Clay Buchholz saving a staff?
Yep, that’s right. Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen and manager Torey Lovullo certainly remember the good times with Buchholz in Boston, though they also remember the bad ones. Yet, when they were searching for a starter, with Robbie Ray on the disabled list with an oblique issue, Shelby Miller on rehab after Tommy John surgery, and Taijuan Walker out for the year following Tommy John surgery, the D-Backs decided to get creative and sign Buchholz to a minor league contract after the veteran opted out of his deal with the Royals.
“Mike and [assistant GM] Amiel [Sawdaye] and I got together and we said, ‘Why not Clay?’ ’’ Lovullo said. “The reports on him were very good and so we said, ‘Let’s do it.’ And he’s been outstanding for us.
“He’s pounding the zone, following the game plan, with a four-pitch mix. It’s been perfect timing for us and a great job by him. Clay is making a statement every time he goes out there. I remember in 2013 and parts of ’14, he was hitting 92-95 miles per hour. But now it’s mostly 90 and 91 and an occasional 92. It’s been very effective.’’
With Ray starting to throw off a mound and Miller getting closer to returning, Lovullo didn’t flinch when asked whether Buchholz will remain in the rotation. As long as Buchholz is getting people out, he’ll have a spot.
Buchholz will likely knock Zack Godley out of the rotation.
In his fourth start for Arizona last Wednesday, he gave up a pair of early runs but gave the D-Backs six strong innings, allowing seven hits and a walk while striking out seven.
“I want to be cautious about the things that I say, but he’s done a tremendous job,’’ Lovullo said after Buchholz’s last outing. “He deserves to get the ball in five days, and that’s what we’ll continue to focus on. When decisions have to be made, we’ll weigh out all the consequences and see what the best options are. But Clay has been outstanding for us.’’
Buchholz is 1-1 with a 1.88 ERA, 21 strikeouts, and just 3 walks in 24 innings, with a 0.83 WHIP.
The Red Sox traded Buchholz to the Phillies before the 2017 season for infielder Josh Tobias, who is with Double A Portland. Buchholz made only two starts for the Phillies before being shut down with a strain in his forearm.
Buchholz was often injured during his time with the Red Sox. When he was good, he was very good. When he was bad, he was very bad. Buchholz never really harnessed his talent. He never truly understood his importance to the Red Sox pitching staff and seemed content to be the No. 3 or 4 starter rather than striving to be the No. 1, because he had that type of ability.
Buchholz declined to be interviewed for this story. He didn’t seem to like how he was covered and characterized while with the Red Sox. Though he’s good friends with John Lackey and Jon Lester, he never adopted their gutsiness.
Buchholz, 33, had surgery on his flexor tendon in April 2017 and underwent a long and arduous rehab. He finally felt well enough to sign a minor league deal with the Royals in March, and pitched well in three starts at Double and Triple A before exercising an opt out. He immediately signed with the Diamondbacks, even though the Royals were contemplating calling him up.
With Buchholz pitching well and Paul Goldschmidt starting to hit like the All-Star that he is, Lovullo sees better times ahead for the D-Backs in the underachieving National League West.
Lovullo, the NL Manager of the Year last season, has had Arizona in first place for most of the season despite losing a big bat in J.D. Martinez.
“Of course not having a hitter like J.D. certainly reminds you of how good he was last season,’’ Lovullo said. “We knew he would do for Boston what he did for us. He’s in a great situation. This was a conscious decision made by everybody. We knew he would be good there and we wish him well because he’s a great hitter and a great person.’’
The D-Backs, like most of the NL West teams, have had to deal with injuries.
“We’ve been without [Steven] Souza and [Jake] Lamb the majority of the season,’’ Lovullo said. “We lost two-fifths of our rotation and then we lost A.J. [Pollock]. There’s going to be a couple of teams surging and I feel we’re in a good spot. Goldie has started to hit like he can. I think he’s gained 35-40 points on his average the last two weeks. He’s a proven hitter with a great track record. I feel once he started moving in a good direction, we’re going to take off.’’
In the past, if you had to rely on Buchholz to save your rotation, you’d sink. But that was then and this is now. Buchholz is healthy again and the D-Backs made a good pickup that cost them only the minimum salary. Buchholz is motivated to resurrect his career (82-63 record, 3.97 ERA), and the early results have been encouraging.
UNSINKABLE IN LA
Dodgers have stayed afloat
Another NL West manager with Red Sox ties, Dave Roberts, has also been encouraged by the Dodgers’ resurgence amid significant injuries.
