Tag Archives: Red Sox

Red Sox Greatest First Basemen Ever

Continuing on with my series of articles, I make my way to the five greatest first basemen in the history of the franchise. After delving into the statistics, I found that picking the top five was not very difficult. The only arguments to be made, would be the order of the five, and the honorable mentions.

Jimmie Foxx

Foxx was a beast, hence his nickname, “Beast.” One of the most powerful right-handed bats of all-time, Foxx hit his 500th career home run by the age of 32. A decline in eyesight, drinking problems and a broken rib, aided in a quick decline from there. All that matters for this article, however, is his time spent with the Red Sox. Foxx batted .320, with 222 home runs and a 1.034 OPS, during his time with Boston. His 50 home runs in 1938, remained a single-season franchise record, until Big Papi broke it in 2006.

Jimmie Foxx spent six full seasons with the team, making the all-star team all six years. He led the league in batting average, home runs and RBI once each while leading in OPS twice. He won the MVP in 1938, when he hit .349, with 50 homers and 175 RBI. The next season he batted .360, and led the league with 35 home runs, finishing 2nd in the MVP vote.

Year Tm AB H HR RBI BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ Awards
1936 BOS 585 198 41 143 .338 .440 .631 1.071 155 AS,MVP-11
1937 BOS 569 162 36 127 .285 .392 .538 .929 127 AS
1938 BOS 565 197 50 175 .349 .462 .704 1.166 182 AS,MVP-1
1939 BOS 467 168 35 105 .360 .464 .694 1.158 188 AS,MVP-2
1940 BOS 515 153 36 119 .297 .412 .581 .993 150 AS,MVP-6
1941 BOS 487 146 19 105 .300 .412 .505 .917 139 AS
AB H HR RBI BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ Awards
BOS BOS 3288 1051 222 788 .320 .429 .605 1.034 156

Mo Vaughn

Big Mo, “The Hit Dog,” isn’t too far behind Foxx when talking about what they did for the Red Sox. Mo was the team leader in the 90’s, both at the plate, and in the clubhouse. A big power prospect, Mo Vaughn struggled for a couple years, before breaking out in 1993. He would go on to win the MVP Award in 1995, and place in the top five in two other MVP votes. His swing and hitting style were tailor-made for Fenway Park and the Green Monster. He never should have left.

Mo batted .304 during his time in Boston, while bashing 230 home runs. He had a stellar slash line of .394/.542/.936. From 1993 to 1998, when he left as a free agent, Mo Vaughn had an average season of .315, with 36 home runs, 110 RBI and a .974 OPS. He batted .300 with 39 home runs during his MVP season of 1995, but was arguably better during each of the next three seasons. 1996 was likely his best, batting .326 with 44 home runs and driving in 143 runners. His impressive hitting, combined with his presence, made Big Mo a fan favorite.

Kevin Youkilis

“The Greek God of Walks” comes in at third for me, in a tight race amongst the next three. Youkilis originally came up as a third baseman, but was shifted to first base by 2006, his first full season. He spent the next five seasons as their primary first baseman, before the team acquired Adrian Gonzalez for 2011. Coincidentally, Youkilis’ move back to third for 2011 coincided with his offensive decline.

From 2006-2010, as the Red Sox first baseman, Kevin Youkilis batted .297, while averaging 21 home runs per season. Youkilis also had a .396 on base percentage, and .507 slugging percentage during this time. Youkilis battled teammate Dustin Pedroia for the 2008 MVP Award, finishing third in the vote. He followed that up with a sixth place finish in 2009.

Youkilis was also a very good fielding first baseman. He set a Major League record for most consecutive errorless games, while manning the position. He didn’t make a single error in 2007, and won the Gold Glove Award. His career fielding percentage at first base was .997.

Kevin Youkilis celebrates as he rounds third base after teammate J.D. Drew hit a grand slam off pitcher Fausto Carmona of the Cleveland Indians in Game Six of the ALCS. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

George Scott

“Boomer” had some power, while flashing some Gold Glove leather at first base. Spending parts of nine seasons with the Red Sox, Scott batted .257, while hitting 154 homers. His offense was a little hit or miss, hitting over .290 twice, but under .250 three times. He even batted .171, with 3 home runs, in 1968. After spending five seasons with Milwaukee, Scott returned to the Red Sox, and hit 33 home runs in 1977. Boomer made two All-Star Games, and won three Gold Gloves with the Red Sox.

George Scott of the Boston Red Sox connects for a two run homer in the bottom of the night inning of All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium, July 20, 1977. (AP Photo)

Carl Yastrzemski

Yaz is the little wrinkle thrown in at first base. Better known for his time in left, Yaz would be tops on this list if it were just for what they did in their Red Sox career. However, this is an article just on first base. As a first baseman, Carl Yastrzemski was definitely a top five first baseman in franchise history, but most of his stats came in left field. Yaz could still arguably be up a spot or two higher, but he slots in fifth on my list.

Yastrzemski was the Red Sox main first baseman in 1970, and again from 1973-76. He played 50 or more games at first base in seven different seasons. During his time playing first, Yastrzemski batted .277, and hit 101 of his 452 career home runs. His 752 base hits actually do place fifth all-time at the position, after the players I have above him. He had a nice .373 on base percentage, which helped him to an .813 OPS while playing first base.

