Least Favorite Red Sox Heroes

jose melendez

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In the abscence of baseball, I've been watching a lot of old baseball, and it's gotten me thinking about players who gave heroic or memorable performances for the Sox, but I still kind of hate them.

The most obvious is Curt Schilling. Huge hero; also a nazi.

But there are others who aren't out nearly that far with whom I still wouldn't buy the proverbial domestic beer and go halfsies on a pizza.

Jon Lackey and Josh Beckett are the two that come to mind. So that gives me a villain from the 2004, 2007 and 2013 WS teams. I don't think I have anyone on the 2018

If I go back to the other AL champion of my life in 1986, it's Clemens.

So who are the people with great moments in Sox history who you still hate?
 

bankshot1

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I had a love/hate thing with Manny.

I hated the crap he pulled to play his way out of town in '08.

If he had played as well with the Sox in the 2nd half of '08 as he did with the LAD's there is decent chance they'd beat da Rays and probably the Phillies.

And Bobby Valentine was no fucking hero-but i couldn't stand him

And double that for NoGood Sullivan and Buddy.
 

Sausage in Section 17

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You want one from the 2018 team, Jose?

Ian Fucking Kinsler.

Cost me a night's sleep

I expect Hanley and Price will also get votes here
David Price? I seem to recall him stepping up big time in the '18 playoffs. Yeah, he was grumpy, played too many video games, and tore Eck a new one (this may be a point in his favor), but we needed him.

edit- I see now that the OP gives parameters, which includes heroic performances. I guess I'm confused by the concept. If you gave an historic performance for the Sox, I can't see you as a villain, asshole maybe...
 

Seels

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I never liked Price. Not for a moment. Admittedly, I'm probably holding a bit against him for getting a huge plate in the 08 ALCS, but his attitude was awful and he came up short against the Yankees perpetually. Found it very hard to root for him and was disappointed he didn't opt out.
 

Oil Can Dan

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Yeah we needed him and he delivered, but he’s still close to tops on my list. He’ and Lackey should have their own category.
 

bigq

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Steven Wright could be a fit from the 2018 roster. Not sure what came of his domestic abuse charge.
 

Ale Xander

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Curt, Jonny Gomes

Larry L

Wade Boggs didn't win a title here, but he's kind of a hero in this town.

Oh yeah, Price, too. How could I have forgotten him.
 

amRadio

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Gomes. That WS Game 4 HR turned the tide. My skin crawls whenever he speaks or appears on screen.
 

TSC

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It's Curt Schilling. Everyone else is fighting for second place.

David Price was ornery and didn't get along with the media/fans here. But objectively - he's not a bad dude. John Lackey was a massive piece of shit to his cancer riddled wife. Manny had his issues.

But there are times I would give up 2004 (knowing the Sox still win in 07/13/18) if it means than Schilling is never a part of Red Sox lore.
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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Everyone's going to list Lackey, Price, and Lugo, aren't they?
I'm not. Lugo did nothing heroic as a Red Sox player so he's not even a consideration. I don't particularly dislike Lackey or Price either. To me, they fall into the "they're assholes, but they're our assholes" category. Didn't like them prior to them coming to Boston but I fully appreciate what they did in the uniform. I'd put Gomes in that category too, especially after watching the re-broadcast of the Coco Crisp-James Shields brawl game last night. Gomes got some cheap shots in on Crisp after Navarro had tackled and pinned him to the ground (so did Carl Crawford). But I loved Gomes when he wore a Sox uniform.

My least favorite hero is Schilling and it isn't close. His shenanigans since he retired have taken some of the shine off the 2004 and to a lesser extent, the 2007 titles.
 

SocrManiac

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It’s hard to imagine anybody fitting this bill better than Schilling. He essentially wrote a blueprint for destroying a legacy after his career ended. Virtually every other player named here “wronged” the Sox somehow, either by playing their way out of town, not granting a hometown discount, being too expensive) or by virtue of just being unlikable celebrities before, during, and after their time in Boston.

Clemens was the first athlete to break my heart and taught me the business of sport. He then pretended to be a Yankee hero.

Damon, Boggs, and Ellsbury all moved to NY after being local cult heroes.

Manny... Goddamn, what a petulant child he became. This one may have stung me less personally because I’ve grown accustomed to this behavior in soccer players, but it was still damaging to his legacy.

