For Theo Epstein and the Boston Red Sox, this was not the plan going into the 2008 season. Forced to shelve Curt Schilling until at least the All-Star break and start the season with Josh Beckett on the disabled list, Boston had no choice but to thrust rising talent Clay Buchholz back into the limelight as the club’s fifth starter. The hope was that he could fill that role on the roster while the Sox waited for free agent Bartolo Colon, acquired late in spring training, to make two or three extra starts with Pawtucket before joining Boston’s rotation. Unfortunately, after starting the opener for the PawSox, Colon strained his oblique muscle, hindering his immediate path to the big league club and further entrenching Buchholz on the 25-man roster indefinitely.

To this point, Buchholz has had mixed success. At home, he has been exceptional; in three starts, he has allowed just two runs and averaged nearly six innings per start while posting a 1.04 ERA. On the road, he has been shelled in nearly every start except for a tough-luck 2-1 loss in Tampa on 26 April; take that game out of the equation, and the average is just over four innings and nearly six runs allowed with an ERA of 11.65. In total, he is 2-3 with a 5.53 ERA while the Sox have lost six of his eight starts.

Regardless, the Red Sox are looking long-term with Buchholz, who was signed in 2005 and just last season pitched at Double-A Portland before jumping to Triple-A Pawtucket at mid-season and then getting called up twice late in the season. As with other young pitchers in the system, Boston wants to keep pitch counts and innings pitched totals reasonable so as not to burn out those valuable arms while giving them at least a few years to develop in the minors. Ideally, Buchholz would have started the season with the PawSox and continued his development there; to the team’s credit, the Sox have continued to follow this convention, even at the likely cost of a few wins this season for the club.

The good news is that Colon looked strong in his recent start Saturday against Indianapolis, his first for Pawtucket since the opener; limited to just 55 pitches going into the game, the former Cy Young winner threw 49 over three innings of work, giving up one run on four hits while striking out two. The radar guns even recorded his fastball at 94 MPH and his pitches showed excellent movement, according to Pawtucket manager Ron Johnson.

His next start is scheduled for Thursday in Buffalo and he will likely make at least one more start before a move is made to bring him to Boston. At present, the club has a deadline of 01 June to place him on the club roster at a bargain cost of $1.25 million this season. If and when this happens, Buchholz will likely return to Pawtucket to resume his efforts to eventually become a permanent fixture in Boston.

Tags: Bartolo Colon, Boston Red Sox, Clay Buchholz, Curt Schilling, Josh Beckett, Pawtucket Red Sox, Theo Epstein

The numbers have been processed and the scores have been tallied. We have our top 25 Red Sox pitchers ready to be presented but, before we cycle through the best in team history, let’s see who just missed the cut. After all, these Boston legends were so close to making the rotation or the relief corps…

26. Curt Schilling
RHP, 2004-2008 - 53-29, 3.95 ERA, 574 SO, 9 SV, one All-Star selection
Sixteen years after being part of a mid-season deal that sent him to Baltimore for Mike Boddicker, Schilling returned in 2004 looking to “help break a 86-year-old curse” and did just that, giving his all in winning 21 games during the regular season, posting a 3.26 ERA and 203 strikeouts. He also posted nine saves in 2005 after coming off the disabled list to fill in for regular closer Keith Foulke. In his time here, he’s averaged 7.65 strikeouts against only 1.44 BB per nine innings pitched, placing him fourth and second all-time in franchise history and giving him a strikeout-to-walk ratio second only to Pedro Martinez.

27. Dick Radatz
RHP, 1962-1966 - 49-32, 2.65 ERA, 627 SO, 104 SV, two All-Star selections
He was “the Monster” before that name was given to the left-field wall at Fenway Park, throwing his arms up in triumph after finishing a game for the Sox. Between 1962 and 1965, he averaged 25 saves at a time that the statistic didn’t exist, and he often pitched two or three innings to earn it. He ranks first in hits allowed per nine innings pitched, second in strikeouts per nine innings pitcher, second in games finished, and ninth in WHIP (walks and hits per inning pitched)

28. Bruce Hurst
LHP, 1980-1988 - 88-73, 4.23 ERA, 1043 SO, one All-Star selection
He is arguably the best left-handed pitcher in recent years with Boston, a place where southpaws usually struggle. Between 1986 and 1988, he was a remarkable 33-9 at Fenway Park and, in team history, ranks second behind former Boston lefty Mel Parnell with 56 at the place the Red Sox call home. Hurst is one of only six pitchers to record at least 1000 strikeouts in a Boston uniform and also ranks seventh all-time in strikeouts per nine innings pitched.

