Can We Call Tim Wakefield "Old Faithful" ?

[Bunganut]

Red Sox fans should just start calling our beloved knuckle-baller Tim Wakefield, "Old Faithful".... and maybe many of us do, but I'm sure there are many like myself who have always loved Wake, for what he's done on... and off the field for the past 14 years in Boston, but have always known that knuckleballers can have it one pitch, and lose it the next. We have all seen Wakefield get torched a variety of ways... any team, any game, any inning, any at bat... he can give up big hits to anyone, but we also have seen Wake make the best hitting line-ups in baseball look completely silly trying to run into his knuckleball when he's dealing.

 

For me, watching Wakefield pitch when he just doesn't have it that day, has always been much more frustrating than any other pitcher we have ever had in my short 26 years of "living and dying" with the Red Sox as an ultimate loyal fan. (I was born in Beth Isreal Hospital, yes the same Beth Isreal Deconest that is the Hospital of the Red Sox, in 1983 on June 13th, and grew up in Charlestown, Massachusetts, a stones throw from the Bunker Hill Monument, at 1 Tremont st.) Not that any of that makes me any more important or more entitled as a fan than anyone else on the planet that absolutely loves their Boston Red Sox... just as much as they did before 2004, as they do now. But it let's any reader I may be lucky enough to have the audience of, know that I have been a Sox fan my whole life, and because every single member of my Irish Catholic family is a die-hard Sox fan, and have been far before I was even a twinkle in my fathers eye, and even far before any member of the 2004 World Championship Red Sox Team of "Idiots" were ever close to being born. We are nothing special of course... there are countless of families with a deep love for the Red Sox running through their entire family tree, just like the blood that binds them all.

 

Getting back on focus to a point I was trying to make about Wakefield being the hardest pitcher to watch when he's struggling... because he can't throw a pitch faster than 85, and that's his max. on his "cheese", his fastball is usually just above 80.... it can often look like he's out there playing catch with the catcher! Now I understand that as slow as Wake is pitching out there... can really be a big advantage against Major League hitters who are trained, and used to, hitting a ball that is coming in much, much faster... but it seems sometimes a line-up will swing nice and easy at something they can reach, and once the ball starts rolling, it's bound to come all the way down the hill.

 

However many doubts I may have had about Tim Wakefield, and his ability to get through the tough games when he doesn't have anything going for him, have all but died in the past 5 years. Wake seems to be learning how to really get everything out of his fastball, and uses it so well sneaking it in there between his crazy knuckleball, and looping curve. I don't know if I would say he has gotten better at learning how to "pitch" to a line-up, because I never pitched past High-School, and wouldn't do the injustice of questioning how well a 17 year veteran of the Major Leagues knows how to pitch to a certain line-up. Of course I have my opinion, and obtain knowledge through a variety of sources, including Dennis Eckersley who has been filling in greatly for the Rem Dawg. =] I just feel that Wakefield looks to be the most comfortable he has ever been in his 14 years pitching for Boston, and one thing I can say from experiance about pitching, is that being comfortable and confident on the mound tends to lead to success.

 

Well I hope I caused you to recall many of you're own memories of "Ol' Faithfull" Tim Wakefield pitching for the Sox during the last 14 years.... there are so many great ones, and of course he has his share of blunders, but without the bad memories, the great ones wouldn't feel so great! ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

 

 

.................PLEASE, post some of you're memories of Tim Wakefield over the years! I'd really like to hear all of them, and maybe someone has a personal memory with Wake they wouldn't mind posting and sharing with the rest of us!! Anyways, thank you for reading my attempts at learning to write short articles. I am a fan of criticism, and also well aware of my poor spelling , grammar, and writing, so I don't mind any help one bit!

 

 

 

//////\\\\\\ Some of my own Tim Wakefield "Memorable Moments" //////\\\\\\

 

 

October 16, 2003 : Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS vs. the Yankees, in Yankee Stadium - Wakefield comes back out in the 11th inning after putting down Matsui, Posada, and Giambi in the 10th. Up comes Aarron Boone to step to the plate and hit the very first pitch that Wakefield throws over the Green Monster, and directly through our hearts and hopes of ending the "Curse" that year. Little did we know that the fans who somehow found a way to stay posative in that time of heartache, and proclaim, "We'll get it done next year!" were finaly going to be right!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tim Wakefield

Timothy Stephen Wakefield

Bats: Right , Throws: Right

Height: 6' 2" , Weight: 204 lb.

Born: August 2, 1966 in Melbourne, FL

Schools: Florida Institute of Technology

Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 8th round of the 1988 amateur draft.

Signed June 3, 1988. (All Transactions)

Debut: July 31, 1992

[Cocos Disciples]

Uhh Yankee Stadium doesn't have a green monster champ.

