I won't boo ANY member of the 2004 and 2007 Red Sox... not even these guys

When I wrote about how I would give Manny Ramirez an ovation if I were at Fenway (and I do cheer for Manny when I go the six miles from my house to Dodger Stadium) I got some people asking me privately (and someone asked on the site) would I also cheer for Johnny Damon.

Of course.
Both Manny and Johnny were big parts of the 2004 team that all of us Red Sox fans waited our whole lives for. And the make up of the 2004 team was NOT a bunch of home grown Red Sox who all played together in Pawtucket. The 1975, 1978 and 1986 Red Sox teams were primarily home grown.

With the exception of Youk, Nixon, Varitek and Lowe, none of them spent their rookie years with the Red Sox. And even Varitek and Lowe were actually originally drafted by Seattle.

Most of the 2004 squad were picked up from other teams and assembled like a baseball answer to The Dirty Dozen, slapped together for a crazy mission to reverse the curse.

So it is disingenuous to get mad when a mercenary leaves for more money. Pedro, Damon, Manny, Foulke, Schilling et al came to the Red Sox via free agency or forced trades to make dough.

When Pedro signed with the Mets, Damon signed with the Yankees and Manny forced the deal to LA, they were doing to us what they did to the Expos, A's and Indians before coming to Fenway.

I just say "thank you" and have them on their way.
And I have my policy... if you were on the Red Sox playoff rosters for 2004 or 2007 then I can not boo you.

But there are a few guys who test that theory... and it isn't Manny nor Damon.

There are 4 guys who at first make me want to boo... then I have to stop and say "But they helped the Sox win a ring" and reluctantly say "Oh alright. I won't boo."

They are...

RAMIRO MENDOZA, Relief Pitcher. 2004

He always felt like a Yankee mole, didn't he? I still remember him being on the mound in 1999, clinching the ALCS. (No offense to El Duque, but Mendoza should have been the MVP of the 1999 ALCS.)

He was a big pile of "eh" in his 2 seasons in Boston, compiling a combined 5.73 over 2003 and 2004. And he was the last Red Sox pitcher to record a loss in 2004, getting the decision in the 19-8 Game 3 Fiasco... against the Yankees. It was the last game he pitched in a Red Sox uniform and the Sox went 8-0 the rest of the way. I admit it looked odd seeing his celebrate with the other Red Sox at Yankee Stadium after Game 7. When he received his ring the next season, he was a member of the Yankees again.

I never trusted him. But I can't boo him.


ERIC GAGNE, Relief Pitcher. 2007

He was supposed to be the pick up that solidified the bullpen and made the World Series a lock. Instead he became the 800 pound gorilla reliever and the very symbol of how badly someone could suck when they get off the juice.

By the time the playoffs came about, he was banished to mop up duty. The only time he pitched in a close game, it was Game 2 of the 2007 ALCS which he of course lost.

The only two positive things about Gagne's Red Sox stay were his closing out the Division Series (in a mercy move by Tito) and this song inspired by his time in Boston.

He has a ring and Yaz doesn't? It's sick. But I can't boo him.


JAVIER LOPEZ, Relief Pitcher. 2007

I watched a lot of Red Sox games in 2007. And I watched a lot of games where Javier Lopez came into the game. And I honestly have no recollection of him recording an out.

I'm not being snarky. I am sure he MUST have got a batter out. But I don't remember it. It seemed like all of his appearances were listed in the Box Score as 0 IP, faced 2 batters.

When he came into the game, you just KNEW that Tito was going to relieve him before the inning was over. You KNEW that the rally was going to continue.

He was tough to root for... and I bid him farewell last year. As poorly as he pitched, I can't boo him.

JULIO LUGO, Shortstop. 2007

Oh boy this is the ultimate litmus test. This guy was TOUGH to root for. Not only was he obscenely overpaid ($36 million for a guy who lost his starting job with the Dodgers) but was BRUTAL in the field and had an 0-33 stretch at the plate.

Someday we'll learn what Orlando Cabrera did to tick off the Red Sox front office. But until then, Sox fans will all be scratching our collective heads wondering why he couldn't stay instead of shelling out tons of money for Edgar Renteria and Julio Lugo.