29. Frank Sullivan
RHP, 1953-1960 - 90-80, 3.47 ERA, 72 CG, 821 SO, two-time All-Star selection
Sullivan was nothing short of a workhorse for the Red Sox during the 1950s. He twice won at least 15 games for the Sox, leading the league in wins with 18 and innings pitched with 260 in 1955 while posting a 2.91 ERA.

30. Roger Moret
RHP, 1970-1975 - 41-18, 3.43 ERA
The sidearm-throwing Moret twice led the American League in win percentage, going 13-2 and 1973 and 14-3 in 1975 for the Sox, though he started only about half of his appearances those seasons. In 1973, he started the season 11-0, including six straight starts at one point, which places him second only behind Roger Clemens for number of wins to start a season without a loss.

Tags: Boston Red Sox, Bruce Hurst, Curt Schilling, Dick Radatz, Frank Sullivan, Roger Moret

The numbers have been processed and the scores have been tallied. We have our top 25 Red Sox positional players ready to be presented but, before we cycle through the best in team history, let’s see who just missed the cut. After all, these Boston legends were so close to making the roster…

26. Frank Malzone
3B, 1955-1965, .276 BA, three-time Gold Glove winner, six-time All-Star
From 1957 through 1964, Malzone was Boston’s everyday third baseman, averaging around 15 home runs and just over 80 RBI per season. In 1957, he was the first player honored with a Gold Glove at third base, and he won it the following two years representing the American League. Five times, he started in the All-Star Game representing Boston. In team history, he ranks ninth in total hits with 1454.

27. Larry Gardner
3B, 1908-1917, .282 BA, 87 3B, 134 SB, 182 SF
When speed mattered, Gardner was one of the best in team history. He ranks fifth all-time in triples by a Boston player with 87, hitting 18 in 1912 and setting a personal best with 19 in 1914. He also swiped 134 bases with Boston, which also places him fifth in franchise history, and recorded 182 sacrifice hits, good enough for third all-time. Between 1912 and 1917, as Boston’s regular third baseman, he played part in three world championships; he later earned another ring with Cleveland and former Red Sox outfielder Tris Speaker in 1920.

28. Johnny Damon
CF, 2002-2005 - .295 BA, 461 R, 98 SB, two-time All Star
He may have been a self-proclaimed “idiot” but Damon was an integral part of the 2004 World Series champions, setting highs of 123 runs scored, 20 home runs, and 94 RBI while his long, dark locks chased him around the bases. In four seasons with Boston, he averaged 115 runs, nearly 25 stolen bases, and 75 RBI per season while averaging just under .300.

29. Ellis Burks
CF, 1987-1992, 2004 - .280 BA, 94 HR, 388 RBI, 95 SB, one Gold Glove
As a rookie, Burks was just the third player in team history to hits at least 20 HR and steal 20 bases in one season. When he was healthy, he was phenomenal; in 1988, he hit another 18 home runs, drove in 92, scored 93 times, and stole 25 bases while batting .294. He also displayed great range in center field, earning a Gold Glove in 1990. That same year, he earned his only All-Star selection with the team, hitting 21 home runs and batting .296 while also taking home Silver Slugger honors.

30. Trot Nixon
RF, 1996-2006 - .278 BA, 133 HR, 523 RBI, 547 R
Nixon was the true definition of a “dirt dog” - tough, gritty, and willing to do whatever was necessary for the team; that, in turn, earned him the admiration of not only his teammates but the Boston fans. In seven full seasons - not including the 2004 season in which he missed all but 48 games - he averaged 18 home runs and 71 RBI while showing great range in Fenway Park’s tricky right field.

