From No-no to No-go: Not Clay’s day

Crap.

Red Sox fans had to know that Theo Epstein’s build from within program was eventually going to creep back around and affect the team’s success one season. The team has developed such strict pitch/inning counts on young pitchers, that it was inevitable eventually one young gun would make an impact, then be held back despite the help he could give the big league club. There’s good reason for it, and the restraint definitely is in the best interest of the franchise’s future.

This will be the lasting memory of Clay Buchholz’s first spin in a Red Sox uniform, even if Boston wins the World Series. It didn’t have to be that way.

But it’s not in the franchise’s best interest now. Not only that, in the perilous case of Clay Buchholz, it may be a crushing blow to the team’s immediate playoff hopes.

By taking Buchholz out of the playoff equation, Epstein is essentially denying Terry Francona an ultimate playoff security blanket. While the team would intend to use Buchholz as an inning-by-inning reliever (think K-Rod circa 2002), it’s eminently possible that, should Tim Wakefield or Daisuke Matsuzaka falter badly in a start, or suffer an injury, sickness, you name it, Buchholz could have served as an incredible fill-in starter.

Admit it, you know it’s true. In fact, it’s more than true. If Buchholz had been on the roster, it’s probably almost inevitable that he either would have ended up with a playoff start, or at least worked the equivalent of one, entering in the second or third inning should another starter’s afternoon/evening go horribly wrong (think Matt Clement. Or don’t think it. That one is pretty painful to dwell on.).

In the end, that’s almost certainly what Epstein, assistant GM Ben Cherrington and the front office is thinking in shutting Buchholz down before the postseason even gets going. If Buchholz had entered a game and been as successful as most Sox fans - and baseball analysts, for that matter - assume he would be, it’s hard to believe that Francona would have been able to resist using him at every corner, particularly with the fatigue in the bullpen and ineffectiveness of important role relievers like Hideki Okajima down the stretch.

Does that make the move more understandable? Absolutely. There’s not even any question. Does it make it the right move? Not necessarily. If Boston feels it’s on the precipice of a World Series, how can it possibly justify keeping a golden bullet like Buchholz sheathed in its gun. Or stands, as the case may be. How can the Red Sox turn their back on a guy who’s been little short of incredible in his first few weeks on the job, give or take one horrible toss to third base in his third start?

How can the Red Sox forget about a pitcher who may have the second best stuff on a playoff team’s entire staff, better even than a guy who Boston paid $106 million for, throws six different pitches and was called a national treasure by the guy who paid $106 million?

That’s easy. They can’t forget about that guy. If they say they can, they’re lying. And while Epstein and even Francona may move on as if they know the full impact of this decision, there’s little doubt that it’ll haunt both if it ends up playing the decisive role in the postseason that it could.

It’s a big move folks. A big move. Now the Red Sox have to hope Hideki Okajima can return to form after his respite, Eric Gagne can channel his inner Dodger and Jonathan Papelbon can pitch like the mule he wants to be.

Here’s hoping.

– Cameron Smith