No-No, Bucko!

September 1, 2007 - Saturday

No-No, Bucko!

Less than 9 hours ago I posted my last entry...it took just those 9 hours to be reminded WHY we are the best team in MLB...because, the Red Sox are like Gloria Gaynor...they will survive!

I was at Fenway on August 17 for Clay Buchholz's debut. I'd gone into Fenway misinformed, which is unusual - I'd thought Beckett was pitching that afternoon game. As I handed an elderly man my ticket at Gate B turnstile - certainly a hard-ass Grandpa from Southie - I exclaimed to him that it was sure to be a great game with Beckett pitching. He gave me the kind of disgusted look that you'd have if you'd just discovered dog poop on your shoe - and he advised in a stern, unmistakable accent: "Buchholz's pitchin'" I turned and said: "Who??" "Buchholz, the rookie". To be honest with you - I was not nearly as excited about this as I'd been about Beckett. That afternoon, against the Angels, Clay pitched quite well, for a rookie...with a huge amount of 1st inning run support and Pap closing the game - it all went very well, a great day at the park. But, we couldn't have known what would happen on Clay's 2nd MLB start!!

And now, at this very moment, I've just witnessed Red Sox baseball history. Clay Buchholz has just become the very first rookie to EVER pitch a no-hitter. My love for Red Sox baseball has just hit a new level. To watch Clay win this game in such dramatic, dominant fashion...making it look like he's done it a million times before - to watch Tek come out and lift him up, to watch the bench clear and his teammates embrace him on the field...there have been many moments in Red Sox baseball where I've seen this scene before...but, this was a special win....for Clay...for Tito....for the Red Sox. It literally brought tears to my eyes.

With all of our injuries - with 3 rookies on the field....the Sox played some of the most beautiful baseball tonight that I've ever seen. My Sox hat goes off to you, Tito. It wasn't the same kind of drama as the magnificent Game 4, of course....with the 10 runs we scored, winning the game was not a concern. And, I'm not taking one moment of glory away from Clay - but, it's not like the Orioles didn't hit ANYTHING....but, in addition to exceptional pitching, the fielding was exceptional as well. And...I've always thought that Jason Varitek doesn't get enough respect, this win proves it. I personally feel that he is the spine that holds up the rest of the body that makes up the Red Sox. I've watched pitchers shake him off, time after time, and get themselves into trouble. Rookie Clay did exactly what the Capt. asked him for, time after time. Curt, Josh, Pap....take a 2 second lesson from this game: Listen to Tek, he knows exactly what needs to be done. Again, I take nothing away from Buchholz, he executed the pitching, simple as that.

Some more stats about why this win is special: This is only the 17th no-hitter in Red Sox history, the last one was Derek Lowe in 2002. This is only the 11th no-hitter ever thrown at Fenway. This is only the 3rd no-hitter this season in all MLB. Clay is only 23 years old and he's made baseball history. Pretty powerful stuff. To think that it never would've happened if Wake hadn't missed his start last night!

This was a great night in Red Sox baseball. A very sincere Thank You to all of you: Youk, Lowell, Ortiz, Lugo, Pedroia, Crisp, Ellsbury, Moss, Varitek and of course, to you, Clay Buchholz.

I love you guys. :-)

Photos courtesy of Boston.Com/Boston Globe