No one questions the raw talent of 25-year-old Red Sox pitcher Clay Buchholz. What remains unknown is whether Buchholz can make real strides in the mental aspects of pitching.
In 2007, when Buchholz took the mound for only his second start in the big leagues, he threw a dazzling no-hitter against the Baltimore Orioles. I remember watching the last few innings of that game and being struck by Buchholz’s “stuff.” His changeup was beautiful to watch, and, his curveball was virtually unhittable too.
Then, once in the starting rotation in 2008, Buchholz struggled, and things just got worse and worse. He ended with a 2-9 record and a 6.75 ERA, but, perhaps more troubling, one could see Buchholz lose his confidence rather dramatically as the season went on. Last year, Buchholz started in the minors, but, when called up to the Sox, the results were much better. He made several good starts late in the summer, and, one good outing in the 2009 playoffs vs. the Los Angeles Angels.
So, one would hope and expect Buchholz, this time, would be on his way for 2010. Yet, with only ten days left in Spring Training, there are lingering uncertainties about Buchholz psyche and his ability to maintain his focus and “edge” on the mound.
Buchholz has had two bad outings this spring, but, again, it’s how he’s struggled that reminds one he might not be done learning the mental side of pitching. He’s had trouble keeping his focus with men on base – something that has been a problem in his big-league experience so far. Plus, he still shows signs of doubting his stuff or ability at times when you’d perhaps expect him to be over that by now.
After his most recent March 23rd outing vs. the Minnesota Twins, Buchholz acknowledged he had been too distracted by Twins’ baserunners. Sox Manager Terry Francona said that was an ongoing challenge.
“It’s something we continue to talk about,” Francona told Sean McAdam, in a March 25th article for Comcast Sportsnet New England, (CSNNE) “because I think sometimes his attention gets divided.”
Francona shared Buchholz’ view that at times, Buchholz was trying to be too perfect with his pitching rather than trusting his stuff more and throwing it in the strike zone more.
These remarks don’t tell the whole story, though. The striking part for Buchholz is the extent to which he “unravels” mentally on the mound. Once he gives up a few hits, often, he visibly loses his confidence and his performance goes straight downhill a bit more glaringly than you see with other pitchers. Buchholz does seem a bit hung up on trying to nibble on the corners rather than challenge hitters. In particular, this seems true of his fastball, which tends to get hit the most in the zone. I agree with others who have noted that if Buchholz can improve his fastball just a bit and get more confidence in it, that may be the key to him taking off as a pitcher.
Yet, I recall, from watching him, that it’s when he gets behind in the count, that he tends to lose his “edge” or confidence, and, sometimes, the throws a meaty fastball down the middle and it gets crushed.
It seems more of a mental challenge than physical. I dont’ know what will put Buchholz on a consistent track. Maybe he has to learn it’s OK to throw “hittable” pitches (especially fastballs) and to trust his fielders to help him win. Maybe it’s 90 percent an “internal” issue for him — that only he can improve on by finding ways to concentrate at the key moments.
Whatever it is, Buchholz needs to make some progress this year or he may find himself no longer on the Red Sox. It’s time for him to show what he can do – now.
In fact, McAdam, a veteran Boston baseball writer, speculated in his article for CSNNE that it would seem somewhat harder for the Sox to leave Buchholz in the 5th spot in the starting rotation now than Tim Wakefield, the 43-year-old knuckleballer, who has pitched better this spring.
Buchholz has said he’s not assuming he’s won the spot.
“I’ll just basically go out and pitch like I can, throw the ball well and let the organization decide what they want to do,” Buchholz told Ian Browne of MLB.com
I wish, at this point, Buchholz had the confidence to say he expects to be in the rotation and will be disappointed if he’s not.
But, first, I guess, he has to feel confident and focused while pitching with men on base or when he’s behind in the count.
Buchholz must learn to improve his mental focus if he is to become the ace who pitched that no-no back in 2007.
