Former Boston Red Sox pitcher Ryan Dempster has decided to come out of retirement and pitch for team Canada in the World Baseball Classic.
The World Baseball Classic can be very exciting for all baseball fans. It’s basically the Olympics for baseball because it happens every four years and you have the best baseball players in the world playing for their respective country. As for team Canada, they have decided to add some veteran presence in the clubhouse, bringing former Boston Red Sox pitcher Ryan Dempster out of retirement so that he can compete in this year’s Classic.
My one question is, why?
If Dempster was a former five-time Cy Young award winner, it would make sense to bring him back and see if he has some gas left in the tank, but he wasn’t.
When Dempster decided to hang up the cleats prior to winning the World Series with the Red Sox in 2013, his career numbers were as average they come. In 16 seasons, the two-time All-Star went 132-133 with a 4.35 ERA. Nothing special from someone who is getting an opportunity to represent his country 4 years after retiring.
When Dempster played for the Sox, there were some great outings, but some horrendous ones as well. In the one season when Dempster played in Boston, he had a record of 8-9 with a 4.57 ERA. Although the numbers weren’t necessarily kind to him, he and David Ross added great veteran presence in the clubhouse during the epic World Series run.
Dempster’s last appearance in the Major Leagues came on October 23, 2013. It was the 9th inning in Game 1 of the World Series where the Sox were up 8-0 against the St. Louis Cardinals. Although Matt Holliday hit a 430-foot moonshot to start off the 9th inning, Dempster was able to buckle down and close out the game with the final score being 8-1.
Now, three and a half years later, Dempster is back.
One may ask, does Dempster have anything left in the tank?
How about asking current GM of the Chicago Cubs Theo Epstein. The former GM for the Red Sox faced Dempster during batting practice and made good contact off him. Now if someone from the front office can make good contact off Dempster, how do you think Major League players are going to do off him? Let’s just say you should be hoping he is pitching against your team.
Writer for CSN Chicago Patrick Mooney spoke with Dempster and asked him how he feels about this sudden comeback.
"“I’m not going to be disrespectful to the whole process,” Dempster said. “I’m not just like playing in a beer league and then decide: ‘Eh, I’ll throw against the Dominican team. The U.S. looks like they’re pretty stacked, but I’ll be all right.’ I know what it entails going into this."
Dempster also talked about how his velocity isn’t his biggest concern though out this entire process.
"“At the end of the day, I’m not so worried about velocity. I’m worried about command and my ability to change speeds.” Dempster said. “It has been pretty funny to see the reactions, and I can understand why people would see it as far-fetched. But I always liked a good challenge.”"
As I will be rooting for USA in the World Baseball Classic, I hope nothing but the best for Ryan Dempster. He is a great guy and even better teammate.
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If Dempster can’t help his team win on the mound, then be on the lookout for him in the dugout because I’m sure that he will be one of the biggest cheerleaders on that team.