Worst Red Sox Player of All Time

[notin]

Henry Owens?

 

Another one was Tony Blanco.

 

In A ball, he was always compared to Vlad Guerrero. In MLB, he wasn’t even a poor man’s Mario Guerrero…

[Bellhorn04]

A definite flop. Although he really almost never played. Less than 400 PA total spanning six seasons…

 

True, but I think the sub-text was that Haywood Sullivan was willing to let Fisk go so his son could play more?

 

I might have that wrong, but I'm too lazy to look up.

[moonslav59]

A definite flop. Although he really almost never played. Less than 400 PA total spanning six seasons…

 

That's what makes this question tricky. The worse a player is, the less he plays.

 

The absolute worst player to play for the Sox might have less than 10 PAs, and nobody hear of him.

[mvp 78]

There are certain posters who have apparently been brought up in a self-created culture of grievance, and have been deluded into thinking that a sign of sensitivity and depth of soul is feeling and rooting out 'offense'.

 

A depth of soul isn't "don't talk bad about a player because his friends or family may come across this post."

[mvp 78]

Another one was Tony Blanco.

 

In A ball, he was always compared to Vlad Guerrero. In MLB, he wasn’t even a poor man’s Mario Guerrero…

 

I don't remember this guy at all. He OPS'd 1.110 in the GCL in 52 games. Not bad! Then he sucked for Lowell and was mediocre after that.

 

December 16, 2002: the Boston Red Sox sent Josh Thigpen (minors) and Tony Blanco to the Cincinnati Reds to complete an earlier deal made on December 12, 2002. December 12, 2002: The Boston Red Sox sent players to be named later to the Cincinnati Reds for Todd Walker.

 

Seems like the Sox got the better end of the deal.

[mvp 78]

True, but I think the sub-text was that Haywood Sullivan was willing to let Fisk go so his son could play more?

 

I might have that wrong, but I'm too lazy to look up.

 

Sullivan was still in A ball when Fisk went to the bad Sox. He didn't get double digit MLB PA's until 1985.

[notin]

That's what makes this question tricky. The worse a player is, the less he plays.

 

The absolute worst player to play for the Sox might have less than 10 PAs, and nobody hear of him.

 

True.

 

And that’s why the mention of Jackie Gutierrez was such a good one. Sure he only played for a couple seasons, but he was the full time starting shortstop for one of them.

 

Every team has some Rudy Pemberton type who showed up for 30-50 games one year and then deservedly never returned, usually because the real starter healed. But who are the guys who played 140-150 games per season that kept disappointing you every time you sa their name in the lineup, especially since you knew no better option was coming back?

[notin]

I don't remember this guy at all. He OPS'd 1.110 in the GCL in 52 games. Not bad! Then he sucked for Lowell and was mediocre after that.

 

December 16, 2002: the Boston Red Sox sent Josh Thigpen (minors) and Tony Blanco to the Cincinnati Reds to complete an earlier deal made on December 12, 2002. December 12, 2002: The Boston Red Sox sent players to be named later to the Cincinnati Reds for Todd Walker.

 

Seems like the Sox got the better end of the deal.

 

He was also a two time BA Top 100 prospect…

[mvp 78]

True.

 

And that’s why the mention of Jackie Gutierrez was such a good one. Sure he only played for a couple seasons, but he was the full time starting shortstop for one of them.

Every team has some Rudy Pemberton type who showed up for 30-50 games one year and then deservedly never returned, usually because the real starter healed. But who are the guys who played 140-150 games per season that kept disappointing you every time you sa their name in the lineup, especially since you knew no better option was coming back?

 

Problem with Gutierrez is that his backups were Glenn Hoffman and Ed Jurak who were even worse. They didn't have a viable in house SS until Jody Reed in 1988.

[mvp 78]

He was also a two time BA Top 100 prospect…

 

I don't remember him at all.

[notin]

Problem with Gutierrez is that his backups were Glenn Hoffman and Ed Jurak who were even worse. They didn't have a viable in house SS until Jody Reed in 1988.

 

 

I think that’s what makes Gutierrez a great candidate. He was awful but still the best choice. Although Hoffman was another who was high on my list.

 

I’m actually also surprised no one has mentioned Edgar Renteria. I have some theories about his poor performance, but they’re totally unsubstantiated and he was still pretty ineffective regardless…

[notin]

I don't remember him at all.

 

 

That’s ok. There’s a good chance he doesn’t remember you, either…

[notin]

I don't remember him at all.

 

How about Steve Lomasney as a prospect flop?

[moonslav59]

I think that’s what makes Gutierrez a great candidate. He was awful but still the best choice. Although Hoffman was another who was high on my list.

 

I’m actually also surprised no one has mentioned Edgar Renteria. I have some theories about his poor performance, but they’re totally unsubstantiated and he was still pretty ineffective regardless…

 

I mentioned Edgar and what amounted to us paying him about $40M for one forgettable season.

