Red Sox: A look back at Boston’s designated hitters legacy
The Red Sox had competent and not so competent designated hitters before David Ortiz. Here are a few that stand out – positive and negative.
The best designated hitters (DH) in Boston Red Sox history are easy to define since the obvious choice would be the ultimate alpha dog – David Ortiz. Others certainly contributed significantly to that position in the batting order. For a few, it would have been a full career except for Ortiz holding court those many seasons.
The Red Sox have been rather fortunate in the DH selection process and have enjoyed some quite productive seasons from others besides Manny Ramirez, Carl Yastrzemski, and Jim Rice. All took a turn at the position either by deterioration of positional skills or the necessity to get their bat into the lineup.
The Red Sox could withstand the fielding lapses of “Manny being Manny” as long as he hit. Mo Vaughn won an MVP with Boston, but his eight seasons registered only 170 starts at DH. Others came in who failed miserably in a short span or never registered enough starts at DH to be considered.
With Ortiz, other options existed to upgrade the defense at the only acceptable position for Big Papi – first base. Ortiz was acceptable in the field and would be stationed at first in certain inter-league contests and the World Series. Just ask Jeff Suppan about Papi’s fielding instincts.
What about the others? DH was serviced by some players who contributed either short-term or for a slightly longer time frame with mixed results. Following is a look at those in the second tier of DH talent for the Boston Red Sox. Some have a “history” in Boston and elsewhere.
Don Baylor was a former most valuable player and as powerful right-handed bat as one could find. A notorious pull hitter whose first season in Boston resulted in a low average (.238), but provided the power Boston wanted with 31 home runs and 94 RBI. In the World Series Baylor hit a disappointing .182 with no home runs. Baylor’s fWAR was 1.3 for 1986 and for a DH that was certainly acceptable.
In 1987 the 38-year-old Baylor was starting to show his age as his average continued to sour at .239 and power production was slipping. Baylor was sent to the Twins on September first and his Boston stint was over.
Baylor had one unique skill set that certainly deserves attention – the ability to take a pitch to the body. Baylor would often have to be reminded by the home plate umpire to stay in the batter’s box since he would crowd the plate. Baylor led the American League in being hit by a pitch both his seasons in Boston and led the league eight times in his 19-year career.
Baylor managed both the Rockies and the Cubs after his playing days ended.
In December of 1995, the Red Sox dipped into the free agent pool and caught a fish – a very big fish – in fact, a very enhanced fish in 30-year-old Jose Canseco. Canseco had not yet surfaced as one of the poster boys for PED’s, but there were certainly suspensions. Canseco also offered up a much-needed right-handed power boost and he did.
For his two years in Boston Canseco hit – hit as well as expected. That first season Jose played in 102 games and hit .306 with 24 home runs and 81 RBI, while posting an fWAR of 2.5. That was a warm up for a spectacular half-season that followed that was one of the best power displays by a Boston hitter – at least for half a season.
By the All-Star break in 1996, Canseco had swatted 26 home runs, had 63 RBI and was hitting .305 in 70 games. Then Canseco’s chronic bad back gave out and six weeks disappeared for Jose while he recovered before returning and doing little. The last 21 games witnessed only two more home runs and Canseco was traded back to the A’s in the off-season for John Wasdin.
Wasdin and Canseco had something in common – Wasdin gave up home runs and Canseco hit them. My most vivid memory of Canseco in Boston was the ALDS against Cleveland in 1995. Canseco was a nightmare as he took a 0-13 as the Indians dispensed with Boston 3-0.
A designated hitter is just supposed to accomplish one aspect and that is to hit. The Red Sox have had a few players surface at DH who simply were not up to the task and were dismissed. So the one I choose for one of the worst may be somewhat of a surprise since he has a plaque in the Baseball Hall of Fame – Orlando Cepeda.
Cha Cha in his prime was simply one of the best players in baseball combining speed, power, and average. A former Rookie of the Year and National League Most Valuable Player. A power hitting right-hand bat that was in the right place at the right time to get in one last season when he was sought out.
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The DH had been implemented and Cepeda was in demand. Playing the field was no option since his knees were shot and Boston was the perfect fit with a comfortable left field to target and Cepeda did. Cepeda hit .311 at Fenway Park and .271 on the road in 1973. The home run tally was a comfortable 20 – so why the negative?
Despite at OBP of .350 in 142 games Cepeda only scored 51 runs. Clogging the base paths had a whole new meaning with “The Baby Bull.” Ortiz looks like Usain Bolt compared to Cepeda. Cepeda on the bags was a total disaster as it was station to station. Even a wall ball double would be first to second for Cepeda.
Cepeda managed 25 doubles for Boston and that total could easily be in the high 30s, but those days were long gone. Cepeda also led the American League in grounded into double plays so the hitting may look impressive at first glance, but digging deeper Cepeda’s negatives outweighed his hitting. One season and done. Cecil Cooper took over in 1974. Cepeda moved on to an August signing with the Royals in 1974 only to be relesaed in late September – just one home run and .215 for KC.