Conversely, I think there have been players that have done this “correctly.” Pedro did. Of course, he did pretty much everything right.
 

ngruz25

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Jonathan Papelbon was a homegrown hero that recorded the last out of a World Series clinching game.

When was the last time you saw or heard anything about him? Besides coming to blows with Bryce Harper in the dugout?
 

pedro1918

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William Clemens of Ohio.

I'd really like him to stand alone, as I still throw up a little whenever I see him in a Red Sox uniform, but I can not leave out Schilling. There are others I didn't particularly care for but those two are tops of the list.
 

SoxJox

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Huge hero; also a nazi.
I understand the urge to sensationalize, but can we please tone down and eliminate this horribly offensive characterization? Jose, I am disappointed that you would choose this characterization.

For all of Shilling's faults, which have been reasonably been pointed out above (and with which I agree), to generally equate him to Hitler (yes, I know the actual comparison was to "Nazi"), is just not real. Shilling certainly is a political misfit for the general demographics of this board, but really.
 

Huntington Avenue Grounds

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1st and 2nd are locked up (Schill and Clemens) so the fight is for third. For my money the only worthy choice is Damon. Guy put the nail in the coffin in 2004 at the Toilet, then spoke of never signing there, then drank that toilet water. Dead to me. At least I can enjoy the 2004 highlights knowing he had to be cheered by MFY fans. Did we sign Bucky Dent in 1980?
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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I understand the urge to sensationalize, but can we please tone down and eliminate this horribly offensive characterization? Jose, I am disappointed that you would choose this characterization.

For all of Shilling's faults, to generally equate him to Hitler (yes, I know the actual comparison was to "Nazi"), is just not real. Shilling certainly is a political misfit for the general demographics of this board, but really.
The guy literally collects Nazi memorabilia. He might not be out goose-stepping, but the characterization isn't that far out of line.
 

jose melendez

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I understand the urge to sensationalize, but can we please tone down and eliminate this horribly offensive characterization? Jose, I am disappointed that you would choose this characterization.

For all of Shilling's faults, which have been reasonably been pointed out above (and with which I agree), to generally equate him to Hitler (yes, I know the actual comparison was to "Nazi"), is just not real. Shilling certainly is a political misfit for the general demographics of this board, but really.
Yeah, I thought about it and went with Nazi very deliberately. Way too much Nazi Schwag
 

SoxJox

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I'll just say this. I am a coin collector. I have acquired a number of silver Third Reich coins. So...am I a Nazi also? There are many reasons for people to collect things. To somehow assign a meaning or purpose to these things without knowledge is ludicrous.
 

Sandy Leon Trotsky

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Shilling. No doubt. The worst. Is he a nazi? Well no.... he's pretty close. Would he have been one had he been alive in Germany in the 30's? Without question. Would many other people that condemn Nazis? Probably too...... I'm half Jewish (well... full if you go by the whole matrilineal thing...) so I feel confident in saying I wouldn't... but there's a large chunk of Jews in Israel and around the world that are acting pretty fucking horribly IMO towards Palestinians.

Anyhow. Shilling. Papelbon. Beckett. Lackey.

I liked Price and didn't have any issues with him.
 

nighthob

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Jonathan Papelbon was a homegrown hero that recorded the last out of a World Series clinching game.

When was the last time you saw or heard anything about him? Besides coming to blows with Bryce Harper in the dugout?
Redemption stories are always good, I just don’t understand why we’re discussing them in this thread.

The guy literally collects Nazi memorabilia. He might not be out goose-stepping, but the characterization isn't that far out of line.
He collects WWII memorabilia, which will include Nazi German, Italian Fascist, and Soviet stuff. And let’s be clear, Soviet symbology is every bit as fucking offensive as Nazi symbology, but I don’t see anyone here pitching a fit at the board members that proudly fly the hammer & sickle.

Anyway, I was a Red Sox employee in the dark days of Clemens and Boggs, you have to go a looooong to bottom out those two human shites, and from what I understand Cabrera went the extra mile to hit that mark.
 

