Red Sox A-Z: Recap

Well, if you’ve been paying attention you noticed that I made it all the way through the alphabet. I have to admit, when I started the series 26 months ago, I wondered if I’d actually finish it. That’s a long time. But, it’s done, and I think it covered a wide range of topics. In case you missed any of them, here’s the complete rundown.

A is for Anderson, Lars

B is for Beckett, Josh

C is for Clark, Tony

D is for DiMaggio, Dom

E is for Ellsbury, Jacoby

F is for Fenway Park

G is for Gordon, Tom

H is for Hideki Okajima

I is for Israel Alcantara

J is for JD Drew

K is for Kapler, Gabe

L is for Lowe, Derek

M is for Martinez, Pedro

N is for Nomo, Hideo

O is for Ortiz, David

P is for Papelbon, Jonathan

Q is for Quintana, Carlos

R is for Ramirez, Manny

S is for Slocumb, Heathcliff

T is for Ted Williams

U is for Ugueth Urtain Urbina

V is for Varitek, Jason

W is for Wakefield, Tim

X is for xylography

Y is for Youkilis, Kevin

Z is for Zupcic, Bob

What to do next? Why numbers, of course. So I’m sure you won’t want to miss “Red Sox 1-36.” Come back next month and see how it starts.

I’m sure you’d be coming back a lot sooner than next month anyway.

Red Sox A-Z: Z is for…

Zupcic, as in Bob

Yeah. Pretty slim pickings when you’re talking about the letter “Z.” But Bob Zupcic is actually a great player to talk about. He played for the Sox from 1991 to 1994, which isn’t a long career by any stretch. He went to the White Sox in 1994, and was out of baseball from there on out. So, he played his entire career for the Sox…just changed colors. I don’t remember what people though of Zupcic when he came up. Was he a top prospect? Was he a role filler? I don’t remember. I do remember that he hit a couple grand slams during his rookie season. It was treated as quite an accomplishment. You started seeing stats about how few players hit two grand slams in their rookie season. Naturally, the impression you get is that it will lead to greatness. Much like when Clay Buchholz threw his no-hitter. When you do something that well that early, people assume it’s a sign of great things to come. In the case of Zupcic, it may have been a sign of a very early peak.

In the early nineties, my local Boys and Girls club was hosting a card show. It included an appearance by Bob Zupcic and Scott Cooper. At the time, that was pretty cool. Looking back, I have to wonder why everyone came. I seem to remember having to pay $5 for an autograph. I remember being impressed with both players. They showed up, and happily signed all they were asked for. When their time was up, they hung around for a little bit. They started playing some pool with some of the kids at one of the pool tables at the club. That was a pretty amazing sight. Sure, they were getting paid for their appearance, but I’m guessing that didn’t include spending time with the kids. It made for a pretty special day for those youngsters.

When the show was over, Zupcic and Cooper were checking with the show organizer about getting back to the highway. My dad and I happened to be driving by the highway on the way home, and offered to let them follow us. So, we led them through the series of lefts and rights so they could find their exit. I always thought it would have been neat to have been on the highway at that point. Imagine driving along, and seeing this van coming off the ramp and merging in next to you. You look over at the car, like you always do, only to notice that it’s Scott Cooper and Bob Zupcic. How weird!

So, while Zupcic’s time in Boston was short, he certainly left an impression on several people.

Z is for Zupcic, Bob

Red Sox A-Z: Y is for…

Youkilis, as in Kevin.

The Red Sox have had a surprisingly large number of players with a last name starting with “Y”, including a couple Hall of Famers. But, Youkilis gets the nod in this case because he is on just about everyone’s mind at the moment. The Red Sox have had an enormous off-season this year. Everyone is beyond excited about the additions of Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez. Of course, a very important part of the signings is Kevin Youkilis.

Youkilis is a gold-glove first baseman. Youkilis is a two-time all-star at first base. He is the heart of the Boston Red Sox batting order. How could the Red Sox trade for another superstar first baseman with Youkilis on the roster? Because Youkilis can also play third base. That versatility is a huge asset for the Sox. Hopefully it doesn’t become a detriment to Youkilis’s career. That’s really what happened to Tim Wakefield. Because he could start or relieve, the Sox had him to both. So, he never really stuck at one position. He was never able to add up the stats the way he could at a dedicated position. It wasn’t his fault he was so good at starting that they stopped having him close. It wasn’t his fault that because he could come out of the pen they made other people starters. So, Wakefield has neither impressive career starter or reliever numbers. The same could happen to Youkilis. While it certainly looks like he’ll be at third from here on out, I’m sure they’ll flip him if they need to. So, he’ll miss the chance at being an all-time great first baseman, and third baseman. He’ll just have to shoot for great player.

To be honest, I’m not really a Youkilis fan. It’s nothing against him. He’s a great player. He’s a wonderful addition to the Red Sox (or any) line-up. But, he just doesn’t do anything for me. He doesn’t have Jacoby’s amazing speed. He doesn’t have the imposing fear of Manny. He reminds me of Tim Duncan. When you just do everything very well, without flair, it hurts your image. Sometimes I’d be at a Red Sox game, and wait an inning before going under the stands because Nomar was coming up. Or Manny was due. I don’t do that with Youkilis. He’s just another fine player on the team.

The first time I saw Youkilis play was on June 18, 2005. He was a pinch-hitter, interestingly enough, for Manny Ramirez. Manny had been hit by a pitch in his previous at-bat, so I wonder if that had something to do with it. Youkilis struck out in his only two at-bats that game. It got better from there.