Tags: Boston Red Sox, Ellis Burks, Frank Malzone, Johnny Damon, Larry Gardner, Trot Nixon

Over 1200 players have picked up a bat and over 700 players have thrown a pitch wearing a Boston uniform, so who has made the most of his opportunity with the franchise? FenwayFanatics.com, home to Boston Red Sox fans everywhere, presents a new series this season that takes a look at the all-time top 25 pitchers and positional players in franchise history. Players past and present who have played at least four years in Boston are ranked according to totals accumulated with the Red Sox through the end of the 2007 season.

To further qualify, pitchers must have started at least 50 games or made 100 appearances and thrown a minimum of 440 innings, while positional players must then have a combined totaled of at least 720 at-bats and walks and played a minimum of 200 games. Rankings are then decided strictly by regular season numbers, so post-season heroics don’t count here, nor do Cy Young and MVP awards, batting titles, no-hitters, and All-Star selections, among others outside factors.

Our inspiration comes from Baseball-Reference.com, the definitive site for statistics tied to every player in Major League Baseball history. In addition to providing the batting, pitching, and fielding statistics of each player, it also ranks players based on the statistics and accomplishments of former players elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. One of those is the Hall of Fame Career Standards measurement, which is used “…to measure the overall quality of a player’s career as opposed to single brilliance (peak value)…”[1] and based primarily on similar methods used by Bill James in his book, The Politics of Glory. From there, we tweaked the formula for our own use[2] and the results will be published here over the next six months. Stay tuned!

[1] Leader Glossary. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 07 April 2008.
[2] FenwayFanatics.com All-Time Top 25 Rankings Explained.

Tags: Boston Red Sox, top players

[Ed. Note: Thanks to Red Sox Connection for the tip on a great cause!]

When the World Series Champion Boston Red Sox return to Fenway Park for their 2008 home opener on Tuesday, 08 April, all of Red Sox Nation will have the opportunity to Rally Against Cancer simply by wearing a Red Sox hat or shirt to work or class. In honor of Rally Against Cancer Day, 08 April 2008, all businesses and schools throughout New England are asked to encourage their staff and students to wear their favorite Red Sox apparel to work or school that day. To Rally Against Cancer, employees and students must each pitch in $5 to help the Jimmy Fund’s quest to beat cancer. The top fundraising business and school team will each win a visit from Red Sox infielder Dustin Pedroia.

“Unfortunately, everyone can’t be at Fenway Park for the home opener,” says Pedroia, honorary chair of Rally Against Cancer, “so this is a great alternative for fans to show support for my two favorite home town teams, the Red Sox and the Jimmy Fund.” To get started, every team must designate a coach to help build the roster and the team’s fundraising total, which will be calculated at 11:00 PM on 08 April 2008. The coaches’ main job is to motivate co-workers and help the company or school become a sea of Red Sox gear on the day of the home opener. Interested businesses and schools can step up to the plate and register at www.rallyagainstcancer.org.

Almost everyone has been affected in some way by cancer. When you join the Rally, you help further cancer research while rooting for the Red Sox, and provide hope to adults and children being treated for cancer worldwide. “I’ve been to Dana-Farber and seen first-hand how overwhelming and life-altering cancer can be for families and patients,” adds Pedroia. “Rally Against Cancer is an easy and fun way for everyone to help the Jimmy Fund, ultimately giving hope to the people who are fighting this awful disease.” Rallying against cancer is as easy as putting on a Sox hat and T-shirt. It’s a great way to build team spirit among co-workers and students, and all contributions will be made and tallied online, eliminating the need to collect and/or send any cash.

For more information, contact Charles Savicki at 617-632-5420, visit www.rallyagainstcancer.org, or view a list of Frequently Asked Questions.

About The Jimmy Fund

The Jimmy Fund supports the fight against cancer at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, a world-renowned pioneer in discovering and developing innovative, effective cancer therapies for adults and children. Founded in 1948, the Jimmy Fund is an official charity of the Boston Red Sox.

