Buchholz extended his spring training scoreless streak to nine innings this year with four shutout frames in a 2-1 win over Baltimore on Wednesday night.
He was behind a handful of hitters, surrendered four hits and had to work out of a few jams. But compared with his mindset during some rough outings last year, when his spot in the rotation was not a guarantee, it was a cake walk, and something that can benefit him down the road.
"The earlier you can start [working out of jams the better] because everybody knows that they're going to happen at some point in the season," Buchholz said. "It's definitely a good thing. You don't want to get into trouble, but when you do you at least want to get out of it."
With every obstacle he overcomes, whether it be escaping a situation with a runner on third and less than two outs as he did in the second inning Wednesday, Buchholz can put it into the bank as simply the next step toward the regular season.
In March of 2010, the righty could not afford to have that kind of mindset. Buchholz felt he needed to do the necessary things to show the team he was worthy of a rotation spot. There are no such stressors this time around.
"This is what I've been waiting to do for the last two years," he said. "Talking to [Josh] Beckett and [John] Lackey and [Jon] Lester and everybody else, that's their way of coming into spring training, to prepare for the season when you leave here being healthy, rather than trying to come in and make a team, because it just puts in a whole lot of different elements to it."
Buchholz's manager has noticed the change in his 17-game winner.
"I see a guy maturing," Terry Francona said. "He certainly established himself with what he did last year. That doesn't mean you back off from your work ethic, which he's certainly not, but you can prepare a little different. He's preparing for a long season, not trying to make our club. But I think you see it with good young players. As they mature, you're seeing it with Buck. He's growing up."
Last year, nine straight scoreless innings to start spring might've meant plenty to Buchholz. When asked about his streak this spring, he laughed it off. There is no need to make such impressions anymore, he simply needs to prepare for the season. Wednesday was another step forward in that process.
