Boston's Foulke feels strong, ready to reclaim role as closer

[Bostons_Finest]

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) -- Boston closer Keith Foulke endured a year when nothing saved him.

 

An operation on his left knee. Another on his right knee. Personal problems. Criticism toward his public comments.

 

His brilliance during the Red Sox's first World Series championship in 86 years in 2004 was ignored in the turbulence of his tumble last season.

 

"It was the longest six, seven months of my life," Foulke said Sunday during a frank discussion of his problems and desire for privacy. "It was draining."

 

Now he's feeling strong and has a chance to return to the dominance he showed during a six-season stretch when his highest ERA was 2.97 before it rose to 5.91 when he was 5-5 last year, his second in Boston.

 

"Everything he went through last year, it doesn't matter anymore," manager Terry Francona said.

 

Foulke said his legs bothered him for several years and that finally ruined a season last year. He had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on July 7 and surgery on his right knee after the season.

 

His last outing was on Sept. 18.

 

"I had to protect my knee so I started throwing everything very stiff-legged," Foulke said. "That's when my shoulder started bothering me."

 

He decided, "I need to shut down before I blow out my shoulder."

 

Foulke planned to throw a bullpen session Monday for the first time in spring training.

 

"By the time we leave here in six weeks, I'm sure I'll be feeling pretty good," he said. "My arm feels better now than it has probably in a couple of years."

 

He's also made progress in his personal life.

 

"I'm a lot more focused this year," he said. "I got a lot of things off my mind and the personal life has straightened out a little bit. I guess sometimes when you see the dark side of life, there's only one way to go, and that's up.

 

"I consider myself very mentally strong and I'm not going to dwell on last year."

 

Foulke knows that his comments -- be they straightforward or sarcastic -- sometimes cause trouble he doesn't intend.

 

Last year, he said he wanted to move out of Boston to the suburbs, but critics took that to mean he was unhappy in the area. He still lives in the city.

 

"I'm a country kid. I don't like to be in the city itself," he said, but "I love the city of Boston."

 

On Sunday, he said he loves pitching and the camaraderie of being on a baseball team but can't "sit around" and watch nine innings, presumably of games that don't involve him.

 

"I actually find baseball kind of boring," Foulke said. "It's not my life. Pitching is something I enjoy doing and I'm probably going to get a lot of people that are a little chapped at me for saying that, but just don't take it the wrong way."

 

And, before the large media contingent, he said, "I like privacy and I could honestly go about my entire career and be happy if I never had to be in the media."

 

He should have received more attention for his performance in the 2004 World Series. He finished all four games, had a win and a save and allowed just one run in five innings. He also caught Edgar Renteria's grounder and threw to first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz for the clinching out.

 

But Curt Schilling got more publicity for pitching with a bloodstained sock over a surgically repaired ankle, Manny Ramirez was named MVP and Mientkiewicz kept the final-out ball before giving it to the Red Sox.

 

"I'm not going to brag, but I think I did a pretty good job in that series and I'll be selfish," Foulke said. "Yeah, I think I do deserve that ball."

 

Teammates probably would agree.

 

"Keith was the single reason we have a championship in this city," catcher Jason Varitek said. "I have a ton of confidence in him."

 

Foulke also is confident and driven to avoid last year's discomfort of facing teammates after letting them down.

 

"I was disappointed in myself more than anybody else on the face of this earth was disappointed in me," he said. "So (if) I make me happy, everybody else will be happy."

[jimmycarter05]

I guess he couldn't do any worse.

[Anuj09]

Assuming that everyone who needs to can return to 04 form (including the formermarlins) we will be pretty amazing

[schillingouttheks]

Those former Marlins also won a World Series the year before we did. I'm ecstatic to see the combination of these players.

[MC Hammer]

I'd love to see a 100% Keith Foulke on the mound this year, but him saying he's never felt better means jack to me. Thats what everyone says. Thats what you're supposed to say. Obviously I'm pulling for him, but I'll believe it when I see it.

[Pinstripe_Pride]

Who says that? Even if you think baseball is boring you shouldn't say it. I know I'm preaching to the choir, but there are so many guys out there who would give almost anything to be in his position. I can't believe someone who participated in Game 4 of the 2004 World Series called baseball boring.

[riverside sluggers]

Who says that? Even if you think baseball is boring you shouldn't say it. I know I'm preaching to the choir, but there are so many guys out there who would give almost anything to be in his position. I can't believe someone who participated in Game 4 of the 2004 World Series called baseball boring.

 

I guess he doesnt have a ticket handy to get on board the "logic train".