Aside from the “controversy” surrounding Manny Ramirez’s annual late arrival to spring training, the biggest question in Fort Myers this pre-season remains as to who will take the mound in the ninth inning when the game is on the line this season. For Boston, there are four probable candidates that remain: Joel Pineiro, Brendan Donnelly, Manny Delcarmen, and J.C. Romero. Hideki Okajima, who played last season in Japan for the Nippon Ham Fighters and has experience as a closer in the past, has already been tabbed as a middle reliever, as has Julian Tavarez. Mike Timlin had been given limited consideration, having held the position as recently as 2005 when Keith Foulke went on the DL at mid-season, but he has been sidelined almost the entire spring with a strained left oblique; he threw only as recently as last Friday and has yet to see game action as he tries to get ready for his 17th major league season.

It is also clear that Boston has no intention of moving Jonathan Papelbon back into the fireman’s role, despite having saved 35 games for the Red Sox last season before a shoulder subluxation end his season in early September of last season. Though many feel that Papelbon might be cast back in that role if Boston is unsuccessful in finding a suitable successor, the team believe that the routine of pitching every five days will strengthen his arm and limit the chances of another injury with an eye on the future success of the franchise. So far this spring, he is 0-1 with a 2.08 ERA in three appearances and made his first start Saturday afternoon on a limited pitch count, giving up two runs on five hits, one walk, and five strikeouts in 3-2/3 innings of work.

So then who will likely walk out of camp with the same role that Papelbon held in 2006? Pineiro was the early favorite going into camp and had what appeared on paper like two good appearances last week, not yielding a single run and striking out four. In fact, the only pitcher of the four to yield a run was Romero, who gave up a solo shot to Neil Walker of the Pittsburgh Pirates. However, digging down below the surface, one statistic that should catch a pitching coach’s eye is a pitcher’s WHIP, or walks plus hits allowed per innings pitched. The better pitchers tend to hover around 1.00, while coaches like to see a number less than one from a closer, because every walk and hit allowed translates to base runners, and no one wants to have a pinch runner standing on first or second in a one-run game, no matter the number of outs (think Dave Roberts, Red Sox and Yankees fans). Consider, too, that Mariano Rivera and Trevor Hoffman, two of the best closers in the history of the game, have career WHIP of 1.040 and 1.045, respectively.

Last season, Papelbon’s WHIP was an astonishing 0.78, which meant that for every four innings that he pitched, he allowed just three base runners. Taking this into account, let’s look again at the candidates. Pineiro, in the same two appearances last week, gave up three hits and one walk in 2-2/3 innings of work for a WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitch) of 1.72; over seven appearances the spring, he stands at 1.85. Donnelly, again given strong consideration, managed a WHIP of 1.50 last week, just below his average this spring of 1.80, also in seven appearances. Delcarmen, the dark horse candidate who will more likely work out of the bullpen this year as a short reliever, registered a WHIP of just 0.50 last week, and his average now stands at 1.50 in six appearances this spring.

So your leading candidate, surprise, is Romero, who has two saves to his credit in eight years with the Minnesota Twins and most recently the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. In his two starts last week, the only base runner he allowed was when Walker circled the bases; otherwise, he posted a WHIP of 0.50. What is even more encouraging is that, in six appearances and 6-2/3 innings of work, his WHIP is a convincing 0.90. His ERA is also a remarkable 1.35; the home run is the only earned run that he has given up this spring, while Pineiro has given up four and Donnelly and Delcarmen have each given up five. Of course, a pitcher’s WHIP is just one statistic of many that the coaches will need to go through before the team makes its final decision; it should also be noted that having a bad spring does not necessarily translate into a bad summer. However, given what is known about being successful when the game is on the line and that these four-plus weeks of Grapefruit League action will be the sole measuring stick, that single statistic might be very telling as to who may be called on with a one or two-run lead in the ninth inning for the Red Sox in 2007.

