8-11-08 Clay Buchholz Struggles Again

Speaking of baseball we turn our attention to. Your local mine who as we said Clay Buchholz had another rough outing again yesterday. You've got one of your most consistent pitchers. Headed for the DL now Tim Wakefield. You know. Our ice he has been Jon Lester but you know he's been pretty darn good terrier. He's he's been pretty consistent he his record doesn't show what because. It's just been one of those things where you know the won loss record doesn't show it take a look at all of his other numbers and Tim Wakefield was an unbelievable.

Well put it this way. When you have a starting pitcher you always ask yourself who what what our chances today depending on the starter. -- Daisuke out there -- look at Daisuke -- record you say we I like our chances were going to do pretty well. We have Josh Beckett out there despite his record up you say is Josh Beckett he's an -- he can be dominate at any time yeah. When you have Jon Leicester out there. Now it's not a you know last year maybe it was it was 5050. Or even 4060. Didn't know really what you're going to get from Jon Leicester now. It's more like there's a 70% chance that you're going to do something pretty special when Jon Leicester is out there. And Tim Wakefield was in in one of those grooves where when he took the ball. You felt pretty good about it so now. They've got two major holes in the rotation because. Wakefield is out where at least the couples start at least. I think I'm on I'm guessing that's the optimistic view.

I although I will say his return from the DL will probably be quicker. Than a conventional pitchers I mean he can't just come off the DL today and pitch for you tomorrow. But I'm guessing he won't need as many rehab starts and side sessions as a conventional pitcher -- shoulders this shoulder after old guy.

Whether you're knuckleballer or you do you're thrown fastballs so. That's a concern and then as we just talked about the Clay Buchholz. You feel like you're feeling you -- if he gives you five and eight innings. I -- I just don't. Right now I don't have a lot of confidence that he's going to give you a quality start when he when he takes the ball I do have a lot of confidence. That in 2009. He's going to be a very good pitcher for the -- I agree I like -- yeah I mean he's very talented pitcher but right now it is between the years.

He's a young pitcher and and you know not every young pitcher comes in. And does what Jonathan Papelbon or. Our or or performs the way Jon Lester has performed and and course he's even more remarkable given the physical issues but you know. Job Chamberlain I think is one of those young pitchers who comes in -- performs at a very high level. I mean take a look at Hughes and Kennedy two other very highly touted young pitchers for the Yankees. And the struggles that they're going to throw. It's it's kind of normal it's abnormal to -- out so I think he's going to be fine long term short term. I'm wondering how soon Bartolo come home can get are there.

But you know what that's that's only one spot so if you have Bartolo Colon sub in for Clay Buchholz. Who is replacing Tim Wakefield.

Charlie that's got to be a call up whether it yeah Michael Bolton or whether -- cink finally gets that opportunity but even even Charlie's that has been great Pataki. How do you feel about one of these double labor Tripoli guys coming up. In August. When the reds are trailing the rays in trying to hold on to the wildcard the top rock our body feel about. A call up and Bartolo Colon. Filling out to fifth of your rotation.

Yeah I don't know I am I mean it it it is a cause for concern. The wake the something more than the buckles and from August -- I didn't expect buckles and struggling for a while and I didn't expect he was going to be as. A playoff performer for any you don't go with five starters he's the fifth. Awe of the normal rotation -- was clearly that --

The Seattle I don't look at it from that perspective care about the playoffs right now. Because they gotta do is try to get this out so -- you're gonna need five to get the the playoffs you can't get to the playoffs with the three man rotation. So. How do you do that.

And -- do that with in -- do that is always a question when you're healthy but now when you're not -- an even bigger question. I think some some of the playoff stuff. Is RD determined there's no way no way the Angels. I'm going to be out of the playoffs. Angels will be in the play offs. I don't know what's going to happen in the central. The American League east yes. Virginia there for real at just a hair and -- the Tampa rays are for real -- looking good. So. You have to think about holding off the wild card competition.

Well I haven't given up on winning yeah but but but given up one at. No one.

You run out of -- right you run out of time and you're playing pretty good baseball not playing great baseball. So what is it now afford half. Yes after you okay. One half on August 11. I mean it's not impossible -- games in a week -- your so goes yeah aboriginal I think that was the that was the rough stretch for example.

Well no I I I do think there's September Israeli bat I mean from a competitive point of view. And I think they're for real by the way I'm not trying to say they can't win the east they're the favorites right now with the east. But they're September's -- On not only the number of road games that they have which is a lot. Not a huge factor for them they're very good on the road but the level of competition. Is is a lot tougher for them I mean their their September's for a.

Yeah which I think that's changed a bit to aggravate you mean if I'm in debatable look at the road you look at their September record. In September schedule. And then got got more games on the road they do it home. But when -- talk about the level of competition. That meant one thing. For Tampa in me yeah. And it means something completely different kind -- let -- different I mean the competition now they're tough competition before like in Tampa deal with. This team going to deal with that team. Short of the Angels. What teams they'd be afraid.

Including arrests yet I prefer I don't disagree with the I'd they are the team to beat in the east there's no doubt about that. They have shown. Look look at it this way except the franchise record yesterday for groceries and a year and a seven weeks left in the season. I mean that's not a fluke that you know they are a very good team. You know they've had to overcome some injury issues as well. Carl Crawford is going to go on the DL but coincidentally or not Rocco Baldelli is ready to come back into the lineup contributing and and I'm open you know he'll be okay because he sets and serious physical issues but you look this this is the team to beat. I haven't given up on the east but I'm -- I also certainly have not felt all -- like him make the playoffs I think the Red Sox will be a playoff team. I think that the Yankees problems have been two great overcome. And you know not just because they go out to Anaheim and -- seems pretty -- like if they had all hands on deck in Mata got swept over the fact. But I I just think that it's been real tough for them. You know days shuttling guys up and down trying to figure out. You know. We just find a starter who while there and give us a quality start. Besides Mike Mussina and an Andy Pettitte 'cause once you get past those two guys pretty scary good luck trying to find somebody.