Clearing the Bases Blog Index
August 21, 2008
Buchholz and bobbleheads arrive together

Clay Buchholz will accomplish a first in Portland on Monday. He will be the first Sea Dogs player appearing at Hadlock Field the same night his own bobblehead is being given away.

It is Clay Buchholz Bobblehead Monday night at Hadlock Field, the same day the Sea Dogs will be returning for an eight-day homestand.

Buchholz, who was demoted from the majors Wednesday night, could even be starting Monday, if he sticks to his normal rest.

It has been an amazing journey for Buchholz, who began the 2007 season in Portland, reached the majors and pitched a no-hitter last September.

Then came the disappointment of being shut down before the post-season ... then the anticipation of him joining the big-league rotation this year.

Buchholz looked okay in April - 2 rough starts and 3 solid ones, including that April 26 loss at Tampa Bay. He carried a 1-hitter into the 8th before giving up a 2-run homer.

Then it unraveled. Buchholz is 2-9 with a 6.75 ERA following Wednesday's disaster (2 1/3, 3 H, 5 R, 3 BB/1HB, 0 K).

If Curt Schilling's shoulder had not broken down, or if Bartolo Colon could stay off the DL, then Buchholz would be developing in Pawtucket, with an occasional major league call-up.

Now he's headed back to Portland, to re-join pitching coach Mike Cather, who handled Buchholz in both Class A Wilmington briefly in '06, and in Portland last year.

The bobblehead night celebrates a past accomplishment. His re-appearance in a Sea Dogs uniform recognizes that the future is no guarantee.

In the minors, David Pauley ran his Pawtucket record to 14-4 (3.55 ERA), going 6 1/3 innings (7 H, 4 R, 0 BB, 2 K). Hmm, maybe Pauley gets another crack at the majors ... Dusty Brown (.286) went 3-for-4 ... Jeff Corsaletti (.195) hit his second home run.

The Sea Dogs enjoyed doubles in a 4-3 win. Jorge Jimenez (.272) and Aaron Bates (.278) had two apiece, and Lars Anderson (.343) hit a 2-run double ... Daniel Bard (2.11) got his 5th save (1 2/3, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K).

Kris Negron and Ryan Kalish both homered for Lancaster ... Blake Maxwell (3.2) went 7 innings (5 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K).


Posted at 05:08 AM

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Comments

Now that's poetic justice... Buckholz's head is screwed on about as well as a bobblehead's. "I guess I thought I had the game beat"... grow up, rook.

Posted by Jeremy
August 21, 2008 11:17 AM

Nothing like helping a kid get out of the glare so he can gather his wits.
I always liked everything about Portland, including the SeaDogs demi-Fenway ,but in one article I've found out the kid is having a Bobblehead Night (this is NOT the kid to greet back with a Bobblehead Night...and, by the way, how did you get so prepared so quickly...) before he's even unpacked, much less unburdened, and on the same page we learn that your sports writer looks about 30 and has 9 kids. What kind of night will they give HIM at the old (pardon the expression) Ballpark?

Posted by Ike Delock
August 22, 2008 04:01 PM

Hey don't hate on Kevin because he's so fertile!! Buchholz hopefully wil get his stuff together in Portland and then help the Sox in September. Or maybe next year. You never know with young pitchers. There has been a lot of talk here in NY on the radio about the Yankees refusing to include Ian Kennedy and Phil Hughes in a trade for Johan Santana over the winter and then they have combined to go 0-8 this year with an ERA over 8. Conversely, the Mets' Mike Pelphrey was terrible last year and the beginning of this year but has turned it around and is now the Mets' best pitcher at 12-8. Pitching is a learned craft.

Posted by Christopher in Queens
August 23, 2008 09:56 PM

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Kevin covers baseball for the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram. He first reported on spring training games for the St. Petersburg Times in 1978. He wisely moved to Maine in 1994 and now writes about the Portland Sea Dogs and Boston Red Sox—when he's not coaching Little League baseball.

He is married to Nancy, and the couple recently completed their lineup card with the birth of their ninth child.



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