Red Sox 1-36: 6 is for…

Photo from Jere

Retired number 6.

Once again, if the Red Sox feel you’re important enough to retire your number, you’re important enough to be on this list. In this case, of course, number six has been retired for Red Sox mainstay Johnny Pesky.

I said at the time I was against retiring his number. In the first place, the Red Sox have their own criteria for retirement of numbers. Pesky didn’t meet them. But, they felt they would break the rules in this case. They had already bent the rules when they retired Fisk’s number, so I guess breaking them outright wasn’t all that hard. But, beyond that, I questioned whether Pesky was deserving of the honor. Had Pesky so excelled in that number that I couldn’t picture anyone else wearing it? That certainly wasn’t the case. As a matter of fact, when I think of number 6 on the Red Sox, I picture Bill Bucker walking off the field after game six ended. Not Pesky. I said I would have preferred they give Pesky a statue instead of a number retirement. (Which, they ended up doing when Pesky was honored as one of the ‘Teammates.”)

So, I always agreed that Pesky deserved some sort of honor. He’s been a member of the Sox in some capacity seemingly forever. Sixty Years. That’s incredible. He’s been an all-star player. He’s been an all-star coach. He managed the Sox to 147 wins. He broadcast the games on TV and radio. He did it all. He even had a foul pole named after him. That’s a pretty unique resume. Clearly someone with such a dedication to an organization deserves to be honored.

I was lucky enough to meet Pesky once. It was the Father’s Day catch they had a few years back. I was able to walk along the Fenway warning track, and have a game of catch on the outfield grass. Pesky was there signing autographs and taking pictures on the warning track in front of the Red Sox dugout. It was a pretty cool opportunity. He did a great job dealing with the steady stream of fans that wanted some of his time. He really seems to enjoy his role as ambassador, or elder statesman for the Red Sox.

6 is for number 6, Johnny Pesky.

A Tale of Two Cities, By Tony Massarotti and John Harper

Two cities. Two writers. Two views. This book combines it all. The magical 2004 baseball season is retold through two contrasting sets of eyes. One from New York. One from Boston. How would they see the same season? Do they both reach the same conclusions? Do they both laugh at each other? If history relies on who tells the story, then this book should have it covered.

I know. There are plenty of books written about the 2004 Red Sox. There are plenty of day-by-day accounts of the 2004 Red Sox. What makes this one special? Hard to say. The book is split into sections. The games between the Yankees and the Red Sox, and the games in between. As each section of the season goes by, each writer tells the story of his team in turn. It creates the only downside of the book. You read each segment of the season twice. But, getting the different angles makes for a nice twist. The book is informal, and doesn’t hide anything. If one of the writers things the other is a moron, they say so. They discuss the faults of the media as much as the teams. The back and forth between the two makes for an entertaining read. It’s nice to see that the media have the same complaints about the rest of the media that I do. This is a fun book to read, and a nice diversion from books that simply repeat facts that you can read anywhere else.

Rating: 3 bases

Another Wild Card?

I hate the idea of another wild card and a one game playoff so much, that I’m in favor of it.

It’s a complete case of two problems with America as a whole. Dumbing everything down, and fixing the symptoms instead of the problem.

I don’t think there should be any wild cards. I don’t think there should be any divisions. I think the best team at the end of the season should be the best team. Period. I’ll allow a World Series, since the two leagues like to pretend they’re different. But, that’s it. The fact that a team can win the World Series and be crowned champion after winning the eighth most games during the season is a joke.

But, they’re not going to get rid of the divisions. They’re not going to get rid of the wild card. So, the best I can hope for is something to crush the wild card “winners” into submission. Fix the symptom. So, a one game playoff between wild cards sounds like the perfect punishment. A coin flip would work too. But, at least this way they need to burn a pitcher.

Of course, it doesn’t fix the problem it creates. It creates the possibility that the world champion could be the fifth best team. In it’s league! It’s the dumbing down problem. Nobody wants skill to mean anything anymore. All-Stars are based on fan voting. They want championships based on luck. It’s the same reason people insist on putting money under Free Parking when they play Monopoly. They want to introduce more luck. It’s everywhere. It’s unfortunate.

Luck should have no part in deciding who the best team is. They just finished playing 162 games, and people want the championship decided by another 20? At the most? Why not award the championship to the team that has the best April? Or July? Or May 24 to June 24? Because that would be ridiculous. It’s too small of a sample size. So, why do we award championships to the team that has the best October?

I get the arguments in favor of the playoffs. They’re fun. They make for good TV. They make for good drama. There wouldn’t have been fun, or good TV, or drama last year if NY, Detroit, and Texas went down to the wire to determine the championship after a 162 season?

If you want fun TV, then use my idea. Make a tournament that’s exactly that. A fun tournament. Crown a champion. But, also crown a season champion. Then you have the lucky winner, and the skilled winner. I wonder. If MLB did that next season, how would people look at the tournament champion? A fluke? Would the season championship carry more weight?

I guess it would depend on which championship the Yankees win.

Hanging Them Up

Today yet another longtime Red Sox announced that his playing days are over. Jason Varitek joined Tim Wakefield on the list of “former Red Sox players.” It’ll be the fist time since 1997 that the Sox will open the season without both of them on the roster. That’s pretty amazing, really.

Not that this was really a surprise. Varitek’s roll has been diminishing quite a bit in recent years. He went from full-time starter, to splitting time with Victor Martinez, to losing the starting job to Jarred Saltalamacchia. There was really no place for him on the 2012 roster. Rather than go to another team, he decided to hang them up. I think it was a great call.

