Calling for the win

I lied to all of you this morning. It was unintentional, but I'm sorry nonetheless. Joel Pineiro will not be pitching against Clay Buchholz this evening. In a flurry of unforeseen circumstances, Dan Haren was traded to the Angels from the D-Backs late last night, and will jump right into the middle of things by taking the mound tonight.

The twenty-nine-year-old pitcher is 7-8 with a 4.60 ERA this season in the NL West, but was 1-2 against the American League this season, including a loss to the Red Sox at Fenway Park on June 17th. Haren went just 5.2 innings, and allowed seven hits, three walks, and six runs, four of which were earned.

Haren has been mediocre thus far this season, but will a change of scene be just what the doctor ordered?

It's possible that Haren will be nervous and disoriented in a new city, but it's just as likely that he'll be eager to prove himself and spot on. Clay Buchholz is a mystery of his own: will we get the Clay of last Wednesday, when he lasted just four innings and gave up five runs? Or will we see the pre-DL Clay, the guy with 7-2 record, and 2.45 ERA?

Will we get good Clay or bad Clay?

Victor Martinez is finally back behind the dish, and Clay does enjoy throwing to him, so I'm expecting big things from both of them tonight. I'm calling for the WIN, and I'm confident Clay will deliver.