[castigs850]

you are a f*** if you read that whole thing

[Cocos Disciples]

I read the last paragraph. Too many words, I'm no good with words.

[BoSox21]

id love to know the last time Wakefield threw anything that was 85

[MANNYHOF24]

I am a loser who doesny watn new me' date='mbers to post i suck[/quote']

 

well said. You really nailed it.

[Cocos Disciples]

But really guys, let's try to be a little nicer in regards to new posters. Usually the only new people we get are spammers, so let's not drive the legitimate posters away.

[Bunganut]

Uhh Yankee Stadium doesn't have a green monster champ.

 

* Man that was dumb, my bad. Thanks Coco's Disciples, that was a huge error.

 

 

 

id love to know the last time Wakefield threw anything that was 85

 

* I didn't look it up, so you may have a point... but I'm pretty sure I recall Wakefield hitting 84-85 with his fastball numerous times. You're right though, his average heater tops out at about 79, but I was trying to go from my head, and try to be nice while ripping him at that moment. Thank You

 

 

 

you are a f*** if you read that whole thing

 

* Well I hope someone's not a "f***" for reading a blog on the Red Sox... I mean there are much worse things you could be doing on the internet... today my 7 year old nephew wanted me to check out the new Transformers action figures, and I just happened to be on YouTube.com at the time, so I just searched for "Transformers", and we got videos of grown men who went out to the stores and bought every single one of these toys, and has recorded themselves playing with the thing, and trying to give it a review! Now hey, I dont put anyone down for the things they like to do, we are all different.... but if you can't refrain, am I really the worst thing to be reading?

 

....BTW: Thank You, you're definately right, I write to many long sentences, and ramble on, is that a pet peve of most blog readers? I am new to this, but when I read, I dont mind what length it is, as long as I am interested, or enjoy the voice of the writer.

[castigs850]

alright everyone s*** on me, so i read the whole thing, and we were born the same day at the same hospital just 7 years apart, so i'll give you a break

[Spudboy]

good post man dont let these fukcers runin it kep posting

 

Oh s***! I can't stop laughing.

[Bunganut]

good post man dont let these fukcers runin it kep posting

 

Thanks Alot, I really appreciate that.

 

 

But really guys' date=' let's try to be a little nicer in regards to new posters. Usually the only new people we get are spammers, so let's not drive the legitimate posters away.[/quote']

 

Much obliged for that. I dont mind people posting what they dont like about my post, but to be a "f***" for simply reading my post.... it sounded personal =] Im a Charlestown Townie, I'll be just fine though

[Bunganut]

alright everyone s*** on me' date=' so i read the whole thing, and we were born the same day at the same hospital just 7 years apart, so i'll give you a break[/quote']

 

* No Kidding! Well then *******, happy belated 19th birthday! =] That's too funny, right on man, thanks.

[Spudboy]

Bunganut, you clearly have virtues, brevity is not one of them. Never the less, you are a die-hard fan and I think we can all appreciate that.

 

Wake has been a bargain during his Sox career. He's alternately fun and excruciatingly painful. Sort of like my ex-wife!

 

I hope he gets to be an all-star his year, but I don't think it will happen.

[castigs850]

happy belated birthday to you too man

[Bunganut]

"Wake has been a bargain during his Sox career. He's alternately fun and excruciatingly painful. Sort of like my ex-wife!" - Spudboy

 

Aww man that was a good analogy!! I'm keeping that one in memory. Hey thanks a lot for virtues comment, you explained that perfectly. Now I can add "brevity" to my vocab =] In case anyone else doesnt know what "brevity" means, and is afraid to say it...

 

brevity;

Meaning 1: The use of brief expressions

Meaning 2: The attribute of being brief or fleeting

[CrespoBlows]

Jack the Ripper would make a better gynecologist than you would a sportswriter.

[CrespoBlows]

and have been far before I was even a twinkle in my fathers eye

 

Little did we know that the fans who somehow found a way to stay posative in that time of heartache, and proclaim, "We'll get it done next year!" were finaly going to be right!

 

Awful, just awful.

[Dipre]

Lol Crespo don't be so brutal.

 

And Castigs, you suck monkey tits.

 

Nice work there Bunganut, keep up the posting.

[Mr Crunchy]

What can you say about wake...

The man keeps coming and coming and now hes in his 15th summer in boston and soon will be our all time winningest pitcher.

The man has closed, he has long relieved and he gives you a ton of innings every year.

Would he be the guy i wanted to pitch in game 7 or get 3 outs in the 9th?

f*** no but he gives a bigger bang for the buck than any other pitcher in the american league that isnt getting paid minimum wage and unless he gets hammered in the next couple of weeks is sure to be an allstar... unless Jack Madden wants to f*** around with us.

