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— Where Thinking Red Sox Fans Obsess about the Sox

Saturday, September 01, 2007

Buchholz to pitch tonight (and promotions!)

With Tim Wakefield unable to go last night, Clay Buchholz will get the call tonight. He, along with Jacoby Ellsbury, Brandon Moss, Royce Clayton, and Bryan Corey will be called up today. (link)

First of all, thank goodness for the reinforcements. Sox players are dropping like flies and it has really hamstrung them the last couple days. Having said that, all of these players make sense to me except for Clayton. He is a terrible hitter with an overhyped defensive reputation and he’s not particularly fast. Meanwhile, two much better candidates remain in the minors. Bobby Scales has put up mid-800s OPS’s the past two years, which to low--700s for MLEs. He can play several positions and controls the strikezone well. He can’t play SS but we have three guys who can already. A promotion to the majors would have been a nice reward and sent a good message to the other organizational soldiers. It also would have provided the Major League club with a better player. Another option would have been to bump up Jed Lowrie, who actually is a SS. Lowrie has murdered the ball this year to the tune of ~.350/.420 MLE line. Once again, a nice reward, a nice message, and a better player on the team.

But apparently the Red Sox are so supremely confident in their lead that they can bring up an obviously inferior player. This same confidence allowed them to start Kevin Cash last night (or to have him on the roster in the first place) and to avoid demoting Loogy Lopez in favor of a much-needed OF for the past 3 days. Time will tell if they’re right.

Darren Posted: September 01, 2007 at 08:07 AM | 33 comment(s)
  Related News: Boston

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   1. John DiFool2 Posted: September 01, 2007 at 10:20 AM (#2507369)
Not bringing up Lowrie, and promoting Clayton over him, is absolutely criminal, indefensible, nonsensical, and ridiculous. Clatyon's ZRs have been in the low .800's for the past few years, so he isn't a glove man anymore, so why do they need 3 middle infielders who can't hit? #### #### ############ #######.
   2. IronChef Chris Wok Posted: September 01, 2007 at 11:14 AM (#2507396)

Not bringing up Lowrie, and promoting Clayton over him, is absolutely criminal, indefensible, nonsensical, and ridiculous. Clatyon's ZRs have been in the low .800's for the past few years, so he isn't a glove man anymore, so why do they need 3 middle infielders who can't hit? #### #### ############ #######.


He's up doesn't mean he'll be in the lineup. Which begs the question: what the F!@# is he doing on the 40 man?
   3. Darren Posted: September 01, 2007 at 11:17 AM (#2507397)
He's up doesn't mean he'll be in the lineup. Which begs the question: what the F!@# is he doing on the 40 man?


Taking up a spot that could go to Scales, Lowrie, or Carter.
   4. IronChef Chris Wok Posted: September 01, 2007 at 11:22 AM (#2507399)
Why did we even sign him?
   5. Jim Wisinski Posted: September 01, 2007 at 12:31 PM (#2507421)
Why was he even born?
   6. Miko Supports Shane's Spam Habit Posted: September 01, 2007 at 01:04 PM (#2507431)
Why was he even born?

So Jim Morris could realize a dream.
   7. Matinee_Idol Posted: September 01, 2007 at 01:05 PM (#2507432)
A promotion to the majors would have been a nice reward and sent a good message to the other organizational soldiers.


They don't bring someone up to reward them anymore. There's limited space in the dugout and in the clubhouse. They only bring up players whom they think can help the club now. Clayton is OBVIOUSLY being promoted for his veteran presence, the reason they signed him in the first place. Starting Lowrie's clock at this time doesn't make a whole lot of sense considering SS is a relatively new position for him.
   8. TVerik fondly recalls Todd Palin's facial hair Posted: September 01, 2007 at 01:08 PM (#2507433)
I agree with the sentiment, but I'll bet there is a significant percentage of baseball fans who would look at the Red Sox promotions list as "Royce Clayton and some other guys".
   9. IronChef Chris Wok Posted: September 01, 2007 at 01:14 PM (#2507436)
I agree with the sentiment, but I'll bet there is a significant percentage of baseball fans who would look at the Red Sox promotions list as "Royce Clayton and some other guys".

