John Farrell is always prepared to stick up for his players, so when a Toronto broadcaster made some major accusations against Clay Buchholz, it was clear the Red Sox skipper would have his pitcher’s back.
Dirk Hayhurst — former big league pitcher, author of “The Bullpen Gospels” and now a broadcaster for Rogers SportsNet in Toronto — accused Buchholz of doctoring the baseball during Wednesday’s start against the Blue Jays. Hayhurst claims to have detected some substance “slathered” on Buchholz’s left forearm, which is something Hayhurst called “fishy.”
Farrell wasn’t too happy with these allegations, and he rushed to Buchholz’s defense prior to Thursday’s game at the Rogers Centre.
“It bothers me immensely when someone is going to make an accusation, and in this case cheating, because they’ve seen something on TV,” Farrell told reporters. “He’s got rosin on his arm. I think rosin was designed to get a grip. But the fact is, he’s got it on his arm. I’ve seen some people who have brought photographs to me. They’re false. The fact is the guy’s 6-0. He’s pitched his tail off. If people are going to point to him cheating? Unfounded.”
Buchholz denied any wrongdoing in the situation, saying that the rosin was the only substance he applied to his arm. Everything else, the pitcher said, was simply sweat and water.
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