He got some tacos out of it.Wasn’t Royce Clayton miked up in the dugout for much of the WS that year, for some unknown reason?
He got some tacos out of it.Wasn’t Royce Clayton miked up in the dugout for much of the WS that year, for some unknown reason?
Yes. I think that he was mic'ed when Ellsbury stole second and got everyone in America a free taco.Wasn’t Royce Clayton miked up in the dugout for much of the WS that year, for some unknown reason?
We all remember the impact newcomers, but it's interesting how many recognizable names were on the team, but didn't contribute all that much in 2013 as they were on their way out, or on their way up that year.2013: Can't think of anyone off the top of my head. That was such a mismash of a team that if you told me that Buddy Biancalana somehow played for them, I'd probably believe you.
Yes he was. That’s the only reason Royce Clayton isn’t a weird one for me because he basically did the 2007 equivalent of going viral with the free tacos cheerleading. Here on SOSH that’s basically all we talked about for a time when his name was mentioned.Yes. I think that he was mic'ed when Ellsbury stole second and got everyone in America a free taco.
Who could forget Mirabelli's second stint with the Sox. The man got a police escort!C- Mirabelli
1B - Buckner
2B - Merloni
3B - Shaw
SS - Iglesias
RF - Brunansky
CF - Burks
LF - Carbo
DH - Scott
Had completely forgotten both of these 2nd stints. Well done.Brian Daubach and Alex Gonzalez on the bench.
Those guys were the type of player who would have been on Lou Gorman's wishlist circa 1990-1993 so I wouldn't be surprised if maybe your association of them with the Red Sox was memories of hot stove rumors.This thread had me think of a couple of players of end-of-career guys who had a brief stint with the Sox... but according to BRef didn't--- including Darrell Evans (I would have sworn that he and Dwight were together at some point) and Lance Parrish (I had remembered Larry... but I also thought Lance got a cup of tea).
Who can forget that he contributed five additional innings to the one Sox loss in the '18 World Series?Here's my list of the Weirdest Red Sox to Earn a World Series Ring. I'm defining "Weirdest" by a guy with a decent/noteworthy career outside of their time with the Sox, that was on the briefly, and was not a major acquisition or contributor to the team (so no Dave Roberts/Eric Gagne):
...
2018: Brandon Phillips is the obvious answer. Someone's going to mention Ian Kinsler, but he was a postseason contributor.
Tony Conig has got to be one of OFs; returned in '75 which is when I became aware of him. How in the hell did he hit 36 HRs in 1970 with one eye?C- Mirabelli
1B - Buckner
2B - Merloni
3B - Shaw
SS - Iglesias
RF - Brunansky
CF - Burks
LF - Carbo
DH - Scott
That was also the year that the original Mike Carp -- Dave McCarty -- tried his hand at pitching. 3 games. Including 2IP in game 162. (In which Kim closed out the season with 1 scoreless).He was their sixth starter that year, at least in terms of number of starts (3). He was originally slated for the rotation and started the year on the DL. Arroyo took his spot. They tried Kim in the rotation once he was healthy but, obviously, he didn't last.
One of my favorite bits of trivia about that season was the Opening Day rotation (Pedro, Schilling, Lowe, Wake, Arroyo) made 157 of 162 starts. Such health and consistency from a rotation is a rare thing. Aside from Kim, the other starts were spot starts in double headers: Abe Alvarez in July and the aforementioned Pedro Astacio on the last weekend of the season.
Or throw out these runners? Two peas!Tony Conig has got to be one of OFs; returned in '75 which is when I became aware of him. How in the hell did he hit 36 HRs in 1970 with one eye?
Another 2 stint backup catcher: Kevin CashI didn’t know about David Ross’ first stint until his second one started.
I did not know Conig had a rocket for an arm. Both throws were strong and on the money. I wince at the home plate collision in the first video. I don't miss that type of play at all. And Mickey Stanley was safe in the second video.
This an aside, but I feel like it Means Something that Alex Cora, Dave Roberts, Kevin Cash, Rocco Baldelli, David Ross, Mark Kotsay, Gabe Kapler, and Torey Luvollo all played under Terry Francona at some point.Another 2 stint backup catcher: Kevin Cash
Add Mike Stanley for C/1b/dh to the bench too.I remember him on the Red Sox but I would have never in a million years guessed he was still pitching in 2007.