Everybody knows who Jacoby is.
   10. TVerik fondly recalls Todd Palin's facial hair Posted: September 01, 2007 at 01:28 PM (#2507438)
I couldn't pick Ellsbury out of a criminal lineup, but I could easily pick Clayton out of one.
   11. Matinee_Idol Posted: September 01, 2007 at 02:03 PM (#2507449)
I couldn't pick Ellsbury out of a criminal lineup, but I could easily pick Clayton out of one.


I think he looks a lot like a young Johnny Damon.

http://media.collegepublisher.com/media/paper854/stills/429df51d2ceb6-41-1.jpg
   12. Textbook Editor Posted: September 01, 2007 at 03:51 PM (#2507493)
If I'm reading all this correctly, I think this means that Ellsbury (Red Sox) could not be on the post-season roster, because (a) he was not on the 25-man as of 8/31, and (b) the Red Sox currently have no OF on the DL as of 8/31 who they could swap Ellsbury in for (because you have to swap in position for position).

Do I have this right?

With Clement on the DL, that means Buchholz could be swapped in for the post-season roster.
   13. The Ghost of Sox Fans Past Posted: September 01, 2007 at 04:02 PM (#2507502)
What is Wakefiled's status? Any chance he'll start Sunday, or will it be Lester?
   14. Matinee_Idol Posted: September 01, 2007 at 04:34 PM (#2507536)
Lester gets the start on Sunday.
   15. Darren Posted: September 01, 2007 at 06:20 PM (#2507768)
They don't bring someone up to reward them anymore.


That doesn't mean they're right. And it wouldn't be a reward--it'd be bringing up the better player.

They only bring up players whom they think can help the club now. Clayton is OBVIOUSLY being promoted for his veteran presence, the reason they signed him in the first place.


And again, that doesn't mean they're right to do so. I Don't they have enough veteraness already?

Starting Lowrie's clock at this time doesn't make a whole lot of sense considering SS is a relatively new position for him.


Starting his clock? By giving him 30 days in September? Heck, I'm not even sure September callups count toward arb time. But if they do, 1 month is not likely to have a major effect on his arb situation. The tiny effect that they do have would be outweighed by Lowrie helping them win the division.
   16. Dave Cyprian Posted: September 01, 2007 at 06:28 PM (#2507790)
#12, no, you can switch DL players for anyone now regardless of position
   17. Matinee_Idol Posted: September 01, 2007 at 06:35 PM (#2507795)
The tiny effect that they do have would be outweighed by Lowrie helping them win the division.


This is all subject to change. Let's give it a try and see what happens. If it doesn't work out, "we" can make changes.
   18. Darren Posted: September 01, 2007 at 06:44 PM (#2507800)
Not sure what you mean. We're tying Clayton and seeing if that works? By the time we know, the season will be over. We've had all season to try stuff out in the minors and Scales and Lowrie have distinguished himself.

They had a great bit on Clayton over at SOSH (from a Projo article):

When Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein called about the possibility of signing a minor-league deal, Clayton had one stipulation before deciding whether or not to join the Red Sox. He wanted to be home to see his son’s first day of school. The timeframe between Epstein’s call and his son’s first day was about a week.

Epstein agreed.

“I appreciate [the Red Sox] accommodating that because it meant a lot to me,” said Clayton. “My son may not remember it, but I will. After that, my mind was clear and I was ready to come, get in shape and help the club.”

During his brief hiatus from the game the only physical activity he participated in was some light workouts, and it wasn’t until he joined the PawSox on their last road trip that he picked up a ball and swung a bat.


That's right. Didn't bother to pick up a ball or bat until he was with the team. I'm sorry, this really sends a terrible message to the players in the minor league system.

Also, I wish they let him go to the Yankees and get important ABs there.
   19. Matinee_Idol Posted: September 01, 2007 at 07:34 PM (#2507828)
I'm sorry, this really sends a terrible message to the players in the minor league system.


