Buchholz demoted to Portland

by Randy Booth on Aug 20, 2008 11:57 PM EDT in News Comment 31 comments

After another bad start, Clay Buchholz has been demoted to Portland:

Terry Francona announced after the game that Clay Buchholz, who allowed five runs over 2-1/3 innings in an 11-6 Sox loss to the Orioles was demoted to Double-A Portland to work out his pitching issues.

"I talked to Buck and we feel we need to give him a renewed start," said Francona who also indicated he thinks Buchholz, now 2-9 with a 6.75 ERA will respond.

This is sort of surprising and, at the same time, isn't. Buchholz has just been bad this year and I don't think anyone knows why. His stuff hasn't been that bad. I don't think it's an arm issue at all, but hopefully we'll find out as he works out the kinks in the minors.

No one has been promoted yet to replace Buchholz. I'd assume we could see a reliever like Hunter Jones or Chris Smith. If it's a starter, David Pauley might be on his way up.

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It pains me to say this. But, finally, god, they couldv done this 2-3 starts again.

by spinz on Aug 21, 2008 12:21 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

er again=ago

by spinz on Aug 21, 2008 12:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

dido

by Rouge Sox on Aug 21, 2008 3:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It’s about time. I was at the game in Baltimore tonight and the pitching up until Timlin took the ball was flat out embarrassing. My brother won some awesome tickets through his work and I was really excited to go until I saw Buch was the starting pitcher… it was the same feeling as the kid who unwrapped his Christmas present to find an Xbox 360, then opened the box and found clothes inside.

At least Tampa Bay lost tonight, but when I look at Buchholz’s record this year, I can’t help but think Boston would have been closer to the Rays without him in the rotation.

by steve ells on Aug 21, 2008 12:23 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Replacement

This is just speculation on my part but they don’t necessarily have to bring up a pitcher. With Thurs. and Mon. as off days and Wakefield scheduled to return from the DL, we will bring up who ever we need for this weekend.

by drabidea on Aug 21, 2008 10:41 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

This sucks.

I was really hoping that Buchholz could work it out in Boston. Maybe he’ll be able to regain his composure and stuff at Portland; apparently he’s worked well with their pitching coach Mike Cather.

My reading of his start last night was that after the little squibber in the 2nd inning which no one could field, Buchholz completely lost his command of the fastball. Up until that point he’d been alright, but thereafter all the wheels came off. Seemed like a confidence issue there, but it could’ve been mechanical. Anyway, he then walked Ramon Castro (#9 guy) on 4 straight fastballs, and gave up a first-pitch (FB down middle) single to Brian Roberts.

by 0157H7 on Aug 21, 2008 11:01 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

yeah....."obvious"

In his press conference, Francona repeated several times it was “obvious something had to be done.”

Tito – It was “obvious” several weeks ago. Where have you been? Hello?

If we miss the playoffs by several games, it’s on you for going way too long with Buchholz. This was inexcusable to keep sending someone out there who had imploded weeks ago. We wasted another six runs last night, that we can’t afford with Minnesota and NY winning.

Hey, I can accept losing, but not stupidity.

by ccthemovieman on Aug 21, 2008 11:38 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Agreed that this could've been done sooner.

But the decision to send him down rests much more with Theo and the MiL development people than it does with Tito.

Among the mistakes he might’ve made this year, this one isn’t his.

"Are you a real doctor, or a doctor like Dr. Pepper is a doctor?"

by Allen Chace on Aug 21, 2008 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Doesn't Francona

as manager, have the final say on who is starting pitcher is for the night, and who isn’t? He couldn’t tell Theo, “Hey, we can’t use this kid at this point?” (You’re saying he might have said that, and was overruled?)

Tito has to have more say in things than you suggest (I would hope), especially someone trusted, with two WS rings and with a new, extended contract.

by ccthemovieman on Aug 21, 2008 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think this is THE CRITICAL QUESTION! n/t

by NG on Aug 21, 2008 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not saying he has no say.

But he can’t technically make roster moves, and he needed someone to start. I imagine, also, that Tito defers a lot to John Farrell on pitching decisions.

I’m not saying Tito gets a pass, but anyone who wants to blame him for this needs to realize it should be spread to people like Theo and John Farrell as well.