But he won a ring with the Sox (and made a few nice plays in the World Series.) Swallow hard... I can't boo him.



And folks, if I refrain from booing those guys, then I think I can find it in myself to cheer some of the heroes of the '04 and '07 titles.

Reunions? There are lots of ex Red Sox out there... should any come back?

I had used The Godfather reference when saying Theo Epstein is as sentimental as Michael Corleone during the baptism.

Well, referring to the Corleones, I guess I am more like Vito.
Remember when he said to The Turk "I have a sentimental weakness for my children and I spoil them as you can see"?

That's how I feel about the Red Sox and their players.

I tend to be sentimental and want them to return... even if letting some go turned out to be the best in the long run.

Well this year's free agent class has a lot of old friends available.
Let's see who should come back...

PEDRO MARTINEZ
You'll find no bigger Pedro fan than me.
Lest we forget for 7 seasons how much excitement there was every time he took the mound.
Remember how he pitched with such a fun cockiness and a flair for the dramatic.
Yeah he was a prima donna... but he was OUR prima donna! And guys like that are fun when they are winning games for your team!
Nobody wanted him signed to a long term contract more than me (and I think that cost the Red Sox a division title in 2005.)

But in the end after 4 seasons, he gave the Mets 1 good one.
And this past season he was worthless for the Mets... finishing 5-6 with a 5.61 ERA lasting 5 1/3 innings a start.

I love Pedro, but I also love that the last image we have of him pitching in a Red Sox uniform is throwing 7 shutout innings in game 3 of the 2004 World Series and not being lit up and released.

VERDICT: DON'T BRING HIM BACK



DEREK LOWE

Remember at the end of Annie Hall when Alvy remembers all the good times with Annie? That's all he can recall. And he doesn't remember the arguing, the break ups and the misery.

That's the Red Sox fan relationship with Derek Lowe.
Yeah we remember him being an All Star reliever in 2000 and throwing a no hitter and starting the 2002 All Star Game.
We remember him coming out of the bullpen and closing out the 2003 Division Series against the A's.
We remember his heroic 2004 playoffs where we won all 3 clinching games, including 6 innings of 1 hit ball on two days rest in Yankee Stadium and then winning the World Series clincher in St. Louis.

What we forget is his pitching so badly in 2001 it took the Red Sox out of the playoff chase and essentially got Jimy (sic) Williams fired.

We forget his going 0-2 in the 2003 ALCS against the Yankees.
We forget his pitching so badly down the stretch for the 2004 Red Sox that Francona took him out of the rotation.
We forget what Bill Simmons dubbed "Derek Lowe face"... that psychotic meltdown expression that gave Red Sox fans as much confidence in Lowe as Lex Luthor had for Otis.

Let's keep the memories good ones.
LA DEE DA.

VERDICT: DON'T BRING HIM BACK


KEVIN MILLAR

Innnnnteresting.
The stupid frat boy spirit of the Red Sox hasn't been the same since Millar was sent packing after the 2005 playoffs.
I know... boo hoo. We Red Sox fans had only a World Series title and another trip to the ALCS to comfort us.

But there is something to be said for Millar's prescience on the team.
AND if Lowell is hurt and slow to come back, why not move Youk over to third, recall Lars Anderson and have him platoon with Millar.

Let's face it, Millar will have a career at NESN and get standing ovations for the rest of his life in Boston.
He might be like Remy in terms of being a beloved funny figure in Red Sox history.

Why not take a flier?
The worst thing that happens is you have him in the clubhouse.

VERDICT: SIGN HIM TO A ONE YEAR DEAL





DOUG MIENTKIEWICZ

The guy did what everyone in New England wait their whole lives for:
He recorded the putout that won a World Series for the Red Sox.

And then inexplicably was given sh-- from Red Sox fans for not giving the ball back right away. No wonder people hate Red Sox fans.

The potential slow recovery of Mike Lowell and Kevin Youkilis' ability to play third makes a player like Mientkiewicz interesting.
He still has a solid glove at first and his .277 average each of the last two seasons shows he isn't a 100% automatic out.

