Clay Buchholz craves more success in 2011 season
The Boston Red Sox are looking forward to a good season in the coming months, as their squad looks ready to face any challenge that may arise in the regular season, which will begin 1 April, 2011. The roster has the power to make many clubs falter and with
spring training just around the corner, it will have to be seen who fits well into the squad.
Manager Terry Francona will be looking over the affairs of the team, and the management will hope their winter break ventures can help turn the franchise’s luck around. Players like Clay Buchholz and Jon Lester are readying themselves for the challenge ahead.
The two ball throwers were named ‘Co-Pitchers of the Year’ at the Boston Baseball Writers Dinner yesterday.
The club will be hoping John Lackey and Josh Beckett will bounce back from an average season to turn in some good results in 2011. With Carl Crawford in from the free agency and Adrian Gonzalez arriving from the San Diego Padres, the hitting squad looks
set to make the right moves on the field.
Buchholz was nevertheless interested in talking about his performances in 2010.
"Even last year, on any given night, I feel like I come out of a game and there's something I could have done to make it better," said Buchholz. "From delivery to pace of the game to mechanics, and maybe a couple of pitches that I felt like I was doing something
different on that made it not as good as it could be - there were a number of things."
Buchholz was amazingly complacent last season. His performance topped the charts and that was something the Boston Red Sox needed to keep their heads above water in the American League East last year. The challenge was tough and a much needed injection of
energy was required to lighten up the season. Clay wasn’t short on magic and he played an influential role that got the club to third position in the table.
Buchholz pitched an earning runs average of 2.33 in 28 games. Maintaining a ‘Walks and Hits per Innings pitched’ of 1.20, the pitcher headed the 2010 top Pitchers’ list. The cumulative effect of Clay’s inclusion and the current strength of the Boston Red
Sox, points to the fact that the team could go a long way next season.
Buchholz’ 17 wins and seven losses were held in high regard last year. His 120 strikeouts surely do add more value to his services. Clay will face the possibility of hitters learning ways to repel his ball throwing technique. For that purpose he would need
to make some adjustments to his pitching.
"This is a game of adjustments," said Buchholz. "You have to adjust to everybody. All the scouting the hitters do, they know what pitches you throw on certain counts and then you have to go back and look at video of them. It's more like a chess match. I
expect it to be another fun year, but at the same time, we're going to have to work a little harder to get where we're at."
The prospect of Buchholz hollowing out big teams next season looks to be held in high esteem and honour. The Red Sox will be hoping for him to continue his hard work and it will be interesting to see if the talented pitcher will make the right moves in the
2011 regular season.
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