BUCHHOLZ GEM TRIGGERS N.B. CIVIL WAR

I’m known as a pretty opinionated guy among my readers but here’s an issue in which I find it hard to take a side.

The bottom line is that this Red Sox Nation phenomenon, born when bleeding-heart fans of the underdog leaped on the bandwagon after a team that soiled its night shorts for 86 straight years finally broke through, has created a culture that supersedes the sport itself.

Ironically, Red Sox rookie right-hander Clay Buchholz was at the center of the controversy. Here’s the “poop.”

Back on June 25 in Manchester, N.H., Buchholz, pitching for the Portland Red Sox, threw 6 1/3 innings, allowed a run on four hits and struck out 11. He received a rousing standing ovation for his part in beating the hometown New Hampshire Fisher Cats, a state of affairs that didn’t sit well with outspoken N.H. manager Bill Masse.

“I think it’s sad,” Masse said, in the heat of the moment to the Manchester Union-Leader. “We’re not playing the Boston Red Sox. We’re playing the Portland Sea Dogs. Unless you’re from that area, you root for your hometown team. This is New Hampshire’s team, Manchester’s team, and to see Clay Buchholz get a standing ovation was absolutely disgraceful.”

After having time to think it over for a day, Masse added, “When I came to the dugout after that standing ovation, players were not happy. I just think it rubbed my team, and especially myself, the wrong way. These guys are out there competing every night and giving the fans some awesome games, and they came away feeling like they were the visiting team.”

Fast-forward to Saturday night’s game at New Britain Stadium, Portland vs. New Britain.
With Buchholz closing in on his no-hitter in Boston, Rock Cats staffers felt obliged to keep the fans informed of the developments, while the Rock Cats and Sea Dogs were in the midst of their game.

Several Rock Cats players climbed the steps of the dugout and indicated their contempt.
The night before, Minnesota Twins right-hander Scott Baker – a former Rock Cats pitcher – was working on a perfect game heading into the ninth inning. The Rock Cats’ press box crew did inform the fans of Baker’s bid, although not as ardently as the Sox fans within portrayed Buchholz’ bid.

After the game, a self-appointed spokesman who requested anonymity said the following: “This comes from the entire Rock Cat baseball team. It’s a little weird that when a Red Sox player is pitching a no-hitter, it’s announced, which is fine. But when Scott Baker had a perfect game going in the ninth, there was no word of it. A little weird, just a little weird.”

When Rock Cats outfielder Garrett Guzman heard that the aforementioned player preferred anonymity, he offered to go on the record.

“It was definitely bush. ... (Baker) pitched here in New Britain a few years ago and they announce Clay Buchholz and show his highlight (on the scoreboard video display). I think it’s bush. It’s terrible of the front office,” he said.

Here’s my take.

I feel the players’ frustration, and I’m strongly in their corner philosophically that this is the home of the Rock Cats, affiliates of the Minnesota Twins, and the borders of Red Sox Nation stop at the Willow Brook property line since former owner Joe Buzas booted Boston after the 1994 season.

However, the Rock Cats front office is on a mission to provide fans with the kind of atmosphere that will bring them back often, something Bill Dowling and Company have done diligently and effectively since they’ve been in charge here.

Again, in fairness to the front office and press box workers, they did keep fans abreast of Baker’s effort, if not quite as zealously as they projected Buchholz’ achievement. Here’s one issue where it’s hard to define a right and wrong.