Red Sox: Worst pitchers in franchise history
By Rick McNair
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.