"Are you a real doctor, or a doctor like Dr. Pepper is a doctor?"

by Allen Chace on Aug 21, 2008 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Okay

I hear you……but it makes me question of the wisdom of these guys – not that anyone is expected to be perfect. I wonder if their reputation is overblown.

This Buchholz situation was pretty obvious several weeks ago. I hope his losses in that span don’t come back to haunt us.

Thanks for your input.

by ccthemovieman on Aug 21, 2008 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

TIto is also the type of coach to be on the player’s side. I’m sure demoting him was the last thing he wanted to do….

OverTheMonster.com

by Randy Booth on Aug 21, 2008 10:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would hope

the last thing he would want is to see the Sox lose games.

by ccthemovieman on Aug 22, 2008 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Buch needed this break

He wasn’t going to be able to work it out in the majors, like Lester did. Because no matter how frustrating Lester was, he was never quite this bad. I hope they don’t turn Masterson into a starter again, because with Wake coming off the DL it would not do us any good. However, there are many issues with the rotation. Beckett is not 100% healthy, Dice-K is Dice-K, Wake could come back different from the DL, Byrd is not good enough, and I can’t stop blaming Curt a bit for all these holes. If we could start Lester 7 times a week, I’d like our chances better. :)

Aar and J-Lo showed us again why they’re not reliable at all. Our bullpen is looking bad right now, but whatever.

It's the same old story. Boy finds girl, boy loses girl, girl finds boy, boy forgets girl, boy remembers girl, girls dies in a tragic blimp accident over the Orange Bowl on New Year's Day.

by MerryGoByeBye on Aug 21, 2008 1:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Wake

they said Wake will be back next week and that Beckett might just have a weird sleeping thing and will be ready on Tuesday. So this could just be a temporary setback for the staff.

by SoxAcumen on Aug 21, 2008 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Let’s hope.

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Aug 21, 2008 6:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Trade him now while his value is high

Use him to get a catcher, keep Masterson and Bowden and let someone else figure out his issues in the majors.

I know he is a fantastic prospect, so are many who never made it.

Sign CC in the off season, extend Jason Bay, trade Buch for a catcher, move Coco for middle relief and the Sox are the favs for 09.

Sorry, I know people really want this kid to be the next big thing, but he needs more time and the Sox can win now, so to me, imo, it makes sense to move him and get a piece that can help now.

But i have said this all before so…I do hope he works this out.

by SoxAcumen on Aug 21, 2008 1:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

?????

How is his stock high? At the beginning of the year him and Joba were the best prospects in the land. This season has been horrible, every team will have saw that. We will not get enough for the trade.

Would you trade Joba for a catcher? HELL NO!!!

by drabidea on Aug 21, 2008 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Mauer

I’d trade Buch for Mauer in a second. But besides him, there are no catchers in the majors or prospects that I would trade Buch for. I wouldn’t be opposed to us sending Bowden to Texas for Salty, Teagarden, or especially Max Ramirez.

by Gnick on Aug 21, 2008 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He's not ready for it yet

But I’d like to see Bowden get a start before he’s shipped off as people seem to be planning. I don’t think the reward will be as high, but I see the risk in a pitcher like Bowden being lower than Buchholz.

"Are you a real doctor, or a doctor like Dr. Pepper is a doctor?"

by Allen Chace on Aug 21, 2008 2:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

agreed

This would be a terrible time to trade Buchholz. His stock could hardly be lower.

by RickD on Aug 21, 2008 4:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And the name of SoxAcumen is a sarcastic joke, right?

Don't question my choice of teams, or I will have to go all troll on you.

by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Aug 21, 2008 7:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes!

Buch has great stuff, but it just hasn’t been working here in Boston. Iron the folds in the minors.

Hunter Jones went to FSU, probably to the dismay of bs.uf15bosox9bears23.

He who hesitates is tagged out between first and second base.

by BoSox415 on Aug 21, 2008 5:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Hey, once their out of there, they aren't free game anymore.

I liked Deion before I found out he went to FSU, and I still like him now. Maybe a little more because he is like the Devin Hester of Yesteryear (GO BEARS!)

Don't question my choice of teams, or I will have to go all troll on you.

by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Aug 21, 2008 7:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs