The '88 team had him (he was their Game 1 and Game 4 starter in the ALCS). It was also a different time back then. He didn't have "millions of dollars". His largest paycheck with the Red Sox was his 1988 salary of $900K. Closer to family or not, it's hard to knock a guy for taking a deal that paid him double what he'd already earned to that point in his career.Indeed. It's funny how so many guys who leave come back in retirement to coach or advise or whatever for the Sox (as Hurst has). He missed the excitement. Also, being close to family isn't everything, especially when you have five months off and millions of dollars. The '88 and '90 Sox would have had a chance with him, although probably still wouldn't have gotten past Oakland.