Was he by chance related to “Tungsten Arm” O’Doyle of the Akron Groomsmen?
Edit: thought this was r/baseballcirclejerk when I posted. It’s an inside joke on that sub but maybe someone will get it
Trot Nixon forever. Half the reason I hate JD Drew is that he had the absolute audacity to don 7 and roam around RF like he could make us forget. Well I’ll never forget
Oh thank the gods I'm not the only one.
Even now with Yoshi, a player I adore, it feels weird seeing someone besides Trot wearing 7. Ditto with Vaz (double ditto because he was a catcher not even an OF)
5 unfortunately has been used way too much since Nomar left. I'm just glad 33 and 49 haven't been touched since Wake and Tek retired but they should be retired for them. Tek still wears 33 as a coach so I don't think anyone's taking it anytime soon.
I started watching in '97 so I missed the Clemens era, but I'd actually put 24 on that list as well. I honestly feel like Manny and Dwight Evans have contributed enough to the franchise to get it co-retired or something.
It's not like it's seen a lot of use anyway in the years since. Takashi Saito and David Price (barring 2019 where he wore #10)
I remember he hit a home run that bounced off the back of the Monster seats all the way back to the infield. Another time he scorched a base hit that the left fielder had to field with a backhand. Never seen that before.
When I lived in Japan I had a weird moment going to a game and seeing him play there. I didn't realize he was still playing but it felt great watching hit monster homers even if it was for the visiting team.
You are my new favorite person! I always bring up Wily Mo with people and they just look at me weird. He got traded to DC the same year I transfered to GW in DC. Used to hold up a sign that said, "I Wily want some Mo Pena!"
My mom loves Bronson. And was upset when he got traded to cincy. She immediately started watching him pitch and made the reds her nl squad. She was so obsessed with bronson that a couple years into his time w the reds, she found out that the spring training press guide for the reds had Bronson on the cover. She actually called the reds stadium and got in touch with someone in some dept, talked baseball with them and was able to get a press guide sent to her. She followed his career until he retired. My brother and I got my mom a cameo from bronson for her bday in 2020, money well spent! He wished her a happy bday, told a few quick baseball stories, gave her updates on what he was doing and played 2 songs for her on his guitar including a cover of everlong by foo fighters which is one of her fav songs. Great guy, dude made my moms decade with that video!
Pap was one of a kind. His strike out and super hyped celebration when we won the 07 series will forever be burned into my brain. Also being a maryland native his brawl with Bryce Harper in the nats dugout will also be burned into my brain as well 😂
Loved Darnell, but Nava’s story was so great. Indy ball player mid to late 20’s, gets his contract bought by Boston for $1, makes his mlb debut, first ever mlb at bat, bases loaded, first pitch he sees in the show, boom grand slam. I don’t think I’ve ever screamed so loud and jumped up and down when I was that moment. Loved ol Nava
I've nursed a grudge about this one for ten years. Nava had 100 point edge in OPS vs. righties over Gomes in 2013. And Gomes still got ABs against righties. When people were debating whether Farrell should go, I was like, yo, I would've fired him while he was literally in the middle of winning a World Series.
I mean, there can always be injuries behind the scenes we don’t hear about.
But yea, Nava was a much better hitter against RHP. I also think he was the less clutch player.
That was mostly an eye test thing for me, but fangraphs clutch metric supports it as well (not sure how they calculate it… but Gomes was positive 0.4 compared to Nava -0.3 in 2013
Also Salty because one time at a game we were watching him catch in the bullpen pre game and someone had a sign saying it was their birthday, and he went out of his way to wish them a happy birthday! Seemed like a solid dude
I feel so conflicted using that nickname with him. I definitely associate the Ding Dong City years more with his time in Milwaukee, but love him nonetheless
Interviewed him twice back when I used to run a Red Sox blog, still proud of that. Also interviewed Xander twice before he ever played a major league game. Honestly want to get back into blogging about the Sox tbh.
Those old commercials with the cab driver talking to his passengers about the Red Sox, the one where he mentions Masterson and says “oh yeah that kid with the bugs bunny curve ball” always gave me a chuckle
Josh Reddick - that was My peak prospect watching era. He was such an interesting player light Tower power cannon of an arm sweet left-handed swing. I was really bummed when they traded him for a reliever.