Honorable Mentions:

Brian Daubach, Kevin Millar, Mike Stanley, Dick Stuart

Best Right-Handed Pitchers

Best Left-Handed Pitchers

Best Relief Pitchers

Best Catchers

 

BSE Week in Review

Take a look at all the articles posted by the Boston Sports Extra crew from last week. Enjoy and restart the discussion!

 

https://bostonsportsextra.com/boston-red-sox/2017/11/mchales-musings-vol-4-whirlwind-week

@PatriotsExtra News

https://bostonsportsextra.com/new-england-patriots/2017/11/bennetts-rotator-cuff-injury

https://bostonsportsextra.com/new-england-patriots/2017/11/bennett-returns-to-new-england

https://bostonsportsextra.com/nfl/2017/11/breaking-down-wild-card-weekend

https://bostonsportsextra.com/nfl/2017/11/a-big-impact

https://bostonsportsextra.com/new-england-patriots/2017/11/college-quarterbacks-brady-successor

https://twitter.com/spot_bills/status/927618006527569920

https://bostonsportsextra.com/new-england-patriots/2017/11/belichick-breaks-patriot-way-brady

https://bostonsportsextra.com/nfl/2017/11/injuries-actions-may-really-hurt-nfl-longterm

 

@BruinsExtra News

https://bostonsportsextra.com/boston-bruins/2017/11/bruce-cassidy-keeping-bruins-season-afloat

https://bostonsportsextra.com/boston-bruins/2017/11/boston-bruins-face-chicago-blackhawks-2019-winter-classic

https://bostonsportsextra.com/uncategorized/2017/11/different-feel-2011-stanley-cup-champs

https://bostonsportsextra.com/boston-bruins/2017/11/grading-boston-bruins-aftter-first-month-nhl-season

https://bostonsportsextra.com/boston-bruins/2017/11/bruins-inconsistencies-continue

https://bostonsportsextra.com/boston-bruins/2017/11/time-bruins-move-on-matt-beleskey

@CelticExtra News

https://bostonsportsextra.com/boston-celtics/2017/11/celtics-big-man-problem-best-possible

https://bostonsportsextra.com/boston-celtics/2017/11/lonzo-wednesday-secondary-storylines-carry-weight

https://bostonsportsextra.com/boston-celtics/2017/11/nets-lakers-played-mattered

https://bostonsportsextra.com/boston-celtics/2017/11/celtics-bench-stepping-amid-increased-pressure

https://bostonsportsextra.com/boston-celtics/2017/11/boston-celtics-ups-downs-week-3

https://bostonsportsextra.com/boston-celtics/2017/11/celtics-have-signature-win

 

@RedSoxExtra News

https://bostonsportsextra.com/boston-red-sox/2017/11/new-red-sox-coaching-staff

https://bostonsportsextra.com/boston-red-sox/2017/11/best-catchers-red-sox-history

https://bostonsportsextra.com/mlb/2017/11/defense-michael-felger

https://bostonsportsextra.com/uncategorized/2017/11/mike-felger-rant

https://bostonsportsextra.com/mlb/2017/11/remembering-roy-halladay

https://bostonsportsextra.com/boston-red-sox/2017/11/red-sox-hot-stove-leaving-boston

https://bostonsportsextra.com/mlb/2017/11/alex-cora-excited-back

https://twitter.com/KathryneGayle/status/928091762677215233

https://bostonsportsextra.com/boston-red-sox/2017/11/best-relief-pitchers-red-sox-history

Best Catchers in Red Sox History

Best Catchers in Red Sox History

This article covers the five greatest catchers in Red Sox history. With the Red Sox all-time pitching staff completed, it is time to move on to the positional players. Quite frankly, there is a steep drop-off after the first few, so there could be some debate as to who makes the top five. There is no debate on the top two.

Carlton Fisk

Carlton Fisk is the greatest catcher in Red Sox history. His Red Sox career was shorter than it should have been, the Red Sox missed the deadline to tender him a contract in 1980. Nonetheless, Fisk spent over 9 seasons in Boston, and was their most productive catcher to date. In addition to his well known postseason heroics, Fisk batted .284 and hit 162 home runs, while with the Red Sox.

Fisk battled injuries, between 1974 and 1975, he had about one full season worth of at bats (2 excellent seasons I might add). He easily has the highest slugging percentage and OPS (on-base + slugging) of anyone on this list. For those new age stat lovers, his 39.5 WAR with the Sox also easily tops the list.

When it comes to awards, Fisk started his career with an all-star appearance, a Rookie of the Year Award, a Gold Glove and a top 5 MVP finish during the 1972 season. He made six more all-star teams, before heading to Chicago.

Carlton Fisk stands with Jason Varitek as Tek is presented with the Gold Glove Award.

Jason Varitek

Varitek holds the franchise record for many statistics at the catching position, spending 14+ seasons with the team. He collected 1307 base hits, while hitting .256, with 193 home runs during his career. His triple slash was a very solid .341/.435/.776, and he averaged 20 home runs per 162 games played. There is little doubt a 25 man all-time roster would include his name.

Just talking about numbers does Varitek’s career no justice. This is a man who was a leader on the Red Sox for years, and on two separate World Series winning teams. The 2004 season can never be topped, and Tek was an essential core piece of that team. There’s a reason why he was given the big “C” on his chest, the first Red Sox player since Jim Rice in 1989 to receive the honor. Varitek is one of the most beloved Red Sox in franchise history, and rightfully so.

