Looking good there, Clay.According to unnamed sources (namely, the friend of a girl that works in my office), the reason why Clay Buchholz was sent back down to the minor leagues is because of a drug addiction problem and not simply the fact that he pitches backwards. Now, I cannot say that there is any validity to this statement, but this friend of a coworker says that she attended the same party one night as Mr. Clay Buchholz, and that she saw him snort an inordinate number of lines that night.
Obviously, there was a reason why Buchholz fell so far in the 2005 draft. He was picked in the supplemental first round of the draft with the 42nd overall pick (a pick that the Red Sox received as compensation for Pedro Martinez signing with the Mets). Buchholz has all the talent in the world, so it's obviously strange to see a pitcher fall so far. Until you hear a little more about his personal past, that is. Shortly before the aforementioned 2005 draft, Buchholz and his friend were arrested when he and his friend were caught stealing 29 laptops from his former high school in an attempt to make a quick buck. One can only speculate why Buchholz felt he desperately needed to do this, seeing as he was about to be drafted by a professional baseball organization. I can be certain of this, though: Clay wasn't stealing and selling laptops so that he could buy a new pair of cleats.
Buchholz's no-hitter against the Orioles on September 1, 2007 was one of the most memorable moments of what turned out to be an outstanding season for the Red Sox. To throw a no-hitter is hard enough, but it's hard to even fathom seeing someone do this in just their second major league start (the last player to do this before Buchholz was the incomparable Bobo Holloman, who threw a no-hitter in just his first major league start). Buchholz is only the third pitcher since 1900 to accomplish the feat of throwing a no-no in his first or second career start. After the 2007 season, the Sox were reportedly involved in trade discussions with the Minnesota Twins over lefty ace Johan Santana. When the Twins asked for too much in return (namely, a package including Buchholz and Jon Lester), the Sox balked, leaving them with an extremely talented, but troubled, young pitcher in their system.
Buchholz is having quite a year down at AAA Pawtucket so far. His record currently stands at 3-0, and he sports an ERA of 1.31, a 0.750 WHIP, and 9.2 Ks per 9 innings. In his most recent start, Clay took a perfect game into the ninth inning against the Louisville Bats (yes, the team who was once graced by the presence of the great Mark Bellhorn), only to give up a leadoff single to end his bid.
With the Sox starting pitching not performing as well as they should be at this point in the season (see Beckett, Lester, and Matsuzaka), it's surprising that Buchholz hasn't even been considered for a promotion. It makes one wonder why he's still toiling away down in Pawtucket, waiting for his opportunity. It seems like he's no longer pitching backwards (you know, he's throwing his fastball in fastball counts, amazingly), so there might be something else wrong with this young right-hander. Perhaps the Red Sox should continue to explore the Victor Martinez-for-Buchholz-and-others trade.
Obviously, there was a reason why Buchholz fell so far in the 2005 draft. He was picked in the supplemental first round of the draft with the 42nd overall pick (a pick that the Red Sox received as compensation for Pedro Martinez signing with the Mets). Buchholz has all the talent in the world, so it's obviously strange to see a pitcher fall so far. Until you hear a little more about his personal past, that is. Shortly before the aforementioned 2005 draft, Buchholz and his friend were arrested when he and his friend were caught stealing 29 laptops from his former high school in an attempt to make a quick buck. One can only speculate why Buchholz felt he desperately needed to do this, seeing as he was about to be drafted by a professional baseball organization. I can be certain of this, though: Clay wasn't stealing and selling laptops so that he could buy a new pair of cleats.
Buchholz's no-hitter against the Orioles on September 1, 2007 was one of the most memorable moments of what turned out to be an outstanding season for the Red Sox. To throw a no-hitter is hard enough, but it's hard to even fathom seeing someone do this in just their second major league start (the last player to do this before Buchholz was the incomparable Bobo Holloman, who threw a no-hitter in just his first major league start). Buchholz is only the third pitcher since 1900 to accomplish the feat of throwing a no-no in his first or second career start. After the 2007 season, the Sox were reportedly involved in trade discussions with the Minnesota Twins over lefty ace Johan Santana. When the Twins asked for too much in return (namely, a package including Buchholz and Jon Lester), the Sox balked, leaving them with an extremely talented, but troubled, young pitcher in their system.
Buchholz is having quite a year down at AAA Pawtucket so far. His record currently stands at 3-0, and he sports an ERA of 1.31, a 0.750 WHIP, and 9.2 Ks per 9 innings. In his most recent start, Clay took a perfect game into the ninth inning against the Louisville Bats (yes, the team who was once graced by the presence of the great Mark Bellhorn), only to give up a leadoff single to end his bid.
With the Sox starting pitching not performing as well as they should be at this point in the season (see Beckett, Lester, and Matsuzaka), it's surprising that Buchholz hasn't even been considered for a promotion. It makes one wonder why he's still toiling away down in Pawtucket, waiting for his opportunity. It seems like he's no longer pitching backwards (you know, he's throwing his fastball in fastball counts, amazingly), so there might be something else wrong with this young right-hander. Perhaps the Red Sox should continue to explore the Victor Martinez-for-Buchholz-and-others trade.
2 comments:
baseball was a much grander game when mark bellhorn and his two flapped helmet graced the field hahha
You have quite the man crush on Mark Bellhorn.I think you might have a problem. haha
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