 

Simply put: Pitching is baseball. Baseball is pitching. If he enjoys doing his job, he basically contradicts himself right there. There's probably a chip on his shoulder even moreso considering:

 

(1) This is his contract year and not likely to be resigned with Hansen waiting in the wings to be the opening day 2007 closer.

(2) The title of closer for 2006 is his to lose. Dont be surprised if by mid-season a cut or trade off could occur if his ERA comes any close to 2005 level.

(3) You cant expect fans not to boo you if by July, you are blowing save after save and have compiled one of the worst ERAs for a relief pitcher in the entire league.

 

Overall, of course Im hoping he can return to dominant form. That is the key for this season. With that, the dominoes can fall into place

[Anuj09]

hopefully schilling will make his comback resparking that Schill-Foulke combo from 04

 

and on the matter of him "not likeing baseball", Let Foulke be Foulke i guess

[guapo34]

Who says that? Even if you think baseball is boring you shouldn't say it. I know I'm preaching to the choir, but there are so many guys out there who would give almost anything to be in his position. I can't believe someone who participated in Game 4 of the 2004 World Series called baseball boring.

 

 

I'd rather he be honest than lie. Honestly, whats the big deal? He didn't say anything offensive about anyone.

[Ray10]

If Foulke can get to 100% then he can be one of the most dominant closers in the game. But the problem is he needs to be 100% something that he has not been able to do. When we don't have Foulke healthy we really don't have many options for the closer. The only one I can think of is the Sox moving Timlin into the closer role or possibly calling up Hansen and giving him the closer role. But once again the problem with that is the fact of if Hansen is ready to play full time in the big leagues in the closer role. I mean last year he pitched in a few games and was great but that's just a few games. I think he should be good to go by next season. Then I say if Foulke still isn't at 100% or preforming like he should then try and trade him or just move him into a reliever role and use Hansen.

[MC Hammer]

Curtis Martin hates football and is/was still one of the best RBs in the game. Liking a sport, or being entertained by a sport has nothing to do with being good at it. I don't care how boring Foulke thinks baseball is ... as long as he's on the mound ... and he's saving games.

[a700hitter]

Lots of Boxers hate Boxing, and some professional athletes would never buy a ticket to see a sporting event. They think fans are suckers. To them it is a job and a profession and a nice paycheck. It's hardwork to get to the ML level and stay there. Michael Jordan liked baseball more than Basketball, so what. Why are people disturbed if a player doesn't love playing his sport or if he is not fan friendly. Who gives a hoot. Foulke likes putting 0's up on the board, and if he can do that, well, that's what matters to me and Johnny from Burger King.

[MC Hammer]

Lots of Boxers hate Boxing, and some professional athletes would never buy a ticket to see a sporting event. They think fans are suckers. To them it is a job and a profession and a nice paycheck. It's hardwork to get to the ML level and stay there. Michael Jordan liked baseball more than Basketball, so what. Why are people disturbed if a player doesn't love playing his sport or if he is not fan friendly. Who gives a hoot. Foulke likes putting 0's up on the board, and if he can do that, well, that's what matters to me and Johnny from Burger King.

Not liking the sport you play is fine with me, but not being fan friendly is not.

 

Without the fans your sport is exactly that, a sport, and you'd no longer be paid for it. I believe proffesional athletes should bend over backwards for fans. We're the reason they're making millions, and in some cases tens of millions of dollars a year. You should be there to sign every autograph, and to shake every hand. Without the sports fan there are no proffesional sports, and no proffesional athletes.

[ORS]

I gotta disagree with you on that one MC. Fans routinely go overboard with their zeal to get close to players. Not all fans, but some, and those that do make their lives very difficult. Things that you and I take for granted, going to the mall, or the park, or a restaurant, are major ordeals for professional athletes because people won't just leave them alone. If they were to sign every autograph (which is a pointless pursuit IMO) and shake every hand, they'd never get to leave the ballpark. And, I can totally see how the players get jaded with the autograph process. Professionals in the sports memorabilia trade routinely send kids up to get autographs for a few bucks and then sell the items for exorbidant prices. Why should the players spend their time to line the pockets of people looking to exploit the adoration some have for them?

[MC Hammer]

I gotta disagree with you on that one MC. Fans routinely go overboard with their zeal to get close to players. Not all fans, but some, and those that do make their lives very difficult. Things that you and I take for granted, going to the mall, or the park, or a restaurant, are major ordeals for professional athletes because people won't just leave them alone. If they were to sign every autograph (which is a pointless pursuit IMO) and shake every hand, they'd never get to leave the ballpark. And, I can totally see how the players get jaded with the autograph process. Professionals in the sports memorabilia trade routinely send kids up to get autographs for a few bucks and then sell the items for exorbidant prices. Why should the players spend their time to line the pockets of people looking to exploit the adoration some have for them?

