right: MANY people overlook it. There's ten games left in the season for the Sox. That means if they win 8 games, no matter what the Yankees do, they've got the division. Also, good point about the fact they should focus on themselves at this point, and not what the Yankees are doing. With the season being this close, the Sox need to win as many games as they can. Every game is crucial at this point, and they can't afford to be making the little mistakes that they have been.

Falcon02520Legend

801 days ago

Score 1

Good point, but the way each team is playing right now, I gotta admit I am a little nervous about loosing the division after having a 14.5 gm lead.

801 days ago

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A LITTLE?

801 days ago

Score 1

Here's another suggestion, Raw: since Lester has a high pitch count, have him do that job and have Buchholz in the starting rotation.

RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer

801 days ago

Score 1

I think it's a good idea to start Bucholz because a few guys in our rotation don't look up to starting in the playoffs. Bucholz would be the best option to replace them.

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801 days ago

Score 1

OK, starting pitchers. We all know that Josh Beckett is doing great for the Red Sox right now. If he keeps doing what he's doing, the Red Sox will be good for at least two more games. Curt Schilling? Well, he pitched fine last game didn't he? And isn't he supposed to be good in these key situation when you need to win every game (correct me if I'm wrong; I know someone will, and it'll be Manny if not someone before he says something). Dice K? Everytime he pitches bad, the Red Sox do very well, and everytime he does good, either the Red Sox can't get 1-3 runs to help him get the win before he's taken out, OR the bullpen (or the one reliever) screws it up for Dice K and the team. The only problems I think we have are that 5 spot (Julian Tavarez or Lester) and Tim Wakefield. Wakefield has done god awful in his past 3 starts. He has been able to get the fourth inning only once outta those 3, and he's surrendered 6,7, and 4 runs (respectively). Not looking good for him. And then we have Lester/Tavarez. Neither of them aren't looking so great. Many (including me) would prefer Lester over Tavarez. The problem is that pitch count. It needs to go down, or he's gonna get into trouble in late innings. So that pretty much sums up my summary for the starting pitching.

Falcon02520Legend

801 days ago

Score 1

"(or the one reliever)"... so we aren't using his name anymore?

RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer

801 days ago

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Bucholz might also be used as a long relief option in case Wakefield or Matsuzaka struggle in the first few innings.

801 days ago

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I've decided not to. If he does, he'll come out with that spell... once again. He'll hypnotize Terry Francona, and then call the 'pen up and tell them to warm up Gagne. The guys on the other side of the phone won't like it, so he'll hypnotize them too, and then he'll have Francona bring him in and screw the game for us. If it was the Rangers vs. Orioles in a 30-3 game, I wouldn't have put him in.

Falcon02520Legend

801 days ago

Score 1

Very ture Romi... maybe some of the players should hog-tie "he who shall not be named" in a closet somewhere about 5 minutes before game time and leave him there until the final out.

801 days ago

Score 1

If I was a starter, middle reliever, or JD Drew, I would kick the crap outta Gagne before he even made it to the mound! We all know that JD Drew wouldn't do that though.

RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer

801 days ago

Score 2

JD would take a swing at him And miss

Falcon02520Legend

801 days ago

Score 0

Give him a bat and... oops, nevermind

KelsdadAll-Star

801 days ago

Score 1

Clay Buchholz or Julian Tavarez, hmmmm, let me think about that one for a minute. OK, times up, Buchholz. See how easy that was?

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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

801 days ago

Score 1

You are just judging by looks. You can be so shallow sometimes, KD! (yes, I do crack myself up)

Tyrone BriggsHall of Famer

801 days ago

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Is "Clay Buchholz" REALLY his name or is the dude hiding a "Dirk Diggler"-like past?

)

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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

801 days ago

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You mean like that Reverend Kombol guy a.k.a. "Clint Meatwood" formerly "Girth Brooks"?

Tyrone BriggsHall of Famer

800 days ago

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Exactly.

TyduffyRed-Shirting

801 days ago

Score 0

Gagne lives in my building. I've seen him two or three times when they have been home the past week or so. He looks absolutely miserable. You can just sense that he isn't in a good headspace. I don't thin they are going to get anything out of him.

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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

801 days ago

Score 0

Why does everyone miss the obvious? He's Canadian, ya hosers! I mean, French Canadian, Zut Alors! And why don't you swing an interview for the 'chair? Don't bother him, just pick his messed up head a bit - just don't ask stupid questions... ask REALLY REALLY stupid questions!!! Life stuff, not just baseball stuff - I'd like to hear how normal he is (despite the years of jading from the big league lifestyle and the obvious steroid usage, etc...)

Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

801 days ago

Score 0

and dammit, if Red Sox fans are gonna get down on him, I'm gonna start rooting for him! (to do well in every loss the Sox suffer)

TyduffyRed-Shirting

800 days ago

Score 0

I have considered that, but I don't feel that it would be appropriate. It's one thing to bother somebody in a public setting, but their home is a different matter entirely.

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