Red Sox: Worst pitchers in franchise history
The Boston Red Sox have had a history of some awful pitchers and here are a few that I remember. Some may have been a success, but only elsewhere.
The travels continue as I explore the worst pitchers I ever saw in a Red Sox uniform. Statistically, they may have had others who simply were more atrocious on the atrocious scale, but there is something that sets these special inductees apart. Maybe it was style? Maybe the fact that every time I saw them something bad was in the works?
The Red Sox have an extensive list to draw candidates from and I will avoid going into the history of the team – especially the 1920s. From the mid-1950s on a cornucopia of dysfunctional pitching exists. Fortunately, as the Red Sox become more competitive a weaning process takes place where incompetence usually results in a quick exit from the roster.
Some that I mentioned had respectable careers, but it was elsewhere. Boston often became the last port of call for hanging on in “The Show.” The 1960s are especially a robust time period for selecting less than talented mound artist – I could have cherry picked many from 1961-66.
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As with other “worst lists,” this as purely subjective, but some of the statistics certainly give a clear indication of why they are being “honored.” I am sure some have escaped my notice and others can gladly fill in the appropriate blanks.
Way Back
John Wasdin had the nickname “Way Back Wasdin” and it seemed quite appropriate for his propensity for giving up the long ball. Wasdin gave up 28 home runs in 199.2 innings he pitched for the Red Sox. For the Fenway Faithful, it appeared every one of those home runs cost a game.
The Red Sox had a dilemma with Wasdin. As a starting pitcher, Wasdin was best considered a number five, but that was an insult to most pitchers who resided in the depths of the rotation. As a relief pitcher, you were walking a home run tightrope with Wasdin on the mound. A pitcher who gives up the long-ball is to be avoided when men are on base.
The Red Sox had seen enough and decided to cut bait and move Wasdin on. So where do you send a pitcher who gives up home runs? What team would assume such a pitching risks? Why the Colorado Rockies and Coors Field – the perfect destination. Wasdin’s old habits surfaced with nine home runs at Coors in just 36.1 innings pitched.
An international mistake
Byung-Hyun Kim was signed to a two-year deal by the Red Sox that Theo Epstein later, so eloquently put as, “a mistake.” Theo was quite insightful in his assessment of the South Korean right-hander. Kim was most noted for having the New York Yankees use him as a batting tee in the 2001 World Series and giving the Fenway fans “The Finger” after a chorus of boos celebrated his being pulled from a game.
The first time I saw Kim pitch I thought I was watching women’s softball until I realized the gals threw harder. I am still of the notion Kim was a North Korean agent planted with the design of destroying our faith in the national pastime.
Submarine style pitchers are supposed to keep the ball down and that is translated into keeping the HR/9 at a reduced level. Brad Ziegler was 0.3 in 2016, but Kim finished his career at 1.0. In Boston it was surprisingly low – 0.7. Did I see every one of them?
Reflecting back on the Kim record in Boston it does not appear that sour. In 2003 Kim rotated between the rotation and the bullpen getting 16 saves, but going 3-6 as a starter. An ankle injury may have decreased his efficiency, but that did little to calm the fan base. Kim was gone after only two seasons.
A Heathcliff dog
The Heathcliff comic strip by George Gatley centers around a rather pugnacious feline – Boston had a Heathcliff, but it was a dog and not a cat.
For a season and a half, the Boston Red Sox had a closer that would make every game an adventure with quite possibly the most consistently nerve-racking pitching I have seen from the bullpen – say hello to Heathcliff Slocumb.
The numbers for Slocumb in Boston were dazzling depending upon how you wish to define dazzling. Slocumb appeared in 124 games for the Red Sox and finished with a 5-10 record and a 4.02 ERA. That scratches the surface as what will certainly jump out to any observer of the statistics is a BB/9 of 6.2.
In 1996 Slocumb was presentable with a 5-5 record and a 3.02 ERA. That first season Slocumb managed 31 saves and had eight blown saves, but the BB/9 was 5.9 and his K/9 was 9.5. In 1997 it was a disaster. A Slocumb appearance was greeted by hitters as a new load of trash would be by seagulls at a landfill. Off to Seattle, where Slocumb saved 10 games in 11 tries, but managed to continue to issue free passes in droves with a BB/9 of 4.8.
The lasting legacy of Slocumb is the trade with Seattle for Derek Lowe and Jason Varitek.
A Brown out
I do recall seeing Mike Brown occasionally get a batter retired. It did happen. Brown played for the Red Sox for five years and earned a ring for being on the 1986 squad – at least for part of the season before being traded to Seattle.