Because without those fans they would have no talents to exploit. Without the baseball fan, there is no MLB, and if there is, players aren't making millions of dollars. If fans don't tune in to watch games, and buy tickets, and buy merch, the league doesn't exist. Like I said in my last post, without fans, pro sports don't exist.

 

Too many pro athletes take fans for granted. I believe shaking hands and signing autographs doesn't even begin to compensate the fans for the amount of money, and love they've put into the sport, the team, and the players.

[a700hitter]

Without the fans your sport is exactly that, a sport, and you'd no longer be paid for it. I believe professional athletes should bend over backwards for fans. We're the reason they're making millions, and in some cases tens of millions of dollars a year. You should be there to sign every autograph, and to shake every hand. Without the sports fan there are no proffesional sports, and no proffesional athletes.

Not every player that is not fan friendly is an idiot. Some just don't have an outgoing personality. Others are idiots. Those who are not fan friendly will not get endorsements, etc, and they limit their opportunities. Some of these guys who we think are fan friendly are complete phonies and they put on the act to get to endorsements. The fans are not going to like a guy like Foulke, but on the other hand, I don't agree with the opinion that his fan friendliness issues should have any bearing on whether he should be traded. His personality, or lack thereof, should only be relevant if it affects team chemistry and performance. I think it is stupid to boo the guy just because he is an ass, when we will let other guys slide who are performing worse, because we perceive that they are nice guys. It just doesn't achieve or prove anything. Truth be known, Foulke is probably no better or worse a person than any of the others. I think we would be shocked if we knew what most players think about the fans. I really don't care, because I don't expect to be having a drink or breaking bread with any of them anytime soon, and I can live without the phony waves, handshakes, etc.

[MC Hammer]

Not every player that is not fan friendly is an idiot. Some just don't have an outgoing personality. Others are idiots. Those who are not fan friendly will not get endorsements, etc, and they limit their opportunities. Some of these guys who we think are fan friendly are complete phonies and they put on the act to get to endorsements. The fans are not going to like a guy like Foulke, but on the other hand, I don't agree with the opinion that his fan friendliness issues should have any bearing on whether he should be traded. His personality, or lack thereof, should only be relevant if it affects team chemistry and performance.

I never said anywhere that players that don't spend time with fans are idiots ... they're simply disrespectful ... just like many fans.

 

I think it is stupid to boo the guy just because he is an ass, when we will let other guys slide who are performing worse, because we perceive that they are nice guys. It just doesn't achieve or prove anything. Truth be known, Foulke is probably no better or worse a person than any of the others. I think we would be shocked if we knew what most players think about the fans.

If a player is an ass to the fans then the fans have every right to boo that player no matter how good his performance on the field. Like I've said 3 times now ... without the fans there are no players and there is no league.

[a700hitter]

I never said anywhere that players that don't spend time with fans are idiots ... they're simply disrespectful ... just like many fans.

 

 

If a player is an ass to the fans then the fans have every right to boo that player no matter how good his performance on the field. Like I've said 3 times now ... without the fans there are no players and there is no league.

I dont disagree with anything you are saying. As a fan, I am rooting for the Sox to win. I may not cheer a guy if I think he is a jerk, but I will only boo our players if I think they are not giving a full effort. IMO booing a hometown guy for any other reason is pointless. Showering a hometown guy with boos, because we don't like his attitude isn't going to improve his attitude or performance. Chances are that his friends on the team will circle the wagons to protect him and this will cause bitterness by other players against the fans. It's just not helpful to the team.

[MC Hammer]

I dont disagree with anything you are saying. As a fan, I am rooting for the Sox to win. I may not cheer a guy if I think he is a jerk, but I will only boo our players if I think they are not giving a full effort. IMO booing a hometown guy for any other reason is pointless. Showering a hometown guy with boos, because we don't like his attitude isn't going to improve his attitude or performance. Chances are that his friends on the team will circle the wagons to protect him and this will cause bitterness by other players against the fans. It's just not helpful to the team.

Right and all of that could be prevented by the players simply showing the fans the respect they deserve.

[riverside sluggers]

The last Sox player that I had booed because of his bitterness to the fans, regardless of his stats was Carl Everett. Naturally Foulke is not up to his level. But just giving you an example.

[ORS]

I certainly think that the players should respect the fans, but that is a two way street. For every player transgression against the fans, I'd be willing to bet that there are a hundred fan transgressions against the players. Hanging out after the game and schmoozing the fans doesn't constitute respect IMO; your version of compensating the fans sounds more like servitude to me. The players owe the fans one thing, to perform on the field, because that is what the fan is paying to watch. All the other stuff is ancillary to that. If some players want to hang out and show extra appreciation, good for them, but expecting it is wrong IMO.

