Mr. B (aka - Clay Buchholz) and Red Sox Lose 4-3 to Royals

Seriously Clay, what's up with all the chains? (SawxBlog Illustration)

First and foremost what's up with Clay's chains? I mean does he seriously need to offset that face with a bunch of "manly" chains? Maybe he's just trying to harness his inner Mr.T, but it was Clay that looked like the foo'' last night. The chains bothered me, well that and his lack of control I guess. Plus I never like to pass up the chance to Photoshop Mr.T into...well, anything, but I digress...

The sky is falling. The season is over. The Royals beat the Red Sox. Isn't it interesting that about this time of the year each win and loss seems to be amplified to a volume of 11? If you win a couple in a row your teams chemistry is perfect and it's playoffs or bust. You lose a game to a team you should be beating in the midst of a pennant race and you finally allow yourself to start questioning the trade of Manny Ramirez. Both are extremes, and it's always way more fun to be an optimist, however there's truth in both side of the spectrum. What I took out of last nights game is the following:

• Clay Buchholz can be rattled pretty fast. Sometimes I wonder if the no-hitter may ultimately give him more or less confidence.
• Big Papi is going to miss Manny (hurt wrist or not). No matter how much kool-aid you consume you can't deny this.
• I want Jason Bay to do so well (and I feel like the rest of RSN as well) that I wonder if/when he really hits a cold spell if it'll get ugly for him.
• If you toldme in Spring Training that Coco Crisp would still be on the team in August and not Manny Ramirez I'd think you had a one way ticket to Arkham Asylum.
• I honestly think Tek is snapping out of the worst slump in the history of slumps. Have a hunch, and seen some life in those eyes.
• We need to win tonight to fight off any lingering feelings of the loss and get back on the horse. We also have to try and quell any road woes that are going to mount with every loss away from Fenway. Kinda reminds me of the 2008 NBA Playoffs...

Comments

[Melissa]

Yeah, Yeah, Buchholz threw a no hitter, big accomplishment for someone that young, but seriously, we need this guy to start pitching, actual pitching, I mean can he get a freakin WIN!!!! Grrrrr......... I am sorry, I am not hating on the guy, I think he has a lot of talent, but he's pissing me off, and that's the truth.

We need Beckett to pitch good tonight. Not just because we need the win (the damn Yankees and Rays lost last night, and so do we to the Royals!!!WTF!!!) But because I am going to the White Sox series this weekend, (granted there not in our division, but I hate the smugness of White Sox fans) and I don't want that team to be in 1st place. SO come on Sox (and Twins) let's get us a win.

[Kris]

love the arkham reference. the royals are hot and are looking to be the spoiler for any american league team trying to reach the post-season. so far we've been lucky; when we've lost, the rest of our AL east opponents have lost too. beckett will bounce back tonight with a big win. I'm calling it...

[Whatapha]

Mr. B is hilarious! It is the very first thing my wife Lori focused on when she looked at the TV. Clay, you look like a total poser with that gear wrapped around your neck. Better yet you look like the ring toss at Six Flags! You know what isn't amusing though Clay? Your pitching. You clearly lack confidence in executing your pitches and I am beginning to seriously wonder if Schillings injury hasn't impacted you worst of all. I honestly think despite your Nn No, you would have benefitted from another year in Pawtucket refining your pitches and gaining even more confidence. Big leaguers, even the worst big leaguers will eat you alive if you don't execute your pitches with confidence.

Come on ring toss, take a deep breath and focus. This team needs you to take a page out of Belichecks book. Know your job. Prepare for your job. Execute your job. You do that and if everyone else simply does their job, together you will be Champions.

Don't try to do more than your job. Execute your pitches with confidence and lean on the best catcher in the biz to guide you through the lineup.

Lastly, lose the jewelry.

[Derek Hixon]

Whatapha! I think that "Ring Toss" may stick. You basically had me crying, amazing analogy, and one Clay better hope his teammates don't get a hold of!

I also completely agree about Clay's confidence, he's showing NONE on the mound, and it really does feel like he's hoping for strikes.

Interesting note about Schilling too. Everyone always lauds V-Tek with the "unknown/unnoticed leadership" tag but maybe Schill's example was just as great.

[James]

Bo SOX!!

http://www.sportsnutshop.com/

[Kasey]

Clay wear the amount of necklaces he does because its good luck to him, win or lose. He never takes them off and hasn't since highschool.