I don’t pretend to know the minds of major league ballplayers. I don’t know how their thoughts and desires go. I can only look from the outside and imagine what I would be thinking. Varitek thinks he can still play. He’s probably right. I have no doubt that any number of teams would want him on their roster. He needed to decide if it’s worth it. Is being exclusively a Red Sox something that’s important to him? It looks like it is. It sounds like a lot of players who are known for one team seem to regret holding onto that one last year. It tarnishes their legacy a bit, without much gain. Dwight Evans has said he wished he hadn’t gone to the Orioles. Did it diminish his legacy in Boston? Maybe barely. If nothing else, when he’s announced at special events, they have to say he played his entire career in Boston…except for those 101 games at the end. Does that matter? I dunno. But, I would think it’s a nice feature to be able to hold onto. A legacy with one team, one city, and one fan base. I think that’s a nice thing.

But, it’s tough to give up playing. I think it was Wayne Gretzky who corrected someone who said he was retiring after playing for so many years. It wasn’t 20 years of hockey he was giving up. He’d been playing hockey since he was 3. And, that’s what it is. Jason Varitek isn’t giving up on 13 years of playing baseball. He’s giving up on, what, 33? He’s been playing baseball at the highest level available since at least Little League, when he made it to the world series. Now, will he ever pick up a bat again? In an old-timers game? Red Sox fantasy camp? That’s not exactly the same thing. So, it’s over. That’s not easy.

So, it was a tough call. He decided to retire as a Red Sox player. He’s a mainstay of the organization. He can make a nice little niche for himself if he wants. It leaves a lot of options for him. There are plenty of people who will want to thank and celebrate him in the years to come. Starting now.

Thank you Jason Varitek!

Nothing Arbitrary at All

Not long ago I was contacted by Martyn of the blog Arbitrary Crap. He had some cards off my wantlist he was willing to send my way. I gladly accepted the kind offer. The generosity of the blogging community never ceases to amaze me. Especially in this case since Martyn is from across the pond. That’s some extra effort! Let’s take a look at some of what he sent over.

Starting off with my all-time favorite set. I’ve said before that 1975 Topps is the only one I’m actively trying to build a complete set of. Although, the definition of “actively” may be stretched a bit. This was a welcome addition. Same goes for the 1977 card next to it. My selection of cards from the 70’s is severely lacking. It’s always nice to add a new one. Speaking of stars from the 70’s, the 2010 Topps National Chicle Yastrzemski is a nice looking card. So many of the Chicles are a mess, it’s nice to see design not go too crazy on this one.

The three in the middle have a special place of honor. They are the last three I needed for my 2011 Topps set. WooHoo!

The Eckersley Chicle is an example of one that is just a bit too abstract for me. I don’t know what it is, but the card just looks “off.” Of course the scans of the Topps Finest cards don’t do them justice. Althoguh, it was a good job by my scanner to capture Dice-K before he slid into oblivion. I love the Finest sets, even though I never seem to get many of them. They are always much appreciated in a package.

So thank you Martyn for the wonderful gift!

Catchers and First Basemen

A new voting category opened today for the All-Fenway team over at FenwayPark100. Now we can vote on the best first baseman, and best catcher in team history.

For catcher, the candidates are: Rick Ferrell, Carlton Fisk, Rich Gedman, Birdie Tebbetts, Jason Varitek, and Sammy White. Even though Rick Ferrell is on the Hall of Fame, I think this argument really comes down to Carlton Fisk and Jason Varitek. If you look over the career numbers for catchers with the Sox, those two dominate the lists. Even though Fisk is in the Hall of Fame, and Varitek probably won’t be, I have to give the nod to Tek. His career numbers with the Sox are at least as good, if not better, that Fisk’s. And, he didn’t bolt the team the first chance he got. I’m going to count that for something.

At first base, the candidates are: Bill Buckner, Jimmie Foxx, Stuffy McInnis, George Scott, Mo Vaughn, and Kevin Youkilis. Of the group, only Foxx is in the Hall of Fame. I can’t vote for Youkilis since he’s played less than 600 games at first. Really, it’s a pretty clear choice. Foxx is the best first baseman the Sox have ever had.

Who’d you vote for?

Why Aren’t the Sox favored?

I heard the EEIdiots discussing Roy Oswalt the other day. They were suggesting that there was no reason for him to come to the AL East, and especially the Red Sox. Why would he leave the comfort and ease of the NL unless it was for a chance at a ring? That ruled out the Sox, they said. Why would that rule out the Sox?

Last off-season, the Red Sox were overwhelming favorites to win the World Series. What’s changed? A couple pieces of the starting rotation? Were expectations really that high for Lackey and Dice-K that we should expect a dramatic drop off? I didn’t remember anyone singing their praises last April saying they were the keys to the season. Can it really be about the number four and five starters?

Or a questionable shortstop? Is the ability of our number nine hitter the key to it all? Were we expecting an MVP season from Scutaro? I know I wasn’t.

Or closer? That can’t be it. Flipping one all-star closer for another all-star closer can’t possibly be the downfall of the season. Can it?

The questionable bullpen? Is there a bullpen in baseball that isn’t questionable? Weren’t there questions last year? Is this a new concern?

Isn’t the answer to all of this “no”?

It can’t possibly be because of the end of last year, can it? Are they really not the favorites because last season their #3 starter got hurt? He’s back now, remember? Are they not the favorites because last year Tim Wakefield was a distraction? Did they not see the wonderful retirement ceremony? Did they not see this offense almost carry a pitching staff that injuries left in shambles? Are they planning on the 3-5 starters going down again? Because you can play that game with any team.

If anything, shouldn’t the events of last year be a good sign for this year? Will this team take even one game for granted? Will they start Kyle Weiland against the Rays in September? Will they be anything but the most driven team in history? In 2006, the Sox missed the playoffs. In 2007, they kicked butt as they had the best record in the league.

Why won’t that happen again?