Who's your favorite *bad* Red Sox player?

[Dojji]

I kind of liked Scott Cooper. I always thought he was better than the numbers you look back and see.

[Spudboy]

My choice is Butch Hobson. As much as he sucked at 3rd' date=' he hit some absolute bombs. And as a Little League kid watching the games, those bombs always erased the errors in my mind. Afterall, what kid is going to be critical of a launched throw or 12....and boy could he launch them! Then he'd spend a few minutes with his hand on his elbow rearranging his bone chips.[/quote']

 

Ah yes! Mr. White line Fever. I believe that he may be related to John DeLorean.

 

I always found Klel (Yup, that's his real name:lol:) amusing.

 

Good choice Yaz.

[seabeachfred]

I still dont think you understand.

 

Its more of rooting for the underdog.

 

Lou Merloni, Frank Castillo, Gabe Kapler, Darren Lewis, Darren Bragg....

 

They didnt have to suck, they didnt have to hurt the team.....its just about a player who you liked who didnt exactly light the world on fire when they were here.

 

A little thick behind the years? I guess so SCM; took me a little time to get with it. When I became a Sox fan that day in 2000, I saw Pedro pitch a two hitter over seven innings against the Royals and kind of took to Lou Merloni. I knew from the papers that he was a journeyman at best, not that swift with either the glove or the bat but a likeable guy. That day he got three hits and the crowd kept yelling LLLLUUUU, LLLLUUUU. I kind of got into it myself even though I knew he was NOT going to be the regular third baseman for the Red Sox. He was certainly an underdog, he certainly wasn't a great player, but from time to time he surprised you. He gets my belated vote.

[mvp 78]

I kind of liked Scott Cooper. I always thought he was better than the numbers you look back and see.

 

Doesn't count as he was an "All Star."

[a700hitter]

Tim Naehring was always a favorite of mine growing up.

He had elbow ligament surgery in the offseason and when he came to camp the following year, he couldn't straighten his arm. After rehab, he could never straighten the arm. It was unbelievable. The guy was a promising third baseman.

[mvp 78]

He had elbow ligament surgery in the offseason and when he came to camp the following year' date=' he couldn't straighten his arm. After rehab, he could never straighten the arm. It was unbelievable. The guy was a promising third baseman.[/quote']

 

And had one leg shorter than the other.

[BSN07]

I always liked Tom Brunansky when I was a kid. El Guapo was a favorite as well. Are Mike Greenwell and Troy O'leary too good for this list?

[redsoxfan3]

I do not know if Pokey Reese qualifies for this, but if I had to say a name that fits into this category, then that would be my choice. He was in Boston for the 2004 season. I loved watching him play in Cincinnati growing up because I am originally from Ohio. He did not perform that well for the Red Sox in 2004, but I still like him. I am glad that he got a ring with the Sox.

[SCM33]

Tim Naehring was always a favorite of mine growing up.

He had elbow ligament surgery in the offseason and when he came to camp the following year' date=' he couldn't straighten his arm. After rehab, he could never straighten the arm. It was unbelievable. The guy was a promising third baseman.[/quote']

 

Tim Naehring doesnt count, but I agree with you guys.....he would have been pretty damn good if he could have ever stayed on the field.

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/naehrti01.shtml

 

He was on his way to building a nice little career, until like a700 said.....he was injured. I think he tore the tendons in his arm making an off balance throw from 3rd base. He had tendon transfer surgery (is that the same at TJ? Sounds like it) and while rehabbing the arm, an incredible amount of scar tissue built up to the point where he lost range of motion and felt numbness in his hand.

 

I kind of liked Scott Cooper. I always thought he was better than the numbers you look back and see.

 

Doesn't count as he was an "All Star."

 

Sorry Dojji. Scott Cooper sucked and is generally considered one of the worst all star selections in HISTORY.....and the funny part, is that the Redsox sucked so bad back then, and since EVERY TEAM had to have a representative, he was selected twice!!!!

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=list/worstallstars

 

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/lists/Worst-MLB-All-Star-picks-in-history#photo-title=%20Scott%20Cooper,%201993&photo=11358265

 

http://myb5162.blogspot.com/2010/01/who-hell-is-scott-cooper.html

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/coopesc01.shtml

 

I always liked Tom Brunansky when I was a kid. El Guapo was a favorite as well. Are Mike Greenwell and Troy O'leary too good for this list?

 

Brunansky is a good choice. I always liked him as well. Greenwell doesnt apply, he was a DAMN good hitter.

 

Greenwell always gets a bad rap around here, and I never figured out why. Had he been used right, in the leadoff or #2 role, he would have been dangerous. He was very talented.

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/greenmi01.shtml

 

Troy O'Leary was also too good for the list. In 98 and 99 he was a middle of the lineup hitter for us. He drove in 103 runs in 99. Nothing "bad" about that.

[NativeBostonian]

Coco Crisp if he counts. I still have his jersey.

[mvp 78]

SCM, are you saying O'Leary is too good for the list but Brunansky is not?

 

Scott Cooper sucked, but he was 100X better than Gabbard and Dojji had to question if Gabbard was too good for the list (I know in part due to his love for all prospects).

[Bellhorn04]

This thread has been a challenger from the get-go.

[a700hitter]

SCM, are you saying O'Leary is too good for the list but Brunansky is not?

 

Scott Cooper sucked, but he was 100X better than Gabbard and Dojji had to question if Gabbard was too good for the list (I know in part due to his love for all prospects).

I don't remember Gabbard spending an entire season with the Sox.

[Dojji]

SCM, are you saying O'Leary is too good for the list but Brunansky is not?

It's a matter of opinion.

 

I just basically wanted to hear about people who fans here loved but weren't exactly superstars.

[Spitball]

Greg Harris was probably a bit too good with the Red Sox to count, but I enjoyed his time in Boston. He looked more like a pharmacist or a social studies teacher than a pitcher. I loved the fact he could throw with either hand.

[mvp 78]

Greg Harris was probably a bit too good with the Red Sox to count' date=' but I enjoyed his time in Boston. He looked more like a pharmacist or a social studies teacher than a pitcher. I loved the fact he could throw with either hand.[/quote']

 

And had a glove designed to wear on either hand.

[Spitball]

And had a glove designed to wear on either hand.

 

I believe the Yankees still have Pat Venditte in their system. He is a truly ambidextrous pitcher. I saw him pitch once, and he doesn't throw nearly hard enough to be a true major league prospect. I believe he will have a long career in the minor leagues if he chooses.

 

Btw, I can throw a ball and write with both hands.

[SoxSport]

I still say the worst was Mike Torrez. He put Bucky who? on the map with that meatball hanger a little leaguer could have hit.

[TeddyBallGame9]

Jim Piersall. Fine ballplayer, too.

[BornToRun]

Mark Loretta count?

[Dojji]

Mark Loretta count?

 

Sure. I wouldn't call him a bad player, but I'd count him. Good hands, good OBP, horrible range, no power... eh. I can't hate him.

 

Here's a better question: Does Mark Bellhorn count?

[Spitball]

Does anyone remember "Fireball" Fred Wenz? I saw Frank Robinson hit a three-run homer off him that probably still hasn't come down. Guys that throw really hard don't give the ball enough time to get enough rotation on the ball for movement, and Fireball's was straight as a line. He was fast but not fast enough.