Let’s hope Clay Buchholz doesn’t turn into Chien-Ming Wang:
But while Buchholz may be a good hitter, he proved inept at running the bases. Unsure of whether to peel off or slide into second when Marco Scutaro grounded to third, Buchholz stepped awkwardly, wrenched his left knee and had to leave the game after pitching one inning.
“It was indecisiveness on my part going into second base,’’ Buchholz said after the Sox beat the Giants, 4-2. “I landed weird, felt a little pop behind my knee.’’
Tests showed Buchholz to have a hyperextended knee. He will be evaluated today, but the hope is he will not miss a start. Buchholz said he has good range of motion and strength in his knee.
I understand American League pitchers take batting practice before interleague play, but do they ever practice running the bases. It might be of use to avoid injuries like this.
The Red Sox won the game 4-2 without Clay as seven relievers held the Giants to two runs over eight innings. Whatever happened to pitchers like Lindy McDaniel, long relievers who could actually pitch?
When in doubt, slide.
This is ridiculous. These guys played baseball their entire lives. They watch 162 games a year. They shouldn’t find running the bases some confusing, foreign concept.
It’s baseball…
Last night during the game on EvilSPN Bulldog Hershiser talked about how, when he was with the Indians the pitchers were made to run around the bases before interleague series’.