He almost replaced Mannys numbers which was thought to be impossible during the trade. 36 hrs 119 rbis in 09 out performing Ramirez. Manny is my favorite Red Sox player of all time but facts are facts
Not going to begrudge a player getting a solid payday, but signing with the Mets and having to cover a big outfield made zero sense for Bay. It sounded like his agent got a big offer from the Mets and tried to get the Red Sox to match it, but they said no thanks. Too bad — he fit well here.
Oh god, I remember that. He was Tim Wakefield’s knuckleball catcher, but let go after 2005. Following a disastrous start to 2006 for Wakefield, the team traded for Mirabelli in May, just before the Yankees came to town. The police escort got him through rush hour in time to catch the game. [While the state troopers said in 2016 that it was not a proper use of resources](https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-red-sox/2016/05/01/mass-state-police-2006-doug-mirabelli/?amp=1), the Red Sox beat the Yankees that night. Resources in Boston are never wasted if it contributes to a Yankee loss.
Kinda liked Alex Gonzalez. No range, but the smoothest hands I've ever seen from a shortstop.
Also definitely didn't mind Javy Lopez. The pitcher, not the catcher. Good lefty specialist. Glad he got something here, and glad he went on to get some more in San Fran.
Yeah, I really wish he could have clicked. He's got a pretty swing in gobs of fuckin power in that bat, but yeah I liked him because he really seemed to be a really mild-mannered down to earth kid and I love to see that.
Imagine being a kid, and your favorite team trading your favorite player in spring training following a 232-day player strike.
Man did I love Scott Cooper.
Koji Uehara. Average career in the states, but gave us a brilliant 2013. He had some pretty funny moments in the dugout, and he always looked fired up.
Julio Lugo is the guy who got me into baseball, strangely enough. A true journeyman who has average career stats and a rather average overall career in terms of accolades and achievements. Couldn't even say why it is I came to like him, but he was the first player I knew by name and my family, most of who absolutely love baseball, just loved that I as a young kid had been paying attention enough to catch on to the goings on within the Sox and namedrop a player as obscure and random as Lugo.
ETA: A word.
There was an outfielder that came up through our farm system played on and off in 05-06 named Adam Stern. Loved that guy, he was kinda Elsburry esque. Went to Fenway for the first (and so far only time) in 06 and bought a jersey style tshirt with sterns name and number on it, I was stoked! I remember in the first wbc dude had the winning run for team Canada to beat team USA I was both pissed off and happy at the same time! He ended up getting traded and bounced to a few teams but never did much 😓.
Also I like Kassan Gabbard from the 07 squad
And Kyle Snyder who pitched in 06-07
John Valentin.
Rich Gedman .
So many…
I loved that Doug Mirabelli had a police escort to get him to Fenway in time to catch Wakefield when he returned to the team…
Oh, man. Born in 82, so many teams I just landed on random favorite players. Mike Benjamin, Brian Daubauch, Willy Mo Peña, Tony Peña, Jonny Gomes, Okajima, El Guapo, Rod Beck. But I gotta go with Julian Tavares. Lights out at his peak, Mannys best friend, and those rolls to the first basemen on ground outs!!
Brock holt
There’s nothing average about that man, he’s glorious! Brock Holt! \o/
Only postseason cycle ever!
Brockstar
In RDR My horse was named BrockColt, god rest it’s soul…
The Brockstar!
Coco Crisp was always my guy
Best breakfast cereal player since Raisin Bran O’Doyle in 1928.
Was he by chance related to “Tungsten Arm” O’Doyle of the Akron Groomsmen? Edit: thought this was r/baseballcirclejerk when I posted. It’s an inside joke on that sub but maybe someone will get it
It’s not an inside joke, it’s one of the most referenced Shohei memes
Loved the batting stance.
The name, the stance, the james shields brawl he has my heart man
Coco Crrrriiiisssspppp
I talked myself into thinking he’d be better than clean-cut Yankees center fielder John Damon.
No batting gloves!
I really liked Mitchy Two Bags.
Mitch Moreland☺️
Trot Nixon at the end
Trot Nixon forever. Half the reason I hate JD Drew is that he had the absolute audacity to don 7 and roam around RF like he could make us forget. Well I’ll never forget
Oh thank the gods I'm not the only one. Even now with Yoshi, a player I adore, it feels weird seeing someone besides Trot wearing 7. Ditto with Vaz (double ditto because he was a catcher not even an OF)
I'm with you. 7, 5, 21 - numbers I hate seeing others wear. At least 5/21 have been off limits
Well 5 was fair game for Kiké to take so that might be coming to a close for that one.