Varitek made 3 all-star teams during his career, which was spent entirely in Boston. He won a Silver Slugger Award and a Gold Glove. I’m not sure how he only was given one Gold Glove, but then again, Derek Jeter won five, so don’t read too much into it. Tek was a master behind the dish, catching a record 4 no-hitters.

Who doesn’t love this picture?

Rick Ferrell

Ferrell spent parts of five seasons with the Sox, equating to roughly four full years. His brother Wes pitched for them as well, sharing the field with him from 1934-37. Rick had less power than his brother, despite being the position player of the two. He was a fine contact hitter though, who drew a lot of walks. Rick Ferrell batted .302 during his time in Boston, while posting an impressive .394 on base percentage. His best offensive season came in 1936, when he batted .312, with 8 home runs and an .867 OPS.

Ferrell was also regarded as a strong defender. If Gold Gloves had been invented, he may have won a couple. He threw out a league high 60% of runners in 1935, with the Red Sox. Ferrell also made the All-Star Game in each season he spent with the Red Sox.

Sammy White

White spent the first 8+ seasons of his career catching for the Boston Red Sox. From 1952-55, he was one of the better catchers in the league. During that time, he batted .273, and received MVP votes in two different seasons. This was the 1950s, catchers weren’t expected to hit much. White accumulated 881 hits during his time in Boston, third most among catchers in team history. White made one all-star team.

Sammy White reaching into grandstands for foul ball, during game with Chicago White Sox. (Photo by Francis Miller/The LIFE Picture Collection)

Rich Gedman

Gedman had an uneven career. After a few years of performing well in a part-time role, Gedman got his chance to start in 1984, and bashed 24 homers. He made back-to-back All-Star Games the following two seasons. Feeling underpaid, Gedman held out in 1987, and seemingly forgot to hit. He batted .205, with a measly .528 OPS that season. He never regained his form, hitting .231 in 1988, and .212 in 1989, before being shipped out the following season.

In total, Gedman’s 83 home runs place third amongst Red Sox catchers, and his 741 base hits place fourth. He did have that three year peak when he averaged a season of .275, with 19 home runs and 72 RBI during the mid-80s. All of this is enough to place him among the top five catchers in Red Sox history.

Honorable Mentions

I received quite a few comments after my last article saying certain players deserved to be mentioned. I hadn’t planned on doing honorable mentions, out of fear of rambling, but since I received so many comments about it, I have decided to add a spot. The pitching articles would have had some very worthy players listed under honorable mention. Unfortunately, the catcher position has been a little thin in the history of the Red Sox,

Honorable Mentions: Birdie Tebbetts, Bill Carrigan, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Scott Hatteberg.

https://bostonsportsextra.com/boston-red-sox/2017/10/best-starting-pitchers-red-sox-history-right-handed

https://bostonsportsextra.com/boston-red-sox/2017/11/best-starting-pitchers-red-sox-history-left-handed

https://bostonsportsextra.com/boston-red-sox/2017/11/best-relief-pitchers-red-sox-history

 

McHale’s Musings Vol. 4: A Whirlwind Week

Wow, what a whirlwind this week has been in the world of sports. The past seven days were filled with ups and downs, great wins and brutal losses, and everything in between. Let’s get right to my takes for the week!

Red Sox

  • I’m man-crushing hard on Alex Cora. Did you see that man strut his way up the Brookline Avenue Bridge on the way to his introductory press conference? What a badass. I’m hopeful he’ll inject the Red Sox clubhouse with some much needed enthusiasm.

  • If the rumors are true, and free agent outfielder J.D. Martinez is looking for a long-term deal upwards of $200 million dollars, I’m out. Do I think Martinez would be a good fit for this ballclub? Sure. However, I’m not pulling the trigger on a player 30 years of age or older.
  • Happy Birthday, Giancarlo Stanton. There are so many ways to celebrate future birthdays in the city of Boston. Click here for ideas! See you soon?
  • Mitch Moreland, we hardly knew ye.

Celtics

  • A 10 game winning streak is nice.

  • I’ve never seen someone handle the basketball as gracefully as Kyrie Irving. As much as I think he’s an odd character (Did he really go back to the flat earth theory?), he’s one of the most entertaining Celtics players in recent memory.
  • I’m already intensely infatuated with this Celtics team. They are, for my money, head and shoulders more interesting than last year’s group.
  • Jason Tatum is going to crush it in the NBA.

Patriots

  • John Lynch, you’re one crazy S.O.B.

  • Sorry, but the Patriots did not win the Jimmy G. trade. I know, I know. How dare I question The Hoodie. In Bill We Trust. I just don’t think New England managed the Garoppolo situation well at all.
  • Truthfully, I’m not a fan of Brian Hoyer.
  • I’d love to see the Pats snag Martellus Bennett off waivers tomorrow. The offense could use another passing option with so many key injuries. Dwayne Allen has been a bust, and Jacob Hollister has been…well…Jacob Hollister.

Bruins

  • Oh vey, it’s going to be a long year.

  • David Pastrnak, the $40 Million Dollar Man, needs to get it together.

Revolution

  • I’ll have more on this story later, but if the New England Revolution were hoping to reignite the wavering passion of their fan base, the rumored hire of Brad Friedel isn’t going to get the job done.

Embed from Getty Images

  • Did you know that Friedel was once the roommate of the Revolution’s much-maligned GM, Mike Burns? Normally, I wouldn’t make such a big deal about this little tidbit, but it’s worth questioning the motive for such an uninspired hire.

