Comments

Congratulations Clay from over the pond in England – I don’t understand the game of course but at 23 the world is at your feet.Talking of excellence - my greatest band of all time The Eagles are surely an example of excellence over decades and they have just recorded their first studio album for 28 years – to be released in October – the album is called ‘Long Road out of Eden’ The single ‘How Long’ from the album was released last week and can be seen at You Tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtCmIYpfUHY

The Eagles – now that is Excellence with a capital E ... but hey I accept I am maybe a wee bit biased :-)

Posted by Trevor Gay at September 2, 2007 6:25 PM

Congratulations Clay. Just don't try it against the Yankees.

Posted by Rich Rosa at September 2, 2007 8:15 PM

Thank you so very much Clay for leading us by example. The Red Sox Nation truly appreciates your help!!

Posted by Michael Wolf at September 3, 2007 5:53 AM

It was a real inspiration to see Clay's no-hitter Saturday night. For a young man of 23 to accomplish such a feat is truly an exciting thing. Congrats, Clay, keep it up!

But come on Trevor, the Eagles? Of all the So. Cal. rock groups of the '70s, the Eagles are your "greatest band of all time"? Personally, I don't see the relevance of the Eagles to Clay Buchholz, unless they had no hits.

Posted by Stephen F. at September 3, 2007 10:06 AM

Contratulations Clay & the Red Sox as MLB playoffs loom & hopefully the Sox take it all again! Stephen I agree - this is NOT about a 3rd rate band of over the hill boys - rather time to celebrate the excellence of youth.

Posted by John at September 3, 2007 12:29 PM

One of the greatest things about the win was that all the young guys had been called up from the minors to play that night, and they all contributed to the triumph. Dustin Pedroia should be mentioned for all the good plays he's made this year, also.

Posted by cathy mosca at September 3, 2007 2:36 PM

I accept your criticisms John and Stephen .... apologies ... out of context. I will in future try to stick to the agenda - sorry to disrupt the rational and logical discussion :-)

Posted by Trevor Gay at September 3, 2007 5:56 PM

There is nothing to apologize about - professional baseball means as much to an Englishman as professional Soccer means to an American -
I'd take the Eagles over Soccer any day and I don't like the Eagles all that much.

Posted by glenOrGlenda at September 3, 2007 8:08 PM

Timithy Leary is Dead (a great song)

So he is really dead and has been really dead for a while.
But when he was alive, G. Gordon Liddy and Tim
would go out on the lecture circiut and debate.
I think Tom should go out and tour with Jim Collins.

Posted by glenOrGlenda at September 3, 2007 10:05 PM

Hi glenOrGlenda … Tongue in cheek reply ..

You are so right about Englishmen and Baseball …. In fact we do have Baseball in England … but we call it ‘Rounders’ and it is played by girls … Now ‘soccer’ (BTW we prefer our original term ‘football’ that you guys pinched and now use for that other strange game you play) is a real sport … I rest my case :-)

I’ve been reflecting about WHY I posted a comment about The Eagles and its relevance or not to the young man featured ...…

I guess the link I was trying to make was with the word ‘Excellence’ as that word appeared to be the title of the posting … but hey … if going off at a tangent upsets people I am happy to take the rap …

Maybe I did it because I have been programmed to believe TP enjoys and actively promotes non linear and non rational thought.

Despite your kind offer of forgiveness in good English tradition I insist on self abuse and punishment for daring to stretch ‘the rules’ … Timothy Leary looking down will forgive me too I’m sure …

Posted by Trevor Gay at September 4, 2007 3:40 AM

World class Black Swan moment is what Clay created par Excellence - that is the thread here to me - similar to the world class Excellence dual of Phil holding off a Tiger in golf on Monday!

Posted by John at September 4, 2007 9:06 AM

If we keep this up the other teams won't have a chance. Ah Red Sox, how I love thee. And Cathy, Pedroia better be rookie of the year~he has been fantastic all season. Ah, fall baseball in America...in BOSTON even....there is nothing quite like it!

Posted by rachel at September 4, 2007 9:47 AM

John - you said in your earlier comment 'time to celebrate the excellence of youth' - That will be the 'youthful' 37 year old Phil M then I guess. By the way I am a great fan of both Phil M and Tiger. They both always demonstrate excellence. The thread of 'Excellence' is what I choose to read into this posting and (your words) '3rd rate band of over the hill boys' The Eagles are in my opinion an outstanding testimony to sustained excellence for over 30 years. I hope we will be still shouting about the excellence of this young baseball player in 30 years time. Black Swans, White Swans, Ugly Ducklings … who cares what jargon we use … excellence is not only about youth and one off achievement – it is about sustained performance at the top. Great exchange thanks - perception is everything.