So, as we start the 2011 season for the Red Sox, they have a new old first baseman. Hopefully the switch across the diamond will go as smoothly as it did the first time for Youkilis and the Red Sox. After all, if Youk is the Sox third baseman for the next six years, the Red Sox will be quite the team.

Y is for Youkilis, Kevin.

Red Sox A-Z: X is for…

…xylography.

Admit it. You’ve been wondering what I would use for “x” since I started this. You’ve been waiting at the edge of your seat all along wondering. You knew there has never been a player for the Red Sox who’s last name started with “x.” You couldn’t think of a ballpark feature, or baseball term either. I’m sure you hoped I wouldn’t cop out and use Jimmy Foxx, or go with his nickname double-X. I hate it when alphabet books do that. If you do a book of animals of the alphabet, please don’t use Fox when you get to “x.” Use the dang xenops. So, for my list I made sure to not cheat. I’m using “xylography.”

What is xylography? I’m glad you asked. Xylography is the art of carving or engraving on wood. What does that have to do with a baseball game? Clearly you’ve never seen “The Natural.” Is there a m

ore iconic baseball image than the lightening bolt carved into the wooden bat?

Current baseball players do this as well. They’re just not nearly as creative. They’ll have their name engraved on the bats the use. The name of their team goes on there as well. It’s used as easy identification when they go to the bat rack. I’m not sure why nobody gets creative with it. Is there an MLB rule against putting an emblem on there? Can David Ortiz carve the Dominican flag onto his barrel? Are they afraid of compromising the quality of the bat? I wonder.

Us regular folk can have several examples of xylography as well. Many souvenir bats have carvings in the barrel, just like the pro’s use. You can even get custom engraved bats at many locations. If you’d like a bat with the date of your first Red Sox game you can do that. Do they still have the stand doing that inside Fenway? I don’t remember noticing it recently. You can even have a bat with your birthday, or anniversary, or favorite quote carved into it. It makes for a sharp looking display. I’ve even heard of people using a carved bat instead of a wedding guest book. With the wedding date carved in the barrel, it makes for a much better keepsake than a book full of signatures.

So, for Red Sox fans, xylography is all around us. It’s as integral a part of a Red Sox game as you can get.

X is for xylography.

Red Sox A-Z: W is for…

Wakefield, as in Tim.

When Dan Duquette sign Tim Wakefield to a contract, I wonder what he thought he was getting. Wakefield was the national Darling when he came up to the Pirates in 1992. He had gone 8-1 on the season, and earned MVP honors in that year’s NLCS. He was the talk of the town.  The next season? Not so good. He ended up with a 6-11 record, and spent a good portion of the season in the minor leagues. That is where he spent the entire 1004 season, posting a less than mediocre 5-15 record. Clearly, the bloom had come off his rose. Maybe his trick pitch was just a fluke after all. The future was not bright. It was with that background that Duquette signed Wakefield to a minor league contract just after the start of the 1995 season. What did he think Tim would be? A player to fill out the minor league roster? A fill in if the big club needed a spot starter? Was he hoping Tim would develop into a back of the rotation guy? A ace? What was the plan? No matter what the plan was, I’m assuming he didn’t think Tim would go out there in 1995 and lead the team in wins, earned run average, and innings pitched. I’m guessing a third place finish in the Cy Young voting wasn’t on the radar either. Not too shabby.

Of course, the story didn’t end there. Tim Wakefield is still on the team. He’s currently the longest tenured member of the team. He’s moving steadily up the ranks of all-time great Red Sox pitchers. Frankly, the only reason he’s not higher on just about every list is because the Sox keep changing his role. Imagine if he had just been a starter. Or, just a reliever. His career numbers would be even more impressive. As it stands, he’s the Red Sox career leader in games started and innings pitched. (Along with walks and losses…but we’ll ignore that) He’s second in strikeouts and games pitched, and third in wins. Not too shabby for a minor league free agent.

As a fan, I loved going to games where Wakefield was pitching. If I had a tickets to a game and it was a Pedro or Wakefield start, I was a happy camper. Pedro games meant total domination. Wakefield games? They guaranteed getting home at a reasonable time. He pitched like he had a bus to catch. It was fantastic.

My favorite Wakefield memory? There are, obviously, several. But, one has a clear-cut edge. I was able to be at Fenway when he pitched game one of the 2004 World Series. If Pedro couldn’t be on the mound, I couldn’t think of another Sox pitcher who deserved it more. He had certainly earned the right to be on the mound for the first Fenway World Series game in almost 20 years. It was also nice for me, since the day was cold and raw. The wind was blowing, and the drizzle was falling. If there was ever a time for a quick Wakefield game, it was that night. Of course, the game ended up going exactly four hours. Proof that even Wakefield can’t do it alone. But, as I sat there shivering, it was certainly comforting to see him toe the rubber in the first. It still annoys me that he couldn’t come away with the victory in a back and forth battle. But, I guess I can’t have everything.

So, as we approach the end of Tim Wakefield’s time with the Red Sox, he deserves a look back. He’s seen it all in Boston. And, we should all thank him for it.

W is for Wakefield, Tim.

Red Sox A-Z: V is for…

Varitek, as in Jason

Today I’d like to talk about the Red Sox captain, Jason Varitek. Few people have even embodied a baseball player like Varitek has. If you were picturing a catcher, chances are the person you have in your mind is Varitek. He just looks like a catcher. He calls a perfect game. He defends his plate. He leads the team. He’s a catcher. It’s that simple. He’s probably the best catcher the Red Sox have ever had. He may not make the Hall of Fame like Carlton Fisk, but he Red Sox career has been more productive.

There has been some discussion lately about just how important Varitek’s intangibles are. Is “calling a good game” more important than getting a big hit? I have no earthly idea. I have a tendency to believe the pitchers on the team. They all say that Varitek makes them better pitchers. Of course, not many pitchers say their catcher is a moron and they wish they had someone else (unless that catcher is Jorge Posada, I suppose). So, the pitchers could be blowing more smoke than throwing it. Other than, I think, Curt Schilling. Schilling was well known for being a student of the game. He kept notebooks on every hitter he’s ever faced, so he could plan the proper plan of attack. When the Red Sox acquired a former teammate of his, however, the teammate was amazed to see Schilling in the locker room before a start without the notebook. Curt had decided that Varitek could handle it. That speaks volumes, to me, about the trust level Varitek had, and the confidence that the pitchers have in him. But, as I’m sure you’ve noticed, I didn’t answer the question. Was it more important that Varitek have that trust, or get a big hit? Apparently to Josh Beckett is was. He wanted Varitek behind the plate even with a better hitting option available. I’m sure it’s probably a 50-50 type thing. If Victor Martinez, for instance, is behind the plate the Sox might score more runs. But, in theory, if Tek is behind the plate the Sox will give up more runs. I guess I’d rather have the pitcher at his best. After all, V-Mart sometimes went 0-3 in a game.

As the Sox look to the future, it’s looking more and more like it will be one without Jason Varitek in it. That’s really too bad. He really was the perfect catcher.

V is for Varitek, Jason

Red Sox A-Z: U is for…

Ugueth Urtain Urbina.

Really, it couldn’t be anyone else, could it? Generally, I try not to highlight people who have chopped up other people with machetes. I wanted to choose Bob Unglab, an infielder on the Sox teams in the beginning of the 20^th century. Or Tom Umphlett, a centerfielder on the 1953 team. Or, even Urbane Pickering who manned the hot corner in 1931 and ’32. But, it had to be Urbina. When you’re the only man in MLB history with the initials UUU, you get to be on the list. We’ll just focus on the Red Sox stuff.

Urbina was the Red Sox closer during the 2001 and 2002 seasons. As you may remember, all-star closer Derek Lowe had fallen on hard times (and hard luck) during the 2001 season. His appearance in games caused fear in the Red Sox fan base. That’s not exactly what you’re looking for in a closer. So, the Sox acquired Urbina to take on that role. He ended up saving 49 games in his Red Sox career…good enough for 11^th all-time. He collected 40 saves in his only full season. Not a bad result, really.

The game that always seemed to sum up Urbina’s tenure with the Sox though, was a game I was at on April 1, 2002. Opening Day. Pedro Martinez had gotten blasted in that game, giving up seven earned runs over 3+ innings. Incredibly, the Sox fought back, and the game was tied when Urbina entered the game for the top of the ninth. After getting a leadoff flyball, the next four batters went walk, single, intentional walk, sac-fly. He then struck out Vernon Wells, to end the inning. Despite the fact that he handed the Blue Jays the lead with a very poor outing, following the strikeout he left the mound with an enthusiastic fist pump. People wondered what, exactly, he was so excited about. He had just allowed the go-ahead (and eventual winning) run. Shouldn’t he have been sulking?

In any event, Urbina only lasted the one full year in Boston before moving on. On the very bright side, his role as the team closer allowed Derek Lowe to return to his role as a starter. So, without Urbina, Lowe might not have thrown his no-hitter, or won 20 games that year. That’s not nothing.

U is for Ugueth Urtain Urbina.

Red Sox A-Z: T (not S) is for…

Ted Williams.

Obviously, Ted had to be mentioned in this list somewhere, right? As the greatest player in Red Sox history, he comes to mind whenever you talk about the Sox.

As you might have guessed, my personal memories of Ted Williams are fairly limited. I’m much too young to have ever seen him play the game. By the time I noticed him, he was an elder statesman of the game. There were articles of him advising young players in Red Sox camp, or talking hitting with Wade Boggs or Tony Gwynn. The one time I was in the same park as Williams was the 1999 All Star game.
Before the game, I was sitting in my seats watching the pregame activity when someone told me to grab my camera. He said the area under the centerfield bleachers was “full” of legends. I didn’t realize it at the time, but MLB was planning on unveiling the All-Century Players during the pregame ceremony. Apparently, some of the stars came into view every once in a while. So, I grabbed my camera and joined the throng at the fence under the stands. When I got there, Reggie Jackson was wandering around a bit. At that point, there were mumblings that Ted Williams would be arriving shortly. I wasn’t about to miss that. So, I hung around in the middle of the crowd for a bit. Finally, they brought Ted in from his car. He was in the golf cart he would later use during his entrance to the ceremony. My contact with Ted was limited to watching him zoom by as I reached my camera up to try and catch a picture. Thankfully, the white cap he wore that night makes it easier to spot him.

I shouldn’t need to mention the rest of the ceremony. The greatest collection of talent ever assembled lined the baselines as they were introduced one by one. Finally, they brought out Ted Williams to a monster ovation. It was chilling. We just stood applauding until our hands hurt. Simply amazing!

T is for Ted Williams.

Red Sox A-Z: S is for…

Slocumb, as in Heathcliff.

Heathcliff Slocumb pitched for the Red Sox in 1996 and 1997. He was able to save 31 games for the 1996 club. He picked up another 17 in the first half of the 1997 season. Not bad totals, really. But it’s the “half” part of that 1997 season that is really Slocumb’s legacy.

