Red Sox Report: Wakefield Finally Gets His 200th Win
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Finally! After almost 2 months and 9 starts, Tim Wakefield has career win #200.
Tuesday night at Fenway, Wakefield and the Red Sox beat Toronto 18-5. That the team won the game was the most important thing given that it snapped a 5-game losing streak and increased their lead in the American League Wild Card race to 4 games over the charging Tampa Bay Rays.
But this night was also about Tim Wakefield.
Wakefield is not your prototypical Major League pitcher. Start with the fact that he throws the knuckleball which few have ever had success with at that level. But Wakefield was different. He has been able to carve out a successful career with that one unorthodox pitch to the point where it earned him 200 wins in the Big Leagues which is no small accomplishment.
Consider that in the 100+ year history of the sport, only 110 pitchers had ever won 200 or more games in a career. Wakefield becomes # 111.
But Tim Wakefield has been much more than just a pitcher who has won many games for the Red Sox. He has been a jack of all trades serving as a starter, long-reliever, middle-reliever and even a closer for the team. In short, whatever they have asked of him, he has delivered.
He has also been a guy who has given the team a spot start in a pinch helping the club deal more easily with injuries or other circumstances that arise throughout the course of the season and has been a first-class guy on and off the diamond.
These past couple of months haven’t been pretty for the 45-year old Wakefield who has pitched well a couple of times but has been below average more often than not. But that’s not the point. Tim Wakefield has been above average for most of his career in Boston and we should salute him for all that he has accomplished and all that he has given to this franchise.
-Wakefield came out onto the field after the game Tuesday night and was treated to a rousing ovation by the fans at Fenway Park and his teammates. He handled the situation with the class, dignity and humility that he has exercised throughout his entire career. Following an interview with NESN's Heidi Watney, he was doused with champagne by his teammates.
-Adrian Gonzalez has had a sensational first season in Boston. David Ortiz has had a terrific year too. And Dustin Pedroia has been, well, Dustin Pedroia. But if you are looking for an MVP for the Boston Red Sox this season, then Jacoby Ellsbury is that guy.
After missing almost the entire 2010 season due to fractured ribs, Ellsbury has returned with a vengeance in 2011. Boston’s lead-off hitter is batting .321 with 27 HR and 94 RBI. He also has stolen 36 bases so far this season and has played a rock solid center field. Not bad for a guy who was written off by many in Red Sox Nation following last season.
-David Ortiz was penciled into the Red Sox starting line-up but had to be pinch-hit for in the first inning due to back spasms.
-Josh Beckett is apparently readu to test his injured ankle in game action. Beckett will reportedly start either Thursday or Friday against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway.
-Sox' reliever Bobby Jenks was scheduled to undergo back surgery soon but will have to wait due to another problem. Jenks was diagnosed with a non-life threatening pulmonary embolism (or blockage of an artery) in his lungs. Once medication cures the embolism, Jenks will have the back surgery.
-Dustin Pedroia had a heck of a night at the plate. Pedroia went 4 for 5 with 2 HR's, 5 RBI and 4 runs scored.
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