Red Sox Memories: A defensive studs and duds All-Star team
The best defensive Boston Red Sox players and the worst.
The baseball awards season is upon us and the defensive ones have been named which means players receiving Gold Glove Awards for fielding excellence. With the advent of advanced defensive metrics, it is no longer as much of personal opinion as it is of a statistical one. The Boston Red Sox have drawn a blank on this round with only Jackie Bradley Jr. being a possibility, but, alas Bradley didn’t even get to be a finalist.
Based on that, I decided to construct a defensive All-Star team of Red Sox players and in that vein decided to include what I consider the most monumental defensive disasters at each position.
Virtually all are players I have seen play and what I remember about their skill set or lack of. I do have one player from the 1930s who I have seen mentioned many times in baseball literature regarding his lack of defensive prowess. That is inclusion.
The Red Sox bring back Boomer
George Scott was called “Boomer” for his most obvious attribute besides an expanding girth – his ability to abuse a baseball. Scott also had a remarkable defensive ability for a player whose bulk did not impede his nimbleness. In addition, Scott captured eight Gold Gloves in his 14-year career including three with the Red Sox. In pre-metrics days Scott would consistently rank high in the more traditional fielding statistics of fielding percentage, assist, and putouts.
Scott’s hitting cannot be ignored with 271 career home runs and 1,041 RBI Scott’s best years were after the Red Sox traded him to the Brewers where in 1975 he topped the American League with 36 home runs and 109 RBI. Scott was then dealt back to Boston after the 1976 season and in 1977 hit 33 home runs and 95 RBI while making his second career All-Star team. That was Scott’s last hurrah and by 1979 Scott – who had put on considerable weight – was out of baseball.
The names say in all: “Dr. Strange Glove” and “Stone Fingers” are used to describe Dick Stuart who was known best for massive home runs and a massive ego. Stuart used to sign his autograph with “66” inserted to note the number of home runs he hit one season in the low minors. In two seasons with Boston, the right-handed slugger whacked 75 home runs and notched 53 errors.
In 1963, Stuart was in line for a home run title going neck and neck with Harmon Killebrew. Stuart was certainly not idolized by pitchers for his inept play and carefree defensive attitude and collectively gave up five home runs to Killebrew who won the home run crown.
Red Sox legend Dustin Pedroia is an easy pick
The only one that would register with me is Dustin Pedroia as the most accomplished Red Sox second sacker. Pedroia won four Gold Gloves and four Fielding Bible awards with Boston and was simply masterful at turning the double play or in feeding the shortstop a throw where he would not be sliced and diced. Pedroia would consistently be ranked high in various metrics categories such as DRS. Gritty, determined, and fearless in the field.
Great defense accompanied by great offensive makes a player special and Pedroia had that. Rookie of the Year honors in 2007 and a Most Valuable Player award the next season. Four All-Star teams, a Silver Slugger award, and a career batting average of .299. Add to that three championship rings and an outside chance at a selection to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
The simple choice for the worst defensive second baseman would be Jose Offerman whose negativity is somewhat fueled by an outrageous contract, but I am actually going with a batting champion – Pete Runnels.
Runnels – who briefly managed the team – played three seasons at second (1958-1960) before being sent to first base. Runnels – a former shortstop – just was not fluid around the bag, had poor instincts, and was often with a DP partner who also lacked defensive skills. But oh could the lefty hit.
A member of the Red Sox Hall of Fame
Defensively, Mike Lowell was outstanding and could certainly hit, but I will drift well back into Red Sox history and take Frank Malzone. The bandy-legged Malzone was amazing going to his right or left and with an arm that was strong and accurate. Malzone won three Gold Gloves with the Red Sox and would have picked up a few more but Brooks Robinson came along to become the defensive gold standard.
Malzone was as consistent with the bat as he was with the glove. A six-time All-Star who would bang out 15+ home runs and 85+ RBI with regularity. A dangerous right-hand pull hitter that was a perfect fit for Fenway Park. Malzone played 12 MLB seasons and 11 with Boston and retired with a career .274 average.
A former Red Sox manager with dubious behavior patterns ranks number one on how awful can your defense be list. Butch Hobson was a fielding disaster and he could do it all – lousy throws, juggled baseballs, and the matador approach to ground balls.
Hobson could be a danger to anyone even close to first base on his throws across the diamond. From 1977-1979 Hobson made 69 errors. Rafael Devers and Pablo Sandoval could be considered. Hobson did have one dynamic season with the stick hitting 30 home runs and bagging 112 RBI in 1977. Oh…Hobson also led the AL with 162 whiffs.
Rooster is the only Red Sox at short to win a Gold Glove
There is quite a list of great Red Sox shortstops including present-day Xander Bogaerts, Hall of Famer Joe Cronin, legendary Johnny Pesky, and hitting machine Nomar Garciaparra. None could be considered exceptionally gifted defensively. In fact, for trivia, there is only one Red Sox shortstop ever to win a Gold Glove and that is Rick Burleson.