He’s lost Corey Seager for the season, and was without Justin Turner until mid-May. Others to spend time on the DL: Rich Hill (blister), Clayton Kershaw (biceps tendinitis, back strain), Kenta Maeda (hip strain), Julio Urias (shoulder surgery), Hyun-Jin Ryu (groin strain), Tom Koehler (shoulder capsule strain), Tony Cingrani (shoulder strain), Yasiel Puig (bruised hip), Logan Forsythe (shoulder inflammation), and Chase Utley (sprained thumb).
Get the picture?
“A lot of challenges, but you know me, I’m positive and optimistic,’’ Roberts said. “We’ve had a next-man-up philosophy. Guys are getting opportunities and we have to hold it down until we get healthy.’’
Roberts has been super complimentary of veteran outfielder Matt Kemp, who entered Friday leading the NL with a .349 batting average.
“It is a revival,’’ Roberts said. “It’s a classic case of a superstar with a chip on his shoulder, understanding it’s not greener on the other side. He wanted to be here. He’s going to do everything he can to stay here. He’s done that from Day 1. His professionalism is contagious. I might be surprised he’s leading the league in hitting, but he really gets it. He’s a great example for the younger players.’’
With the pitching staff decimated by injuries, Roberts said, “We’re leaning on [Ross] Stripling and [Walker] Buehler,’’ Roberts said. “Buehler is special with a four-pitch mix. He commands the fastball. Stripling has a little bit different mix, but he can execute a game plan. [Pitching coach] Rick Honeycutt does a great job with those two guys.’’
You can sense the frustration in Roberts’s voice when he talks about Hill, since nobody has been able to solve his blister problems.
“He’s going half of the time covered and half uncovered,’’ Roberts said. “I would say he’ll be activated in about a week.’’
Last season’s NL Rookie of the Year, Cody Bellinger, struggled out of the gate, but “he’s changed his stance giving him a wider base to eliminate some of the movement. He’s trying to use the whole field now,’’ Roberts said.
Roberts feels for Kershaw, who is on the DL for the second time this season. When healthy, he’s still the best pitcher in the game.
“This is the third year he’s had to deal with [a back injury],’’ Roberts said. “We expect him back the beginning of next month.’’
The Dodgers are in the hunt because the other teams in the division have gone through similar trials and tribulations.
“That’s the thing. The whole division hasn’t clicked,’’ Roberts said. “We’ve all been hit by injuries. They had their chance to put us away but we survived, and considering all the circumstances, we’re pretty happy to be where we are.’’
Apropos of nothing
1. Book plugs: Evan Drellich’s “Big 50: Boston Red Sox: The Men and Moments that Made the Boston Red Sox.’’ Also, Mike Shalin and Steve Babineau — “The Hometown Team: Four Decades of Boston Red Sox Photography.’’
2. The Worcester Telegram’s Bill Ballou put together a great trivia question: Name the nine players who hit 30 homers in their first season with the Red Sox (excluding players who had at-bats with the team the year before; Walt Dropo, for instance). Answer below.
3. Since President Trump is in a pardoning mood, whom should he pardon in baseball? Pete Rose, Joe Jackson, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Mark McGwire, Al Campanis? What’s your choice?
4. Dan Jennings is a special adviser to Nationals president of baseball operations Mike Rizzo. Jennings was GM of the Marlins and also served as manager in 2015 after he fired Mike Redmond. Jennings still has aspirations of being a GM. “I miss both jobs and miss the field,’’ Jennings said. “I would love to be able to take what I learned on the field as a manager and apply it to being a GM. I enjoyed both roles. Learned so much.’’
5. Red Sox groundskeeper Dave Mellor recalled recently a letter his grandfather received, asking him to participate in a VFW Major League Baseball Old Timers game at Fenway on July 12, 1939. The format was AL vs. NL, and the rosters included Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Cy Young, Tris Speaker, Honus Wagner, Nap Lajoie, Walter Johnson, George Sisler, Grover Cleveland Alexander, Eddie Collins, and manager Bill Carrigan. Now that’s an Old Timers game!
6. If Lance Berkman becomes the head coach at Rice University — his alma mater — could Andy Pettitte become the pitching coach? Very possible.
Updates on nine
1. Fernando Abad, LHP, free agent — The former Red Sox tested positive for a PED and is serving an 80-game suspension, even though he’s not with a team. Abad’s career seemed to go downhill after the Sox acquired him in 2016 from the Twins, with whom he had an excellent first half of the season. He spent a year and a half with Boston, and didn’t stick with the Phillies or Mets this year.
