Buchholz, Red Sox deny spitball accusations
Boston Red Sox starter Clay Buchholz earned his sixth straight win to open the season on Wednesday, but his success is being questioned two former MLB pitchers.
Dirk Hayhurst, a former pitcher who is now an analyst for the Toronto Blue Jays, tweeted after Wednesday's game against the Red Sox that he "saw video of Buchholz loading the ball with some Eddie Harris worthy slick'em painted up his left forearm." Hayhurst told Toronto radio station Sportsnet 590 The Fan on Thursday that Buchholz was "absolutely" cheating during Wednesday's start against Toronto.
Former Blue Jays ace Jack Morris saw the video for himself and agreed.
"I found out because the guys on the video camera showed it to me right after the game," he said. "I didn't see it during the game. They showed it to me and said, 'What do you think of this?' and I said, 'Well, he's throwing a spitter. Cause that's what it is."
The Red Sox disputed the accusations on Thursday. Buccholz said that this is the first time he's been accused of doctoring a baseball.
"I'm doing the same thing right now as I did in 2008, when I was sent down to Double-A," Buchholz told ESPNBoston. "But I guess something's got to be wrong, right?'"
"He's got rosin on his arm," said Red Sox manager John Farrell. "He's not loading up, he's got rosin on his arm. As soon as someone pitches well or does well, they're cheating."
Buchholz was named American League Pitcher of the Month on Thursday. In six starts this season, he's 6-0 with a 1.01 ERA in 47 innings. He has 47 strikeouts and 16 walks.