Brown was a second-round pick for Boston in 1980 and the right-hander eventually made it to Boston in 1982. Brown’s advancement was rather rapid as he bypassed Triple-A ball and got a brief trial with the Red Sox as an end of season call-up.
Brown’s projected promise never materialized and eventually his Boston days came to a close. The stat line about sums up a disappointing career (12-18, 5.57) as a part-time starter and occasional bullpen pitcher. I was a semi-regular at Pawtucket games and saw Brown pitch several times with results similar to those he had in the majors.
Brown moved on to Seattle for a brief stay and then out of the bigs. A Brown start was one that you knew would not result in a win, but in frustration for the fans and for Brown.
Mr. Tuffett watches the home runs fly away
Billy Muffett is on my list simply because of one of the great quotes I have heard in baseball. When asked about his poor pitching performances Muffett responded with: “My problem is I lose too many one-run games- 10-9, 8-7.” That about sums up the pitching competency of Muffett.
Muffett’s first season in Boston was 1960 and he showed some ability with a 6-4 record and 3.24 ERA. Then came 1961 and a team that was a wreck and so was Muffett. Muffett dragged on and posted a 3-11 tab, but his ERA ballooned to 5.67.
I remember the occasional song or rhyme of ridicule aimed at Muffet: “Little Mr. Muffin sat on the mound watching the home runs fly away.”
Muffett returned to the Red Sox in 1962 for just one start before being released. The next few season’s Muffett toiled in the minors never to resurface at the major league level. That quote deserves some place of honor for his insightful analysis of his pitching.
A few quick hits
Matt Young managed two seasons with the Red Sox and like Cy Young pitched a no-hitter. However, Matt lost his no-hitter thanks to seven walks. To put a further dent in the game, it was technically not a no-hitter since the opposing Indians were the home team and didn’t have to bat in the ninth.
Young managed a 5.4 BB/9 in his Boston stay and that contributed to his 3-11 record and 4.91 ERA. Young had hooked a two-year deal with Boston for $4.5 Million.
Left-hander Steve Avery has a career record in the post-season of 5-3 with a 2.90 ERA. Part of that great Atlanta staff in the 1990s, the Red Sox were hoping that would resurface in Boston. Avery finished his two years with the Sox 16-14, but his ERA was 5.64. Walks? A BB/9 of 4.6. Money wasted.
Local kid makes good is a great story unless the local kid is Skip Lockwood. Lockwood pitched in only 24 games for Boston in 1980 posting a misleading 3-1 record. WHIP stood at 1.71 and a 5.32 ERA. Arrived five years too late.
The Red Sox gave Mark Portugal 27 starts in 1999 – his last season of major league baseball. In 150.1 innings, Portugal surrendered 28 home runs that guided him to a 7-12 record and 5.51 ERA. Just painful to watch each start.
Part of the awful Red Sox teams of the early 1960s Lefty Arnold Earley fit right in. Naturally, a 4.3 BB/9 is certainly expected. Earley spent six seasons with Boston and this guy could really throw hard. One of the hardest I have ever seen, but the results were not there – 10-19, 4.45.
Another gem from the “great” 1960s staffs is right-hander Galen Cisco. Start or relieve the outcome was the same – nasty. Naturally, the most significant contribution in Boston was a 4.9 BB/9. Final record: 6-12, 6.28.
A new century – same results
The Red Sox thought they had great starters in 2008 and 2009 and both seasons saw the desperation when a nothing left in the tank Paul Byrd was summoned to stop the bleeding. Unfortunately, the patient bled out – 14 starts, 5-5, 5.20.
The Red Sox championship team in 2007 featured one of the great relief specialist of all time – Eric Gagne. Gagne’s ERA ballooned to 6.75 with the Red Sox and in 18 innings allowed 26 hits. I know Gagne must have retired a batter somewhere, but I don’t recall it.
Surely Julian Tavarez makes the cut thanks to the dual talent of being a questionable pitching talent and even more questionable personality. Righty Tavarez signed a two-year deal for $6.7 Million and was promptly suspended for a spring training altercation. What did $6.7 Million get you? 12-16, 4.94. Wonder why Tavarez was with 11 teams in 17 seasons?
John Smoltz was just about done, but Boston gave him a shot. In 40 innings Smoltz allowed 59 hits that contributed to his disastrous 2-5, 8.33 ERA record.
Brad Penny – like Smoltz – never made it through his first Boston season. For Penny, the stat line was horrific – 24 starts, 7-8, 5.61. Another once very good pitcher who had little in the tank – at least for Boston.
Next: Red Sox: Top-5 shortstops in franchise history
Excellent before and after Boston, but while with the Red Sox Mark Melancon did little to impress. In 41 games the finally tally was 0-2, 6.20.
Sources: Fangraphs/baseball-reference