What has happened to Clay Bucholz?

[mahonedog88]

This guy was and I guess still is one of our top prospects (is he even a prospect anymore though?).  The talk on him is that he has the potential to be an ace of a pitching staff and we saw that with his no hitter last year and even at the beginning of this year.

But my god has he fallen.  He's done nothing but stink up the joint ever since he got called up from AAA and he needs to be sent back down.  Colon needs to get well and take his spot.  If we were in 1st place with a little bit of a cushion (last year for example) I'd say have him stay here and work it out in the major leagues.

This year is different though.  We're not in 1st place, we're in second back 3 and a half games to a Tampa team that doesn't seem to lose when we need them too haha.  So we need all the wins we can get.

[Evantime34]

If I had to guess I'd say it might be fatigue. He hasn't pitched this much ever in the big leagues. I think Masterson should get the rest of his starts, unless Bowden can do some big things while Wake is out

[Finkelskyhook]

People put way too much stock in his no hitter.  IMHO, Buchholz should have finished this season in Pawtucket after he was demoted.  He's just too inconsistent to be a starter right now.

He did pitch very well after a bad start against Kansas City.  He pitched four solid innings after a rough inning.  Buchholz seems to have one real bad inning in just about every start.

[hardlyyardley]

too much "hollywood"....playmates and "mr t" look

[Chris]

Looks like he has lost his confidence, which is a dangerous thing for young pitchers.  Although plenty of guys have gotten over it, there are other examples of guys like Rick Ankiel, who never seemed to recover.  They need to get this kid back to the minors quick, to work on his fastball some more, and to just get him to calm down, and build up some confidence.  He still has some of the best "stuff" you will ever see, but he simply isn't ready for the big time.

[albert]

If you want, you can cheer him up some at his myspace: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=34509635

[xmuscularghandix]

the fact that he threw a no hitter is clouding the red sox judgement. he's not ready for a starting role, justin masterson went late into games and put us in a position to win, clay is strong for his firt time threw the order then struggles. sounds to me like things are a little mixed up.

[Vermont Green]

(is he even a prospect anymore though

I think that is the key point, he is just a prospect still and wouldn't even be in the rotation if Schilling didn't blow up.  Still, he is definitely shaken (I think he wears too many Necklaces too).  I would get him back down to AAA as soon as possible (all the harder now that Wake is out) so that he can try to come back again in Sept when the rosters expand.  He needs to kind of re-boot again.  He is just plain wild (and I mean wild in the strike zone as Jerry says).

[Chris]

the fact that he threw a no hitter is clouding the red sox judgement. he's not ready for a starting role, justin masterson went late into games and put us in a position to win, clay is strong for his firt time threw the order then struggles. sounds to me like things are a little mixed up.

I don't think the no-hitter is in the minds of sox management.  Bucholtz was a top prospect before the no hitter, and he is one now.  The problem is, they have been playing well enough to allow him to "work out" his problems in the majors, and it hasn't helped that they haven't had much other better options with Colon rehabbing, and Masterson being much more valuable in his role in the bullpen rather than the 5th starter.  I think as soon as Colon is ready to return, Bucholtz will be sent back down...and maybe quicker if they think Bowden is ready to step in.

[xmuscularghandix]

the fact that he threw a no hitter is clouding the red sox judgement. he's not ready for a starting role, justin masterson went late into games and put us in a position to win, clay is strong for his firt time threw the order then struggles. sounds to me like things are a little mixed up.

I don't think the no-hitter is in the minds of sox management.  Bucholtz was a top prospect before the no hitter, and he is one now.  The problem is, they have been playing well enough to allow him to "work out" his problems in the majors, and it hasn't helped that they haven't had much other better options with Colon rehabbing, and Masterson being much more valuable in his role in the bullpen rather than the 5th starter.  I think as soon as Colon is ready to return, Bucholtz will be sent back down...and maybe quicker if they think Bowden is ready to step in.

do you think that bucholtz could make some bullpen appearances?

[Triboy16]

He is too weak. When he has no one on base and can wind up, his pitches become lethal. But when someone gets on and he tries to pitch on a short wind up, his pitches become hittable.(in turn his confidence gets killed)

Bucholz right now should be a spot reliever and masterson back as a starter

[Chris]

the fact that he threw a no hitter is clouding the red sox judgement. he's not ready for a starting role, justin masterson went late into games and put us in a position to win, clay is strong for his firt time threw the order then struggles. sounds to me like things are a little mixed up.

I don't think the no-hitter is in the minds of sox management.  Bucholtz was a top prospect before the no hitter, and he is one now.  The problem is, they have been playing well enough to allow him to "work out" his problems in the majors, and it hasn't helped that they haven't had much other better options with Colon rehabbing, and Masterson being much more valuable in his role in the bullpen rather than the 5th starter.  I think as soon as Colon is ready to return, Bucholtz will be sent back down...and maybe quicker if they think Bowden is ready to step in.

do you think that bucholtz could make some bullpen appearances?

From everything I have heard, the sox have no interest in moving him into the bullpen, even for a short period of time...partly because they think the best thing for his future is to keep him as a starter, and partly because the biggest problem he has had has been with his control and his mental toughness...two of the most important things needed for a bullpen arm.

[Chris]

He is too weak. When he has no one on base and can wind up, his pitches become lethal. But when someone gets on and he tries to pitch on a short wind up, his pitches become hittable.(in turn his confidence gets killed)

Bucholz right now should be a spot reliever and masterson back as a starter

Now that makes no sense.  Relievers work from the stretch all of the time, so he would be even less effective.  He needs to be starting...just not in Boston yet.

And Masterson is much more valuable in the bullpen right now.  The role he could be playing as the bridge to Papelbon is much more valuable to this team than a 5th starter.  They should be concentrating on maintaining leads when Beckett, Lester, Dice-K and Wakefield are starting, rather than using him just for those other games.

[Triboy16]

Bucholz would need to pitch from the stretch if he has to inherit a runner. But not when he starts a new inning.

Can't agree with you about masterson. You see masterson lately?? he hasn't given up a run in a while and striked out 5 is 2 innings

[Chris]

Bucholz would need to pitch from the stretch if he has to inherit a runner. But not when he starts a new inning.

Which is a big part of being a reliever...not to mention most relievers go from the stretch all of the time.

Can't agree with you about masterson. You see masterson lately?? he hasn't given up a run in a while and striked out 5 is 2 innings

I guess we will just have to agree to disagree on this one, because you just gave the number 1 reason why I think they need to keep Masterson in the Bullpen.  He looks like he is finally filling their most glaring need over the first half of the season...a set up man.  To take him out of that role to be a 5th starter would not make sense for the team.