His off field work and the charities he started even when he was with the pirates speaks for the kind of character this guy has...A great asset to the team, to the clubhouse atmosphere and to the community and i hope he can give us 160ip for another 5 years.

[TheKilo]

tl; dr

[VA Sox Fan]

* No Kidding! Well then *******' date=' happy belated 19th birthday! ='] That's too funny, right on man, thanks.

 

The way he's been posting lately, it's more like happy belated 9th b-day!

 

Nice post. I love Wake. Obviously he can be frustrating at times. I remember him pitching relief in the 2004 post season. Did whatever he could to help the team.

[ORS]

Awful' date=' just awful.[/quote']

This.

 

I can understand the sentiment that some of you have for not being hard on the guy. Not wanting to scare off new members and all. But he came here to post his "articles" and get feedback. He's getting it. Maybe it inspires him to be a better writer. Maybe it gets him to stop sounding like an ABC Family channel movie and boring us to tears.

[Mr Crunchy]

At your age you're lucky you can remember how to get home from work.

Hows my favorite daughter of Dixie today?

[Cocos Disciples]

This.

 

I can understand the sentiment that some of you have for not being hard on the guy. Not wanting to scare off new members and all. But he came here to post his "articles" and get feedback. He's getting it. Maybe it inspires him to be a better writer. Maybe it gets him to stop sounding like an ABC Family channel movie and boring us to tears.

 

I'm sure he's fine with criticism, but it should preferably be the kind of criticism that he can build off, not that makes him leave.

[VA Sox Fan]

At your age you're lucky you can remember how to get home from work.

Hows my favorite daughter of Dixie today?

 

No doubt, I'm old as s***, but you're older, friend of hate-filled one.

 

All is well bro and you?

 

Why are so many giving the Bunganut kid crap? He's not a troll.

 

Constructive criticism folks, no need to be cruel.

[Bunganut]

Crespo: What makes my post so awful? If theres a lot awful about it to you, and you can't write it all, try and give me the part of my post that made you cringe the most. -thanks for you're time

 

ORS: You said...

I can understand the sentiment that some of you have for not being hard on the guy. Not wanting to scare off new members and all. But he came here to post his "articles" and get feedback. He's getting it. Maybe it inspires him to be a better writer. Maybe it gets him to stop sounding like an ABC Family channel movie and boring us to tears."[/[/color][/color]I]

 

Criticism always inspires me to be better and learn from the many minds that offer me their input. I thought you're ABC Family Channel comment was pretty funny =] You're right, my posts have been quite dry and stale. I guess I am focusing on writing in a professional-like manner, instead of just letting my words flow, and displaying my sense of humor.. - Thanks so much, I'm glad you made me think about that. Made me laugh too =]

 

 

* I just wanted to say Thank You to all of the members who have been sticking up for me, telling me to ignore the ignorant comments, and to keep posting my thoughts! I definatly appreciate you're kindness.

[Cocos Disciples]

*your not you're

[CrespoBlows]

Crespo: What makes my post so awful? If theres a lot awful about it to you' date=' and you can't write it all, try and give me the part of my post that made you cringe the most. [i']-thanks for you're time[/i]

 

 

The whole thing. If I were to read that in my newspaper, I'd set it on fire.

 

Up comes Aarron Boone to step to the plate and hit the very first pitch that Wakefield throws over the Green Monster, and directly through our hearts and hopes of ending the "Curse" that year.

 

1. Fake. How do you make such a bad error, especially after shoving that sentimental crap down our throats? Do you even watch the Red Sox?

 

2. Spell Check

 

3. Choose a different profession, or pay more attention in English class. Is that really you in that avatar? What do you think would happen if you told your friends, "b4 i was a twinkle in my dads eye?" If you told that me that story in person, I would instantly think of you as the most tawdry person I'd ever met. You sound like seabeachfred, and you're 13 years old.

 

4. =]

[Dipre]

Really dude, you could, you know, soften it up just a bit.

 

JFC.

[VA Sox Fan]

The whole thing. If I were to read that in my newspaper, I'd set it on fire.

 

 

 

1. Fake. How do you make such a bad error, especially after shoving that sentimental crap down our throats? Do you even watch the Red Sox?

 

2. Spell Check

 

3. Choose a different profession, or pay more attention in English class. Is that really you in that avatar? What do you think would happen if you told your friends, "b4 i was a twinkle in my dads eye?" If you told that me that story in person, I would instantly think of you as the most tawdry person I'd ever met. You sound like seabeachfred, and you're 13 years old.

 

4. =]

 

If it is him, he looks like a young Jacoby Ellsbury.

 

Damn Crespo!:dunno: