Nothing immediately, maybe move him for a few cents on the dollar toward the deadline. Someone's #5 is going to get hurt or suck even harder, or see him as a one-time-through-the-order guy they can take a flier on in a relief role.
Maybe it actually ends in Baltimore where it all began in 2007 ...with that memorable no hitter.
I still remember watching the early innings of that game. Then going out to meet friends and I missed the middle innings. I noticed that he was still pitching in the 8th and that I was surprised the rookie was left in there. My friends shrugged... Didn't want to jinx it and then the bar erupted when the no hitter was complete. We stayed until closed. The next day in the Herald the celebrity colum said... "how did clay celebrate? Him and fellow rookie jacoby ellsbury went out and sat unnoticed at The Place in Faneuil Hall. Haha, yup thats where we were.
Money is no factor in this decision. It's now less than $10 million owed to him this year. If they want to release him, they will.
Yes. Pocket change. I think they give him a shot in the pen assuming ERod is ready. There really is nothing to lose letting him do some mop up and see where that goes.
What's the upside though? If DFA or DL his spot is likely taken by Noe Ramirez or Owens. Both need innings in AAA. I don't see much good in Ramirez sitting on the bench doing nothing when he could be getting innings in Pawtucket. And I think Clay has to stay on the roster for better or worse until we see what's up with E-Rod and we know if Kelly's shoulder is ok. If E-Rod is ok, I would try Clay in the bullpen. Let him mop up or whatever and see if he gets some confidence.
The crowd booed Foulke, who had some pretty impressive relief appearances in 2004.
When he came up he threw 4-seam/slider/curve/change, and then in 2011 he dropped the slider and added two-seam and cut fastballs to complement his 4-seamer.
No. They don't have those 13 million reasons, because they've given them to Clay Buchholz, and nothing they decide about his status can get them back. So they should do whatever works best.
I don't mind finding out if he can pitch out of the pen, but I'd rather see if it's an option in Pawtucket. Given how stubborn/deliberate he has been, I'd guess it's at least possible going to the pen would be a very very hard transition for him... and I'd rather have Noe Ramirez at the end of a major league bullpen than a completely untested Clay Buchholz.
That's not fair to Clay. He got rid of that rat-tail thing on his head before last night's game.
So you enjoy a team with a 3 man bench?
So, back to a 3-man bench when more than half the infield is dinged up with various nagging maladies? Hanley's calf, Pedroia's hamstrings, Shaw's thumb...not to mention Hanigan not being 100%...now is not the time to roll with a short bench, as the potential for needing Hernandez is there.
Clay isn't going to the pen...his problem pitching with men on base guarantees that much. And Hernandez absolutely does have a role with the Sox for as long as Holt is out, because the team needs a backup SS.
It's also a sunk cost unless someone will pay that salary for you (not happening).
Interesting way to look at it, but perhaps the right way. He's not a homegrown star with history, he's John Smoltz. He's Jake Peavy.
MLB hitters quickly realized that, while his breaking pitches were nasty, they also weren't strikes. Once they learned not to chase the curveballs, he struggled mightily.
I think there is something to be said about sending him to the pen, even if it involves a phantom DL stint to transition into it. It could be the reset he needs, similar to Derek Lowe and John Smoltz.
Calling up Erod before he is 100% is a terrible idea. He is a 23YO with a very bright future for many years to come. You don't call him up early and hope he performs well. He changed up his delivery for his last start and, despite the strong results, his velocity was still low 90s. If you call him up before he has complete trust in his knees I'd be very concerned that he overcompensates for his knee by placing more stress on his shoulder.
I agree with this. At this point if he's put into the back of the pen, hes replacing Ramirez, so it's not much harm there. Ultimately I think DD and Farrell will hash it out with him. Farrell seems to have his ear from the past and DD unhesitatingly picked up his option, so even a meathead like Buchholz probably doesnt see him as the enemy.
Any Wright chatter was really silly I don't think most took that seriously at all. I can't imagine Clay to the bullpen even being an option as that is not how he will be able to fix whatever his issues are. A 15-day mental DL trip followed by a trip to Pawtucket seems to be the most logical course of action.
Yep. At Clay's age and mileage, there's going to be something wrong with him. I think it's very likely that we'll end up getting a "he tried to pitch through it for the team" story when it's his next start date arrives.
This isn't remotely true. He didn't like the fishbowl of Boston since he could never go out to eat and not get harassed, but by all accounts he never had any issues with the club itself.
He's still the only player I could think of who actually publically demanded to get traded under this ownership group.