They finally found a place to play Willie McGee!
Brian Daubach and Alex Gonzalez on the bench.
I was at The Brandon Phillips Game in Atlanta - and while Phillips wasn’t a direct post-season contributor, that particular game is the kind of game that gives a team the swagger and confidence it takes to go into the playoffs expecting to win…so he deserves some credit for that.Here's my list of the Weirdest Red Sox to Earn a World Series Ring. I'm defining "Weirdest" by a guy with a decent/noteworthy career outside of their time with the Sox, that was on the briefly, and was not a major acquisition or contributor…
2018: Brandon Phillips is the obvious answer. Someone's going to mention Ian Kinsler, but he was a postseason contributor.
Danny Darwin was a good signing, he was actually the ace of the staff in 1993. He should have had a no hitter, too if Billy Hatcher didn't misplay a fly ball. His other years weren't so good though.Don’t forget Andre Hawk Dawson. Some bad signings back then. Danny Darwin..
Which reminds me of my favorite trivia bit from SoSH over the last few years: The following MLB Managers were all on the 2008 Red Sox roster: Cash, Cora, Kotsay, Ross as players plus Brad Mills and John Farrell from the coaches offices. 2009 adds Baldelli to the list as well.This an aside, but I feel like it Means Something that Alex Cora, Dave Roberts, Kevin Cash, Rocco Baldelli, David Ross, Mark Kotsay, Gabe Kapler, and Torey Luvollo all played under Terry Francona at some point.
Mike Boddicker was a pretty good replacement for Bruce Hurst after the 1988 season. Though a 1-2-3 of Clemens, Hurst and Boddicker for two or three years would have been pretty nice.I remember him, but I thought Mike Boddicker was a summer rental. He gave them a pretty solid 2 1/2 seasons.
I was shocked to see Danny Darwin's career high in innings pitched was that 1993 season when he was 37 years old. Based on his other metrics that year, it looks like the BABIP Gods were smiling upon him.Danny Darwin was a good signing, he was actually the ace of the staff in 1993. He should have had a no hitter, too if Billy Hatcher didn't misplay a fly ball. His other years weren't so good though.
Completely forgot about Kotsay.Which reminds me of my favorite trivia bit from SoSH over the last few years: The following MLB Managers were all on the 2008 Red Sox roster: Cash, Cora, Kotsay, Ross as players plus Brad Mills and John Farrell from the coaches offices. 2009 adds Baldelli to the list as well.
1993 was also the rookie season of Aaron Sele, who came up and posted a 2.74 ERA in 111 IP, finishing 3rd in ROY balloting even as he was up for only half a season.But you are correct that Darwin was the ace of that staff that year....Clemens didn't pitch THAT bad, but he was prob stealing some of Darwin's hits on BABIP as he had a lousy (for his standards) 4.46 ERA despite a FIP of like a run lower. Plus, I remember during the previously mentioned hot streak that summer, we all got excited when Darwin or Frank Viola was on the mound. They were the guys who seemed to keep winning during their hot streak and Clemens I recall really shat the bed when the Sox were trying to keep relevant in the race during the first half of August. It was during that stretch I really noticed Darwin winning a lot and Clemens losing.
I still remember this game https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MIL/MIL199307260.shtml ten game winning streak, probably the best Clemens pitched all year. Jeff Russell blew the game in the bottom of the ninth on a home run by none other than Tom Brunansky. That was apparently the only home run Russell gave up that year.I was shocked to see Danny Darwin's career high in innings pitched was that 1993 season when he was 37 years old. Based on his other metrics that year, it looks like the BABIP Gods were smiling upon him.
But you are correct that Darwin was the ace of that staff that year....Clemens didn't pitch THAT bad, but he was prob stealing some of Darwin's hits on BABIP as he had a lousy (for his standards) 4.46 ERA despite a FIP of like a run lower. Plus, I remember during the previously mentioned hot streak that summer, we all got excited when Darwin or Frank Viola was on the mound. They were the guys who seemed to keep winning during their hot streak and Clemens I recall really shat the bed when the Sox were trying to keep relevant in the race during the first half of August. It was during that stretch I really noticed Darwin winning a lot and Clemens losing.
