Red Sox Memories: A common pitching thread to Red Sox championships
By Rick McNair
A common thread for Boston Red Sox pitching
Albert Einstein was not infallible in his scientific theories. Professor Einstein has an endearing quote regarding insanity: “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” The Boston Red Sox have been rather successful this century in doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting the same results. Four times various administrations have used the same tactic and each has resulted in a contribution to three World Series championships. An impressive accomplishment with all four having a common connector resulting in three titles – trading young players.
Baseball has a version of an Einstein in Earl Weaver. Weaver was a proponent of two specifics in the configuration of a successful team. The three-run home run and pitching. As Weaver had his own perceptive quote: “The only thing that matters in baseball is that little bump in the middle of the field.”
The Red Sox made four noted trades that eventually resulted in curse breaking and flag raising. The price was high to get the necessary talent, but the results were obvious. Each trade centered on “The Earl of Baltimore’s” perceptive quote on pitching. A fifth championship may be dependent on Chaim Bloom adopting what proved successful from Dan Duquette to Theo Epstein to Dave Dombrowski. Sometimes history should repeat itself.