Wallball Tingle

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I liked the guy quite a bit, but I'm surprised Drew isn't on here yet...I guess he'd be here if he'd had one more big hit in the postseason. He catalyzed '07 ALCS Game 6 with the 2-out slam, had a nice World Series thereafter, broke K-Rod in the 9th during the ALDS of '08 (Game 2? it was in Anaheim anyway, huge homer to break a tie in the top of the inning), was a huge part of the comeback in '08 ALCS Game 5. If he'd gotten the big hit with the bases loaded and 2 out against Price late in '08 ALCS Game 7, he'd definitely qualify.
 

jose melendez

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I'll just say this. I am a coin collector. I have acquired a number of silver Third Reich coins. So...am I a Nazi also? There are many reasons for people to collect things. To somehow assign a meaning or purpose to these things without knowledge is ludicrous.
Too much goes together. The ideology, the stuff, the picture of his kid in a Nazi poncho. And if I recall there was some really messed up thing signed by Goering or something. Rev would know.
 

Seels

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I liked the guy quite a bit, but I'm surprised Drew isn't on here yet...I guess he'd be here if he'd had one more big hit in the postseason. He catalyzed '07 ALCS Game 6 with the 2-out slam, had a nice World Series thereafter, broke K-Rod in the 9th during the ALDS of '08 (Game 2? it was in Anaheim anyway, huge homer to break a tie in the top of the inning), was a huge part of the comeback in '08 ALCS Game 5. If he'd gotten the big hit with the bases loaded and 2 out against Price late in '08 ALCS Game 7, he'd definitely qualify.
I actually completely forgot he ever played here.
 

Hendu for Kutch

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The moment Ken Rosenthal sold out Jonny Gomes in front of the entire country for telling him what question to ask might have been a top 5 moment of the 2013 season for me.

The way he took over KC's rally despite not even playing in the playoffs was disgraceful and confirmed the things I hated him for here. The Hacksaw Jonny Gomes bits on T&R were spot on.

Of course, this is because Schilling is too obvious an answer.
 

biollante

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My father hated George Scott because he struck out too much and didn't put the ball in play. I hate Lugo because he played so well in Tampa and not here. Some of those guys in the late 60's and early 70's were pretty bad ~ Mike Andrews comes to mind. I don't hate ball players for their politics, but their attitude or inabilities.
 

richgedman'sghost

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My father hated George Scott because he struck out too much and didn't put the ball in play. I hate Lugo because he played so well in Tampa and not here. Some of those guys in the late 60's and early 70's were pretty bad ~ Mike Andrews comes to mind. I don't hate ball players for their politics, but their attitude or inabilities.
How the heck could you possibly hate Mike Andrews? He was a big part of the Impossible Dreamers in 1967 and then served as the director and chief fundraiser for the Jimmy Fund. I had an opportunity to meet with him a couple of times and he was a perfect gentleman. Could you list why you think Mike had a bad attitude? I'm shocked that in a thread filled with the names of Schilling Boggs Lackey etc you dare list Mike Andrews in the same sentence.
 

Steve Dillard

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Maybe he fails on the hero part (but there was a time he was the big acquisition to be a five tool middle of the order bat), but Carl Everitt seems an awful human being -- think Adrien Peterson level child raising skills. I guess Shea Hillebrand gets some guilt by association.
 

greek_gawd_of_walks

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Maybe he fails on the hero part (but there was a time he was the big acquisition to be a five tool middle of the order bat), but Carl Everitt seems an awful human being -- think Adrien Peterson level child raising skills. I guess Shea Hillebrand gets some guilt by association.
Everett came to my mind too. Between the Jurassic Carl/Curly-haired BF beef with Shaughnessy, the Kulpa incident, the really ugly remarks regarding homosexuality, the child abuse and whatever the fuck else he got into, Everett is right there with Wil Cordero.

Everett's "controversy" section is as long as his "playing career" section on the Wiki.

But he had a fantastic first season. And I'll always be grateful for the base knock to break up Mussina's perfect game.
 

BornToRun

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I have nothing but love for most of the people on this list. The big exception is Schilling. Dude was my first sports idol. I fucking dressed up as him for Halloween one year. Growing up and seeing someone you used to look up to turn into a massive pile of human garbage sucks. I hope he never gets into the HOF.
 

donutogre

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I have nothing but love for most of the people on this list. The big exception is Schilling. Dude was my first sports idol. I fucking dressed up as him for Halloween one year. Growing up and seeing someone you used to look up to turn into a massive pile of human garbage sucks. I hope he never gets into the HOF.
Yeah, that’s where I‘m at. I got into the Sox in the early 2000s and seeing him come here and completely kick ass and lead the team to a world series (at least from the pitching perspective) was thrilling as all hell. What’s happened in the last decade to his reputation is shocking and hard to stomach.
 