OF course, back then we didn't know shit about BABIP or any "luck" based metrics....we only saw who was allowing runs and losing games or what wasn't allowing runs and winning games.
Charles Johnson had an AAV lower than his contract, so at the end of the day, the Sox saved a little over a million on the luxury cap (important to them at that time) and the Rockies received a player they wanted. Win-win for both teams.Catcher Charles Johnson. March 30, 2005 traded for Byun-Hyun Kim to the Sox. March 30, 2005 released by Red Sox. I know he was just a "paper Sox" ... but why couldn't the Rockies release him instead of trading him?
Yep, we actually talked about that game a couple pages backI still remember this game https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MIL/MIL199307260.shtml ten game winning streak, probably the best Clemens pitched all year. Jeff Russell blew the game in the bottom of the ninth on a home run by none other than Tom Brunansky. That was apparently the only home run Russell gave up that year.
Sorry I didn't read the whole tread. But that Brunansky home run was like the Pena Homerun in 95. Ripped the heart out of 11 year old me. Just seemed to kill what could have been a great season. I remember Russell sucking more than he apparently did that year too. Maybe I was thinking of the next year. Russell was like Heathcliff Slocumb. He was ok the first year and then sucked the next year and was traded by the Duke. Return wasn't as good on Russell though. Sorry for the rambling.Yep, we actually talked about that game a couple pages back
https://sonsofsamhorn.net/index.php?threads/your-top-forgot-he-was-a-red-sox.34064/page-12#post-5567661
Both losses to the Brewers were by 1 run in that series. They did briefly rebound again winning 6 out of 8 (something I had not initially remembered when we brought up the '93 season until looking closer as the schedule) but then things started to fall apart quickly by mid-August. They kind of treaded water during the second week of August....Frank Viola beat the Blue Jays on August 13th to get the Red Sox back to within 1 game of first place but then it completely unraveled from that point as they lost 9 of their next 10 to fall out of the race. The one win was 3 days after Viola's victory over TOR....Danny Darwin threw a CG shutout against the White Sox. But they were already 4 games back even by that point as NYY and TOR got hot in August to leave the rest of the AL East behind and then of course TOR took control in September on their way to their 2nd consecutive WS.
It's kind of amazing how streaky those 1993 Red Sox were. I mentioned further back that during their peak run that mid-summer, they went 28-7 with 6 of those losses being by 1 run and the 7th being by 2 runs. They were playing amazing until all of the sudden they really stunk up the joint in 2nd half of August and September.
Roger's legacy from 84-96 was basically coming up small when it mattered. There were time he wasn't awful, but he never quite made good in head-to-head contests with opposing pitchers.OF course, back then we didn't know shit about BABIP or any "luck" based metrics....we only saw who was allowing runs and losing games or what wasn't allowing runs and winning games.
This is being a little too generous to Clemens. He was barely above league average in 93. His walk/HR/K rate were all among his career worst.I was shocked to see Danny Darwin's career high in innings pitched was that 1993 season when he was 37 years old. Based on his other metrics that year, it looks like the BABIP Gods were smiling upon him.
But you are correct that Darwin was the ace of that staff that year....Clemens didn't pitch THAT bad, but he was prob stealing some of Darwin's hits on BABIP as he had a lousy (for his standards) 4.46 ERA despite a FIP of like a run lower. Plus, I remember during the previously mentioned hot streak that summer, we all got excited when Darwin or Frank Viola was on the mound. They were the guys who seemed to keep winning during their hot streak and Clemens I recall really shat the bed when the Sox were trying to keep relevant in the race during the first half of August. It was during that stretch I really noticed Darwin winning a lot and Clemens losing.
OF course, back then we didn't know shit about BABIP or any "luck" based metrics....we only saw who was allowing runs and losing games or what wasn't allowing runs and winning games.
