Heyman With Gresh & Zo: Concern With Buchholz?
With it looking like the Red Sox have hit their stride, MLB Insider Jon Heyman joined 98.5 The Sports Hub's Gresh & Zo on Tuesday.
Clay Buchholz is 3-1 so far this season, but is sporting a mammoth 8.69 ERA. He looked solid Monday night against the Oakland A's, before allowing five runs in the seventh inning in Boston's 11-6 win. What is going on with the Sox' number-three starter?
"I'm not sure. I do think he is a key -- or the key -- to the season," said Heyman. "We know they have two really good starters [in Jon Lester and Josh Beckett], and (Daniel) Bard and (Felix) Doubront have done better than expected, but I expect Buchholz to be the key."
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"I'm not sure exactly what is going on, other than location. It doesn't look like he's without his stuff," said Heyman. "He's going to have to do better than this."
Making matters more interesting for the Red Sox and Clay Buchholz is Aaron Cook, who has impressed during his time in Pawtucket. Another potential starter for the Red Sox, Cook is 3-0 with a 1.89 ERA in five minor league starts. Boston has to make a decision on Cook, with a May 1st call-up deadline before the 33-year-old becomes a free agent.
Bobby Valentine hinted that Cook could come out of the bullpen for Boston, but are there other teams that are interested that could pry him away from the Sox?
"I think there would be some interest in Cook, but things are working out nicely where he is now. I'm thinking more likely something would be worked out with Boston; maybe an extension to the deadline or a promise to be brought up later," said Heyman. "He has done well, his numbers look good, and I think the interests would be decent but not enough that he would say 'I'm Out' in Boston."
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The Red Sox got back to the .500 mark Monday night for the first time of the season, winning seven of their last eight games against the "lesser" opponents in the American League. Should Sox fans be worried that it appears this team can only feast on the bottom dwellers of the league?
"You can make a lot of hay beating up on the bad ones," said Heyman. "They're in a very tough division; obviously if Baltimore is decent they're in a really tough division. But you can do well doing that. The best teams play .500 against the best teams and beat up on the bad ones."
"I don't look at it as a negative," he said. "They just have to continue to do that. You can't play .500 against the bad ones, you have to beat up on them and they are doing that."
"I know it's early in the season and I know they are under .500 against the good teams… I'm going to give them a little more time," Heyman said. "I think they will be a contender this year, and I don't see it as a negative that they're beating up on the (AL) Central. That's what they're supposed to do."
Also, what has Heyman heard about Jacoby Ellsbury working his way back from a shoulder injury? And will the Blue Jays or Orioles make some noise in the AL East this season? Find out more with Baseball Insider Jon Heyman!
