Deloisio On T&R: Playoff Success Depends On Buchholz
The Red Sox lost three of four to the Kansas City Royals, but still have a three game lead over the Tampa Bay Rays for the division. What are the chances that this Sox team will have success in the playoffs?
"In my opinion a lot of that question depends on what happens with Clay Buchholz once he comes back over the last month of the season," Tim Deloisio of FireBrandAL.com told 98.5 The Sports Hub's Toucher & Rich on Monday morning. "If he slots in at the top of the rotation where he left off I think this team is very dangerous in the post season."
Deloisio isn't so positive about this team if the young pitcher doesn't make a return.
"However, if Buchholz either doesn't come back or doesn't come back well I feel like the top end of the rotation might let you down."
If and hopefully when Buchholz returns to this rotation how many starts will he need before he's back to form and as effective as you need him to be for the post season?
"You would think that he needs a game or two at least to get the rust off, that's generally what you see. He's got to get his feeling back and I look at Clay Buchholz as very much a feeling type pitcher. When he's going wrong nothing kind of looks right on him on the mound and when he's going right everything looks easy."
The guys also discussed the lack of productivity against left handed pitching and a struggling Mike Napoli. Plus, how long will the team wait to call up Xander Bogaerts?