Burleson was the Pedroia of his day with intensity, a fiery personality, and a short fuse. Nicknamed “Rooster,” Burleson was not one I would consider a great defensive player based on his three-error Red Sox debut, but I had seen him at Pawtucket (AAA) and knew he was outstanding defensively. Strong arm, quick, smart, and would catch everything. Burleson was no stiff with the bat and hit .274 in seven Boston seasons with some respectable extra-base power. Burleson made three All-Star teams with the Red Sox before being traded to the Angels.
I may be old but not old enough to see Rabbit Warstler, a diminutive infielder from the 1930s. Warstler played for both the Red Sox and Braves and was an error machine in both places. With the Red Sox in 1932, the total was 41 and with the Braves in 1937 and 1938 the cumulative total was 97. If you can’t field then make it up with the bat – Warstler hit .229 over 11 seasons. Too bad that Don Buddin is not on the list.
Three of the very best outfielders in Red Sox history
Carl Yastrzemski was the best defensive left fielder I have ever seen. A former infielder who adapted that skill to an ability to charge a ball and rifle a throw. Yaz won seven Gold Gloves between 1963 and 1977. Offensively, there are three batting titles, an MVP award, and 3,419 career hits.
Mookie Betts may be gone but he is still collecting hardware, earning his fifth Gold Glove in his first season as a Dodger. Betts captured four with the Red Sox and with a tough right field at Fenway Park you get extra points. Another converted infielder who made the transition to outfield seamlessly. Offensively, all of Red Sox Nation knows about that.
My third defensive outfielders could easily be Jim Piersall or legendary Tris Speaker but I’ll take Dwight Evans. Evans racked up eight Gold Gloves in his 20-year career and his trademark was his arm. Right up with Roberto Clemente, Carl Furillo, and Rocky Colavito. Offensively, you could make a case for Evans to be in the HOF.
Manny being Manny describes Manny Ramirez who didn’t play left field as much as left-field played him. Some of Manny’s negative metrics are staggering, but geez could Manny hit.
Next, up on the defensive buffoonery is Hanley Ramirez, but is Hanley to blame? Ramirez came up with the Red Sox as a shortstop before being traded to Miami and later with the Dodgers before signing a free-agent contract with Boston. Ramirez was sent to play left field in 2015 and it was an embarrassment with a -21.7 UZR/150. The Red Sox in a moment of organizational clarity moved Ramirez to first base in 2016.
If you can hit home runs, poor defense can be excused, but Wily Mo Pena would have to have triple-digit home runs to justify his center field defense. Pena was large but rather swift, but being swift does not make one a capable ball-hawk. Pena had a -15.2 UZR/150 in 2006 and outdid that with a -26.8 UZR/150 in 2007. Tack on a -13 DRS over those two seasons and you have the bad news.
Number Six is number one with the Red Sox
Carlton Fisk and Jason Varitek were excellent defensive catchers for Boston and also had some real sting hitting. Both won a single Gold Glove Award with the Red Sox. Sammy White could come close to matching both with hitting and defense, but I will take Tony Pena as my choice.
A five-time All-Star with Pittsburgh and the Cardinals, the likable Pena came to Boston in 1990 and stayed for four seasons. Pena won his fourth Gold Glove while with the Red Sox and finished his career above league average in CS%.
Pena’s bat was not quite what it had been in his earlier years when the right-hand hitter could put up double figures in home runs and get quality RBI – always a big plus with a position that is defense first and offense second. With the Red Sox Pena hit only .234, but a .181 season somewhat degraded that.
There were worse defensive catchers in Boston than Jarrod Saltalamacchia but when you get pulled from your starting slot in the World Series over poor defense that gives you bonus points. Salty also had an ignominious 2011 season leading the AL in passed balls. Thanks to Tim Wakefield’s knuckleball, and his poor catching style – especially the all-important footwork. Then there is a career 22 CS%.
The only Red Sox pitcher to capture a Gold Glove Award
With pitchers, a Gold Glove often stays with them as a yearly event. Greg Maddux, Jim Kaat, Bob Gibson, and Bobby Shantz. Shantz is interesting since he won the award four times in both leagues. The Red Sox history has just one and that is Mike Boddicker who won in 1990. Boddicker made 29 putouts that season and holds the AL record of 49 while with the O’s. Maddux – for comparison – led the NL eight times in putouts. Maddux also holds the NL record of most in a game with seven.
Another rating is assists which is a category dominated by Dead Ball Era pitchers with Walter Johnson holding the career AL record and Christy Mathewson holding the NL record. Back in that era, it was small ball with bunting and moving the runner over always in play. Poor glovework was costly and the career records date back over 100 years.
I will go with Boddicker since he did win the award, but I have several pitchers with the Red Sox that I thought fielded the position with excellence and intelligence. I always admired the quickness of Pedro Martinez off the mound and his positioning post pitch in a good defensive position. Bill Monboquette was excellent as he rarely made an error and would rank high in assists and putouts.
Next. Red Sox made right decision in bringing Cora back. dark
Ike Delock is best remembered as being a lousy hitter – just a career .086, but Delock – a versatile hurler – was not the most gifted of fielders. Jon Lester could be counted upon for a few errors each season and you would hold your breath on a chopper to the mound and Lester whirling towards second to throw. That to me has always been the most frightening defensive play for a pitcher. I’ll leave the pitchers at that.