Projo Sox Blog

By Joe McDonald
Journal Sports Writer

FORT MYERS, Fla. _ Clay Buchholz will be the first to admit that he was all mixed up during the entire 2008 season.

From the start of spring training a year ago until he was sent to Double-A Portland on Aug. 20, the right-hander had too much going through his head and it effected his pitching. His arm angle was changed. His delivery was tweaked. None of it helped.

This offseason he decided to retrace his steps to what he was doing in 2007, and incorporate a better delivery this spring.

"The right term would be under control," he said. "Last year was jerky and jumping towards home plate whenever I was delivering a pitch. This year I've tried to maintain a slow steady movement and make it a little more smooth going through the zone. That has let me ease back instead of being so tense, trying to throw 100 miles-per-hour. I can thrown 91 or 92 and locate the ball a lot better."

So far it's worked.

Buchholz has made only two starts and he's looked solid and fluid. He worked two innings and allowed only one hit with one strikeout against the Reds at City of Palms Park. Everything he's done so far, it has worked this year.

"Definitely," he said. "That was probably the most anxious I've been prior to a game to want to get out there and throw. I went back to a couple of things I was doing last year that I tried to better myself this offseason, which I've done in all my sides and even in live BP. I went to spinning off a little bit on my landing side, but I guess the best part about it was I recognized it and was able to go back to what I was working on this spring training."

Last year at this time, Buchholz finished camp with a 1-3 record in four games (three starts) with a 10.03 ERA in only 11 2/3 innings. Despite the lackluster performance he knew he owned a spot in the Sox' rotation, but he's not taken anything for granted this spring.

"The biggest difference for me this year is I know I'm still fighting for this job," he said. "I don't have a legit spot on this team. So be it if I start in Triple-A, but I'm going to try to make the decision for them to send me to Triple-A or keep me in Boston the hardest decision for them to make."

 Tags  Clay Buchholz Red Sox spring training

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