Why Can't We Get Players Like That? by Jared Carrabis
Kotsay leads the charge, as Sox get blown out


On a night where the Red Sox's pitching staff allowed 12 runs on 19 hits, Mark Kotsay's 3 RBI would have been enough regardless.

First it was Julio Lugo getting sent from Boston for a player who never saw a single at bat in a Red Sox uniform. In his first 30 games with the St. Louis Cardinals, Lugo has raked his way to a .322 average, with 2 HR, 3 triples, 8 doubles and 16 runs scored, which is good for a .930 OPS.

After taking a whipping in the Bronx at the hands of the New York Yankees for eight earned runs, the Red Sox cut ties with Hall of Famer-to-be, John Smoltz. From there, Smoltz joined Lugo in St. Louis. In his first start with the red birds, Smoltz racked up nine strikeouts during a five-inning, three-hitter. In his time with Boston, Smoltz struck out more than six batters just once (7) and never kept the opposing team off the scoreboard during his tenure in a Red Sox uniform.

The most recent departure from Boston was that of Brad Penny. The Yankees seem to be the team who send under-performing Boston pitching packing. His last start donning his high red socks, Penny allowed eight earned runs on ten hits against the Bombers over four innings. After being granted his release from the Red Sox's organization, Penny signed on with the contending San Francisco Giants. In his first start with the black and orange, Penny tossed eight shutout innings against the defending World Series Champion Philadelphia Phillies. Not only had Penny never completed eight innings with Boston, he never tossed seven complete innings.

After missing the first two months of the 2009 season with Boston, Mark Kotsay played in 27 games with red socks before turning them in for a white pair, after finding himself as the odd man out when the Red Sox acquired Adam Laroche from the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The 13-year veteran packed his bags and signed on with the Chicago White Sox after being designated for assignment by Boston. The move was not an easy one, as Kotsay was an ever-present personality in the Red Sox's clubhouse. He was a leader and did whatever was asked of him in order to better the team.

Terry Francona had nothing but praise for Kotsay upon his departure from Boston, "It doesn’t make it a fun decision or a fun message. This is a guy who came in last year and immediately became a leader in our clubhouse."

Regardless, Kotsay was the immediate difference-maker yet again. Only this time, it wasn't for the better of Tito's squad. Since joining Chicago on July 29, Kotsay saved his first home run in a White Sox uniform for his former team. In the bottom of the second inning, Kotsay mashed a two-run home run off of Paul Byrd en route to a 3-for-4 night with 3 RBI, while playing two positions.

This, of course, was the most frustrating of former Sox players' successes. We all kicked the dirt when Lugo started to produce like crazy for St. Louis, our jaws all hit the floor when Smoltz looked like he was 26-years-old in his first start for the Cards and it was almost comedic to read Penny's line after his first start in San Francisco. However, Kotsay's big night on Friday was the first time that a departed Red Sox player's success actually affected Boston first-hand.

Francona depleted his bench, as eighteen players took the field for Boston in Chicago's twelve-run rout of the Red Sox. Byrd got knocked around the yard for seven earned runs on ten hits over two-and-a-third.

"It was totally unacceptable for me," said Byrd. "I shoulder the blame. I dropped the ball here, and we'll see if I can't get it going my next time."

Nice guy or not, in a pennant race like this, after an outing like that, there may not be a "next time."

After being yanked from Boston's rotation, newly appointed long-man, Junichi Tazawa was no better than Byrd was. Tazawa allowed five more earned run on seven hits over three-and-two-thirds of an inning.

Regardless of the pounding that Byrd took on Friday, he remains optimistic as the Red Sox look to erase this game from their minds as soon as possible. "I'm taking this whole thing a day at a time," said Byrd. "I want another shot to get out there and start. I'm foaming at the mouth to get back out there and be the pitcher that I am."

Final Score: Red Sox 2, White Sox 12

Things you'll need to know to impress your friends:

Chicago's 12-2 drumming of the Red Sox was manager Ozzie Gullien's 500th victory as a big league skipper.

The Red Sox were 1-for-3 with runners in scoring position, which is a bad sign in all cases. Not only did they have one hit with men in scoring position, but they only had men in scoring position on three separate occasions.

The seven earned runs allowed by Paul Byrd against the White Sox were the most surrendered by the right-hander since August 11, 2007.

As a team, the Red Sox left sixteen men on base.

Of all the eighteen Red Sox players who were entered into Friday night's contest, nobody had more than one hit.

Saturday's pitching match-up:

Saturday's 4:05pm start will see the return of Tim Wakefield (again). Feels like just yesterday that we were saying "return" and "Tim Wakefield" in the same sentence, because it pretty much was yesterday. After receiving a cortisone shot in his back to relieve him of his troubling pain, the 2009 All Star will toe the rubber for the second time since July 8. In his career, Wakefield is 38-26 in the month of August and in sixteen appearances at U.S. Cellular Field, he has kept opponents to a .251 batting average. His opponent, Gavin Floyd, has a career 4.98 ERA against Boston.

Eye on the scoreboard:

Rangers 5, Orioles 1
Yankees 0, Blue Jays 6
Tigers 4, Rays 3

Result: Tonight would have been a huge victory for Boston had they won. But, we can't play the "What if" game, so instead, the Sox remain 7.5 games out in the American League East and fail to drive Tampa Bay further out of playoff contention. Instead, the Rays stay put at six games behind Boston, as the Texas Rangers pull within two games of the Red Sox in the Wild Card standings.

One Fan's Story: If This Hat Could Talk Now excerpts available!

So, it's been exactly a week since my book has been released, and I must admit, I'm very flattered with the amount of support that has come in. I'm pleased to say that the most common response from Sox fans who have already purchased the book has been, "I can't put it down!"

It's a good feeling to know that almost two years of very, very hard work has paid off. I could never place a value on the satisfaction of my readers, for it is the greatest feeling of all.

I've taken the time to sign every single copy that has left the warehouse and have personalized every book that a fan has requested. I'd be more than happy to sign and personalize every last book until they are gone.

I'm happy to announce that we've just launched a page on SoxSpaceNews.com specifically designed to give the SoxSpace readers more information on my debut book! There, you will find the book's teaser and the list of chapters. You will notice that when you click each chapter, an excerpt from that specific chapter will scroll down. Not all of the chapters have excerpts available, but I'd say more than 85% of the chapters are available.

In the next few days, we'll be adding a feature for readers to submit fan reviews on the book and they will be posted directly on the site to help other readers get an idea on what the book will provide for them.

The first edition is only 1,000 copies and they're going quick! Pick up your copy today!

You can check out the new page by clicking HERE!

Thank you to all of the SoxSpace readers for your understanding, as it has been a hard week for my family and for myself after the passing of my Nana. Blog posts will now go back to their normal pace of being published.

-Jared Carrabis

To order my debut book, One Fan's Story: If This Hat Could Talk, click HERE!





Published on September 05, 2009

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