Posted by Trevor Gay at September 4, 2007 10:02 AM

Huzzah for Clay! And I echo the thoughts on Pedroia - his play in the seventh was definitely integral to keeping the no-hitter alive. He's been great all season.

But to keep things on theme: What Clay did truly screams excellence. He got called up, only his second time pitching in the majors, and managed to maintain his composure for a full 9 innings. Tack on the fact that veteran Shilling was there in the dugout (who was 1/3 of an inning away from what would have been his only no-hitter earlier this season). That's a lot of pressure, and he came through. Great game to watch.

Posted by Nick Adams at September 4, 2007 10:18 AM

nadams i miss u. great to see you are still with us in cyberspace. god i hate that word.

Posted by rachel at September 4, 2007 4:50 PM

Nick - I agree the theme is all things baseball & Clay's excellence - the complexity of baseball is not for simpletons!

PS: And the Eagles are 3rd tier - a falsehood to say "sustained excellence for over 30 years" - since they disbanded from 1980 to 1994 [math 101 anybody?] ... and the band was ranked #75 on Rolling Stone's 2004 list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time - hardly excellence - case closed!

The fun theme here is excellence of Clay & the fabulous Red Sox of wonderful Boston!

Posted by John at September 5, 2007 8:38 AM

Pedro Martinez has to be mentioned in a blog about excellence in baseball. He joins an elite group who have achieved 3,000 strikeouts in their careers:
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article_perspectives.jsp?ymd=20070829&content_id=2177523&vkey=perspectives&fext=.jsp

Posted by cathy mosca at September 5, 2007 11:06 AM

Sean .... Sorry I mean John (you really need to be more subtle if you wish to have an alias). Only individual perception determines what ‘excellence’ is and my perception is The Eagles are excellent and always have been – even during their 14 year gap as they all pursued solo careers. Surprised you rate one of America’s greatest exports so poorly – and there was I thinking it was we in the UK who are the negative people knocking our greatest heroes – life continues to surprise me. We’ve exhausted the subject. Good luck to Boston Red Sox and Clay Buchholz.

Posted by Trevor Gay at September 6, 2007 4:41 PM

Thanks for the Pedro link - amazing how diverse baseball is with Latin players - 80+ from the Dominican Republic alone! And Trevor (Gay) - a bit paranoid perhaps - several critique your taste in music [75th/100 is cool for some] - free Math 101 packet coming to you! :>)

Posted by John at September 7, 2007 8:54 AM

Cathy - A bit late, but, as a life-long member of Red Sox Nation, I'll join the roster of those congratulating Clay for his amazing win, and in celebrating the "youth brigade" of the Boston Red Sox. I had seen him pitch his first game - and first win - a few weeks prior. He definitely has the goods.

While it is very exciting to watch the excellence of the Red Sox youngsters - Lester, Pedroia, Ellersby, and Bucholz - it is also fun to watch the older players who are mentoring the "kids". Mike Lowell and Curt Schilling come to mind as two guys who take clear pleasure in mentoring the younger players. Fun to see this going on.

Posted by Maureen Rogers at September 9, 2007 2:27 PM

Thanks Sean - I'm not paranoid - I KNOW they are out to get me :-)

Let's just agree to disagree about The Eagles - just sad that you have to knock one of your own great US bands. Glad you like the Stones though ... which goes to prove that you know ALL the BEST rock talent comes from li'l' ol' England ... :-)

Posted by Trevor Gay at September 9, 2007 2:45 PM

So - let me get this straight.

You trot off to the park to watch a good ballgame. You spend 3½ hours of you life chewing on corn dogs and downing Sam Adams, while you watch people standing around waiting for somebody to hit the ball ... which they don't.

And THAT is an achievement? :-o

I SO do not get baseball!

(I'm kidding - I get it - I just STILL think it's a really weird concept of success) ;-)

Posted by Lars Olufsen at September 14, 2007 4:19 AM

I followed the "log" of Clay's no hitter as it was happening on my Blackberry. (When I'm out of town I'm such a Red Sox fan-atic I actually check Boston.com regularly to keep tabs on the games.) I also exchanged emails with a Boston Globe reporter who has interviewed Clay extensively in the past to get her take on his accomplishment. Amazing what technology opens up for us. My dad and uncles didn't have this luxury when they had to go to Fenway Park to find out how Babe Ruth was doing with the Red Sox. (They told me the Babe once came out of the bullpen in the first inning and threw a no hitter for the rest of the game. No TV to capture THAT one.)

Posted by John O'Leary at September 16, 2007 9:12 AM