Buchholz Pitches Great, But Offense Absent As Sox Get Shut Out

by Randy Booth on Apr 22, 2010 10:48 PM EDT in Game Stories

Let's just get this out of the way quick: the Red Sox lost to the Rangers tonight, 3-0, but guess what? Clay Buchholz was really, really good.

There was no offense tonight. They just didn't show up. That happens sometimes and it really is a problem, but didn't you hear me?! CLAY. BUCHHOLZ. PITCHED. WELL.

Buchholz on the night:

6.2 innings
6 hits
3 runs
1 walk
10 strikeouts

Yes.

That's the Clay Buchholz we love. That's the Clay Buchholz we haven't seen since October. If Buchholz can pitch like this almost every time out, then the Red Sox definitely have the best starting rotation in baseball. You know, when it all comes together. Because that's coming soon. I swear.

As far as the offense...

Victor Martinez went 2 for 3. That's nice. And. Um. He walked, too. As far as everyone else goes, even Darnell McDonald couldn't produce (0 for 2, BB). It was just one of those games (which we've seen quite a bit already).

Game notes:

The relief wasn't too bad. Ramon Ramirez worked .2 innings and allowed just a hit. Scott Schoeneweis went 1.2 innings and walked one while striking out one.
No regular in the Red Sox's lineup today is hitting over .300. Only two in the lineup -- Mike Lowell (.300) and McLovin' (.429) -- have a mark higher than .300
Buchholz has now allowed just five runs in 16.2 innings on the season, good for a 2.70 ERA.

The Sox start a three-game series at home versus the Orioles tomorrow night at 7.

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Comments

Shoulda been a sweep

by Mike-Dub on Apr 22, 2010 11:19 PM EDT reply actions

Can't believe Tito sent him back out for the 7th!

Just kidding, Buzzy.

USG

by Ben Buchanan on Apr 22, 2010 11:21 PM EDT reply actions

We won our second series.

Finally. Let’s make it our third with the Orioles this weekend.

" Play Ball "

by went9 on Apr 23, 2010 7:04 AM EDT reply actions

Bad

Maybe the Sox really are that bad.

by Old Fan on Apr 23, 2010 7:07 AM EDT reply actions

Lets be fair

Wilson was outstanding clay was as well till the 7th wish we could win them all !

by RED SOX are #1 in my heart on Apr 23, 2010 10:14 AM EDT up reply actions

I dont see how last night was indicative of anything "bad"

our lineup, which contains two minor leaguers now in the outfield, struggled to muster up runs…this suprises you? Bucholz pitched his ass off.

by Drew95.00.03 on Apr 23, 2010 10:39 AM EDT up reply actions

well not scoring any runs is always bad, no matter the situation

but yes, it doesn’t indicate the team is screwed. Wilson was clearly on his top game yesterday. Anyone that can induce contact for groundballs that well is going to do very well at fenway.

by wolf9309 on Apr 23, 2010 10:47 AM EDT up reply actions

+1

by Drew95.00.03 on Apr 23, 2010 10:50 AM EDT up reply actions

I would have to say that Wilson and Buch both pitched stellar

and it wasn’t the umpire. They were both throwing strikes and keeping hitters off-balance.

If Buch doesn’t make that awful throw off the surprise bunt, then he only gives up 2 runs.

Wilson was obviously just locked in. He had that ball moving down on everybody and he made them pound it into the ground like they were puppets. I don’t want to see him again for a while.

by mmmmm on Apr 23, 2010 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Orioles series

absolutely should end up being 9-10 after this weekend…

That is unless Matusz shuts us down (likely). He’s nasty.

by Drew95.00.03 on Apr 23, 2010 9:04 AM EDT reply actions

A certain team last year was 9-10

Looked lost with their new additions and had a fan base chomping at the bit and villifying team and players…..look how that turned out

by BobZupcic on Apr 23, 2010 9:19 AM EDT up reply actions

This O's series is crucial.

We need to win 2, if not sweep. Losing a series to the O’s at home would be indicative enough for me to think maybe, just maybe we dont have it this year.

by Drew95.00.03 on Apr 23, 2010 10:30 AM EDT up reply actions

tough start

hope they turn it around soon. Drays seem to be the hot team with a 9-1 road trip

by Rickfansince76 on Apr 23, 2010 9:15 AM EDT reply actions

McDonald’s used up his luck. Time to put Reddick in.

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by bestbostonsports on Apr 23, 2010 10:29 AM EDT reply actions

We'll see Riddick and Hermida tonight.

Righty on the hill will also bring Ortiz back into the mix.

" Play Ball "

by went9 on Apr 23, 2010 10:43 AM EDT up reply actions

yeah Tito's been platooning all our questionable positions

tonights lineup will be quite different from the last two nights.

by wolf9309 on Apr 23, 2010 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions

I think 3rd base is questionable.

Beltre is awful.

by Drew95.00.03 on Apr 23, 2010 10:50 AM EDT up reply actions

Im more worried about Drew.

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by bestbostonsports on Apr 23, 2010 10:59 AM EDT up reply actions

Beltre cant hit without roids.