Miscellaneous

  • Yes, I heard Mike Felger’s rant on Roy Halladay’s tragic passing. It was in poor taste. Without a doubt, it was #toosoon. However, I disagree with the notion that Felger must be suspended, or even fired, for his comments. At the end of the day, he’s playing a role. He’s an antagonizer. It’s how he makes his living. The very nature of sports talk radio requires on-air personalities to deliver takes that are controversial in nature – or at least against the grain. It’s frankly the only thing that separates one show from another. In the never-ending battle for ratings supremacy, it’s no wonder why hosts from both 98.5 and WEEI are continually filling air time with ludicrous remarks. Why is that? They know we’ll be tuning in tomorrow for more.
  • How did A.J. Green avoid suspension for his WWE-style sleeper-hold on Jacksonville CB, Jalen Ramsey? Frankly, he should have to sit a game for stupidly punching a helmet.

  • Do you all remember when the Arena Football League was an up-and-coming alternative to boring summers without the NFL? That was neat.
  • I’ve caved and started watching Stranger Things on Netflix. I “get it” now. Great show!

 

That’s it for me! Until next time…

McHale

RED SOX HOT STOVE: Who Could Be Leaving Boston

Every morning I look out my window, see a dark gloomy sky and realize there is no baseball on for the next few months. I watched a rerun of the Red Sox getting spanked in Game 1, against the Astros, in the ALDS. Why? If you clicked on this article, much like myself, you’re missing baseball. Although the offseason is not that good, it’s not that bad since the Hot Stove for trade rumors is constantly on broil. Since this team is not the top World Series team going into the season, there are some pieces that need to be moved to get to that level. Here are some of the Red Sox players I can see packing their bags this offseason:

Sam Travis:

It’s sad to see Sam Travis on this list for me. Aside from any new acquisitions, he was the most talked about player all spring last year. He hit a hand full of home runs, and became the instant thought of power for the future, well before Devers. It certainly didn’t carry into the regular season. Travis hit .263, in only 76 at-bats. In those at-bats, the one stat that mattered most with Dr.Chill, is 0 HR. I personally believe we are going to have another year of Mitch Moreland being the first baseman due to his season last year. There still is a lot of value with Travis, and I could see him in a deal to get immediate power.

Christian Vazquez:

This one may seem strange for people who watched Christian Vazquez in 2017, but this is exactly why I could see him hitting the road. Vazquez hit a clean .290 AVG this year, and although he only hit 5 HR, I think I can remember each one. Two of them were walk-offs, and at home, Vazquez came to ball. At Fenway, the man hit .348 AVG, with an OPS of .905. Do you think Dave Dombrowski really thinks this can happen again? There seems to be a lot of value right now for Vazquez, than this time last year. While the stock for Christian Vazquez is up, I won’t be surprised to see him traded.

Ben Taylor:

For those of you who aren’t aware, Ben Taylor was the guy you saw some time around April, with the sick stache. Although his caterpillar might make it out of November, I wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t.  One of the top guys on this roster who has a secured job is Craig Kimbrel. If you asked me last year, I’d have said Taylor was safe due to a shaky year for Kimbrel. However, judging by the fact the flamethrower could be the reliever of the year in the AL, I think Taylor’s days are numbered. Taylor is one of the Red Sox top reliever prospects, and could bring a lot of value to a team with a struggling bullpen.

Eduardo Rodriguez:

Eduardo had quite the start to the 2017 season. At one point, he was in the All-Star conversations, and the number two to Chris Sale. Injuries have been the killer for E-Rod. After undergoing another surgery, I’m not sure how much longer this club can wait for his potential. E-Rod is only 24, and the signs of injury this early in his career could be alarming for most clubs. There are still teams out there willing to take a chance at what he can bring to a rotation. Even when healthy, finishing with a 4.19 ERA, it was disheartening to end the season. The wear and tear of the MLB season does not seem a good fit for E-Rod in Boston. Yuck.

Xander Bogearts:

Thirty-four. No, I am not talking about David Ortiz every one’s favorite home run threat, couldn’t be further from the subject. That is the number of how many games it took the two time Silver Slugger, Xander Bogaerts, to hit a home run this season. Maybe a batting average of .273 isn’t terrible, but for the player Xander should/could be, I really think that number should be higher. He only hit 10 home runs in a season.

Personally, I’m not sure what Xander’s value might be. If Xander does not hit well with a new hitting coach, and a new system of management in 2018, you have to think that’s the last straw. Xander is entering his year 26 season, where most players start to hit their prime.  I’m not sure if value is discussed with him on the phone, or in the locker room, but with a tool like Eduardo Nunez on the team now, it’s unclear if that value is in Boston.

Andrew Benintendi:

*ONLY IF BOSTON GETS STANTON*

LET ME MAKE THIS VERY CLEAR, I don’t think anyone wants this to happen. Benintendi is one of the ROY finalists. Although he will probably not win the award, Benintendi didn’t have a terrible rookie season with the Red Sox. An average of.271, hitting 20 HR, and .776 OPS, is not as well as most thought he’d perform this year. Considering it was his rookie year at the age of 23, I’m not exactly upset with that performance. The bottom line is, Andrew Benintendi has top value out of the entire Red Sox roster. Defensively, he can be a threat, he has speed on the base paths, and is an all-around athlete.

