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Red Sox: Former pitchers that failed to live up to expectations

By Rick McNair

Oct 10, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Clay Buchholz (11) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Cleveland Indians during game three of the 2016 ALDS playoff baseball series at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 10, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Clay Buchholz (11) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Cleveland Indians during game three of the 2016 ALDS playoff baseball series at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 20, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; A general view of the box seats at Fenway Park prior to a game between the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 20, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; A general view of the box seats at Fenway Park prior to a game between the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /

Left-handed pitchers do have a reputation for being a trifle zany at times and that described Dennis Bennett, who Boston picked up from the Phillies in exchange for Dick Stuart – another questionable character. An equal personality trade? Probably.

Bennett came to Boston after posting a 12-14 record for a Phillies team that had one of the great collapses in baseball history the last two weeks of the season. Big things were expected of the 24-year-old, but Bennett started the 1965 season on the sidelines with a sore arm.

When Bennett finally recovered, he shuffled between the bullpen and the rotation compiling a 5-7 record. The shoulder had worsened during the season and Bennett had off-season surgery. The shoulder injury can be traced back to a car accident that Bennett had in 1963 that caused pain his entire pitching career.

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Bennett – at least the Bennett I saw – had good stuff – especially his change and breaking ball. What Bennett lacked was the consistency that would have allowed him to be part of the rotation. Bennett claims that if healthy he could have produced far greater numbers and I can’t disagree.

Sources: Baseball-reference/SABR/Peter Golenbock

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