It was about 1 year ago when young pitcher Clay Buchholz threw a no-hitter against the Baltimore Orioles in only his 2nd major league start. 1 year later, Buchholz has struggled and is currently 2-9 with a 6.75 ERA; losing 7 straight decisions. After a 11-6 loss to the O's, manager Terry Francona announced that Buchholz was demoted to Double A Portland.
Let's get something straight, this guy has great potential and I truly believe that. Could it be a sophomore slump? I'm not really sure. Clearly, Buchholz has pitched without any confidence and needs locate his fastball. I think Buchholz being demoted can do some good for him, give him a fresh start and work his way back up to being a strong dominant pitcher. He pitched a no-hitter, and I think that says a lot. He has the potential to be a dominant pitcher down the line.
The struggles continued tonight for Buchholz, who only last 2 -1/3 innings and gave up 3 hits and 5 earned runs. To be honest, I feel bad for the guy! His posture on the mound only suggests that he's disappointed in is performance. I think Buchholz needs a while to gain his confidence back, and I believe down the line he will. He can pitch quality innings, but as of late his fastball location gets the best of him.
Anyways, good luck in Portland Clay, I hope to see you back soon.
Keywords: Clay Buchholz, Red Sox