The selection committee for the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame isn’t due to make a decision on the next list of nominees until more than a year from now, and the next induction ceremony isn’t scheduled to take place until November of 2008, but just whose career as a Red Sox player or manager might be worthy enough to earn enshrinement at that time? (We won’t consider non-uniformed honorees here nor will we consider a “memorable moment” from team history.) To be eligible, players must have played a minimum of three years with the team and have been out of uniform as an active player for another three years; former managers are generally chosen well after leaving Boston, as was the case for “Walpole” Joe Morgan and Dick Williams, two 2006 inductees. We are also going to shy away from more recent candidates who will be eligible when the next vote is expected, like John Valentin, Mo Vaughn, and Ellis Burks, simply because selections usually happen longer than three or so years after leaving the game. So, in no particular order, are five candidates for consideration:

1. Don Zimmer

Younger Red Sox fans might remember him more as the old guy who Pedro Martinez tossed to the side in the midst of an on-field melee at Fenway Park during the 2003 ALCS, but “Zim” led Boston over four years at the helm, taking over for Darrell Johnson after the latter was fired midway through a disasterous 1976 campaign. In 715 games as manager, he won 411 contests and finished with better than 90 wins in every season between 1977 and 1979 before being dumped unceremoniously seven games before the end of the 1980 campaign. He also served 2-1/2 seasons under Johnson as Boston’s third base coach and returned for one season in 1992 as Butch Hobson’s bench coach. Older fans often remember him as the manager who watched the Red Sox blow a 14-1/2 game lead in July of 1978, and then witnessed Bucky Freakin’ Dent hit a home run in a one-game playoff at Fenway to lose the AL East crown that same season, but that team also managed to win 99 games, the fourth-most wins ever in a season in franchise history. He was, in the words of Johnny Pesky: “…an innovator, a student of the game, and an excellent day-to-day manager.”[1]

2. Earl Wilson

Wilson owns the distinction of being the first African-American pitcher in Red Sox team history, breaking the color barrier by hurling a scoreless one-inning relief appearance in late July of 1959; three days later, he made his first ever start. He also threw a no-hitter at Fenway Park in June of 1962, helping his own cause with a home run, and becoming the first black major league pitcher to throw an American League no-hitter. In seven seasons with Boston, Wilson won 56 games for clubs that finished at or near the bottom of the league standings. After a trade to Detroit midway through the 1966 campaign, Wilson’s career took off as he further blossomed and won another 64 games with the Tigers. Wilson was also regarded as one of baseball’s greatest power-hitting pitchers, hitting 35 home runs during his career and all but two of them while in the game as a pitcher. He even hit two in one game with the Red Sox in 1965.

3. Dutch Leonard

Leonard pitched for six seasons in Boston between 1913 and 1918, posting 90 wins and a 2.14 ERA with 769 strikeouts in that span. He also won both of his World Series starts, once in 1915 and another in 1916, as the Red Sox won back-to-back world championships. He may be best remembered, however, for posting an amazing 0.96 ERA in 1914, the modern baseball record, while going 19-5 in 36 starts. He also threw two no-hitters in his Red Sox career, once in August of 1916 and again two years later in June of 1918. Unfortunately, due to shipbuilding and millitary obligations, he missed most of the 1918 season, losing out on the opportunity to be part of a third world championship.

4. Bill Lee

“Spaceman” made a name for himself more due to his unique personality but few people remember that he was actually a great pitcher during the mid-1970s, winning 17 games in three straight seasons between 1973 and 1975. After beginning his career in the bullpen, Lee was made a permanent fixture of the rotation in 1973 and responded with 16 wins in 33 starts and an overall 17-11 record with a 2.75 ERA, enough to earn him his only All-Star appearance. After posting a 17-15 record the following season, he went 17-9 in 1975 during Boston’s pennant-winning season. 16 of those wins came between May and August to help the Red Sox distance themselves from their division rivals; he also enjoyed a stretch of eight straight appearances between early July and mid-August that included seven starts without a loss, including four straight complete game victories, and compiled a 6-0 record with a 3.14 ERA during that span. He would finish his Boston career with 94 wins and a 3.64 ERA to his credit, along with enough off-the-wall comments made during his career to create a Fenway Park legend.

