There's an old saying in baseball lore -- "Spahn and Sain and pray for rain."

This phrase emerged sometime after World War II, when the Boston Braves supposedly had only two good pitchers -- Warren Spahn and Johnny Sain. After that, the pickings were slim, and apparently, the talent level beyond their two aces left fans and perhaps even team-mates hoping the skies would open up right around the same time the national anthem was wrapping up.

But let's skip the attempts to come up with a modern-day version of the old Spahn and Sain jingle, for two reasons. First, not much rhymes with Sherlock, and secondly Bolton are from up North and a little rain wouldn't stop these boys from taking to the field.

This situation, though, will probably ring some bells with R.O.D. players and followers alike. Sustained pitching talent over the last 5 years has been slim for Bolton. The all too brief stints by Nate Howell, fellow American Tyler Smith, and Aaron Davidson has meant that the vast majority of pitching duties have fallen to Bolton's own "King of the Field" and two-time Most Valuable Player, Jamie Sherlock.

Sherlock has taken it all in his stride and has, on more than one occasion, kept his fellow team-mates in games they, to be fair, should have been long out of. His 65 strikeouts in 2005, a career high, are testament to his prowess on the mound. It's not merely his pitching skills, however, which have earned the Robot's number 50 his many accolades and admirers. "Jay's" pretty handy with the glove and bat too, the two-time Batting Champion can also add Two Gold Glove awards to his trophy cabinet.

In 2007 Sherlock was joined on the mound by rookie Martin Bell. Although suffering a torrid first start against a strong Humber Pilots team, the Robots of Doom have high hopes for the ex-Royston Cricket Club bowler.

Whether there's another American fireballer waiting in the wings to join the Robots in 2008 remains to be seen. But one thing's for sure, the Robots of Doom can sure feel safe in the knowledge that, with Jay on the mound, they can take on anyone.



Paul Mortimer reporting for boltonbaseball.co.uk

Next time on around the horn we take a look at the cornermen, 1st and 3rd Base.