Red Sox players from the past seared in my negative memory

There are games that sit in your mind and forever burned in your memory banks and this is a brief synopsis of one. Israel Alcantara was just hammering International League pitching in 2001 while at Pawtucket (AAA).  Then it happened when “Izzy” took a high hard one designed to get his uniform dirty with an appropriate avoidance sprawl.

Alcantara first kicked the opposing catcher in the mask and then charged the mound – a baseball first with a kick and charge. That was the beginning of the festivities that eventually resulted in Izzy being suspended for six games.

Alcantara could hit and the right-handed power hitter whacked 36 home runs for the PawSox and hit .297. Boston beckoned for a September call-up and Izzy hit .263. The previous season Alcantara had a bit more significant time with Boston appearing in 21 games and hitting four home runs.

Alcantara was less the industrious defensively and would often engage in a half-hearted effort on a fly ball or gap double. I believe in one Boston game he was extracted for his indifference defensively. In 2002 with the Brewers Izzy had a -53.2 UZR/150. I question why it was so generous?

Alcantara lasted only three major league seasons and at 29-years-old was on his way to play in the Caribbean, Taiwan, Korea, and Mexico before becoming a rather interesting baseball historical, or hysterical and not historical, footnote.