Number 21
Boston Stats (1996-2002): 23-8 W/L, 261 G, 307.1 IP, 257 H, 147 BB, 270 K, 3.78 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 5 SV.
El Guapo has made Pablo Sandoval look svelte, but he could pitch. Did an excellent job as a set-up man with a hard sinker. Done at age 31 when his arm just went dead. Hung around the minors for several years, but never captured the magic again. A huge (pun intended) fan favorite.
Number 20
Boston Stats (1969-78): 94-68 W/L, 321 G (167 GS), 1503.1 IP, 1627 H, 448 BB, 578 K, 3.64 ERA, WHIP 1.38, 8 SV.
Reputation as a real flake, but those who saw “Spaceman” pitch realized he was a very good pitcher. Lee’s first four seasons were almost strictly bullpen (116 games), but then he moved into the rotation for a string of productive seasons. Occasionally Lee would return to the bullpen and could best be described as a “crafty lefty” with his ability to move the ball around. Not overpowering.
Number 19
Boston Stats (1957-62): 39-35 W/L, 286 G (28 GS), 642.2 IP, 655 H, 245 BB, 342 K, 4.08 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 48 SV.
Fornieles – a right-hander – was essentially the closer on some awful Red Sox teams. Was actually an All-Star in 1961 thanks to an awful team and the game – or one of them – being played in Boston.
Number 18
Boston Stats 91966-68): 14-13 W/L, 110 G, 175.2 IP, 139 H, 72 BB, 142 K, 2.92 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 29 SV.
There is only one reason Wyatt makes the list -1967. Wyatt was the closer with 20 saves and a 10-7 record for the “Impossible Dream” Red Sox. A hard-throwing right-hander with a rather pedestrian career, but he’ll get props from me for ’67.
Number 17
Boston Stats (1995-2011): 186-168 W/L, 590 G (430 GS), 3006 IP, 2931 H, 1095 BB, 2046 K, 4.41 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 22 SV.
Ranked low on my list since Wakefield was primarily a starter, but in parts of his Boston career Wake would start, close, set-up and pitch long innings out of the bullpen. Not as noted as Kinder or Stanley in that role, but still dependable.