5. Mike Greenwell

“Gator” became a Fenway Park fixture in 1987 and spent ten seasons with the club, averaging .303 at the plate while hitting 133 home runs with the only team he ever knew. An All-Star twice, he provided a solid and reliable presence in the team’s lineup during his tenure, perhaps best demonstrated with the fact that he averaged a strikeout only once every 3-1/2 games and posted a .368 career on-base percentage, twice recording an OBP of .400 or better. Greenwell finished fourth in his rookie season for American League Rookie of the Year honors and finished second a year later in the MVP race to Jose Canseco. In most years, he was the team’s everyday left fielder, following in the hallowed footsteps of legends like Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski, and Jim Rice, and managed a respectable .982 fielding percentage playing in front of the wall at Fenway Park. He is also one of just 18 Red Sox players to hit for the cycle and hit an inside-the-park grand slam against the Yankees at home in September of 1990.

[1] Pesky, J. and Pepe, P. Few and Chosen: Defining Red Sox Greatness Across the Eras. 2004, Triumph Books, Chicago, IL. 170 pp.

With the first pitch of the Grapefruit League season coming at the end of this month and Opening Day just 58 days from now, it won’t be long before the Red Sox, version 2007, begin their quest for a second World Series championship in four years. So what’s on people’s minds as pitchers and catchers prepare to report to Fort Myers on 16 February?

1. What is the situation with the closer’s role?

The only certainty right now is that Jonathan Papelbon, despite the success of a year ago, has been moved into the starting rotation due to management’s concerns that the intense demands of the closer’s role will shorten what appears to be a promising career. The likely front-runner for the job is Joel Piñeiro, who had been a starter for most of his career in Seattle until late last season when the Mariners decided to move him into a setup role out of the bullpen. Newcomer Brendan Donnelly is another possibility, having been used as a setup man with the Los Angeles Angels, as is Julián Tavárez, who does have experience in the role.

2. Will Daisuke Matsuzaka deliver as promised?

Preseason polls already predict that “Dice-K” will win Rookie of the Year honors like fellow countyman Ichiro Suzuki did with Seattle in 2001. He has a history of success in Japan and Boston was so eager to get him that they levied the largest bid ever, $51.1 million, just for the rights to negotiate with him (the next highest bid was for around $36 million by the New York Mets). If he is as good as they say he is, then he might be the second coming of Pedro Martinez, who arrived in Boston at around the same time in his career with the best years still ahead of him. The only concern might be whether Matsuzaka will tire as the season progresses, being that he is used to pitching only every seven days as is the standard rotation on Japanese teams.

3. Is J.D. Drew’s health a risk to this team?

Shoulder surgery cut short Drew’s 2005 campaign but the former first round draft pick responded well in 2006, playing in a career high 146 games. Despite findings by Red Sox team doctors, the organization felt strongly enough that Drew’s potential over at least the next three seasons was worth the risk. Otherwise, why risk an average of $14 million per season? Drew brings patience to the plate (a career .393 OBP, which places him 15th among active players) with the ability to drive balls to any field, and he provides insurance behind both David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez. Plus, the Sox have backup insurance plans in Wily Mo Peña and the forgotten Eric Hinske.

4. Will the defense be as strong as it was last season, especially with a new middle infield?

It’s going to be near impossible to match what Boston did defensviely last season, coming within reach of the record for fewest errors allowed by a team in a single season. The primary reason for that success was with the combination of Alex Gonzalez and Mark Loretta, who commited just four and seven errors, respectively, at their positions (though neither won Gold Gloves). In contrast, Julio Lugo, the new shortstop, commited 16 errors in time split between Tampa Bay and Houston last season and rookie Dustin Pedroia commited three errors in 27 games at second at the tail end of the 2006 campaign. Mike Lowell and Kevin Youkilis will still anchor the corners as they did last season, having commited six and five errors, respectively. Boston appears willing to sacrifice talent defensively this season for the opportunity to gain more at the plate, so we just have to hope the expected increase in errors don’t come at inopportune times.