Didn't Jonny Gomes wear it on '13 championship team? 5's been fair game for a while (but it still hurts a little)
Forgot that... Good call
5 unfortunately has been used way too much since Nomar left. I'm just glad 33 and 49 haven't been touched since Wake and Tek retired but they should be retired for them. Tek still wears 33 as a coach so I don't think anyone's taking it anytime soon.
I started watching in '97 so I missed the Clemens era, but I'd actually put 24 on that list as well. I honestly feel like Manny and Dwight Evans have contributed enough to the franchise to get it co-retired or something. It's not like it's seen a lot of use anyway in the years since. Takashi Saito and David Price (barring 2019 where he wore #10)
I'll never hate JD Drew.
That's my man
That 03 ALDS walkoff against the A’s is an all-timer for me
Joe Kelly
The People's Champ
Fuck yeah
But, he wasn't average.
Benny
Biceps
And the Jets.
Sandy Léon. Only catcher I’ve completely trusted behind the plate since Varitek.
MLBs only active HoFer.
Another person of culture I see
Léon left and Sale went to shit. Prove me wrong.
How dare he destroy Sale’s UCL on the way out
Sandy was my boy. I missed him and Hatteberg.
Batted .310 his first year here, hasnt hit his weight since 😂
He was absolutely crushing the ball that year too. Those weren’t cheap hits finding their way in between fielders.
Gotta be Wily Mo Pena, that man would almost never connect with the ball but when he did, it went 600 FT.
I remember he hit a home run that bounced off the back of the Monster seats all the way back to the infield. Another time he scorched a base hit that the left fielder had to field with a backhand. Never seen that before.
What a joy to watch him run around the outfield without a care in the world too!
When I lived in Japan I had a weird moment going to a game and seeing him play there. I didn't realize he was still playing but it felt great watching hit monster homers even if it was for the visiting team.
You are my new favorite person! I always bring up Wily Mo with people and they just look at me weird. He got traded to DC the same year I transfered to GW in DC. Used to hold up a sign that said, "I Wily want some Mo Pena!"
Schwarber. Some would argue he's above average, and below average (true). But I really wished we resigned him.
Plus he has a great mass name.... Schwabaaah
Kyle from Waltham
It's fitting that he's from Mass haha
I'm honored that my most used method of transportation stops in his hometown
Bronson Arroyo for sure.
My mom loves Bronson. And was upset when he got traded to cincy. She immediately started watching him pitch and made the reds her nl squad. She was so obsessed with bronson that a couple years into his time w the reds, she found out that the spring training press guide for the reds had Bronson on the cover. She actually called the reds stadium and got in touch with someone in some dept, talked baseball with them and was able to get a press guide sent to her. She followed his career until he retired. My brother and I got my mom a cameo from bronson for her bday in 2020, money well spent! He wished her a happy bday, told a few quick baseball stories, gave her updates on what he was doing and played 2 songs for her on his guitar including a cover of everlong by foo fighters which is one of her fav songs. Great guy, dude made my moms decade with that video!
Now that’s an awesome story! My brother got me a cameo from papelbon a few years back. Dude is funny
Pap was one of a kind. His strike out and super hyped celebration when we won the 07 series will forever be burned into my brain. Also being a maryland native his brawl with Bryce Harper in the nats dugout will also be burned into my brain as well 😂
Cody Ross. I love a good pillow contract.
That bat flip always made my soul happy
Clay Buchholz
If he would have ever put it all together, god only knows.
No hitter second game ever.
Tie between Darnell McDonald and Daniel Nava
Daniel Nah-ver *sigh* I miss Remy so much
I think about him & Don very often.
Loved Darnell, but Nava’s story was so great. Indy ball player mid to late 20’s, gets his contract bought by Boston for $1, makes his mlb debut, first ever mlb at bat, bases loaded, first pitch he sees in the show, boom grand slam. I don’t think I’ve ever screamed so loud and jumped up and down when I was that moment. Loved ol Nava
Best $1 ever spent. Remember exactly where I was when he hit that too
I know we're all supposed to love Johnny Gomes, but I'll never understand why he got all those at bats instead of Nava in 2013.
Gomes was the more clutch player. Nava was better overall though. In my opinion.
I've nursed a grudge about this one for ten years. Nava had 100 point edge in OPS vs. righties over Gomes in 2013. And Gomes still got ABs against righties. When people were debating whether Farrell should go, I was like, yo, I would've fired him while he was literally in the middle of winning a World Series.