Either Andrew Benintendi is a Sox player for life, or will be sent away for a power hitter from South Beach. It’s the difference between what this team wants in the future, or immediate present. Benintendi has three more years secured on his contract than Hot Stove favorite, Jackie Bradley Jr. If it were me, I’d rather give more around a package with JBJ, than settle for giving away Benintendi. If you’re a fan of Stanton being with the Red Sox, you may have to part ways with Benny Baseball. PRAY with me for JD Martinez.

Best Relief Pitchers in Red Sox History

To round out the Red Sox all-time pitching staff I will cover their five greatest relief pitchers ever. This is the third installment of my series of articles. Again, this covers how good they were as a Red Sox, and longevity plays into it. Craig Kimbrel was crazy filthy this season, but to be included he needs at least one more great year, probably two.

Jonathan Papelbon

Papelbon is the best reliever in Red Sox history, and would be their closer on an all-time roster. Papelbon is by far the all-time saves leader in franchise history with 219. He accomplished this with a 2.33 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 10.7 strike outs per 9 innings pitched. Pap made 4 All-Star Games with the Red Sox. From 2006-2009 he was nearly unhittable, posting a 1.74 ERA and 0.92 WHIP. He had a WHIP under 1.00 in three straight seasons and an ERA under 2.00 in 3 out of 4. Hell, his ERA was under 1.00 in his rookie season of 2006.

Papelbon was also unhittable in the postseason and helped the Red Sox to the 2007 World Series championship. That season he threw 10.2 shutout innings in the playoffs and saved 3 games in the World Series. For his Boston career, Papelbon did not allow a run in his first 25 postseason innings, saving 7 games in that span. Remarkable. He was also a fun pitcher to watch, glaring at the hitter like he’s about to throw the ball through the batter’s head. Then there were also his wild celebrations after a successful save.

 

 

 

 

 

Dick Radatz

“The Monster” got his nickname for a reason: nobody wanted to face him. Standing at 6’6″, Radatz was an imposing figure on the mound. He became burned out quickly, unfortunately, pitching a lot of innings in relief. In his first 4 seasons Radatz averaged 135 innings pitched over 68 appearances. Compare that to your typical relief pitcher nowadays. During his first 3 seasons he made 2 All-Star Games, had a top 5 MVP finish and led the league in saves twice. During that span he had a 40-21 record and saved 98 games. In a time when batters were embarrassed to strike out, Radatz struck out 10.6 batters per 9 innings during those 3 seasons and had a 2.17 ERA.

newspaper

Ellis Kinder

Ellis Kinder was a swingman for the Sox in the late 40s and 50s. In his first 3 seasons he made a lot of starts for the Red Sox while also relieving. He won 23 games in 1949, finishing 5th in the MVP vote. Two years later he led the league in appearances. By 1953 Kinder was a full-time reliever. That season Kinder was 10-6 with a 1.85 ERA and led the league in saves with 27. This was the 2nd time in three seasons Kinder had led the league in saves. For his Red Sox career, Kinder finished 86-52 with a 3.28 ERA and 93 games saved.

Bob Stanley

The all-time games pitched leader in franchise history has to make an appearance here. Stanley made starts in some years, but he was almost always a relief pitcher, and better at it then he was starting. Bob Stanley won 115 games and saved 132 during his career, which he spent entirely in Boston. As a relief pitcher his ERA was 3.28, opposed to being north of 4.00 as a starter. Stanley made 2 all-star teams and saved as many as 33 games in 1983.

Koji Uehara

Koji was always good, but often injured before coming to the Red Sox. No one could have predicted the impact he had on the team. In 2013, Koji was 4-1 with a 1.09 ERA and microscopic 0.56 WHIP. Then in the playoffs he allowed 1 run over 13.2 innings while saving 7 games. He was instrumental in their World Series run that season. Koji spent 4 seasons with Boston, saving 79 games. His rate statistics during that time were phenomenal; a 2.19 ERA, 0.81 WHIP and 11.6 strikeouts per 9 innings.

Koji Uehara of the Boston Red Sox reacts after defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 6-1 in Game Six of the 2013 World Series at Fenway Park on October 30, 2013. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Special Mention

Keith Foulke needs to get an honorable mention in this article. He cannot make the top five Red Sox relievers ever, only having one good season, but he gave his career for that one season. Without him the Red Sox wouldn’t have broken the curse, beat the Yankees and won the World Series in 2004. Period. After a season in which Foulke had a 2.17 ERA and 0.94 WHIP, he amped up even further when the Sox needed him most. Foulke allowed 1 run over 14 innings in the playoffs, striking out 19 batters.

With their backs against the wall, down 0-3 to the Yankees in the ALCS, Foulke pitched in 7 of the final 8 games. During four of those appearances Foulke pitched more than the typical one inning. In Game 4 against the Yankees, he pitched 2.2 shutout innings, helping prolong the game to give the offense the opportunity to win it. What he did that postseason was nothing short of miraculous, and he was never the same afterwards. I’m sure he would do it all over again.

Boston Red Sox pitcher Keith Foulke, center, and first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz, left, celebrate after St. Louis Cardinals’ Edgar Renteria (3) grounded out to end the ninth inning and give Boston a 3-0 win and a sweep of the World Series, Wednesday Oct. 27, 2004, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Red Sox Begin Filling Coaching Staff

NEW COACHING STAFF

On Thursday, the morning after the Houston Astros World Series victory, Alex Cora went to work as the new manager of the Red Sox. The Red Sox added 3 new names to the coaching staff, and still need a pitching and a hitting coach.