5. Can the Red Sox stay healthy?

What was key to Boston’s success in 2004 was the absolute downfall of last season. First, Coco Crisp hurt himself a week into the season and never seemed to deliver on the promise of his talents. Then, after trading away Bronson Arroyo in spring training, David Wells went down after just a few starts and the Red Sox were forced to scramble for a fifth starter. Other key injuries followed, especially late in the season, to players like Jason Varitek, Tim Wakefield, Curt Schilling, Lowell, Peña, and Trot Nixon. Going into spring training, Boston seems prepared if the situation arises again in the rotation. Pineiro has experience as a starter as does Tavarez, and Jon Lester should start the season in Pawtucket so that he can continue to develop and perfect his game, should the need arise. Boston also has contingency plans with what appears to be a strong bench (Alex Cora, Peña, and Hinske) and the bullpen appears well-stocked. Of course, you never can truly plan for health issues but the Sox appear to at least be better prepared this year.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Baseball Hall of Fame will announce the results of the Baseball Writers of America Association (BBWAA) vote for the newest members to baseball’s shrine of immortals. Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken, Jr., both first-time candidates, are expected to receive better than the necessary 75 percent of the vote and there are legimate reasons for another first-timer, Mark McGwire, to earn enshrinement, depending on how the voters perceive whether allegations of illicit drug use are enough to keep him out of the hall, at least initially.

Another candidate, who will be making his 13th appearance on the ballot, is Jim Rice, who last year earned nearly 65 percent of the vote and has picked up steam in recent years, in large part thanks to campaigning by the Red Sox organization as well as the undeniable fact that, between 1975 and 1986, he was the most feared hitter in baseball. In that stretch, he averaged .304 with 29 home runs and 106 RBI each season, responsible enough for him to earn eight All-Star nods. He also finished in the top five of the MVP vote six times during that stretch, winning his only award in 1978 when he stroked 46 home runs, led the league with 139 RBI, and batted .315, just twenty points behind league-leader Rod Carew. He also collected an amazing 406 total bases that season, the first to have 400 or more total bases in a single season since Hank Aaron in 1959 and a feat that’s been matched since only six times. Among his other distinctions during that stretch was winning the home run title three times (1977, 1978, and 1983) and having the highest RBI total twice (1978 and 1983).

Perhaps what has held him back for so many years is the fact that Rice is just shy of some of the “magic numbers” needed for automatic consideration; he finished 18 home runs shy of the 400 mark and two points shy of a .300 batting average, and he was just a few dominant seasons short of reaching 3,000 hits. As dominant as he was for those twelve seasons, injuries slowed him down over his final three seasons from 1987 through 1989, in which hit just 58 home runs and averaged just .263.

However, talk with anyone who played for Boston in that stretch, or speak to any pitcher who had to face Rice at his best, and the response is consistent: he was a force at the plate and a leader in the clubhouse. Though election this year will probably not happen due to a strong class of first-timers, chances are very good that his plaque will be hanging in the same hall along with other Red Sox greats like Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski, and Carlton Fisk. Soon after, it would not be surprising to see his old number 14 hanging on the right field façade, which has not been worn since by another Red Sox player.

With a solo shot over the bullpens in right field on Thursday night at Fenway Park, Boston designated hitter David Ortiz became the all-time Red Sox single-season home run leader with 51 home runs. His third home run in his past five starts surpassed former Boston slugger Jimmie Foxx, who belted 50 home runs for the Sox in 1938, the same year he also won his second American League MVP award. On Wednesday night, Ortiz hit a solo shot into the Monster Seats off Minnesota Twins pitcher Boof Bosner to reach the mark in just 141 games; during his campaign, Foxx needed 149 games to reach the same plateau. For Ortiz, the record-setting blast came from the first pitch of the evening that he saw from Twins ace Johan Santana, easily reaching the bleacher seats past the Red Sox bullpen.

Later, in the seventh inning, Ortiz added another solo blast to dead center off pitcher Matt Guerrier, giving him 52 for the season. The two blasts also gave him 45 home runs as the designated hitter, breaking the major league record of 43 he set last season. In four years with Boston, “Big Papi” has struck 171 home runs during the regular season. In contrast, teammate Manny Ramirez has hit 159 home runs over that same time frame.