 

Per dollar spent, he, Pablo and Carl Crawford are top 3 or 4, IMO.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

But who are the guys who played 140-150 games per season that kept disappointing you every time you sa their name in the lineup, especially since you knew no better option was coming back?

 

Franchy probably didn't even have 140 PAs but it seemed like 140 games. Santana pinch hit close to 140 ABs in the playoffs and struck out every time.

[notin]

I mentioned Edgar and what amounted to us paying him about $40M for one forgettable season.

 

Per dollar spent, he, Pablo and Carl Crawford are top 3 or 4, IMO.

 

Easily the worst contracts in team history, and Lackey started off his Sox career like he intended to join that group. And obviously Rusney -despite my liking his defense - is another obvious addition.

 

But as bad as these guys were (except maybe Crawford), the worst player is still different than the worst contract.

[moonslav59]

Easily the worst contracts in team history, and Lackey started off his Sox career like he intended to join that group. And obviously Rusney -despite my liking his defense - is another obvious addition.

 

But as bad as these guys were (except maybe Crawford), the worst player is still different than the worst contract.

 

Yes, but almost all answers have a qualifier, as the worst player was probably one that got 2 or 3 PAs.

 

Worst with 100+ PAs?

 

Worst with 300+? 600+?

[mvp 78]

I think that’s what makes Gutierrez a great candidate. He was awful but still the best choice. Although Hoffman was another who was high on my list.

 

I’m actually also surprised no one has mentioned Edgar Renteria. I have some theories about his poor performance, but they’re totally unsubstantiated and he was still pretty ineffective regardless…

 

Renteria was overpaid, but still had a 1.8 fWAR.

[mvp 78]

How about Steve Lomasney as a prospect flop?

 

Same profile as a guy like Mickey Pina, I think.

[mvp 78]

Yes, but almost all answers have a qualifier, as the worst player was probably one that got 2 or 3 PAs.

 

Worst with 100+ PAs?

 

Worst with 300+? 600+?

 

The worst guy who had 2 PA's in the 80's would probably start for the team when they were the Boston Americans.

[jad]

Renteria was overpaid, but still had a 1.8 fWAR.

 

Yeah, one of several, as I recall, brought in as if to relive the apparent magic of getting rid of Nomar. Orlando to Renteria to Lugo ...

[moonslav59]

The worst guy who had 2 PA's in the 80's would probably start for the team when they were the Boston Americans.

 

What Sox player has the highest OPS since 1972? (1+ PAs)

 

2.000 Roger Clemens! (in 1 PA)

 

Okay, how about the worst (non pitcher with 5+ PAs)?

 

.000 Gary Gaetti (11 PAs)

.000 Ivan de Jesus (8)

.000 Ryan Shealy (7)

.077 Dave Coleman (13)

 

Higher and higher PA sample sizes...

.166 Craig Grebeck (43)

.301 Danny Sheaffer (68)

.380 Cesar Craspo (79)

.444 John Flaherty (100)

.463 Mark Lemke (100)

.432 Allen Craig (195)

.494 Marc Sullivan (397)

.556 Mario Guerrero (537)

.567 Ed Romero (727)

.572 Jackie Gutierrez (788)

.603 Doug Griffin (1786)

.603 Tony Pena (1849)

.635 Glenn Hoffman (2125)

.668 Jerry Remy (3118)

.684 Marty Barrett (3816)

.688 Rick Burleson (4491)

 

 

[mvp 78]

Yeah, one of several, as I recall, brought in as if to relive the apparent magic of getting rid of Nomar. Orlando to Renteria to Lugo ...

 

Alex Gonzalez erasure.

[mvp 78]

What Sox player has the highest OPS since 1972? (1+ PAs)

 

2.000 Roger Clemens! (in 1 PA)

 

Okay, how about the worst (non pitcher with 5+ PAs)?

 

.000 Gary Gaetti (11 PAs)

.000 Ivan de Jesus (8)

.000 Ryan Shealy (7)

.077 Dave Coleman (13)

 

Higher and higher PA sample sizes...

.166 Craig Grebeck (43)

.301 Danny Sheaffer (68)

.380 Cesar Craspo (79)

.444 John Flaherty (100)

.463 Mark Lemke (100)

.432 Allen Craig (195)

.494 Marc Sullivan (397)

.556 Mario Guerrero (537)

.567 Ed Romero (727)

.572 Jackie Gutierrez (788)

.603 Doug Griffin (1786)

.603 Tony Pena (1849)

.635 Glenn Hoffman (2125)

.668 Jerry Remy (3118)

.684 Marty Barrett (3816)

.688 Rick Burleson (4491)

 

 

 

Schaeffer was in line to be my "worst" but then I remembered how horrible Grebeck was and had to search for him. Somehow I had overlooked him in my original run through.

 

Gaetti was toast in ST. He looked like a beer league softball player, but that's about it. He was terrible in 300+ PA's as a 40 year old. No idea why they brought him in the following year.

[moonslav59]

How about the worst Sox pitchers since 1972 by ERA:

 

Increasing IP threshold...

