To think that he had a big question mark hanging over his head coming out of spring training this year. Previously, he had been the topic of trade rumors. This is a great example of the 'Sox not giving up on a young pitcher too soon. I had the good fortune of actually watching his no-no against the O's in 2007. From that no-no, Buch set the bar very high for himself.
Finally, it is great to see the 'Sox farm system producing pitching talent again. Over the year, the cupboards have been bare in the minors of pitching talent. In the 80's, their system produced: Clemens, "Oil Can" Boyd, Al Nipper, Bruce Hurst, Bobby Ojeda, John Tudor. In the 90's, the production declined.
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The great thing about watching Buch pitch, especially after his teammates gave him a 9-1 cushion, was that he was having a great time on the mound. He was in a groove and worked very efficiently. I know the guys behind him appreciate that!
ReplyDeleteI guess Salty is cured! He came in the last couple of innings and he starts today's game. He's got a very deliberate way of returning the ball back to the pitcher. Maybe he's reciting a mantra. Whatever. As long as he can contribute and can handle the staff, we'll live with his funky throwing. In the Globe's Notebook, they report that he's a big fan of Tek. That's got to be a little intimidating. The guy you idolize is now your teammate. If you screw up, your idol's going to think "what a moron!" That's a lot of pressure! Still, he's got a lot going for him. He's got big hands and can wear a big mitt, providing a big target for his pitchers. I just hope his "issue" is really gone!