And Drew, well. He just cant hit (erases grand slam from memory)

by Drew95.00.03 on Apr 23, 2010 11:07 AM EDT up reply actions

Exactly.
Same can be said about Ortiz.

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by bestbostonsports on Apr 23, 2010 11:08 AM EDT up reply actions

Lets take a look at the current sox squad

Beltre – roids
Cameron – roids
Ortiz – roids
JD Drew – rich

Those are the 4 main problems with our lineup.

by Drew95.00.03 on Apr 23, 2010 11:10 AM EDT up reply actions

haha, agree.
Would be nice to get Ellsbury back soon.

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by bestbostonsports on Apr 23, 2010 11:10 AM EDT up reply actions

Come on

Cameron is hurt. He and Drew are very good players and, if healthy, should perform close to their career norms. Beltre is an OK hitter and great defender. Ortiz may or may not be done (he was very good after June 1st last year—if we make slow starter excuses for Lester, why not Papi too?). But that has nothing to do with steroids. First, nobody knows what Ortiz tested positive for. Second, his best years came after MLB started testing, and he never tested positive after 2003.

It is stupid to make snap assessments of players in April. The team has played 16 games. Sure, they’re 6-10—but they’ve only played 10% of the season. When judging teams or players it’s important to remember that sample size matters.

In 2004, the Sox went 7-13 btween June 12th and July 4th. They also went 8-10 between July 11th and August 1st. They ended up winning 98 games. In 2007, the Sox had a 5-9 stretch between May 30th and June 14th, and they went 8-13 from June 25th to July 19th (losing 2 of 3 to KC and being swept by Seattle and Detroit). The Sox ended up with 96 wins in 2007.

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

by Drugs Delaney on Apr 23, 2010 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions

Dude

Nobody is saying we arent going to win this year. I’m pointing out problems I think need to be addressed. Beltre honestly hasnt been the same since that huge year he had in LA.

We can go into the he said she said BS about steroids, but the bottom line is…Papi is really, really on the decline. I think he’s done. I’m not the only one.

Sure, we’re 6-10, I’m not panicking. Just pointed out some places where I think Theo’s pre season moves could bite us in the ass. More specifically, areas where I’m concerned.

by Drew95.00.03 on Apr 23, 2010 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions

Everyone is concerned

Most Sox fans want to see the team win (although I’m sure there are those who prefer to say “I told you so”). You concluded that the team’s problems consisted of:

Beltre – roids
Cameron – roids
Ortiz – roids
JD Drew – rich

Which is rather silly. Without getting into the whole steriod argument—because nobody can really say what affect they have on a player. Players have had one-year spikes before the steroid era (Maris in 1961 comes to mind). So, to say that “Beltre cant hit without roids” doesn’t really qualify as analysis.

It’s true that Beltre hasn’t played well. I’m not the only one here that had reservations about his offense prior to the season. Some of us doubted that he’d experience a “Fenway bump” in his stat line. That said, the signing did make sense. Beltre has been a .330 wOBA player throughout his career and a great defender. Right now, Beltre has a .263 wOBA (worse than Bill Hall) and his defense has been about average. His O-swings are higher right now, a sign that he may be pressing. We need more than 16 games and 59 PA to properly assess Beltre.

JD Drew currently has a .234 wOBA. Over his career he has been a .384 wOBA hitter. The past two seasons, Drew had posted wOBAs of .400 and .389 respectively. The stats show that he’s an elite hitter who has struggled in his first 16 games (62 PA).

Theo’s pre-season moves were sound and rational. Whether they work out or not will be seen. Every team has holes. Right now, the Sox are missing two-thirds of their starting OF and almost every player is underperforming. Move may have to be made. But good organizations don’t panic.

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

by Drugs Delaney on Apr 23, 2010 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions

This

And historically Beltre has always been a slow starter
April OPS: .720 OPS
Career OPS: .777

Westmoreland recently asked his son how he was feeling, and the response the father received didn't surprise him. "I'm going to be in Portland next year," Ryan said.

by radiohix on Apr 23, 2010 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Drew

Is slumping….but to say he “can’t hit” is fallacy….Ortiz/Beltre I’m with you. Cameron is still valuable.

by BobZupcic on Apr 23, 2010 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions

Drew's been a let down since day 1.

All the hype, pre draft, really skewed expectations.

by Drew95.00.03 on Apr 23, 2010 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions

Hmm...

Where to begin

a. How is the hype Drew’s fault, or even the expectations?
b. How, quantifiably has he been a let down?
He is a well above average hitter and a well above average fielder

by BobZupcic on Apr 23, 2010 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions

Fielding he has never let me down.

I’m talking at the plate. Analysts were slobbing him before he hit the majors, saying he has “the best natural swing theyve ever seen” bla bla bla. Drew’s not a bad player. AT ALL. and I’m not saying that, I just always had higher expectations for him at the plate. For me, he’s been a let down offensively. Defensively, that’s another story. His RBI production isnt too impressive to me, neither is his BA.

by Drew95.00.03 on Apr 23, 2010 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions