Although I've focused mostly on Manny, he's not the only Sox who wintered at the Athletes' Performance Institute. Also in the desert were Youks, Pedroia and a candidate to succeed him as Rookie of the Year: Clay Buchholz.
Buchholz was dominant in his brief stint with the Sox last year, including his no-hitter against the Orioles. As the Sox limped to the regular-season finish line, it seemed Clay would be the jolt needed for the playoffs until Theo and crew made the difficult decision to shut him down. Although the starting staff was sagging, Clay was nearing his innings limit and reported some shoulder fatigue. Buchholz, with a talking-to from Josh Beckett, vowed to be in better shape and ready for a complete 2008 season. After an off-season working out in Arizona, it looks like he's ready.
The Globe catches up with the apparent replacement for Curt Schilling. We learned that throwing a no-hitter is easier in real life than in a video game. I've thrown several no-nos in my living room, but none in Fenway.
Buchholz - who may be the fastest guy in the Sox system, including Ellsbury - has raced some unnamed Phillies prospect. No word whom he raced or whom won. But he won't be racing his centerfielder:
I've already been told that0 I'll be fined if I race against Ellsbury.
Meanwhile, No. 2 starter, Dice-K, also vows to be better prepared for the vigorous 162-game schedule. He better be stronger to carry that little mullet he's now sporting:
And hopefully an end to snoring solves the enigma of Craig Hansen.
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