Clay Buchholz: Battling Through Cold Weather 'Works Both Ways'
By Matt Dolloff, CBS Boston
BOSTON (CBS) -- Cold weather adversely affects baseball arguably more than any other outdoor sport. Both pitchers and hitters place a premium on getting good grips, and cold, dry hands can certainly work against that.
Clay Buchholz, now the No. 2 starter on the Boston Red Sox behind ace David Price, has something of a history of struggling when facing unexpected elements outside his control, but generally feels fine about pitching in temperatures that were not meant for baseball. He told WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Jonny Miller that, as long as he prepares well and avoids setbacks, he will be comfortable despite the weather.
"After you get loose and warmed up, [the cold]'s not so bad," said Buchholz. "It's just going through the early stages of getting out there and running around, being out in the weather. ... Everybody knows that hitters don't like it cold, either, because it hurts when they mishit a ball.
"I think it works pretty much both ways, but like I said once you get out there it's not too bad."
The temperature in Cleveland is expected to be around 56 degrees at the 6:10 p.m. first pitch - not as cold as the first two games of the series, but the 27 mph winds are sure to make things tougher on the field. On the Cleveland Indians, Buchholz echoed his comments about hitters in the cold by saying he'll be looking to frustrate the Cleveland lineup by making them mishit his pitches. He also brought up the real F-word when it comes to the criticism Buchholz has faced in the past about his perceived mental makeup: "frustration."
"It's a matter of going out there and making your pitches and not getting frustrated with the speed [the Indians] have at the top of the lineup," said Buchholz.
With one win already under their belt, the Red Sox stand to answer an unusual amount of questions about the team for just the second game of the season. How will the Red Sox rotation perform after Price? Can Buchholz overcome his problems from prior seasons? Whatever happens, an early string of wins is imperative for the Red Sox after two straight last-place finishes in the American League East.
Of all the question marks swirling around the Red Sox, the one around Buchholz is the largest. He is aware of this, as is the rest of the team.
"I think everybody wants to get off to a good start, quick start," he said. "Everybody's just got to take care of business."
Matt Dolloff is a writer for CBSBostonSports.com. His opinions do not necessarily reflect that of CBS or 98.5 The Sports Hub. Have a news tip or comment for Matt? Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff and email him at mdolloff@985thesportshub.com.
