With most eyes fixed on the bright stars of the Boston Red Sox, it's easy for journeymen and other lesser known players on the team to slip under the radar. But while we wait to see if Daisuke will be the next Pedro Martinez, and Curt Schilling waits around to see if he'll get a new contract to go along with his burgeoning waistline, a number of players wait in the dugout with the hopes of just making it out onto the field of Fenway.
Long gone are the days of the idiots, of the fan favorites like Kevin Millar and Todd Walker, who, while not posting Hall of Fame numbers, nevertheless endeared themselves to countless members of Red Sox nation. And as easy as it is to fall for the gaudy numbers of Jonathan Papelbon or to hop on to the Dice-K bandwagon, rooting for that unsung hero of the team sets apart those true fans.
For me, it was Mike Lowell last year. Don't know why, just liked him from the get go - same for Walker in 2003. And while there will always be Big Papi to cheer for and that all-but-guaranteed home run, what makes the game exciting is finding that hidden jewel in the rough; or in the case of this year's Sox, amongst the more obvious jewels.
There are a number of guys who could fit that mold this season. Of course there are the early favorites like Jon Lester and Dustin Pedroia. But what about a pitcher like Devern Hansack? He may not throw a gyroball to wow us, but his five-inning no-hitter against the Orioles in last year's season finale sure gave fans something to think about during the offseason.
A reliever by trade, Hansack split the two games he started last season, finishing with a 2.70 ERA and eight strikeouts. He also helped lead the Portland Sea Dogs to an Eastern League Championship while earning MVP owners, and was named Sea Dogs Pitcher of the Year. Although it will be a fight to get into an already packed Boston bullpen, if the young righty finds a way in, he'll surely make an impact on the club.
For the next storyline to be made into a Disney movie, we have Brendan Donnelly. Of course his story of a middle-aged ballplayer finally breaking into the big leagues was already told in the movie "The Rookie," based on Jim Morris, who debuted with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at age 35. Donnelly knows this story all too well, as he was the Devil Rays pitcher dropped from the 40-man roster to make room for Morris.
At 35, Donnelly isn't quite a rookie pitching for the Red Sox, and although he lacks the experience most pitchers his age have, he makes up for it in accomplishments. He was named an All-Star in 2003, posting a 1.58 ERA while in the Angels' bullpen. Donnelly has faced injury and suspension for having pine tar on his glove in the last few years, but in 2006 he posted a 6-0 record with a 3.94 ERA, including 53 strikeouts. Whether he'll continue in his role as setup man for the Sox, or jockey for the closer role with Joel Pineiro, this is one journeyman who's sure to bolster the Sox this season.
And then there's the forgotten son of the Red Sox. Touted as the next big pitcher when he came to the Sox from the Cubs in 2005, Matt Clement has continued his streak of mediocrity ever since arriving in Boston. Although he was 10-2 and an All-Star midway through 2005, he finished that season with a 13-6 record and 4.57 ERA. His tendency to peak at the All-Star break, and the opinion that he doesn't handle pressure well, was only exacerbated when he was hit in the head by a line drive near the end of July.
Since then Clement has been little more than an afterthought for the team. He only pitched 65 innings in 2006 before undergoing shoulder surgery in September. Some fans and sports commentators thought his problem was purely mental, awarding him the name "Door Matt" for his abysmal play, but it seems Clement really did have tears in his shoulder. Now it's a matter of finding out whether Door Matt was just a fluke or if he's the bum everyone has him pegged out to be.
So when the 2007 season officially begins, most eyes will be locked on Manny and the usual suspects, but take a minute away from gazing for the elusive gyroball to watch what some of these unsung Red Sox are up to. You might just be surprised.