Closers are an interesting breed. There are the elite, lights-out closers. Papelbon is a good one. Billy Wagner looks to be one as well. Then, there are the other guys. Guys who collect saves, but may look particularly dominant doing it. Imagine Dice-K as a closer. When you look it over, in a vast majority of his innings, he doesn’t give up three runs. He would save a large majority of his chances. He’d be a good closer. Would anybody like watching it though? Slocumb was one of those. So, by the middle of the 1997 season, Boston was tired of it. Whether it was perception, or performance, everyone was ready to dump him. So, they did. At the trade deadline, he was shipped off to Seattle for a couple minor leaguers. Anybody who’s reading this blog certainly knows that the two minor leaguers were Jason Varitek and Derek Lowe. Varitek, obviously, went on to have the best catching career the Red Sox have ever seen. Lowe ended up being an all-star as a closer…and as a starter. In fact, he started the 2002 game. So, in exchange for Slocumb, the Sox got four all-star appearances. Not too shabby. Theo didn’t even get that when he traded away Nomar. Or Manny, come to think of it. Or Hanley. Hmm.

My only specific memory of Slocumb didn’t come when he was with the Red Sox. I’ve mentioned before that I was at the home opener in 1998 when Slocumb came in as a member of the visiting Mariners. His attempt to “save” a 7-2 lead failed spectacularly. We all joked in the stands that the Sox had a chance once he entered the game…even if nobody really believed it. The Sox scored three runs off him on three hits on their way to winning the game.

So, while his time in Boston won’t be remembered as fondly, Slocumb himself certainly will. Would the Sox have won the World Series in 2004 without Lowe and Varitek? I doubt it. That makes Slocumb a pretty important piece of Red Sox history. Just ask Dan Duquette.

S is for Slocumb, Heathcliff

Red Sox A-Z: R is for…

Ramirez, as in Manny.

I’ve talked a lot about Manny Ramirez on this site. I have to admit, I’m probably going to have trouble finding anything new to say about him. He was one of my favorite players while he was in Cleveland. He was one of my favorite players when he was in Boston. I still curse the day he was traded away for a bag of beans. Manny was Manny, and there won’t be another one quite like him.

The Red Sox have acquired their share of marquee talent the last few years. None of them brought the level of excitement Manny brought when I first saw that Red Sox hat photo shopped onto his picture leading off SportsCenter. He was the missing piece. He was the answer to the Red Sox troubles. He was everything they needed. How could I not dance around the room? Manny favorites? There are many. To pick a couple…

I have the DVD of the Red Sox 100 seasons put out a few years ago. One of the special features is the replay of Manny’s mammoth home run he hit off of Chris Carpenter in Toronto. Manny absolutely crushes the ball to left, and then looks out at Carpenter. He wasn’t taunting, really. It was almost pity. It’s like he was asking, “How could you throw me that pitch? Didn’t you know better?” Even better than that is the close-up view of Carpenter. He just gave up a 500-foot home run. He looks out at the ball, sees it land, and almost smiles. He starts to, but then remembers he was the opposing pitcher. It was a glimpse of even an opponent being simply amazed at what Manny could do.

The closest thing I have to a personal Manny encounter happened in batting practice a few years ago. I was staking out centerfield (in front of Section 35. Shhh) and happened to have a good bit of real estate to myself. I was watching Manny launch ball after ball to all parts of the field, and over the fences. Suddenly, he hits one of the balls right at me. It’s sailing out to center field, and I know I’m going to get it. It’s getting closer and closer, and suddenly I realize something. This is a ball that Manny hit that will travel over 400 feet by the time it gets to me. It has to be going pretty darn fast. If I try to catch that, it’s going to HURT! I can’t possibly try to stick my hands in front of that, can I? So, as the last minute, I step to the side and let it bang into the front row of seats behind me. My immediate plan is to grab it after it bounces off those seats. Naturally, the ball bounces off those seats, off the wall in front of me, and back about ten rows into the stands. There, of course, a couple kids fight over it and I’m out a ball. I do, however, have a hand with all its bones in the correct places. That’s why I always bring a glove now when I get to batting practice. It’s all thanks to Manny.

R is for Ramirez, Manny.

Red Sox A-Z: Q is for…

Quintana, as in Carlos

Carlos Quintana played for the Sox during five seasons. He was a fine player, taking his position at both first base, and the outfield. I have to admit, though, I wasn’t a Carlos Quintana fan. Why? Nothing that he did. he was a fine player. He held his own in the field and at the plate. My problem with him? He wasn’t Phil Plantier. Nor was he Mo Vaughn. Quintana was with the Sox for two seasons before young Phil shot to the scene. Plantier had one of the great September call-ups you’ll ever see, and was destined for greatness. Quintana had three years before the slugging Vaughn came to join him.But, they couldn’t get to their greatness until they started playing. And, the Sox…kept…playing…Quintana! Like I said, it wasn’t like Quintana was hurting the team. It wasn’t like he had no business clogging up the spot. It wasn’t even all Quintana’s fault. Tom Brunansky was playing right field for the Sox. But, he was good enough that I didn’t blame him. Mike Greenwell was, obviously, holding down the fort in left. So, it couldn’t be his fault. I knew that Plantier had no business in center. Vaughn was clearly a first baseman. So, it was Quintana that received my rath, whether he deserved it or not.

