By Joe McDonald
Journal Sports Writer
BALTIMORE _ Someday this will all be just a blur. It will be a brief moment during the career of Clay Buchholz that will be forgotten about and his statistics covered with whiteout.
At least that's what the Red Sox are hoping for - maybe even praying for.
The rookie right-hander has struggled mightily this season, and just when management felt like Buchholz might have figured it out, he has an outing like Wednesday night where he imploded once again. The Orioles racked him for five runs on three hits in only 2 1/3 innings of work en route to a 11-6 victory at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Baltimore avoided a sweep with the win.
As a result of his struggles, Buchholz was optioned to Double-A Portland after last night's game to work with Sea Dogs pitching coach Mike Cather, who has the most experience in the organization working with Buchholz.
Red Sox manager Terry Francona called this move a "renewed start" for Buchholz, who acknowledged something needs to be done.
"I've never been one to say that pressure is too much for me, but I've felt like I've had a lot of weight on my shoulders just trying to be perfect and trying to things as well as I could to help this team win," said Buchholz. "I knew a decision was coming and it had to be made soon. They have given me ample opportunity to help this team, and myself, it just hasn't worked out. . . As close as this pennant race is now you have to send guys out there who you know will go out there and give you a win. I hate to say it was the right decision, but I believe it was."
It was his shortest outing of the season and he threw only 60 pitches (30 strikes) as his E.R.A ballooned to 6.75 in 15 starts. In fact, Boston is 3-12 this season when Buchholz has started.
"I've never had a streak like this, so it's hard for me to describe what I'm going through," he said. "It's hard times right now."
The original plan for 2008 - if the starting rotation remained healthy and in tact - was for Buchholz to make more than the nine starts he has made at the Triple-A level where he posted a 4-2 record. But because Curt Schilling's season ended even before it began with a arm injury, and because Bartolo Colon has been on the disabled list three different times, Buchholz has been given more opportunities.
"People have tough games, I've had a tough year," he said. "It's hard to swallow right now."
He's had to develop at the big-league level to no avail.
"I put too much pressure on myself," he said. "When I put one guy on base it feels like the bases are loaded. Instead of gritting my teeth and saying 'Let's get these guys out' I'm thinking 'Now what's going to happen.' I don't have a very high confidence level and something has to change."
"It's a tough situation," said Francona. "We're in the middle of a pennant race and we're in Boston. There's a lot of focus on him and he feels a responsibility. I'm proud of the way he's acted, it was just pretty obvious we needed to do something."
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I believe your article about Beckett is right. Ask former MLB pitcher Dr. Mike Marshall. He will tell anyone that Beckett turns his thumb up while releasing his curve ball. This causes him to bang the bones in his elbow and he has slowly damaged it with each curve he throws. I also think he is probably near Tommy John surgery (if not already).
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