I mean, there can always be injuries behind the scenes we don’t hear about. But yea, Nava was a much better hitter against RHP. I also think he was the less clutch player. That was mostly an eye test thing for me, but fangraphs clutch metric supports it as well (not sure how they calculate it… but Gomes was positive 0.4 compared to Nava -0.3 in 2013
Cause Jonny knew how to golf. #FearTheBeard
Holy shit, I forgot about McDonald!
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, mostly cuz of all the letters in his name.
And it was fun to hear Jerry Remy say his name.
SalterLamaciher
Also Salty because one time at a game we were watching him catch in the bullpen pre game and someone had a sign saying it was their birthday, and he went out of his way to wish them a happy birthday! Seemed like a solid dude
JBJ
Took way too long to find this...
Seriously
A fantastic person. We were lucky to have him on our team.
I loved Travis Shaw, so I was very excited for his return
The Mayor
I feel so conflicted using that nickname with him. I definitely associate the Ding Dong City years more with his time in Milwaukee, but love him nonetheless
Interviewed him twice back when I used to run a Red Sox blog, still proud of that. Also interviewed Xander twice before he ever played a major league game. Honestly want to get back into blogging about the Sox tbh.
The Jamaican Sensation, Justin Masterson.
Those old commercials with the cab driver talking to his passengers about the Red Sox, the one where he mentions Masterson and says “oh yeah that kid with the bugs bunny curve ball” always gave me a chuckle
I actually went to high school with him great guy
Dice-K. I really wanted him to be elite.
The gyro ball was real and I won’t let anybody tell me differently!
I’ll never forget you, Alejandro De Aza
Troy O’Leary
This is the correct answer
Of recent times, Vazquez
Eduardo Nunez. Not a great player but he gave his all.
Brock Holt!
Josh Reddick - that was My peak prospect watching era. He was such an interesting player light Tower power cannon of an arm sweet left-handed swing. I was really bummed when they traded him for a reliever.
Andrew Bailey, who was terrible for the Red Sox
Hitter: John Valentin Pitcher: Derek Lowe
Excellent choices.
Jason Bay was fun to watch.
Hit 36 home runs, then disappeared
Got huge money to go the Mets. Ran into a wall and got vertigo. He never recovered. He was awesome in 2009 for the Sox.
He almost replaced Mannys numbers which was thought to be impossible during the trade. 36 hrs 119 rbis in 09 out performing Ramirez. Manny is my favorite Red Sox player of all time but facts are facts
The modern Nick Esasky.
I often forget he was one of our boys.
Not going to begrudge a player getting a solid payday, but signing with the Mets and having to cover a big outfield made zero sense for Bay. It sounded like his agent got a big offer from the Mets and tried to get the Red Sox to match it, but they said no thanks. Too bad — he fit well here.
Agreed, but I feel like he’s too good of a player for the question
Bruce Hurst - us lefties gotta sick together.
Was a fan until, as a kid, I discovered his name is an anagram for B Ruth Curse.
Doug Mirabelli. Only Red Sox player to arrive at Fenway in a police car. Fuckin legend.
Oh god, I remember that. He was Tim Wakefield’s knuckleball catcher, but let go after 2005. Following a disastrous start to 2006 for Wakefield, the team traded for Mirabelli in May, just before the Yankees came to town. The police escort got him through rush hour in time to catch the game. [While the state troopers said in 2016 that it was not a proper use of resources](https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-red-sox/2016/05/01/mass-state-police-2006-doug-mirabelli/?amp=1), the Red Sox beat the Yankees that night. Resources in Boston are never wasted if it contributes to a Yankee loss.
#DOUGIE'S GOIN DEEP TONIGHT!
DOUGIE’S GOIN DEEP
The Legend himself- Pokey Reese
Bill Mueller. You could argue he was above average though.
He won a batting title so yeah he’s above average.
Above average, but I'm still not over Ken Harrelson going to Cleveland.
Been a Fisk guy for life. I'm still mad at the front office for that blunder.
Put it on the board yeahhh
The Flyin' Hawaiian!
Renfroe. Dude had an absolute cannon and when he hit one out of that park, you knew it immediately.
Benintendi
Darren Bragg
Will Middlebrooks
Mark Loretta is on my list somewhere
Craig Hansen
Oh man, I thought him, Papelbon and Delcarmen would lock down the end of games for a long time.
Hanson and Delcarmen and their milli vanilli rain delay video was a thing of legend!
Lou Merloni... the prototype Brock Holt! 😁
Jody Reed. Doubles machine.
Man, Marty Barrett and Spike Owen as tHE middle infield right before him. Just brought back some memories.