It’s the eternal struggle of the hyped youngster trying to displace the current crop. It happened when Ellsbury tried to shove off Coco Crisp. Clay Buchholz has had a devil of a time wrestling the starting spot away from Tim Wakefield. When is it finally time to turn over the keys of the car? When do you give up on what you have, and go with what you’ll get. It’s a question that has plagued teams forever. It certainly did for the Sox from 1990 to 1993.

So, it’s really too bad about Carlos Quintana. He just wasn’t as good as someone else. Isn’t that pretty much something you could say about all of us?

Q is for Quintana, Carlos.

Red Sox A-Z: P is for…

Papelbon, as in Jonathan

Jonathan Papelbon is in his fifth season as Red Sox closer. As closers go, he’s been everything you could ask for. He gets the job done much more often than he doesn’t. He does it with ease, and generally doesn’t scare you when he’s on the hill. He also has just enough Pedro in him to make things enjoyable.

No, nobody’s Pedro. Papelbon’s not even close. But, he does run his mouth like Pedro did. He has the attitude and confidence that Pedro had, and that’s a great thing for a fan. I love when a pitcher comes into a game and just knows that the batter is overmatched. I can imagine Papelbon asking a reporter to wake up the Bambino so he can drill him in the butt. Swagger is a wonderful thing. Papelbon celebrates too much for my liking, but that’s a small complaint. I always like Pedro’s reaction to a big strikeout…simply walking off the mound looking annoyed that he had to waste his time throwing the guy three strikes. Contempt is an even better thing.

As a Red Sox fan, one thing that concerns me about Papelbon is his apparent me-first attitude. The Red Sox wanted him to be a starter. Every good pitcher should be a starter, not wasted in the bullpen. Papelbon, apparently, asked to stay in the closer’s role. He wanted to feel the rush of coming into the game. Of course, he probably also likes amassing those easy to get saves. That artificially boosts his value at contract time. It’s also, probably, the reason he balked when the Sox wanted to bring in Eric Gagne. The Sox needed bullpen help, and wanted Gagne. They, apparently, asked Pap to take the set-up role for half a season. Again, Papelbon balked at losing the saves. (Apparently the rush of coming out of the bullpen wasn’t enough anymore.) Gagne agreed to take the set-up role, and it failed miserably. He couldn’t handle the change to having a closer looking over his shoulder every time he pitched. But, at least he gave it a try.

Papelbon has said again and again that he wants a big contract. That’s why he keeps gobbling up saves at the team’s expense. I can only assume that he’s figured out a couple things. He’ll be free agent eligible in not too long, and Mariano Rivera isn’t getting any younger. I bet he knows what New York can do with all the money they’re using to overpay Rivera. So, Sox fans will have to enjoy him while he’s here. Theo’s smart enough not to overpay for him. Until then, the swagger will be on display for all to see.

P is for Papelbon, Jonathan.

Red Sox A-Z: N is for…

Nomo, as in Hideo

Hideo Nomo joined the Red Sox starting rotation for the 2001 season, following an up and down career. He started it off in a blaze of glory with the Dodgers in the mid 90’s. He was the first major Japanese import, and everyone went crazy over the rookie with the tornado wind-up. He ended up winning the NL rookie of the year award that season. After that, he had a more mediocre stretch. Obviously, nothing could match the hype of his debut season. By the time he joined the Sox, he had kicked around a couple years, and he wasn’t a major free agent pick-up. He ended up having a fine season for the Sox. He led the team in wins (with 13!), innings pitched, and complete games. He led the American League with 220 strikeouts. That total was the 13^th best in Red Sox history. He started his Red Sox career about as well as he could, as well. He threw a no-hitter in his very first start with the team. That’s even better than Clay Buchholz.

I was lucky enough to see Nomo pitch live five times during the 2001 season. He got a no-decision against the Yankees and the Athletics. He picked up three wins, against the Phillies, Braves, and Expos. Interesting that he won the three games against NL teams, coming from the NL as he did. It’s the Montreal start that I remember best, since it was in Montreal. It was the second time I had seen the Red Sox play outside of Fenway Park. It was also the second time I had seen a pitcher with a bat in his hands. The stadium was crazy. At the time, Montreal was drawing about 8,000 fans to a game. For the Red Sox series, they had about 30,000 each game. Nomo got to the plate three times in the game. He struck out the first time with men on first and third to end the inning. He struck out the second time as well. The third time, with Brian Daubach on second, he singled. He almost got an RBI, but Dauber was cut down at the plate. We were all very excited. Nomo was removed during the next inning, after giving up five runs in five-plus innings of work. Not a stellar performance, but it was enough for the win. Nomo struck out 7 batters in that game.

All told, I saw him strike out 28 of his league leading total live. In the five games I saw him, he pitched 27 innings, and gave up 15 earned runs. It’s amazing to think that he was 3-0 in those five games with a 5.00 ERA, and a 1.37 WHIP. That’s how it does sometimes. I don’t remember what happened to Nomo after that season, but he bounced around a few more years as he toured the major leagues. His stop in Boston ended up being one of his better stints.

N is for Nomo, Hideo.

Red Sox A-Z: M is for…

Martinez, as in Pedro

Scalpers had it easy. It didn’t matter who the opposing team was. It didn’t matter who the other stars in the game were. It didn’t matter who the opposing pitcher was. If Pedro Martinez was on the mound, that’s all that mattered. Pedro made it a must-see game. If Pedro was pitching, you scheduled your day around the game. I’ve never seen anything like it.

