A day after Clay Buchholz became baseball's first six-game winner, one analyst is accusing the Boston Red Sox pitcher of doctoring baseballs. Dirk Hayhurst with Sportsnet — a former pitcher, current author and analyst — spotted something on Buchholz' arm in Wednesday's 10-1 win over the Toronto Blue Jays.
Hayhurst tweeted: "I just saw video of Buchholz loading the ball with some Eddie Harris worthy slick'em painted up his left forearm. Wow." Sportsnet published this photo Thursday with the headline "Is Red Sox Buchholz doctoring ball?"
The Red Sox, as you can imagine, weren't very happy with Hayhurst's haymaker. Manager John Farrell and Buchholz both denied the accusations. Farrell told Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe:
"It bothers me immensely when someone is going to make an accusation, and in this case cheating, because they've seen something on TV. He's got rosin on his arm. I think rosin was designed to get a grip. But the fact is, he's got it on his arm. I've seen some people who have brought photographs to me. They're false, The fact is the guy's 6-0; he's pitched his tail off. If people are going to point to him cheating? Unfounded."
Another for the "worth noting" category: Buchholz was named the American League pitcher of the month for April, with a 1.19 ERA and 39 strikeouts to go with his 5--0 record, which is now 6-0 after his first May victory.
UPDATE: In an MLB.com story, Buchholz denied the allegations saying he's "not doing anything wrong." Also: @JRS2244 points out to us on Twitter that Buchholz was spotted putting rosin on his arm in the first inning.
Hayhurst tweeted: "I just saw video of Buchholz loading the ball with some Eddie Harris worthy slick'em painted up his left forearm. Wow." Sportsnet published this photo Thursday with the headline "Is Red Sox Buchholz doctoring ball?"
The Red Sox, as you can imagine, weren't very happy with Hayhurst's haymaker. Manager John Farrell and Buchholz both denied the accusations. Farrell told Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe:
"It bothers me immensely when someone is going to make an accusation, and in this case cheating, because they've seen something on TV. He's got rosin on his arm. I think rosin was designed to get a grip. But the fact is, he's got it on his arm. I've seen some people who have brought photographs to me. They're false, The fact is the guy's 6-0; he's pitched his tail off. If people are going to point to him cheating? Unfounded."
Another for the "worth noting" category: Buchholz was named the American League pitcher of the month for April, with a 1.19 ERA and 39 strikeouts to go with his 5--0 record, which is now 6-0 after his first May victory.
UPDATE: In an MLB.com story, Buchholz denied the allegations saying he's "not doing anything wrong." Also: @JRS2244 points out to us on Twitter that Buchholz was spotted putting rosin on his arm in the first inning.