2. Manny Machado, SS, Orioles — The inquiries have begun. The Phillies, Cardinals, Braves, Dodgers, Brewers, Mets, Angels, and Mariners are all expected to dip their toes in the water to see what it would take. If the Orioles had a wish list, they’d probably want to do something with the Cardinals and extract a couple of pitching prospects.
3. Miles Mikolas, RHP, Cardinals — Probably the best bargain free agent signing of the year. Mikolas, a native of Jupiter, Fla. (where the Cardinals have spring training), was the pitcher scouts noticed as they were scouting Shohei Ohtani in Japan. The Cardinals beat out the Twins, Padres, and Rangers for Mikolas, who landed a two-year, $15.5 million deal. Mikolas, 29, was released by the Rangers in 2014 and then pitched three successful seasons for the Yomiuri Giants (31-13, 2.18 ERA, impressive for an American pitcher). He is 7-1 with a 2.27 ERA and is likely going to be an All-Star.
4. Edwin Jackson, RHP, Athletics — Jackson recently signed a minor league deal with the A’s, who will be his 13th team if he gets to the majors. Jackson has played for the Dodgers, Rays, Tigers, Diamondbacks, White Sox, Cardinals, Nationals, Cubs, Braves, Marlins, Padres, and Orioles. And he’s still only 34. “A solid guy,’’ said Tony La Russa, who managed Jackson in St. Louis. “We wouldn’t have gotten into the playoffs without him [in 2011]. He comes from a military family, great teammate. Happy that he hooked on.’’ The 2011 Cardinals won 90 games, finished second in the NL Central, and won the World Series. Jackson went 5-2 after a being acquired from Toronto at the trade deadline. He never pitched for the Blue Jays, who flipped Jackson after picking him up from the White Sox.
5. J.A. Happ, LHP, Blue Jays — Happ may become one of the most popular targets on the trade market. He will be a free agent at the end of the season, and he’ll be owed about $5 million for the rest of the year if he’s dealt in July. This is seen as a bargain. You could see a few NL West teams (Dodgers, Diamondbacks, and Rockies) being interested as well as the Yankees, Braves, and Phillies.
6. Matt Harvey, RHP, Reds — The thought that the Reds might be able to flip Harvey at the deadline isn’t based in reality. Harvey is 0-2 with a 6.97 ERA in his last two starts. He was 1-0 with a 2.57 ERA in his first three starts with Cincinnati, but his inconsistency is what may turn teams off. “You just don’t know what you’re going to get,’’ said one NL scout who is looking for a starting pitcher.
“If you’re going to acquire someone, you have to see consistency over a period of time to pull the trigger.’’
7. Ken Giles, RHP, Astros — As Giles’s struggles continue, the Astros keep searching for a potential closer. Giles entered the weekend with a 13.50 ERA and .455 opponents’ average in his past five appearances. His season ERA is 5.40. The Astros have the trade pieces to go get the Royals’ Kelvin Herrera or Orioles’ Zach Britton.
8. Pablo Sandoval, INF, Giants — The Giants have managed to turn Panda into a super-utility guy, playing some first, second, and third base. “We’ve been pleasantly surprised,’’ said Giants executive vice president Brian Sabean. Sandoval is hitting .282 with a .777 OPS in 103 at-bats. The Red Sox are paying $18.05 million of his contract this season while the Giants are paying the minimum of $555,000.
9. Allen Craig, 1B/OF, Padres — Craig is hitting .265 with eight homers, 24 RBIs, and an .844 OPS for the Padres’ Triple A affiliate. Craig never could get untracked in Boston, which paid him more than $28 million after acquiring him from the Cardinals in 2014. The Red Sox bought out his 2018 option for $1 million.
Extra innings
From the Bill Chuck files — “Through Wednesday, three interesting batting averages at home: Carlos Correa and Giancarlo Stanton each at .207 and Rafael Devers at .206.’’ . . . Also, “The Yankees’ 7-8-9 batters have the majors’ highest batting average at .272; Houston’s 7-8-9 are hitting .226, while Boston’s back three are hitting .227. The Yankees and Astros lead the majors with 24 homers each, Boston has 10.’’ . . . Trivia answer: Carl Everett, Don Baylor, Tony Armas, Jimmie Foxx, Nick Esasky, Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz, Ted Williams, and Dick Stuart . . . Happy birthday, Pokey Reese (45).
Nick Cafardo can be reached at cafardo@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @nickcafardo. Material from interviews, wire services, other beat writers, and league and team sources was used in this report.
