AJ: For Buchholz, It’s All in the Mind

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.

AJ: Terry Francona, The Survivor

Think about the dynamics that Red Sox manager Terry Francona inherited back in 2004.

Francona arrived at his first spring training in February, 2004, only months after the Red Sox had suffered an incredibly painful, masochistic loss to their hated rivals, the NY Yankees, in Game 7 of the ACLS.  Of all the Red Sox’ previous failures, their agonizing loss in 2003 was unique:  It was their manager, Grady Little, who had singlehandedly, blown that game, and, the season.  Little had left Pedro Martinez in the game after Pedro had pitched brilliantly, but grown fatigued – and the Yankes rallied for the win.   Little was blamed all over New England.   The manager’s position had never attracted so much ire and disgust.   The Red Sox, wisely, fired Little and hired Francona to start all over.  

Francona had to show his stuff in 2004, and, he did:  He led the team to win its first World Series since 1918.   He was at the helm when the Sox’ band of “Idiots” staged the greatest comeback in sports history by rallying from an 0-3 deficit to defeat the evil Yankees and go on to beat the Cardinals to win it all.  It was amazing.

What’s also amazing is that Francona has been manager ever since!  He’s about to start his seventh season as manager.  Red Sox managers – for the longest time – never lasted here, in short, because it’s a tough place to manage due to pressure from fans and media.  I think only one previous manager – Joe Cronin, stuck around longer than Francona has.  (Cronin was manager from 1935 – 1947).  Managers of the Red Sox, through the years, typically lasted a year or two or three — but, not much longer.   Francona led the team to a second World Series in 2007, further smashing precedents for the team or its managers.   Now, as we look ahead to 2010,  I’ve realized that Sox fans take Francona for granted to some extent.

So, whatever his strengths and weaknesses, Francona has convinced Red Sox managment, including Sox GM Theo Epstein, that he has what it takes.

I have mixed feelings about Francona.   On the one hand, I think he’s performed some of his most important duties quite well.  He knows how to make good use of baseball stats before, during and after games, but, he also uses discretion and weighs “human factors” and game conditions to make game decisions as well.  Overall, he handles his pitching staff well.  That is, of course, not a small point.   He seems to collaborate well with pitching coach John Farrell.  He tries to take steps to ensure pitchers get rest they need and avoid pitching through injuries.  

Francona is a ”player’s manager” in every sense.  In a positive way, he really seems to communicate well with all his players.  He checks in with them.  He tells them, in advance, about his lineup decisions.  He tries to maintain good chemistry in the clubhouse.  He has a rapport with separate players.  (For example:  his steady joking with Dustin Pedroia is now well-known) . 

 This brings me to my main reservation about Francona:  He’s so chummy with his players that he seems incapable, on occasion, of being assertive enough with them.  There have been many moments when I wished Francona had either sat a player down for a game or two, OR, decided to bench a non-performing pitcher, OR, in general, challenge his veteran players, when necessary.  Francona makes up a little nickname for almost every player, and, sometimes, the extent to which he goes to invent a nickname – even when it’s a lousy nickname – almost, humorously, makes my point that he seems to try a bit too hard to please his players at times.  (He called pitcher Kyle Snyder “Snydes.”  I’m not saying this is important, but it is funny)

I’ll try to illustrate my point by citing how former NY Yankee Joe Torre used to manage the Yankees.  I recall occasions when Torre would be asked about sensitive topics relating to his players and he’d confront the topics, and find a way to respond with candor, but avoid being disrespectful to his players.   Likewise, Torre sometimes would act decisively in his game decisions.  I recall once, when Roger Clemens just didn’t have it in the early innings of a big playoff game, Torre yanked him after a couple of innings.  I cannot imagine Francona ever yanking one of his starters that early the way Torre did.

In fact, I recall Francona often leaving pitchers in too long – after they’d demonstrated they were not sharp.  Often, he does this with veteran pitchers.  Last year, he was far too patient with John Smoltz, who routinely got knocked around and stayed in the game too long.   Francona has often left knuckleballer Tim Wakefield in too long.   Francona was too patient with former LA Dodger closer, Eric Gagne, after, in 2007, the Sox acquired Gagne at the trading deadline to be a setup reliever, for a half-season.  After Gagne had repeated terrible outings, Francona kept going to him, and he kept getting shelled, and, badly hurt the team in at least a few games.

However, Francona’s handling of pitchers, has still been better than most previous Red Sox managers.  (Gagne didn’t stop the team from winning it all in 2007!)

Francona seems to get along well with Epstein and that’s probably a large key to his long tenure here.  I sense Epstein is a GM who is more involved in monitoring and overseeing day-to-day game decisions than some GMs, but,  Francona seems able to work with Theo.  (Perhaps some would insist on being left alone more)   At times, however, I’ve wished Francona would be more assertive  with Theo too, and tell him, with more urgency, what the team’s needs on the field.

In summary, one cannot argue with Francona’s record.   His teams have, for the most part, performed well.  His players seem to respect him and cite his fairness, decency and his role in creating a good climate for enjoying their long season with their teammates.

Francona has experienced some fairly serious health problems through the years, including a circulatatory problem.  I personally sense he might not want to manage much longer and that perhaps his health might influence that decision.  I wouldn’t be surprised if John Farrell, if he’s still here, gets chosen to succeed Francona.

No matter what one thinks of Francona, no one can dispute that he’s outlasted almost all of his predecessors.  As Red Sox managers go, he’s a survivor.   He must be doing something right.

AJ: Cubs should act more, wait less

Big Mike:  I like Part One of your Plan for the Cubs.   I don’t want to rub it in, but the Red Sox are doing most of those things — and that won’t surprise you.  I recall when they started redefining scouts’ duties by area;  in particular, their efforts to establish ties to baseball in Japan.  Of course, that took off when they signed Daisuke Matsuzaka.  I’ll wait for your next installment before responding more, but, right now, I’m compelled to comment on one important point:

Your strategic thinking is impressive, but what have the Cubs done when things go wrong?  What will Hendry and Company do in 2010 when things start to unfold and they have to deal with unforeseen developments?

What I sense with the Cubs is that when a bad GM or manager is in place, everyone waits around – rolls their eyes – and waits for that person to leave.  Good plans are important, but, a team has to take action to address problems and situations as they unfold.  The Cubs dont’ do that well, do they?

There has to be a high standard, and, then, a dynamic that when certain things are not happening, management will find ways to MAKE them happen.  So, for example, when Grady Little left Pedro Martinez in Game 7 of the 2003 ACLS in one of the worst managerial blunders ever,  the Sox team of Henry/Lucchino/Epstein decided to fire Little.   Some might say that was easy, but, in the old days, Little would have been retained for 2004.  Instead, Terry Francona was hired and you know the rest.  A second example:  The Sox hiring of pitching coach John Farrell, who will be around for at least one more year.  I don’t know how they enticed Farrell to come to Boston, but, as I’ve written here, I think, Farrell is such an outstanding person to have with this team.  The best communicator about pitching the Sox have had in my lifetime.  He’s got leadership skills, people skills — The pitchers love Farrell and respect him.

These personnel decisions are KEY – and how the manager and GM communicate with players.  In Boston, players in recent years have felt management at least tries to treat them decently, apprise them of things and put them in a position to win.  I’ll discuss the relationship between Theo Epstein and Francona another time.

By the way, the rumors are swirling all over the place today about the Sox going after Roy Halliday – for Clay Buccholz and, maybe Casey Kelly, their great young prospect.