[MC Hammer]

I certainly think that the players should respect the fans, but that is a two way street. For every player transgression against the fans, I'd be willing to bet that there are a hundred fan transgressions against the players. Hanging out after the game and schmoozing the fans doesn't constitute respect IMO; your version of compensating the fans sounds more like servitude to me. The players owe the fans one thing, to perform on the field, because that is what the fan is paying to watch. All the other stuff is ancillary to that. If some players want to hang out and show extra appreciation, good for them, but expecting it is wrong IMO.

I guess we just see this situation differently. The players expect me to continue going to games, and continue to spend money on merchandise, then I expect them to show a little respect. Now I'm not asking that they come to my house and have Sunday dinner with me, but if I ask for an autograph I expect to receive it, and not the "Go f*** yourself" I got from Barry Bonds when I was younger. Should players have to sign 50 autographs for 1 fan, no. Should they sign as many autographs as possible, yes. I'm not saying they have to spend 10 hours at the field after the game, but before games there is plenty of time for autographs, and many players spend as much time as they can before their warm-ups signing autographs. Others will either completely ignore the fans, or curse/yell at them for even asking.

 

Trust me if I ask a player for an autograph "Mr. so and so, can I please have your autograph?" and he politely replies "Sorry ... I need time to warm up" than that’s fine. I respectfully asked for his autograph, and he respectfully denied with good reason. But like I said earlier there are just too many players that are quick to snap at fans, and too many that are very disrespectful, and act like it is the fans privilege to come see them play, when in reality the players are privileged to have the fans come see them play.

 

All I want from a player is respect.

[Pinstripe_Pride]

I just think it shows character. Of course the players get paid to give it their all on the field and that's all the fans should expect from them, but in such a media friendly society anything the players say or do reaches the fans, however unfair that is. I just don't appreciate unprovoked statements and a lackadaisical attitude toward something that I absolutely love and would like to think everyone out there on the field actually playing has even more passion and intensity than I do. This is not a perfect world of course, but I don't know how many more "Manny being Manny", and "Foule being Foulke"'s, I, or baseball, can stomach.

[Cityofchampions33]

Well Foulke isn't in the same situation as Manny. He treid playing hurt, he tried to help the team on a pair of bad knees but he couldn't. And even though he gave it his all and failed, even though he helped us win a WS the previous year, the Sox fans/media bashed him. So yeah, I would be pissed if that happened to me also. manny is just plain stupid and does things you just shouldn't do when your being paid 20 mill a year.

[MC Hammer]

Well Foulke isn't in the same situation as Manny. He treid playing hurt, he tried to help the team on a pair of bad knees but he couldn't. And even though he gave it his all and failed, even though he helped us win a WS the previous year, the Sox fans/media bashed him. So yeah, I would be pissed if that happened to me also. manny is just plain stupid and does things you just shouldn't do when your being paid 20 mill a year.

As a professional athlete you know that your judged by "what have you done for me lately". If you can't handle that don't become a pro athlete.

[mtbykr]

During the pitt game today, orsillo and remy kept mentioning Foulke and his knees giving him problems---and needing injections in them. Anyone got any info on that---I mean we went from "i have never felt so good" to "last year redux" pretty quick!

[empirestrikesback26]

Steroid injections no less.

[ORS]

During the pitt game today, orsillo and remy kept mentioning Foulke and his knees giving him problems---and needing injections in them. Anyone got any info on that---I mean we went from "i have never felt so good" to "last year redux" pretty quick!

He's getting a synthetic lubricant injected into his knee because they removed scarred cartilege when he had arthroscopic surgery. The removed cartilege can result in bone on bone friction which causes the player pain, and the lubricant reduces that pain. Randy Johnson had the same thing done in 2004 after his arthroscopic surgery. From what I've read/heard, this is pretty routine.

[seabeachfred]

Ray 10 and the rest of you, I made a bold statement not so long ago that to me Foulke was the key to the season. Some of you fell in line and supported by assertion; others thought that there were more important things to worry about. Sorry guys, I still feel that way. We need a healthy Keith Foulke to close out games and get that victory into the clubhouse. With the best pitching staff we've had in a long long time (at least on paper), a great closer for us gives us the edge in the American League. You may not agree with that and some of you may snicker, but think about it. What would a great and consistent closer mean to our team? I await your answers.

[The Monster is my Mom]

I agree that we need a great and consistent closer to win the division this year. But I am not convinced that guy has to be Foulke. I think someone like Hansen or Papelbon, or maybe even Timlin would do fine.