If the Sox decide against Millar, what would be the harm of having a solid glove off the bench?

VERDICT: INVITE HIM TO SPRING TRAINING. MAKE HIM RETURN THE BALLS USED DURING INFIELD PRACTICE



ORLANDO CABRERA

There's something we don't know about Orlando Cabrera.
He came to the Red Sox in the Nomar trade... played great defense, fit in perfectly in the clubhouse, had a terrific playoff, seemed to love Boston... and they let him go.

I refuse to believe it was just because Theo was enamored with Edgar Renteria. He must have done something or said something.

Either way, the contract that he should have signed with the Red Sox is up... and for what the Red Sox spent on Renteria and Lugo, they could have had Cabrera this whole time.

Oh well. Either way, the shortstop job is Jed Lowie's now.
Cabrera will have to be content with standing ovations the rest of his life.

VERDICT: DON'T BRING HIM BACK



NOMAR GARCIAPARRA

Remember him?
The guy who was the face of the franchise from 1997 until the middle of the 2004 season?

Remember his 6 MVP caliber seasons?

Remember how his very name (plus the accent) became a rallying cry?

Man he had Don Mattingly's luck in terms of getting to the World Series.

Like Fred Lynn, his Hall of Fame career has been derailed by injuries while on the West Coast.
He can play first, however.
And while I prefer Millar as a part timer, it might be nice to see Nomar's saga in Boston have a happier ending.

VERDICT: WAIT AND SEE... KEEP HIS NUMBER HANDY





GABE KAPLER

The Red Sox made Kapler manager of the Greenville Drive in 2007 only to see him return as a player in 2008 with Milwaukee.
I was as surprised as anyone.

From all accounts he is a great teammate and managerial material.
Not sure what he offers as a player anymore.


VERDICT: THE MANAGER OF YOUR LOWELL SPINNERS!


TROT NIXON

Trot has expressed interest in returning to Boston after a year in Cleveland and a kind of sad cameo with the Mets.

I'm sure he might come back but at this point, he isn't worth much in the field and his bat has slowed down.
(Funny... another power hitter from the late 1990s/early 2000s whose bat has slowed down... I wonder why).

I guess the Red Sox could use a left handed bat off of the bench.
Even if he makes the team, I don't see him making it through the year.
Maybe he just wants to retire as a Red Sox.

VERDICT: SIGN HIM TO A MINOR LEAGUE CONTRACT AND INVITE HIM TO SPRING TRAINING



ERIC GAGNE

Ha!
Just checking to see if you were reading.

Tom Doyle sang is best with the Eric Gagne Song.


VERDICT: FORCE HIM TO GIVE HIS RING TO YAZ



ALAN EMBREE

The man who got the last out against the Yankees in the 2004 ALCS is out there...
A man who has worn 9 uniforms and played in the post season for 5 different franchises in his 15 year career.

It didn't end well in Boston for Embree as he was cut midway through a dreadful 2005 campaign and was picked up by the Yankees.

There's water under the bridge and a bullpen to shore up, and you never know which set up man is going to be effective.

VERDICT: INVITE HIM TO SPRING TRAINING



KEITH FOULKE

Seriously, of all the heroes of the 2004 post season, Foulke is by far the most underrated.
The guy basically risked his career by giving the Red Sox everything he had and then some.

With the Red Sox on a verge of being swept, he saved the day in game 4, throwing 2 2/3 shut out innings allowing the Sox to go to extra innings where they won it on Papi's homer.

The next day he pitched another 1 1/3 shut out ball, setting up the 14 inning win. The day after that, he threw a shut out ninth to send the series to game 7. Without his heroics, there is no Roberts slide, there is no Papi homers, there is no bloody sock, there is no A-Rod slap.

And then gave Red Sox fans the highlight we all imagined but were never sure if it was going to come true: A World Series clincher.

The fact that it ended bitterly at all is disgraceful.

That being said, he had a mediocre year in Oakland and doesn't look like he has much left.

