Boston Red Sox: Why Clay Buchholz Is Their Most Important Player in 2012

Clay Buchholz is slotted as the No. 3 starter for the Boston Red Sox, but he is more than that for 2012. He is the most important player on the Red Sox this season, and it looks as if he can live up to those expectations through his first four games.

Buchholz has given five or more earned runs in his first four starts in 2012 and has been in trouble in multiple innings each start, but somehow manages to escape the innings.

He relies too much on his breaking pitches and needs to revert back to using that mid-90s fastball and then work his breaking stuff off of it.

Ace of the Future

It may not look like it now, but Clay Buchholz has been groomed as the ace of the future and is slated to be the No. 2 starter once Josh Beckett leaves Boston.

We all know how well Felix Doubront has performed in 2012, but Buchholz is supposed to be the real deal. He has shown his potential in the past with a no-hitter as well as a minuscule 2.33 ERA in 2010.

Even though his ERA is 8.87, he has a 2-1 record and can still battle his way for the victory. That is what an ace needs to do, and that is what Buchholz can do every five days.

Daniel Bard Wants to Stay in the Rotation

Daniel Bard does not want to move out of the fifth spot in the rotation and Aaron Cook deserves the call-up after dominating in Triple-A.

With the May 1 deadline looming over the heads of Boston Red Sox management, Clay Buchholz will likely be sent down to work on his mechanics. This could mean Bard will have to fill the void in the rotation that Buchholz has left vacant.

However, what will happen when Buchholz is confident again?

Would Bard return to the bullpen as the closer or setup guy? Will Aaron Cook move to long relief when other starters struggle to eat up innings?

It is a tough road to walk on, but the Red Sox managers and owners need to make the right decision before May 1.

The Bullpen Needs to Be Well-Rested

Alfredo Aceves and the rest of the bullpen has struggled mightily in 2012, and the only way to keep their inning countdown is to have the starters go deep into ball games.

Clay Buchholz has rarely been a pitcher who can go eight strong innings, but he can at least go seven innings before handing it over to the bullpen. He is one of those pitchers who can last six innings, but rarely throws the complete games.

Buchholz needs to step it up so the bullpen can be saved for when Daniel Bard needs to rest his arm and when the rookie Felix Doubront struggles to get a batter out.

Trade Chip

Clay Buchholz has been dreadful in 2012. But he still could be used as trade bait if he keeps it up.

The 27-year-old is still youthful and can still throw in the low-90s. His back obviously isn't fully healthy and is a major concern going forward. The Boston Red Sox need to weigh their options as Buchholz pitches later in the season.

He needs to be monitored for velocity issues (which he has shown so far), and make sure he can throw his breaking ball for strikes consistently.