 

40.50 Scott Cassidy (0.2 IP)

36.00 Keith Shepherd (1.0)

27.00 Ryan Cook (4.1)

22.24 Zach Stewart (5.2)

16.87 Jim Dorsey (8.0)

15.55 Kyle Hart (11.0)

11.77 Jermaine Van Buren (13.0)

11.10 Jack Billingham (24.1)

10.80 Todd Frohwirth (26.2)

9.53 David Pauley (28.1)

8.50 John Leister (36.0)

8.33 John Smoltz (40)

6.80 Tim Van Egmond (45)

6.65 Doug Bird (68)

6.50 Sun-Woo Kim (71)

6.25 Allen Webster (89)

6.07 Vaughn Eshelman (212)

5.87 Jeff Suppan (221)

5.57 Mike Brown (238)

5.43 Mike Smithson (270)

4.97 Jeff Sellers (330)

4.82 Felix Doubront (418)

4.62 Al Nipper (694)

4.51 Mike Torrez (1012)

4.43 Tim Wakefield (3006)

[Bellhorn04]

How about the worst Sox pitchers since 1972 by ERA:

 

Increasing IP threshold...

 

40.50 Scott Cassidy (0.2 IP)

36.00 Keith Shepherd (1.0)

27.00 Ryan Cook (4.1)

22.24 Zach Stewart (5.2)

16.87 Jim Dorsey (8.0)

15.55 Kyle Hart (11.0)

11.77 Jermaine Van Buren (13.0)

11.10 Jack Billingham (24.1)

10.80 Todd Frohwirth (26.2)

9.53 David Pauley (28.1)

8.50 John Leister (36.0)

8.33 John Smoltz (40)

6.80 Tim Van Egmond (45)

6.65 Doug Bird (68)

6.50 Sun-Woo Kim (71)

6.25 Allen Webster (89)

6.07 Vaughn Eshelman (212)

5.87 Jeff Suppan (221)

5.57 Mike Brown (238)

5.43 Mike Smithson (270)

4.97 Jeff Sellers (330)

4.82 Felix Doubront (418)

4.62 Al Nipper (694)

4.51 Mike Torrez (1012)

4.43 Tim Wakefield (3006)

 

Amazing how many of those names are blotted out of my memory.

[moonslav59]

Amazing how many of those names are blotted out of my memory.

 

I know! A few I don't remember at all, but most I blotted them out. Only researching brought back these bad memories.

 

I remember the Smoltz-Penny fiasco.

[jad]

Amazing how many of those names are blotted out of my memory.

 

I remember Smolz, Nipper, and of course Wake. No others, even though the radio has been on almost constantly for RS games in my house since '72 (at least during the summer) and well before!

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

What Sox player has the highest OPS since 1972? (1+ PAs)

 

2.000 Roger Clemens! (in 1 PA)

 

Okay, how about the worst (non pitcher with 5+ PAs)?

 

.000 Gary Gaetti (11 PAs)

.000 Ivan de Jesus (8)

.000 Ryan Shealy (7)

.077 Dave Coleman (13)

 

Higher and higher PA sample sizes...

.166 Craig Grebeck (43)

.301 Danny Sheaffer (68)

.380 Cesar Craspo (79)

.444 John Flaherty (100)

.463 Mark Lemke (100)

.432 Allen Craig (195)

.494 Marc Sullivan (397)

.556 Mario Guerrero (537)

.567 Ed Romero (727)

.572 Jackie Gutierrez (788)

.603 Doug Griffin (1786)

.603 Tony Pena (1849)

.635 Glenn Hoffman (2125)

.668 Jerry Remy (3118)

.684 Marty Barrett (3816)

.688 Rick Burleson (4491)

 

 

 

Some of these guys at the bottom, as you know, were above-average defenders, so may not deserve to be on a thread of "worst" players. Griffin, Pena, and Burleson won Gold Gloves in Boston, where the Rooster also was a three-time All-Star who received MVP votes in four seasons. Barrett is overlooked now, but was one of the leaders on the field for the '86 AL champs, and hit 24-for-60 in that postseason.

 

Maybe they weren't great, but they also weren't Gorkys Hernandez or Chris Owings...

[moonslav59]

Some of these guys at the bottom, as you know, were above-average defenders, so may not deserve to be on a thread of "worst" players. Griffin, Pena, and Burleson won Gold Gloves in Boston, where the Rooster also was a three-time All-Star who received MVP votes in four seasons. Barrett is overlooked now, but was one of the leaders on the field for the '86 AL champs, and hit 24-for-60 in that postseason.

 

Maybe they weren't great, but they also weren't Gorkys Hernandez or Chris Owings...

 

Yes, I did not mean my list to reflect who are the worst players. It only shows the worst offensive players during my time as a Sox fan.

 

Rick Burleson was my favorite Sox player, and Jerry Remy was a net plus player, IMO. Others are not even close to being among the very worst.

 

(Same with some pitchers on that list- like Wake.)