I’ve mentioned before that the Red Sox have been blessed with quite a few talented pitchers in recent years. Roger Clemens, Josh Beckett, and Curt Schilling have all toed the Fenway rubber. Pedro was just different. I’ve always wondered how unique the feeling was to Pedro. Did any other pitchers invoke the same feelings? How much better than everyone else was he?

Take Josh Beckett. He’s a great pitcher. He’s the ace of the staff, and would be the ace of most staffs. When I look at the schedule, and see he’s supposed to pitch I feel good about the game. I know that the Sox should have a shot to win. I check the opposing team. If it’s the Yankees, I know it will be closer. If it’s the Royals, I feel even better. I check the opposing pitcher. If it’s Pettitte, I feel better about his chances. If it’s Grienkie, I feel much worse. But with Pedro, I didn’t do any of that.

If I looked at the schedule and saw Pedro listed, I knew the Sox would win. Not have a shot at winning. Will win. If I saw it was the Yankees, I assumed it would be a closer victory. If I saw it was the Royals, I wondered if Pedro would finally get his no-hitter. I felt bad for the opposing pitcher. If it was a poor pitcher, he was about to get thumped. If it was another ace, he was about to lose a close game where it probably wasn’t his fault. He just ran into Pedro. The only time I’ve felt even close to that was Josh Beckett during the 2007 playoffs. He was dominant. When the Sox trailed in the ALCS, I knew that they would at least win Beckett’s start. It wasn’t a should. It was a will. Beckett gave me that feeling for a couple weeks. Pedro’s lasted a few years.

When Pedro was on the mound, you started counting for records in the first inning. If the first guy made an out, it was only 26 more for the perfect game. If he struck out one guy in the first inning, he was a bit off pace to get to 21. I’ve mentioned before that I didn’t even know Derek Lowe had a no-hitter going until the sixth inning. With Pedro I would have known. I would have been tracking it for six innings by then.

Pedro has ruined other pitchers for me. How can Beckett be an ace? He had like 16 wins. How can Lester be having a great game? He’s given up two runs already. Pedro has set the bar so high, nobody can ever reach it.

So I need to ask fans from other teams and generations. Did other pitchers give such a feeling of confidence? When Clemens was on the mound, did you mark down the win before the game started? Does it matter to Phillies fans who Cole Hamels is facing? When Cliff Lee or CC Sabathia pitched for Cleveland, did you need to check the other line-up? If Tim Lincecum gives up a run in the first inning, is it cause for concern or par for the course? The Red Sox have had three other 20-game winners in the last ten years. None of them gave me the Pedro feeling of confidence. If they didn’t do it, does anyone?

M is for Martinez, Pedro.

Red Sox A-Z: L is for…

Lowe, as in Derek
Derek Lowe came to the Red Sox as part of one of the best deadline trades in recent memory. The Red Sox sent Heathcliff Slocumb to the Mariners in exchange for Lowe and Jason Varitek. Varitek, of course, went on to be the best catcher in Red Sox history. Lowe had an up and down Red Sox career, but sure ended it in a blaze of glory.
I was lucky enough to be at what might be the highlight of Lowe’s career. I was in the stands when Lowe threw the first no-hitter at Fenway Park in quite some time. I’ve often said that I’ve been at enough games over the years, that I’ve been able to check off a lot of goals. I’ve been to a playoff game, and a World Series game. I’ve seen Cy Young winners and MVPs. But, those could be scheduled. I knew that if I went to an Orioles game, chances are Cal Ripken would be in the line-up. But, the special events are the ones that are harder to get. I had resigned myself to the fact that I’d miss out on a no-hitter. It was way too rare to count on. But, I got lucky with Lowe facing the Devil Rays.
Lowe wasn’t a typical dominating pitcher. He’s not someone you expected to throw such a gem. When Pedro was on the mound, you started counting down at the first batter. When he gave up his first hit, it was a bit of a downer knowing it wouldn’t be the day he finally threw one. Lowe, on the other hand, didn’t have that level of expectations. He also didn’t have the type of “stuff” that you noticed when he was pitching well. When Pedro was on, you noticed that he struck out 5 of the first six batters. With Lowe’s groundball outs, though, it was hard to notice a great performance. So, it wasn’t until the sixth inning that I even noticed he had a no-hitter going. I looked down at my scorecard, and realized that the Devil Rays were hitless. I didn’t dare think that this would be the day. But, with only three innings left, the chances were certainly better.
When the ninth inning started, I actually got chills. I noticed that the Sox let Derek lead them onto the field, to a loud ovation. Naturally, I was concerned that the Sox had just jinxed him. But, it didn’t. With a slow groundball to second base, Derek Lowe did it! I couldn’t believe it!
Lowe pitched a few more years for the Sox. Obviously, he ended his tenure clinching all three series of the 2004 playoffs. He’ll always be a World Champion. And, he’ll have always delivered one of the best experiences I’ve ever had at Fenway Park.
L is for Lowe, Derek