Bench Coach

Ron Roenicke was Alex Cora’s choice to be the bench coach for the 2018 season. Although it may not be a splashy choice, it is likely a good hire. Alex Cora has no managerial experience. Bringing aboard Roenicke, the Red Sox now have a bench coach who managed for over 4 seasons in Milwaukee. During his time in Milwaukee, Roenicke finished with a winning record, and made the postseason once. In addition to his managerial experience, he also brings a little bit of postseason experience. Cora also has familiarity with Roenicke. Ron Roenicke was Alex Cora’s manager in the minor leagues, back in 1997 and 1998. A manager has to be comfortable with his bench coach, and Cora got the man he wanted.

First Base Coach

The Red Sox brought Tom Goodwin back to the organization. Goodwin has spent the last six seasons coaching 1st base for the New York Mets. Before that, Tom Goodwin was a coach for the Lowell Spinners for four seasons. I believe Goodwin will be of most use not as first base coach, but in his role as base running and outfield instructor. It is no secret the Red Sox ran into a lot of outs on the basepaths last season. Goodwin was brought in to help clean that up. When I was a kid, Goodwin was a good defensive outfielder, and a very good base stealer for the Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers. Hopefully he can impart some of his wisdom on the young Sox.

12 Apr 1998: Outfielder Tom Goodwin of the Texas Rangers in action during a game against the Toronto Blue Jays. Credit: Stephen Dunn

Third Base Coach

Carlos Febles gets a promotion to the big leagues, and continues his rise through the Red Sox organization. Febles has been with the team since 2007. He spent the first four seasons as a hitting coach in the organization, for 3 different teams. Next, he was named the manager for the Lowell Spinners in 2011. Febles managed in both Greenville and Salem for 2 seasons. This past season, he managed the AA Portland Sea Dogs. This marks his first opportunity at the big league level, and given his steady promotions, he is an interesting name added to the team. In addition to his work as the third base coach, Febles will also be working with infielders as an instructor. Maybe he can work with Devers on making those throws across the diamond.

PORTLAND, ME – Sea Dogs manager Carlos Febles points to home base as he talks to Josh Tobias (24) during the Sea Dogs game against the Altoona Curve at Hadlock Field. (Staff photo by Brianna Soukup/Staff Photographer)

Mike Lowell

One final note of the day; Dave Dombrowski mentioned Mike Lowell would be hired by the team. He did not say what role Lowell would be working, it is yet to be known in what role he will serve. I would imagine he will be in a behind the scenes role, maybe along the lines of what Jason Varitek has been the last few seasons. Whatever role he plays, this is a good hire. Mike Lowell is an even-keeled, well liked former player.

Could Mike Lowell be serving in a similar capacity to the one Jason Varitek has?

Best Starting Pitchers In Red Sox History: Left-Handed Edition

This is the second article in my Red Sox all-time franchise players series. Following up the Right Handers, comes the greatest left-handed pitchers in Red Sox history. Again, this isn’t the five best lefties to ever put on a Red Sox uniform, these are the five who did the most while in a Sox jersey.

 

Babe Ruth

Babe Ruth threw 29 consecutive shutout innings in the World Series.

Everyone knows about Babe Ruth. People also generally know he was a good pitcher before he switched to a full time hitter. But just how good was he?

Babe Ruth was 20 during his first full season, and won 18 games. The next season, at age 21, he led the league with a 1.75 ERA. The following season, he won 24 games. Ruth won 67 games with a 2.07 ERA, by the time he was 22 years old. Don’t forget the World Series either. By age of 23, Babe Ruth had set a record that would stand for 43 years, when he pitched 29 consecutive scoreless innings during World Series play. In 3 games total, Ruth pitched 31 innings, going 3-0, with a 0.87 ERA. He is both one of the best pitchers and hitters in World Series history. He would have undoubtedly made the Hall of Fame as a pitcher as well.

Lefty Grove

Lefty Grove on the mound in Comiskey Park circa 1934.(Photo Reproduction by Transcendental Graphics/Getty Images)

Lefty Grove is one of the greatest pitchers of all-time. Personally, I have him as the third greatest left-hander to ever take the mound. Much of that came with the Philadelphia Athletics, but Grove was still an excellent pitcher for five seasons in Boston. He picked up his 300th career victory in a Red Sox uniform.

After struggling in his first season while pitching with a sore arm, Lefty Grove returned to stardom for the next five seasons. From 1935-39, he averaged 17 wins per season for the Sox, with a 2.83 ERA. In 4 of those 5 seasons, he led the American League in ERA! Grove also led the league in WHIP twice, and made the All-Star Game in each of those five seasons.

Jon Lester

Lester had a heck of a run in Boston, one most of us wish was still going. There was his return from Lymphoma in 2007, to pitch 5.2 shutout innings in the final game of that year’s World Series. The following season, he threw his no-hitter in May against the Royals at Fenway Park. His first 200 strikeout season in 2009, followed by his first of three All-Star appearances as a member of the Red Sox in 2010. Then his stellar postseason pitching again in 2013, as he won his second World Series.

In total, Lester won 110 games, while posting a 3.64 ERA in a Red Sox jersey. He finished in the top five in two separate Cy Young votes. He’s also 4th in Red Sox history in strikeouts, 1st among lefties. Most importantly however, Lester was 3-0 in World Series contests, allowing just a single run in 21 innings pitched. We could always count on Lester to pitch well in the clutch.