VERDICT: DON'T SIGN HIM... BUT SOX FANS NEED TO GIVE HIM A STANDING OVATION ANY TIME HE COMES TO FENWAY



MANNY RAMIREZ

Oh, was I supposed to ignore Manny?
Remember him?

Yeah I know it ended really badly.
Like REALLY badly.

But call me a sentimental old fluff... but I'd still have him back.
I know it isn't happening, but I'd hate to see the MVP of the 2004 World Series as a villain.

Maybe he can play first!
(Come on... that would be fun!)

VERDICT: OH COME ON! IT'S MANNY!!!! LET'S BRING HIM BACK!

So there you have it...
Maybe some of them will be back, or maybe Theo will continue to have ice water in his veins.
Heck.
It's worked so far.

Hey Brewers... enjoy Eric Gagne

Wow, nice signing Milwaukee.
You have your best team since Molitor and Yount were suiting up and you are trusting the 9th inning with this guy.

Good luck with that.
It worked like a charm for us last year.

Gag-ne has now pitched in 3 games... and somehow already has 2 blown saves.

Man. He got a World Series ring!
He should have to give that ring to Jim Rice or Bill Buckner.

GAME 3 THOUGHTS

- Well we all wanted Dice-K to come through... but who would have guessed he'd be as damaging with the bat as with his arm?

You could almost feel Coors Field's collective shoulders slump when that single drove in two.
"Oh I get it... we're like those poor AFC teams from 1982 to 1997 that got their asses kicked every year in the Super Bowl."

Keep in mind these Denver fans are familiar with those routs with the Broncos getting killed in the Super Bowl 3 times in 4 years.


- When Okajima came in to relieve Timlin, I was thinking "If Okie gets out of this inning, he's the World Series MVP." JUST as I thought that, Holliday homered to make it a one run game.


- Maybe this is one of the liberations of 2004... or maybe this is the confidence (cockiness?) of knowing you are rooting for the better team... but that was the least stressfull 3 run home run to turn a blow out into a 1 run game I have ever experienced.

The home run left the park and I literally thought "No worries... we've got this."
No wonder the rest of the baseball world hates us.



- Hey Francona... I might be crazy for thinking this... but stick with this line up.
I think Ellsbury and Pedroia 1 and 2 is working. Call it a hunch. Call it going a combined 7 for 10 with 3 runs scored, 4 RBIs and most importantly making sure the tight 1 run game was a "getting out of hand" 4 run lead.



- It was a strange final score... because you are supposed to say "It was a 10-5 game but the game was closer than that."
But was it? It was a 1 run game for about a minute then it was a blow out again.

Again... solid confidence in a post 2004 world.
Pre Dave Roberts' steal and Fox would bust out the clips of the Babe, Enos Slaughter, Bucky Dent, Poor Buckner and Aaron Boone the second the ball cleared the fence.

Tonight?
Eh... we'll get those runs back.

Do you have ANY CLUE how nice it is to watch a sporting event where the supernatural isn't brought up?


- My co worker Kevin Hench has called this post season "Theo and Tito's vindication."

Theo's off season moves have come through...
J. D. Drew's slam.
Coco's defense (especially at the end of game 7)
Eric Gagne, save for his game 2 ALCS meltdown, has been the "save the bullpen" guy and it's worked out.
Dice-K winning game 7 of the ALCS and tonight's game.
Even Julio Lugo is hitting .400 in the series.

And Francona's in season moves have come through...
Resting Manny for a month to have him come back and dominate in October.
Not panicking when the Yankees were charging and Gagne struggling and putting Okajima on the shelf for 10 days.
Sticking with J. D. when everyone (including yours truly) called for him to be benched.

And tonight starting Ortiz and Lowell and both coming through.


- I was in Santa Monica when the Red Sox won in 2004 even though I was still living in New York at the time.
I am in Santa Monica now despite still living in the Bay Area.

Karma is good so far.
Let's end this tomorrow!

Alright... no more wondering if everyone will play

In a previous post, I encouraged Francona to let Alex Cora in a game.

I guess this came from the benchwarmer in me who hates to see a guy not play at all in the postseason.