Red Sox A-Z: K is for…

Kapler, as in Gabe
Gabe Kapler joined the Sox in 2003, and made quite a splash with the Red Sox. He immediately became a fan favorite, and was part of the Curse Busting 2004 World Champions.
Kapler was a hot prospect when he came up to the bigs with Detroit. He had all the skills to become a great player. His dedication to working out was well known. He even appeared in several muscle magazines celebrating his body. Unfortunately, that apparent raw strength never really transferred to the diamond.
By the time he made it to Boston he was clearly a third or fourth outfielder. That happened to be exactly what the Red Sox needed when they grabbed him mid-season. His Red Sox debut came on June 28 of 2003 against the Florida Marlins at Fenway. Gabe put on an absolute show. He fell a homer short of hitting for the cycle, and was an integral part in the Sox building up a big lead in the game. The next day, Kapler added the home run he missed the first game. It was quite a first weekend, and placed him squarely in the hearts of many Red Sox fans.
While Kapler didn’t continue the batting dominance, and really who could, he did become a solid member of the team. He appeared in all four World Series games in 2004, and was a valuable guy to have off the bench. Kapler was also late involved in one of the odder plays you’ll see. In Toronto, Bill Mueller (I believe) hit a line drive home run. Kapler was on first, and ran hard around second, not knowing if the ball would clear the wall. In Totonto they have the goofy turf, with patches of dirt at the bases. When Kapler rounded second and reached the turf on the way to third, he blew out his knee. Mueller, in his home run trot, came upon Kapler writhing on the ground, and had to stop. Obviously, if he passed Kapler, he would have been out, and the run wouldn’t score. He had to stand there as the training staff took care of things…mid play. The injury ended Kapler season.
Gabe even had a turn as a manager in the Red Sox organization, taking a turn at the helm of the Greenville Drive. He returned to the majors after the stint, and became a fan favorite in even more baseball towns. As a part of the 2004 Championship team, he will forever live in Red Sox lore.
K is for Kapler, Gabe.
　

Red Sox A-Z: J is for…

J.D. Drew

JD Drew is one of those players I wish I knew personally. I can’t help but wonder if the personality he projects is even close to what it really is. He’s a bit of an enigma for Sox fans, and that has led to a polarizing treatment from the fan base.

The Sox Signed Drew prior to the 2007 season, but most fans knew a lot about him before that. Everyone knew he was the guy who refused to sign with the Phillies after being selected second overall in the draft. He played independent ball for a year, rather than succumb to their contract demands. He was drafted the following year by the Cardinals, as the fifth overall selection. He ended up signing with St Louis, and made his major league debut the night McGwire hit his 62^nd homer. He bounced around to Atlanta, and signed a big contract with LA. It was this big contract that he opted out of to allow the Sox to sign him.

Just that quick bio was enough for some fans to make up their minds about him. He was greedy, selfish. All he cared about was the money. Add that to the fact that he tends to miss a lot of games with injuries, and he wasn’t exactly the ideal player for many Boston fans. He was lazy, and didn’t really want to play. I have no idea if any of that is true. I’m also not sure I care.

Can I really blame the guy if he wants to get the most money he can? Why does everyone assume that because he “plays a game for a living” he should take whatever contract is offered him? Just because they’d like to play, he should act like it’s not a job? I’d really like to swim with Shamu every day, and wouldn’t really call that work. It’s just swimming all day, and that’s fun. Does that mean no whale trainer is allowed to ask for a raise? I say good for him. He had the leverage, and used it perfectly.

What is the fascination with playing hurt? Everyone always thinks that it’s a sign of weakness if a player sits out with a hamstring pull, or back tweak. Players should be on the field as long as all of their limbs are attached. After all 80% of so-and-so is better than the guy they put in his place. Is it? People like to point to Curt Schilling’s bloody sock game 6 of the 2004 ALCS. That’s how the game is supposed to be. He was out there outing it all on the line for his team. He’s a warrior. How come nobody brings up his game 1 start? He was still hobbled. He was still a warrior. But, he stunk up the joint. The Sox ended up scoring seven runs that game, but couldn’t dig themselves out of the six-run hole that Schilling put them in. It wouldn’t have been better for the Sox if Schilling hadn’t toughed it out? Wouldn’t it have been nice if someone else took the hill that game in his place? Could we expect his replacement to give up less than 6 runs in three innings? Why is it never honorable to remove yourself from a game for the good of the team? Can’t drew look at the bench and say, “If I’m half a step slower, and have trouble putting my normal swing on the ball, then the Sox are better off with Baldelli in right. He’s a good player after all.” Isn’t that selfishly sacrificing his personal stats for the good of the team? Isn’t that a good thing?

I like JD Drew. He’s a great player, and a great guy in the line-up. Do I think he’s overpaid? Probably. But, it’s not my money. At the end of the day, you look back at JD Drew and see that he contributes to an awful lot of Red Sox victories. That’s about all I expect out of a player.

J is for JD Drew.

Red Sox A-Z: I is for…

Israel Alcantara

Israel Alcantara is an interesting example for Red Sox fans. In the late 90’s and early 2000’s, he was quite a prospect in the farm system. He would tear up the International League every year. His power numbers were superb. Clearly, this was a player who would make a huge impact for years to come. He just never really materialized that way.

There may be a few reasons as to why that happens. Some people are just called AAAA players. They’re too good for AAA, but not good enough for the majors. That’s always surprising to me. There are some relatively poor players playing in the major leagues. It always seemed weird to me that a player batting .330 with 35 home runs in the minors couldn’t at least hit .250 in the majors. Some of that could come down to expectations. When a player comes through the system as a role player, that’s all he’s expected to be. When someone comes through as a star, though, you expect it to continue. If they don’t end up with stardom, you’re more disappointed than you would have been.

It is possible that there is some hitch in the talent level. I’ve mentioned before that the difference between someone with 200 hits a season and 150 is 2 hits a week. It doesn’t take much to make a huge difference. It’s possible that a player can be a tick slower with the bat, for instance, and be OK against inferior pitchers. But, in the majors, that weakness is exposed. Or, a real good curveball may be too much for some players to pick up on in time. The fine line between minors and majors could eliminate some players.