Year Tm Series Opp W L W-L% ERA GS IP ER SO WHIP
2007 BOS ALCS CLE 0 0 4.91 0 3.2 2 5 1.091
2007 BOS WS COL 1 0 1.000 0.00 1 5.2 0 3 1.059
2008 BOS ALDS LAA 1 0 1.000 0.00 2 14.0 0 11 0.929
2008 BOS ALCS TBR 0 2 .000 4.97 2 12.2 7 15 1.263
2009 BOS ALDS LAA 0 1 .000 4.50 1 6.0 3 5 1.333
2013 BOS ALDS TBR 1 0 1.000 2.35 1 7.2 2 7 0.783
2013 BOS ALCS DET 1 1 .500 2.31 2 11.2 3 7 1.457
2013 BOS WS STL 2 0 1.000 0.59 2 15.1 1 15 0.652

Mel Parnell

Mel Parnell testing his arm which was broken in 1954, during Spring training. (Photo by George Silk/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images)

Mel Parnell is the all-time winningest left-hander in Red Sox history, with his 123 career wins. His heyday was from 1948-53, when he averaged 18 wins per season with a 3.22 ERA. In 1949, he led the league with 25 wins, and a 2.77 ERA while placing 4th in the MVP vote. If there were a Cy Young Award back then, he’d have been a shoo-in.

Unfortunately, Parnell had a short career. Following his 21 win season in 1953, he broke his arm and never fully recovered. He only won 12 games over the next 3 seasons, before calling it quits following an operation on his elbow. However, in his final season, Parnell had a little magic left in his left arm. That season, he threw a no-hitter at Fenway Park against the Chicago White Sox.

Dutch Leonard

Baseball player Dutch Leonard winds up a pitch in the uniform of the Boston Red Sox, 1914. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios/Getty Images)

Dutch Leonard had a short peak with the Red Sox, but he made it count. In 1914, Dutch Leonard posted the lowest ERA, still to this day, in modern baseball history. That season he was 19-5 with a league leading 0.96 ERA and 0.88 WHIP! Regardless of the era, that is an all-time great season.

In six seasons with the Red Sox, Leonard won 90 games while pitching to a 2.13 ERA. He pitched once in both the 1915 and 1916 World Series. In each contest, Leonard allowed 1 earned run in a complete game victory.

 

Red Sox prospects To watch

Red Sox Prospects To Watch

2018 Preview and The Prospects To Watch:

With the Red Sox offseason now in full force, we are going to hear a lot of information moving forward. The Sox found their new manager in Alex Cora. They still need to improve the offense. When Spring training begins, the young kids will get their time to shine. The future of the Sox is bright in the farm system. Five names fans should look for: Jay Groome, Michael Chavis, Bryan Mata, Sam Travis and Tanner Houck. These are the Red Sox prospects to watch.

Jay Groome:

Groome is the number one prospect in the Red Sox system. He was drafted 12th overall pick of the 2016 draft. He was the top prospect in the draft, but fell to the Red Sox due to sign ability concerns and his personality. Groome has the tools to be a top of the rotation starter, something the Sox have struggled to develop. The last Red Sox pitching prospect to make more than 20 starts in the majors, was Justin Masterson, who the Sox drafted in 2006. Masterson only lasted two seasons in Boston, then was traded to the Indians in 2009 for Victor Martinez. Groome’s curveball has drawn compassions to Clayton Kershaw’s, who has been one of the best pitchers in baseball in the last decade. The Sox would be more than happy if that comparison holds true.

Michael Chavis:

Chavis burst onto the scene last year when he hit 31 homeruns between Salem and Portland. The Sox drafted Chavis in the first round of the 2014 draft. He had struggled in the minors, and had never hit above .270 in his minor league career. Chavis is blocked by Rafael Devers at third base in the majors. If Chavis can continue to show the power like he did last season, it may be hard for the Sox to keep him in the minors.

Red Sox Prospects To watch

Bryan Mata:

Mata is the Sox second highest ranking pitching prospect. He is only 18 years old. The Red Sox signed him as an amateur free agent out of Venezuela in 2016. Last season Mata went 5-6, but showed impressive control. In 77 innings he struck out 74 batters while only walking 26 batters. While Mata doesn’t throw extremely fast, he has good control, and has quickly risen in the Red Sox minor league system at a young age.

Sam Travis:

Of all the players on this list, Travis is the only one with major league experience. The Sox were hoping Travis would take over first base last year, but things didn’t go as planned. In the minors, Travis hit for a high average and was able to get on base. He played in thirty-three games at the big league level but showed little power. While he did hit .263 in the majors last year, he dealt with injuries limiting his opportunities. The Sox still have high expectations for Travis, but will need him to show more power to earn a starting job in the majors.

Red Sox Prospects To Watch

Tanner Houck:

Houck is the third pitching prospect on this list. Like Groome, Houck has also been compared to another successful big-league starter. The Sox drafted Houck in the first round of this year’s draft. His pitches average 92-96 mph however he has topped out at 98 mph. Baseball America called him, “the second coming of Jake Peavy again with his velocity and location on his sinking fastball starting to rebound”. Houck has the potential to be a very good starter for the Red Sox, but must first improve his control. If he can, he could land in Boston very soon.

 Summary:

After last season, there will be many changes with the Red Sox. They need to add more power to the lineup and improve the bullpen. The Sox will look for help through free agency and trades. They will also look to the farm system. The Red Sox have given up many impact prospects to acquire stars such as Chris Sale and Craig Kimbrel, which has depleted the farm system. They still have talent in the minors, and these prospects are the ones to watch for a quick impact.

