Come To Think Of It...The Buchholz Stops Here

It is really so damn unfair, isn't it? To put so much pressure on a 22-year old starting pitcher, I mean. Yet that's what they're doing in Boston to young hurler Clay Buchholz. According to the Boston Herald, Buccholz is on a short leash. He either has to produce or be farmed out and replaced by fat boy Bartolo Colon. But it goes even deeper than that. Because the Boston press and front office consider Clay the piece the Sox were unwilling to give up to get Johan Santana this past offseason, he is being unfairly expected to pitch like Santana. Well, maybe someday. But now? C'mon, that's unrealistic. Being the guy that the Sox would not give to the Twins is not Clay's fault of course. But pitching a no-hitter in just his second career start last year also helped to create unrealistic hopes for the kid. The Sox are also coming off a world series title, so there's that pressure too. While it doesn't seem to shake Buchholz, an overreaction to a poor start could cost Clay his major ... (link)