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Clay Buchholz pitched a no-hitter tonight as I'm sure most of you already know.

Great spectator event indeed, but here was my thought process throughout:

1.)  No way a rookie pitches a no-no in his 2nd MLB start.

2.)  Wow, what a good job Don Orsillo and Jerry Remy (and NESN) did of not saying "no-hitter."  Obviously they had to acknowledge the significance of what was happening, but they skated around saying the phrase, something FOX sports would not do.

3.)  Pitching coach John Farrell shook Buchholz's hand after the 8th, I though that was a bad move as you generally aren't supposed to talk to or address a pitching in the midst of a late-game no-hitter.  At first I thought it might mean they were taking him out, but in the end it was no bid deal.

4.)  Home plate umpire Joe West helped out Buchholz early in the game (i.e. the first pitch) but worked a bit against him in the latter innings.  There were 2 pitches, one a change the other the hook, which West called balls.  In my mind, they were both clearly strikes.

5.)  What great pitchers pitched a no-hitter so soon in their career?  Is this a good career event?  Or does it matter?  I worry that such an event will be the peak rather than a great accomplishment along the way to greatness.

Or maybe I should relax and enjoy this moment.  I have it saved on TIVO and I've already watched the last at bat about 10 times.  Congratulations Clay Buchholz.  Now, get ready for the full body-cast Red Sox management will want to place you in tomorrow.  115 pitches exceded his season high by 21.  He averaged 78 pitches per start in the minors, an indication that management wants to protect this kid.  Maybe he'll start again this year, but I wouldn't be surprised if they say "great season kid, now take 5 months off."

Update:  Aparently ESPN's Rob Neyer wondered the same thing about Buchholz and his place in history.  Neyer seems ok with the notion that this won't have any impact on his future (negatively or positively).