28-7 is nothing to sneeze at. That was genuinely a glorious run - I remember thinking that we really had something in Ryan, Quantrill and especially Sele, who slotted in and started dropping curveballs on the black right away. One funny memory that this discussion on the now-forgotten '93 squad dislodged was my dad and I excitedly discussing the prospect of the Sox picking up Rickey Henderson, who was having a monster season for the suddenly bad A's, for the stretch drive. (I can't remember if this was us baselessly speculating or if there were actual rumors). Of course, Rickey went to the already loaded Jays at the trade deadline and Toronto never looked back.Yep, we actually talked about that game a couple pages back
https://sonsofsamhorn.net/index.php?threads/your-top-forgot-he-was-a-red-sox.34064/page-12#post-5567661
Both losses to the Brewers were by 1 run in that series. They did briefly rebound again winning 6 out of 8 (something I had not initially remembered when we brought up the '93 season until looking closer as the schedule) but then things started to fall apart quickly by mid-August. They kind of treaded water during the second week of August....Frank Viola beat the Blue Jays on August 13th to get the Red Sox back to within 1 game of first place but then it completely unraveled from that point as they lost 9 of their next 10 to fall out of the race. The one win was 3 days after Viola's victory over TOR....Danny Darwin threw a CG shutout against the White Sox. But they were already 4 games back even by that point as NYY and TOR got hot in August to leave the rest of the AL East behind and then of course TOR took control in September on their way to their 2nd consecutive WS.
It's kind of amazing how streaky those 1993 Red Sox were. I mentioned further back that during their peak run that mid-summer, they went 28-7 with 6 of those losses being by 1 run and the 7th being by 2 runs. They were playing amazing until all of the sudden they really stunk up the joint in 2nd half of August and September.
Well pretty soon nobody will remember he was an MLB manager, either.Completely forgot about Kotsay.
In fairness, Dave Stewart was the Jimmy Butler of 80s baseball, so Clemens is being held to a very high standard here. He was good mostly.Roger's legacy from 84-96 was basically coming up small when it mattered. There were time he wasn't awful, but he never quite made good in head-to-head contests with opposing pitchers.
Unless he was facing Mike Witt, etc. etc. Always an excuse.In fairness, Dave Stewart was the Jimmy Butler of 80s baseball, so Clemens is being held to a very high standard here. He was good mostly.
Lots of cool 1993 memories in this thread. My Dad one:28-7 is nothing to sneeze at. That was genuinely a glorious run - I remember thinking that we really had something in Ryan, Quantrill and especially Sele, who slotted in and started dropping curveballs on the black right away. One funny memory that this discussion on the now-forgotten '93 squad dislodged was my dad and I excitedly discussing the prospect of the Sox picking up Rickey Henderson, who was having a monster season for the suddenly bad A's, for the stretch drive. (I can't remember if this was us baselessly speculating or if there were actual rumors). Of course, Rickey went to the already loaded Jays at the trade deadline and Toronto never looked back.
I am roughly the same age as you since I turned 12 during that 1993 season. I always tell people that the ‘93 season was the first one where I truly got sucked in and never looked back.Lots of cool 1993 memories in this thread. My Dad one:
We were on vacation at Hampton Beach (the big Destination for many middle class Western Massachut-tians in the mid-90's). Pops is in a borderline bad mood, as parents are wont to be during the logistics of family trips. Towards the end of that 28-7 streak, they won a game on a liner to centerfield that caught Billy Hatcher midway; he didn't know whether to go low or high, so he just makes this weird basket catch while charging in from center. It was like the fourth game they had won during our trip, and Pops yells "Hey! Alright!" I realized then at age12 the power of sports to change the mood in a room.
RIP my BillyHatcher'sBasketCatch handle from 2005 A happy sacrifice to the a annals of history
I think the 1993 season has a special place among mediocre Red Sox teams (at least for a lot of late Gen X, early Millennials like myself) since it was used for the players stats in Ken Griffey baseball on SNES. Though, I don’t know what Joe Hesketh did to be named after one of the worst TV characters (D.Chambers). And why A. Burr for Mo? At least they could have done S.Adams. Or anyone else not from NY.Lots of cool 1993 memories in this thread. My Dad one:
We were on vacation at Hampton Beach (the big Destination for many middle class Western Massachut-tians in the mid-90's). Pops is in a borderline bad mood, as parents are wont to be during the logistics of family trips. Towards the end of that 28-7 streak, they won a game on a liner to centerfield that caught Billy Hatcher midway; he didn't know whether to go low or high, so he just makes this weird basket catch while charging in from center. It was like the fourth game they had won during our trip, and Pops yells "Hey! Alright!" I realized then at age12 the power of sports to change the mood in a room.
RIP my BillyHatcher'sBasketCatch handle from 2005 A happy sacrifice to the a annals of history