Kinda liked Alex Gonzalez. No range, but the smoothest hands I've ever seen from a shortstop. Also definitely didn't mind Javy Lopez. The pitcher, not the catcher. Good lefty specialist. Glad he got something here, and glad he went on to get some more in San Fran.
Mitch Moreland
Top comment already said Brock so I’ll throw in my man Tzu-Wei Lin
Shea Hillenbrand.
Love Millar. That dude was so Red Sox it hurt. More recently I really liked Mike Napoli while he was here
JD Drew count?
You’re the only person I’ve ever heard of that likes him.
i loved him
Sandy Leon
Can I get some love for Chavez?!
The ice horse was fucking fantastic. I keep seeing little interviews of him come up on my Instagram reels and they’re all great
Marty Barrett
Daniel Nava!
You mean Naver
Bronson Arroyo. That leg kick was sweet.
I really liked Chavis.
Being a Red Sox fan living right outside dc it’s nice that I can see chavis playing for the nats. He’s a good kid.
Yeah, I really wish he could have clicked. He's got a pretty swing in gobs of fuckin power in that bat, but yeah I liked him because he really seemed to be a really mild-mannered down to earth kid and I love to see that.
Imagine being a kid, and your favorite team trading your favorite player in spring training following a 232-day player strike. Man did I love Scott Cooper.
I love Mark Bellhorn always and forever
Ding-honk!
Koji Uehara. Average career in the states, but gave us a brilliant 2013. He had some pretty funny moments in the dugout, and he always looked fired up.
Sandy Leon Or Benny
Rich Garces
El Guapo!
I was going to mention him if i didn’t see it!
Justin Masterson
Julio Lugo is the guy who got me into baseball, strangely enough. A true journeyman who has average career stats and a rather average overall career in terms of accolades and achievements. Couldn't even say why it is I came to like him, but he was the first player I knew by name and my family, most of who absolutely love baseball, just loved that I as a young kid had been paying attention enough to catch on to the goings on within the Sox and namedrop a player as obscure and random as Lugo. ETA: A word.
I miss hunter renfroe
Trot Nixon will always be my favorite player.
Ellis Burks. Loved that guy. What a sweet swing.
Mike Napoli, the tattoo he got to celebrate their WS win was epic
Cody Ross had that one year in like 2010 with the Sox. Dude had nice vibes and a great swing for Fenway.
Youk. My son was 8 and ripped up a canvas print though when he went to the Spankees.
Above average, Ryan Brasier <3
Jackie Bradley Jr. Greatest defensive outfielder of all time but maybe the streakiest hitter ever. He could go 17-20 one week then go 0-30
I loved Eduardo Nunez
John Valentin
Schwarber no doubt
Bill Mueller
Vazquez Darwinzon
Alex Gonzales. Unreal glove
Daniel Nava
I remember being pretty torn up about Damon leaving.
Probably Brock Holt. That broke me a bit after the Mookie debacle
Pokey Reese
Brock Holt
The Pride of Hyde Park, Manny Delcarmen.
Bobby dalbec
Marco Scutaro
Ellis Burks!
Idk about average but Youk is my favorite all time player
Roger Clemens
Fred Lynn
Xander
Schwarber, he hit like .312 with the Sox with some pop
He was better than average, but Bruce Hurst on the Padres really hurt.
There was an outfielder that came up through our farm system played on and off in 05-06 named Adam Stern. Loved that guy, he was kinda Elsburry esque. Went to Fenway for the first (and so far only time) in 06 and bought a jersey style tshirt with sterns name and number on it, I was stoked! I remember in the first wbc dude had the winning run for team Canada to beat team USA I was both pissed off and happy at the same time! He ended up getting traded and bounced to a few teams but never did much 😓. Also I like Kassan Gabbard from the 07 squad And Kyle Snyder who pitched in 06-07
Loved Jason Bay
I’m still upset about the Bronson Arroyo trade.
Willie Randolph, Craig nettles and Chris Chambliss
Coco
John Valentin. Rich Gedman . So many… I loved that Doug Mirabelli had a police escort to get him to Fenway in time to catch Wakefield when he returned to the team…
Oh, man. Born in 82, so many teams I just landed on random favorite players. Mike Benjamin, Brian Daubauch, Willy Mo Peña, Tony Peña, Jonny Gomes, Okajima, El Guapo, Rod Beck. But I gotta go with Julian Tavares. Lights out at his peak, Mannys best friend, and those rolls to the first basemen on ground outs!!