“Oil Can” has no regrets
In the midst of all the Red Sox pitching questions, in steps Dennis “Oil Can” Boyd. Yes, I agree with you all, impeccable timing. The point, I imagine, as I am writing a book too, to stir up some press and curiosity about his upcoming autobiography ‘They Call Me Oil Can’. Before I get started on “Oil Can” I would just like to add, as far as Red Sox pitching is concerned, I have always loved a great mystery, and with spring training just 6 days away, we won’t have to wait long to see what tricks are up their sleeves. If Bovada’s 2012 stats say 11-1 to win the World Series, I say “Watch me work!” And now back to “Oil Can.”
Let’s start with the basic news on Mr. Boyd. On Wednesday, former Red Sox pitcher Dennis “Oil Can” Boyd admitted that two thirds of the time he was pitching a game he was on cocaine. He spent eight of his ten years in the majors pitching for the Red Sox. He goes on to add that there was not a single ball park he was not under the influence at staying up till four or five in the morning. And that his career was cut short for “a lot of reasons”, but he was not doing anything “hundreds of other ball players” weren’t doing and that was in fact, how he learned it.
He then suggests that his team did not rally around or show him support except for the veteran players. (Is it really a good idea to throw your teammates under the bus because you had a drug problem? Grown men do not need to be coddled about a self-destructive tendency.) He then explains why he got a worse reputation than many others. (Please do not stop reading after my next sentence) Because, wait for it, HE’S BLACK.
Suddenly, everything makes sense all the way back to that Mets-Red Sox World Series in 86 where we could not call in Boyd, because he was “indisposed”. By indisposed it probably means that he was living some horrible and brutal racist threats and poundings in the locker room Jackie Robinson style? A quick Boyd quote, “I lived through my life and I feel good about myself. I have no regrets about what I did or said about anything that I said or did. I’m a stand-up person and I came from a quality background of people.” Really, then why are you trashing the Red Sox players and fans?
Clearly, he never disappointed any fans or let down his teammates EVER. Forget about the fact he was paid several million dollars to do a job and not only did he snort it but he did it so much he couldn’t perform. I won’t even touch on how he kept the curse alive. How many times did he have to watch Mookie Wilson’s ball go through Buckner’s legs? Degrading a game that loved him? No regrets?
I love Field of Dreams. How dare he stand on that pitching mound at Fenway representing something in a beautiful way and then turn it to dust. No regrets? This all happened because he was black? Take some responsibility. He failed his fans, his team, the game, and himself, bottom line. Refusing to go to rehab, does not seem like racism to me. It’s selfishness.
I think we have spent enough time with “Oil Can” and about his not having any regrets. I have no interest in reading his autobiography, or seeing his role as Satchel Paige in the upcoming movie about Jackie Robinson, I truly hope after this disgrace to baseball he gets pulled from his role. I do want you all to know, with spring training 6 days away, big things are going to be happening for Boston, and I believe in our pitchers. I believe in the little guys. I believe come what may, Red Sox fans aren’t scared.