Where would the Red Sox starting rotation be without their ace, Clay Buchholz. That’s right, Clay Buchholz. Thus far in 2010, Buchholz has out-pitched Josh Beckett, John Lackey and Jon Lester in impressive fashion and last night, became the first Sox starter to pitch into (and through) the 8th inning this year. After a shaky 2008 campaign and a solid 2009, Buchholz looks to be continuing his path towards being an elite starter for years to come.
In 4 starts this year, Buchholz has a 2.19 ERA and has allowed only 6 earned runs, both far and away the best on the team (for starting pitchers). His 22 Ks are also best on the team and even after allowing several unearned runs to score in a meltdown 1st inning a week and a half ago, he still has allowed the fewest runs on the team with 11 (5 unearned). After going 5 innings in his first 2 starts, Buchholz has increased his pitch count and inning total over his last 2 outings, affording the Sox bullpen some much-needed rest.
The only negative with Buchholz is still his mental toughness. At times throughout his career, despite his excellent stuff, his focus and concentration have been lacking and he has gotten flustered too easily. Case in point, April 17th against the Tampa Bay Rays. After a fielding error by Mike Cameron allowed a run to score with 2 outs, Buchholz walked 2 and gave up a 3-run double before getting out of the inning. Buchholz lost his focus and composure and dug the Red Sox into a deeper hole. As his career progresses, Buchholz needs to overcome his tendency to meltdown if he wants to be the Red Sox ace.
With the negative aside, Buchholz has some incredible pitches when he is on his game. His no-hitter in 2007 is a great example of his true potential, showcasing his myriad of pitches. His main weapon is his devastating 12-6 curveball that buckles knees and then he counters that with a mid-90s straight fastball, a solid 2-seam fastball, an okay slider and a strong low-80s changeup. As Buchholz learns to properly mix his pitches and discovers ways to get guys out in clutch situations, he will continue to improve. It is cliche, but with his natural talent, the sky is the limit for Buchholz.
For now, Buchholz is the only starter with an ERA under 5. His 2-2 record is deceiving, because he has received only 2 runs of support over his last 2 games, making his 2-1 victory on Tuesday night even more remarkable. If Beckett can turn around his season like he did last year and Lackey and Lester can find their groove, the Sox pitching staff could be the best in baseball, just a few months later than expected. Just one game at a time…
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