http://www.yardbarker.com/content/player/21741 Recent articles about Clay Buchholz en-us Clay Buchholz almost managed to throw a quality start for the first time since the end of April, but a shaky third inning that lead to 3 runs was all that Gil Meche and the Kansas City Royals needed, as they defeated the Red Sox in a close-knit contest, 4-3. Buchholz didn't help his own cause in the third inning, allowing 2 walks and a hit batsman with the bases loaded. Clay didn't have close to his best stuff, once again. The same reason he was sent to the minors (tinkering with the control of his fastball) was his ultimate downfall, as his fastball was erratic. He even surrendered a walk to Jose Guillen. Guillen has a grand total of 14 walks in 406 at bats in 2008. After the walk of Guillen, Buchholz grazed the jersey of catcher John Buck, the same John Buck who hits at .244 in 2008 with a robust .238 lifetime average. Buck's HBP scored Alex Gordon and that's all the scoring the Royals needed to suffice. The Sox tried to make it close in the 9th, but fell short, allowing Joakim Soria to notch his 32nd save of the season. The Red Sox managed to get the bases loaded with two-out, but David Dejesus tracked down a scorching line drive off the bat of Sean Casey to end the game. When Casey ripped it I thought for sure it was going to be a double down the line. Analysis: Clay Buchholz is looking more like the fireballer straight out of the California Penal League, Ricky Vaughn. Buchholz doesn't have the same zip on the #1, but the wild ways with his heater isn't complementing his plus breaking stuff including a 12-6 curveball and nasty changeup. The kid has the stuff, he just needs to put it all together. It's a waiting game with the rookie, and we are all aboard for the ride. [...] Tue, 05 Aug 2008 08:10:34 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/301133 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/301133 KC's Gil Meche walked a season high five batters last night... but he also fanned nine (Coco 3 times) and grabbed the win... sounds like someone we know right? Tue, 05 Aug 2008 07:35:42 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/301120 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/301120 Bucky's 0-4 with a 7.97 ERA in 7 road starts this year... those numbers are just plain scary, but if you try real hard you can convince yourself that they mean he's "due" for a road win... seriously, keep trying... Mon, 04 Aug 2008 12:42:05 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/300630 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/300630 Big Bartolo finally seems to be making his way back to the big leagues. Colon injured himself while taking a Babe Ruthian swing at a pitch on June 16th. He went on the DL the very next day with what was described as a 'lower back strain.' But now he has pitched two side sessions in four days and appears ready to return. Terry Francona estimates that Colon will make a minor league rehab start approximately a week from now. I'm guessing that he'll make more than one rehab start because the Red Sox rotation seems pretty set so there is no need to rush him. Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:02:55 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/297561 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/297561 John Lackey hasn't faired well against the Red Sox... Boston is hoping that continues tonight as the attempt to beat the Angels for the first time in six tries... Clay Buchholz will start for the Sox. Tue, 29 Jul 2008 13:01:40 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/297525 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/297525 Fantasy writer Mike Harmon provides the latest fantasy baseball news in his latest installment, giving you the honor roll (Sabathia, Cano, McLouth), detention (Kinsler, Francoeur) and injury updates (Wood, Ortiz)... Fri, 25 Jul 2008 19:31:37 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295832 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295832 I understand that the cost of relievers over the past few years has skyrocketed, but this asking price is a tad bit ridiculous.. The Boston Globe reported last night that the Red Sox were in the mix for former National's reliever Jon Rauch. Rauch has a 2.98 ERA and was dealt to the Diamondbacks for Arizona's #6 prospect, Emilio Bonifacio. Here is where the story gets interesting, Washington asked for Jed Lowrie AND Michael Bowden from the Red Sox. Last year cost the Red Sox big-time (Kason Gabbard and David Murphy) to acquire Eric Gagne. Gagne was only a rental and his contract expired 2+ months after the trade took place yet the Texas Rangers now own 2 ex-Boston prospects for a few more years. This year the Rockies have asked for Clay Buchholz in a potential trade for Brian Fuentes. Fuentes would have been a rental as well and Theo Epstein seems to have decided that the asking price is way too high. If Buchholz for Fuentes was too high, how in the world did Washington think that Lowrie and Bowden for Rauch would be doable? Insanity. Fri, 25 Jul 2008 09:56:13 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295423 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295423 Swirling trade winds underlie the Texas Rangers' latest blowout defeat at the hands of the first-place Chicago White Sox. Wed, 23 Jul 2008 21:59:34 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/294669 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/294669 Red Sox at Mariners GM 3 of 3 4:40 ET @ Safeco Field Buchholz (2-5, 5.88) vs. Hernandez (7-6, 2.95) As the Sox attempt to sweep the Mariners and even their record on this road trip at 3-3, they got blindsided by a bit of bad news concerning enigmatic slugger Manny Ramirez: he will sit out the series [...] Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:58:05 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/294512 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/294512 For the second year in a row, the Single-A Lowell Spinners have brought back their politically correct and politically incorrect promotions. In my opinion, minor league teams have the most creative promos out of anybody in the sports world and this one is no different. Check out the link for a full description of both days. Highlights Include: Politically Correct Day: 'Shortstop' is renamed to 'Vertically-Challenged Stop.' Politically Incorrect Day: First 250 women to the park are given potholders to cook dinner for their husbands (like a woman should!) Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:28:16 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/294495 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/294495 Clay Buchholz has been struggling as a starter for the Red Sox, but his ceiling is through the roof. He can become a valuable commodity once he gets his act together. It's no wonder why the Rockies are asking for the highly-touted right-hander. The drop from the AL East to the NL West is huge. Buchholz would certainly excel in his role playing home games at Coors Field. He will be pitching against the likes of the Giants, Diamondbacks, and Padres. The Denver Post has reported that the Rockies have asked for Buchholz in exchange for reliever Brian Fuentes: T"he Rockies are playing an intriguing game of poker with closer Brian Fuentes. The price is high, causing most interested teams — the Tampa Bay Rays, the New York Yankees and Mets, the Boston Red Sox and the Florida Marlins — to consider other options. Colorado wants a premium starting pitcher, a fair demand save for the fact the teams interested in Fuentes see him as a two-month rental, not a long-term solution. All already have closers, and Fuentes is determined to test the market before considering signing somewhere as a setup man. Wed, 23 Jul 2008 10:51:26 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/294330 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/294330 Clay Buchholz has struggled in the 1st inning as of late, so he's trying a new pre-game routine this afternoon... Wed, 23 Jul 2008 10:12:45 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/294308 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/294308 The brooms are being prepped, the smell of dominance is in the air, and the Boston Red Sox are one win away from their first sweep against a road opponent since a brief two-game series with the Cleveland Indians, April 14-15. Everybody knows the story about the Red Sox' road woes this year. The good guys currently stand at 23-32 on the road. The only reason they've been so competitive in the AL East is the sheer supremacy at home. With a record of 36-11, the Red Sox easily have been the best team in the Majors at home. Yawkey Way certainly treats them well. [...] Wed, 23 Jul 2008 08:20:52 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/294253 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/294253 The Roster Doctor goes back to his buy-low, sell-high article that used Defensive Efficiency Ratio (DER) to try and identify some buy-low and sell-high pitchers. The DER measures how many balls hit into play that were turned into outs, and like BABIP, can be a useful tool to identify unlucky pitchers. But it is only one of many tools, as the Roster Doctor painfully discovers. Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:24:45 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/293902 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/293902 As the trade deadline gets closer, the Red Sox have sent out a few feelers in an attempt to bolster their bullpen. One of the biggest names mentioned has been Brian Fuentes. Brian has taken over the closer role in Colorado and has put up decent numbers in his career (3.50 ERA, 439 K and 168 BB in 398.3 IP) He's done it in a hitter friendly Coors Field but also against weaker NL lineups. Numbers-wise, I think he would be a good puzzle piece for the pen; however, there are some issues surrounding him. His contract is up at the end of the season and with the market being what it is, he could probably command 6-7 mil a year. He'll want a decently long contract and giving 5 years to a reliever is NOT something that the Red Sox do. This means that he'll probably be a 2 month rental player and Theo Epstein isn't a fan of those (last season's Eric Gagne trade only strengthened this resolve.) So the contract issue might be a problem, but there is another road bump to get past. The Rockies are reportedly asking for Clay Buchholz. Buchholz has already thrown a no-hitter in his career and has been ranked by almost everybody as a top 5 pitching prospect in the major leagues. Is a 2 month rental worth giving up a potential future number one starter? I don't think so and I'm betting that neither do the Red Sox. Tue, 22 Jul 2008 11:27:22 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/293806 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/293806