Or, there could be a mental reason. Someone with all the talent who doesn’t show the effort could be in for a rude awakening once they get to the show. Sure, some players can excel while looking lazy (Manny Ramirez and JD Drew come to mind). But, there’s far more who have less talent who only stick around because they have the extra drive. Dustin Pedroia, for example. I don’t know Izzy, so I have no idea his mental state. I did see him loaf after a couple flyballs during a September game. It struck me that a player doing his best to make the team ought to show more effort than that. After that performance, I hoped the Red Sox would have replaced him mid-inning, and sent him down. When Manny hits 45 home runs a year, it’s OK to let a base hit drop in now and then. But, when you’re trying to prove you belong, you need to go all out. Maybe Alcantara felt he already belonged?

Of course, the elephant in the room with Alcantara is the fabulous fight video of him. If you haven’t seen it, you should look for it. Like any number of players, after being plunked by a pitch he charged the mound. Unlike many players he thought it over first. Before he charged, he made sure to give the catcher a quick kick in the chest. That made sure the catcher wouldn’t be able to stop him from reaching the pitcher. He didn’t want anything stopping him from reaching his goal. It’s that kind of foresight that should have led to a capable Major League career.

Sometimes, though, it doesn’t work that way.

I is for Israel Alcantara.

Red Sox A-Z: H is for…

Hideki Okajima

Okajima was signed by the Sox in November of 2006. At the time, the Sox had won the rights to negotiate with Japanese super-pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka. The signing of Okajima was seen as a way to encourage Dice-K to sign. Most of the public thought the move was to give Matsuzaka a friend on the team. It may have worked, too, since Matsuzaka ended up signing a couple weeks later. I’m not sure if even the Sox front office knew that Okajima would turn out to be a steal.
Things may not have started out great for Hideki, as he game up a home run on the first pitch he threw in the major leagues. But, he shut everyone down after that. He didn’t allow a run for the next 20 games he appeared in. He ended up making the All-Star team, which is amazing for a “rookie” set-up guy. The Sox rode him hard down the stretch, and into the playoffs. He didn’t give up a run in the ALDS or the ALCS in 2007. He ended up being a major factor in the 2007 World Championship. Just so Daisuke would have someone to talk to.

When I think of Okajima, I think of two things. The first is his delivery. I didn’t get to see many Sox games on TV during the 2007 season, relying mostly on the radio. So, it wasn’t until the playoffs that I noticed his delivery. He doesn’t look at the plate as he releases the ball. Which coach let him get away with that all his life? Instead of keeping his eye on the target, he looks straight at the ground. Is that unnerving to the hitter? Do they realize this guy is throwing a no-look pitch? Creepy.

The other thing about Okajima is his entrance song. I don’t know many set-up guys with such an identifiable entrance song. If you haven’t heard it, go search for Okajima on itunes. It’s worth downloading. It’s both energizing, and campy at the same time. I can’t hear it enough. I don’t know the history of the song, but it’s just great.

These days, Hideki is still a vital piece of the Red Sox bullpen. I shudder to think where the Sox would have been without him these last few years. he was an amazing pick-up. I wonder if anyone predicted it.

H is for Hideki Okajima.

Red Sox A-Z: G is for…

Gordon, as in Tom

Tom Gordon joined the Sox for the 1996 season. He had spent the previous seasons of his career with Kansas City. He was a highly touted young starter with a devastating curveball. I remember his baseball rookie cards being quite hot, and traded often between my friends. He had won as many as 17 games with the Royals. While he hadn’t had the same success in recent years, he was coming off three straight double-digit wins seasons. The Sox were certainly hoping he could keep that up, if not return to his younger form. The first season with the Sox went about that well. He picked up 12 wins that year, despite an ERA over five and a half. The next season didn’t go so smoothly. He only managed 6 wins, and ended up being shifted to the bullpen. While in the pen, he did manage to rack up 11 saves. Somebody had the bright idea that with that curveball, he could be great in the closer role. He started the 1998 season as their closer, and excelled in that spot. He made the American League All-Star team. He ended up with 46 saves to lead the league, saving his last 43 chances of the season. He was a major factor in the Sox making the playoffs that season.

It that year’s playoffs, the Sox quickly went down 2-1 in a five game series against Cleveland. Pedro had won his start, naturally, but the other two games went to the Indians. Game 4 presented a much-debated problem. Does Pedro get the start, on short rest, or not? Jimy Williams decided to throw Pete Schourek instead, and save Pedro for game five. He almost got away with it. Schourek pitched great, and the Sox clung to a 1-0 lead entering the 8th inning. Williams decided to try and close the door right then and there, and called for Gordon to start the 8th. As is usually the case with the Sox in those days, Gordon chose that moment to blow his first save in 44 tries. The Sox lost the game, and the series. I was fortunate enough to be at that game. This may have been my introduction to the heartbreak of being a Red Sox fan. It was definitely my first chance to experience at Fenway. Here we were, with it all playing out perfectly. As happened way too often, Jimy’s ridiculous move had actually worked. By dumb luck the Sox were going to win the game, and have a rested Pedro to win game 5. All that needed to happen was to have the best closer in the league close out the game. Figures.

After leaving the Sox, Gordon was able to fashion quite a career for himself. He closed for several teams, and even set up for a while in the Bronx. It was in that role that he couldn’t hold leads, allowing the Sox to come back from down 0-3. It’s funny, sometimes, how things come full circle.

G is for Gordon, Tom