Well, I would trade that sentiment right now in exchange for Youkilis' ball to drop and win the game in the 10th.

OK... Cora got in... so did Lester.
No more compulsive roster checking from Sully.

Win those 3 games.
And for God Sake don't EVER bring Gagne in again!

There is something just wrong about losing a playoff game to Trot Nixon

Borderline cruel.

Man, like every Red Sox fan I thought Youk was going to single home Ellsbury after fouling off 4,818 pitches.

And like every Sox fan I was praying Papi or Manny would launch one before Gagne came in.

Well... you didn't think it was going to be easy, did you?

Now it is up to Dice-K or Wakefield to win a game in Cleveland.
It's a series now!

Man... that was almost TOO easy

Look, I'm not complaining... but that was such a sound ass whuppin', such a one sided crushing, that by the 6th inning I almost turned the game off to let my sons watch Thomas the Tank Engine.

Of course we all bought into the hype of game 1. The two top Cy Young Award candidates were squaring off. The Cy Young pretenders Wang, Lackey and Escobar all flopped and now the big two were poised for a classic duel between Sabathia and Beckett.

And Hafner homered in the first and every Red Sox fan gulped in unison.
And the only way the night could have gone worse for Cleveland was if the river caught on fire and the Browns moved again.

I talked to a few of my Red Sox fan friends after the game and asked "Was there anything negative about the game?"

They all had the same response... Eric Gagne.
They were unhappy with Eric Gagne.

And yes, Gagne didn't look good letting up two hits and a walk in the 9th inning.
But folks... he was the mop up man. His job was to be a warm body on the mound in a 10-3 game.

And guess what? Along with those 2 hits and that walk, he struck out 3 and didn't let up a run.

So if the only bad thing you have to say about a game was the mop up man's scoreless 9th inning in a 10-3 win wasn't as smooth as you wanted, guess what?

It was a pretty good game.

Ironically Gagne is French for WIN

Man oh man I could not have been more wrong about a trade!

The trade to bring Gagne over to the Sox was supposed to make the bullpen iron clad... not the Achilles Heel!

My God, if he were only MEDIOCRE we'd have a 5 or 6 game lead.

Instead its down to 2 with 2 weeks to play. (Seriously Toronto and Baltimore... thanks for showing up when playing the Yankees!)

I don't blame Francona for putting Gagne out there. Why not see if he could do the role? Now we see that he can't. Make DelCarmen the 8th inning guy and make Gagne the mop up man.

AND KEEP HIM OFF OF THE PLAYOFF ROSTER!

Who'd have thought we'd be pining for Kason Gabbard?

The Gagne Effect

As I said before... I LOVED the Gagne trade when it happened. So I can't complain about it.

And it made so much sense... the Red Sox had an All Star closer and an All Star set up man... so they picked up the best reliever on the market to provide a 1-2-3 punch and allow Okajima and Papelbon to get a break from time to time.

And if Gagne was just mediocre, then it would have worked out brilliantly.

But now Francona is terrified (and rightfully so) to bring him into a game where the Sox have the lead.

And the effect was felt all through this weekend's frustrating series with the Yankees.

If Francona had any faith in Gagne, maybe he'd be pitching the 8th inning on Friday instead of the exhausted Okajima. Maybe Gagne could have protected a 5 run lead and helped preserve a much needed confidence boosting 15th win for Dice - K. Maybe when the brown stuff was hitting the fan in that inning, he could have turned to Gagne instead of asking Papelbon to get a 6 out save (which he didn't get.)

If Francona had any faith in Gagne, maybe he'd have come in the 8th inning yesterday when a few men got on instead of asking Schilling to do it himself.

But Francona had no faith in him either time... and do you blame him?

So instead of taking 2 of 3 (or possibly sweeping) the Sox dropped 2 of 3.
Not a big thing in the grand scheme for making the playoffs... but the Sox bullpen, once one of their great strengths is becoming a question mark at the worst possible time: a short playoff series.

The quicker the Sox can clinch a playoff berth, the quicker Francona should throw Gagne into pressure spots. Better find out if he can handle it. I have hopes for more than just a division title this year!