 

 

Stanton

The Red Sox Should Not Trade for Stanton

The Boston Red Sox should not trade for Giancarlo Stanton. Don’t get me wrong, I love the guy. Stanton is a pleasure to watch.  He hits the ball harder than anyone I have seen. I’ve sent many videos of his home runs to my brothers over the years. With all the following aspects considered however, the Red Sox have better options available to them.

The Money

The Sox would owe Stanton fat stacks.  Yes, Stanton is an all-world talent and worth a lot of money. Yes, he is still only 27 years old. But other options  can be had much cheaper that aren’t much worse at the plate. Giancarlo Stanton will get $285M over the next 10 seasons. He then has a team option in 2028 for $25M. If one assumed that wouldn’t be picked up, the team would still owe him $10M  as a buyout of his contract. Bare minimum.   For the $295M owed to Stanton, JD Martinez could be had for half of that, maybe even less than half. Is Stanton really worth that much more than Martinez? That answer is no.

The Cost of Trade

If you do believe Stanton is worth all that much money, how about the trade aspect? JD Martinez is a free agent. No players would have to be given up to acquire him. Stanton would cost players, and good ones at that, in addition to the near $300M. How could someone justify spending $150-$175M  more and good players on top of it for Stanton as opposed to Martinez? Who would it take to acquire Stanton? A centerpiece of Jackie Bradley Jr. or Xander Bogaerts along with a couple prospects? Or maybe all of them. In theory Stanton would be worth such a package, but considering all angles that’s not the case.

The Statistics

Stanton Catch

Giancarlo Stanton catches the third out in the second inning during game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on May 25, 2015 (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

Stanton is actually a better defender than Martinez. He is surprisingly solid for someone his size, but unless we move Bradley neither of these guys would be acquired to play the field. If they are designated hitters, defense is a moot point. So let’s just focus on the offense.

JD Martinez had his breakout four seasons ago. Over that four-year span, how much better has Stanton been than Martinez? In the last four years Giancarlo Stanton has batted .271 with a .939 OPS. JD Martinez in those same four years has hit for a .300 average with a .936 OPS. Martinez hits for a much higher average, but Stanton walks a lot more so their on base percentages are very similar — .366 for Stanton to .362 for Martinez. That actually leaves Martinez with the very slight edge in slugging, .574 to .573. Surprise!

When it comes to home runs, Giancarlo Stanton has averaged 38 home runs over those four seasons. That number jumps to 49 per 162 games due to injuries. Martinez lags behind, but not so far behind that Stanton becomes worth that much more than him. Martinez has averaged 32 home runs per year, or 40 home runs per 162 games played. The reason his slugging is higher is he gets more hits and a lot more doubles. Their triple slash lines are nearly identical.

Giancarlo Stanton vs JD Martinez

Blast

Stanton takes aim at the ugly sculpture in center field.

Year Tm Lg G PA AB 2B 3B HR RBI BA OBP SLG OPS
2014 MIA NL 145 638 539 31 1 37 105 .288 .395 .555 .950
2015 MIA NL 74 318 279 12 1 27 67 .265 .346 .606 .952
2016 MIA NL 119 470 413 20 1 27 74 .240 .326 .489 .815
2017 MIA NL 159 692 597 32 0 59 132 .281 .376 .631 1.007

 

Year Tm Lg G PA AB 2B 3B HR RBI BA OBP SLG OPS
2014 DET AL 123 480 441 30 3 23 76 .315 .358 .553 .912
2015 DET AL 158 657 596 33 2 38 102 .282 .344 .535 .879
2016 DET AL 120 517 460 35 2 22 68 .307 .373 .535 .908
2017 TOT MLB 119 489 432 26 3 45 104 .303 .376 .690 1.066
2017 DET AL 57 232 200 13 2 16 39 .305 .388 .630 1.018
2017 ARI NL 62 257 232 13 1 29 65 .302 .366 .741 1.107

I’m not saying Martinez is better than Stanton, though the numbers show the difference might not be so large. All I’m saying is, there isn’t even close to a $150M gap between them, let alone some good players on top of it.

JD Martinez hits a 3-run home run off of Matt Wisler (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)

Why not add them both?

Hey, I’d be all for adding them both. If the Sox were to sign JD Martinez and then trade, say, Jackie Bradley Jr. and a prospect or two for Stanton they could slide Betts to center, put Stanton in right and DH Martinez. That is one heck of a lineup. How do you pay both of them though? The Red Sox would soar well past the luxury tax and be stuck above it for years to come. With Chris Sale, Mookie Betts and others needing to be paid in a couple years the payroll is going to rise, not decrease.

And if we miss on JD Martinez?

If we were to whiff on JD Martinez, then I would more seriously explore trading for Stanton. There is no other bat available that can compare. Eric Hosmer is available and has a solid bat, but he is no true power threat like the Red Sox need. They need a thumper, someone opposing pitchers should fear. Hosmer is an up and down offensive player with 20-25 home run power. There are also rumors he is looking for 200 million dollars which borderlines on the absurd.

I would definitely pay Stanton his contract and give up something to get him before entertaining that. Just no trading Mookie Betts, Andrew Benintendi or Rafael Devers. If we were to acquire him without giving up any of them would I be upset? Probably not. Like I said, I love Stanton, he is one of my favorite players. The Red Sox just better let us in to watch our home team take batting practice.

WDR

Does Giancarlo Stanton already “Win-Dance-Repeat”?