That's just plain silly. Clayton has certainly put in his time...
   20. Nasty Nate Posted: September 01, 2007 at 08:06 PM (#2507872)
That's just plain silly. Clayton has certainly put in his time..
i agree.

Clayton's role is going to be, what, 3rd-string middle infielder and sign-stealer (in the 6 games vs Jays)? I dont think its insane to think he'll be better at that job than their minor leaguers.
   21. Textbook Editor Posted: September 01, 2007 at 09:01 PM (#2507929)
Thanks for the info, Dave!
   22. JPWF13 Posted: September 01, 2007 at 09:57 PM (#2508051)
Buchholzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
   23. Harold Reynolds: An Erotic Life (AG#1F) Posted: September 01, 2007 at 10:09 PM (#2508111)
So, how's he doing?
   24. chris p Posted: September 01, 2007 at 10:13 PM (#2508146)
he's pretty good!
   25. Harold Reynolds: An Erotic Life (AG#1F) Posted: September 01, 2007 at 10:14 PM (#2508151)
Its all downhill from here.
   26. Nasty Nate Posted: September 01, 2007 at 10:14 PM (#2508155)
offered tickets for tonight and/or monday...
i took only monday... dizzy would have to throw a perfecto to top this
   27. Dan Posted: September 01, 2007 at 10:16 PM (#2508161)
I hear this Buchholz kid had an alright start tonight?
   28. JPWF13 Posted: September 01, 2007 at 10:20 PM (#2508177)
2 year ago I assumed that ALL Redsox pitching prospects were overrated- juts as I assumed all DBAck hitting prospects were overrated...

well 50% is pretty good
   29. Dave Cyprian Posted: September 01, 2007 at 11:11 PM (#2508286)
Amazing start for Buchholz tonight; hopefully this is the spark that sends the Red Sox to new heights.

Unbelieveable post game interview with Theo Epstein. First, Tito admitted he talked on the phone with Theo after both the 7th and 8th inning regarding pitch counts. In the post-game interview, Theo said that Buchholz career high was 98 pitches and that he absolutely under no circumstances would have thrown more than 120 pitches. According to Theo, "Francona would have pulled him out and blamed me... We would have become the poster boy for [pitch counts], something we did not want to be."

Buchholz struck out Markakis looking to end it with 115 pitches.
   30. Darren Posted: September 01, 2007 at 11:15 PM (#2508292)
That's just plain silly. Clayton has certainly put in his time..


Not with the Red Sox. He just took several weeks off and didn't pick up a bat or ball, while Scales was working his butt off.

i agree.

Clayton's role is going to be, what, 3rd-string middle infielder and sign-stealer (in the 6 games vs Jays)? I dont think its insane to think he'll be better at that job than their minor leaguers.


Why would he better than Scales at this? Good luck signing any minor league FAs next year.
   31. Dave Cyprian Posted: September 01, 2007 at 11:20 PM (#2508297)
Other news and notes from the game: Clay mentioned that he threw in the cage more than once during the long Red Sox scoring innings to stay loose. He did however sit through the length of the bottom of the 8th, as the NESN cameras clearly showed him sitting alone on the bench the whole time. At one point the closest person (about 8 feet away), Lugo, looked up from his bat and stared intently at the 22 year old Buchholz alone, before awkwardly looking away.

The young hurler demonstrated immense composure the entire game, punctuated by his modest fist pump after completing the no hitter. I get more demonstrative when I win at Madden.

Varitek called a great game. I didn't see the middle innings, but at least from the 5 innings I saw, Clay mixed up his off-speed and fastball very well. The least predictable pitch calling I've seen from Varitek and a young pitcher in a long time. Great battery work.
   32. IronChef Chris Wok Posted: September 01, 2007 at 11:28 PM (#2508304)


Varitek called a great game. I didn't see the middle innings, but at least from the 5 innings I saw, Clay mixed up his off-speed and fastball very well. The least predictable pitch calling I've seen from Varitek and a young pitcher in a long time. Great battery work.


He still stood up for the high fastball though. Sigh.
   33. chris p Posted: September 01, 2007 at 11:46 PM (#2508318)
22 year old Buchholz

he just turned 23 2 weeks ago.
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