It really is so damn unfair, isn't it? To put so much pressure on a 22-year-old starting pitcher, I mean. Yet that's what they're doing in Boston to young hurler Clay Buchholz.
According to the Boston Herald, Buchholz is kept on a short leash. He either has to produce or be farmed out and replaced by fat boy Bartolo Colon. But it goes even deeper than that.
Because the Boston press and front office consider Clay the piece that the Sox were unwilling to give up in order to get Johan Santana this past offseason, he is unfairly expected to pitch like Santana. Well, maybe someday. But now? C'mon, that's unrealistic.
That he is the player the Sox would not give to the Twins is not Clay's fault, of course. But pitching a no-hitter in just his second career start last year also helped to create unrealistic hopes for the kid.
The Sox are also coming off a World Series title, so there's that pressure too.
While it doesn't seem to shake Buchholz, an overreaction to a poor start could cost Clay his major league job (at least for now).
But the kid needs major league competition to learn from, and needs to be allowed to take his lumps like many good young pitchers. Greg Maddux was 6-14 with a 5.61 ERA his first full year with the Cubs. Tom Glavine was 7-17.
Heck, Johan Santana didn't even become a regular starter until his fifth season in the bigs.
Ah, but time is of the essence for the young hotshot from Nederland, Texas. It's pitch well, or be sent down. It's that simple.
Buchholz has had a rough spring. But so what? He might have a rough first year, too.
Again, so what? Well, when you're in Boston coming off of a title and you're being hyped as the next best thing to sliced bread and Palermo's pizza...well, you get the idea.
Come to think of it, Boston should spend time molding Clay.
3 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Anonymous about 1 year ago
THANK YOU. This is what I've been saying. They need to slow down with Clay, and take some of the pressure off him. It doesn't seem fair to put so much on his shoulders.
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chris mazza about 1 year ago
Bob: Thanks for the plug on Palermo's Pizza! I know all the great folks that work there, make the pizzas and sell them nationally. Please send me your address and I'll get you some special pizza samples - maybe ones that haven't even hit the market. c.mazza@palermospizza.com
Being based out of Boston, we know first hand what Clay is capable of - in the future. He is is our horse for years to come. Lester, Colon, Wake & Tavarez can cover the load until Schill descides he is ready to support Beckett & Dice. Let this kid have another 1/2 season on the farm and then pull him up.
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Bob Warja about 1 year ago
Hey Chris, thanks a lot. I will send it to you soon.
As for Clay, maybe what you're saying is it wouldn't be so bad to give him more time if Colon has anything left in the tank or if the Sox can make a trade with Oakland, for example, for a starting pitcher. I was just thinking boy, that's a lot of pressure on a young kid, having to be near perfect every time out or you get sent down. But that's life on a winning team, I guess. I agree he's going to be really special some day.
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