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Too much goes together. The ideology, the stuff, the picture of his kid in a Nazi poncho. And if I recall there was some really messed up thing signed by Goering or something. Rev would know.
Schilling earned some bonus points with the fake transgender female meme. That he thought it was a fair depiction of a TGF and/or that it was funny, was disgusting. I believe that was the knockout blow for his employment with ESPN.
 

jaytftwofive

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In the abscence of baseball, I've been watching a lot of old baseball, and it's gotten me thinking about players who gave heroic or memorable performances for the Sox, but I still kind of hate them.

The most obvious is Curt Schilling. Huge hero; also a nazi.

But there are others who aren't out nearly that far with whom I still wouldn't buy the proverbial domestic beer and go halfsies on a pizza.

Jon Lackey and Josh Beckett are the two that come to mind. So that gives me a villain from the 2004, 2007 and 2013 WS teams. I don't think I have anyone on the 2018

If I go back to the other AL champion of my life in 1986, it's Clemens.

So who are the people with great moments in Sox history who you still hate?
I don't look at Schilling for his political views(Which I mostly disagree with but it's free speech) He was always a great pitcher and a better postseason one, it was because he was such an egomaniac and thought everyone wanted his opinion on everything. It began with the Steroid hearing when he was there speaking, March 2005 and he wasn't even accused. Why are you are on there Curt? Just because you think everyone wants you opinion. Then he signed a one year deal after 07 for 08, retired then took the money of course. Then the Rhode Island debacle.
 
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Hendu for Kutch

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That fight had nothing to do with why I hated Gomes, and honestly I wouldn't have even recalled he was involved if I hadn't just seen that video. It does, however, match exactly what I would expect of Jonny Gomes.

I hated Jonny Gomes because he came across as one of the fakiest, douchiest people I've ever seen play baseball. And I am typically a huge player defender who hates the morality play so many people try and make of sports. But Gomes just always oozed douchebag to me. I just had a visceral hate for him. And a quick google search shows I'm not alone, even pre-2013:

https://deadspin.com/is-jonny-gomes-the-biggest-douchebag-in-baseball-5908002https://sportacalypse.wordpress.com/2012/07/25/jonny-gomes-why/https://mlb.nbcsports.com/2011/02/23/reds-outfielder-jonny-gomes-celebrated-news-of-adam-wainwrights-elbow-injury/
Nobody loved, respected, and wanted to hear about Jonny Gomes more than Jonny Gomes. I can't find video of his interview with Rosenthal after Game 6 in 2013, but he told Rosenthal to ask him a certain question so he could look really witty with his response. Rosenthal announcing that Gomes told him to ask the question was the greatest thing ever.

“There’s a lot of sabermetrics, there’s a lot of numbers and stuff. The whole WAR stat. But when you go to playoffs, you want me to go to war with.”
Look at this quote from Gomes and tell me he isn't the most self-important not-important guy you can imagine:

“There’s no stat for winning player,” Gomes said. “So it gets brushed under the rug. They talk about a player’s WAR [wins above replacement]? Well, how about a team WAR? I’ve turned a team around 20 games four different times. Worst to first. I was on a Tampa team that was historically bad in 2007 and then went to the World Series in 2008. The Reds hadn’t been in the playoffs for many years.

“When you’re building a team, I’m last on the list because, when the lights go out, you don’t see the player grind out at-bats or run hard to first base every time. Or see the player respect the game and his teammates . . . or see the way the player approaches the game, the work ethic.’’
And if you didn't pick up on it back then, how can you possibly ignore the Royals victory rally performance? Every feeling I ever had about the guy was confirmed. Gomes played 12 games with 34 plate appearances in the regular season and was not on the playoff roster for ANY of the playoff series. And yet, he took the microphone and talked for 3 minutes about what "we" did, not what "they" did. It'd be like Adam Hyzdu bragging about how "we" ended the curse.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZA4gs1yHBA


And then, the cherry on the top of the douche sundae. Gomes did this:



Because of course he did.
 

BornToRun

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What? No hate for Jim Rice? Guy is a total douchebag. Always has been.
I thought we were sticking to guys from the championship teams but, in that case, Roger Clemens. I love the loud mouthed, hard throwing Texas asshole archetype, it’s why I loved Beckett so much, but holy shit Roger is a terrible human being.