Random Stat of the Week


September must be Clay Buchholz's favorite month. In September of 2007, Buchholz hurled a no-hitter against the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park.

In 2009, Buchholz has pitched his way to a 3-0 record in four starts for the month of September. In the 26 innings the right-hander has pitched this month, Buchholz has racked up 14 strikeouts with an ERA of 1.73. Buchholz has been virtually unhittable, as opponents are hitting just .202 against the 24-year-old for the month of September.

---

Obscure Trade of the Week


This week's Obscure Trade was one that paid dividends for the Red Sox, as they acquired a future Hall-of-Famer that would lead the club to two straight 90-win seasons in 1978 and '79.

On March 30, 1978, just a week before the season was ready to kick off, the Red Sox sent four players to the Cleveland Indians in exchange for 23-year-old starter Dennis Eckersley. The Eck went on to win 20 games with a 2.99 ERA in '78 for one of the most talented Sox teams ever, even despite the club's unfortunate one-game playoff loss to New York that ended their season. Eckersley went on to go 80-66 with a 3.84 ERA in six seasons in a Sox uniform before being dealt to the Chicago Cubs for someone else who would prove to be instrumental in the Sox' 1986 playoff push - Bill Buckner.

Two-time All-Star Rick Wise, Ted Cox, Bo Diaz, and Mike Paxton was the player package sent to Cleveland for Eck. Wise had won 44 games in three seasons for the Sox prior to the deal, including nineteen in 1975, but posted a league-leading 19 losses for Cleveland the year of the trade.

Eck, who is now an analyst and broadcaster for the Sox, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004.

---

History Lesson


On September 23, 1969, Carl Yastrzemski teed off on the Yankees for two home runs, giving him 200 for his career. The 8-3 win for Boston was their second straight, but they trailed in the division by 23 games for a third place spot. Don't laugh Yankee fans. At that point, the "Bombers" were in 31 games out in fifth place.

Yaz would finish his Hall of Fame career with 452 HR, 3,419 hits, 1,844 RBI, seven Gold Gloves and 18 All Star selections.