Thank you Joe Kelly

tims4wins

PN23's replacement
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
37,054
Hingham, MA
Kelly with the Sox in the playoffs:

17 2/3 IP, 12 H, 17 K, 0 BB, 2 R, 1 ER, 0.51 ERA. Wow. Thanks again, Joe.
 

TheoShmeo

Skrub's sympathy case
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jul 19, 2005
12,890
Boston, NY
Loved rooting for this guy.

Love that one of my geekier friends argued he has the worst stuff on the Sox staff, broadly defined. Do you think LA would have signed up for $24 mm to Heath
Hembree or Brian Johnson?

Kelly is likable, throws gas, threw at an MFY and just might have figured it all out this post season.

I hope for his sake that the latter is true. Either way, I too am delighted that he was a key actor in the 2018 playoff ride.

Oh, and tell A-Rod that there is no “we” as to him and your new team, Joe. (See the championship video for A-Rod professing to Kobe that “we” have this after Game 3).
 
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brandonchristensen

Loves Aaron Judge
SoSH Member
Feb 4, 2012
38,144
Here’s to the inevitable Cy Young!

Wish a deal could have been made. Fun energy to have on the team.
 

Bergs

funky and cold
SoSH Member
Jul 22, 2005
21,612
JoKe became anything but in the end. He was balls out in the playoffs. He'll never have to buy a beer in Boston.
 

Blue Monkey

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 23, 2006
5,353
Reading
Good luck Sloppy Joe. Thanks for being a total badass in the playoffs. I had a love/hate relationship with you. I guess that is true of most of my exes.
 

UncleStinkfinger

New Member
Oct 8, 2015
157
I'm a bit sad. As soon as we see Joe Kelly peak, he leaves town. Either way, I guess that trade with St.Louis finally paid off this past fall.
 

JimD

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 29, 2001
8,681
Godspeed, Joe - thank you for having your biggest moments in a Sox uniform in the games that mattered most.
 

dhappy42

Straw Man
Oct 27, 2013
15,725
Michigan
I’m a Joe Kelly fan through thick and thin. Really wanted him back on the team this season. Maybe wishful thinking, but I think he’s figured something out and will have a break-out year. He was one of the unlikely heroes in October. It’s not like the band is breaking up, but still sad to see him go. Good luck, Joe.
 

S. H. Frog

Member
SoSH Member
May 13, 2011
6,672
Yeah, thanks Joe Kelly and good luck. It was a pleasure watching it all come together, and at the right time.
 

LogansDad

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 15, 2006
29,053
Alamogordo
Thanks forever, Joe. Striking out the side in Game 5 was seriously awesome, and I hope that electric stuff keeps being fun to watch. Hope he enjoys LA.

Count me among the ones who would have like to have seen him back with the Sox. It's been a great off-season, but this one makes me a little sad. Seemed like a great teammate, from everything I saw.
 

Adrian's Dome

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 6, 2010
4,424
Thanks for being nails in the playoffs, but won't miss his inconsistency and I'm glad we didn't pony up that contract.
 

InstaFace

The Ultimate One
SoSH Member
Sep 27, 2016
21,754
Pittsburgh, PA
Is there some thread, here or in the MLB forum, that mentions the fact that he got a deal and discusses it? Because I can't readily find one.
 

BornToRun

Member
SoSH Member
Jun 4, 2011
17,312
Thanks for everything, Joe. You’ve added yourself to the list of people who’ll never have to buy a drink in Boston again. Good luck and keep that Yankee Punching hand strong.
 

ledsox

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 14, 2005
398
Thank you JK. An incredible start and end to the season (minus game 1). Sad to see him go but nice he got his big payday.
 

jercra

No longer respects DeChambeau
SoSH Member
Jul 31, 2006
3,147
Arvada, Co
His first appearance in the season and his last could not have been more different. I'll choose to remember his last.
 

Ale Xander

Hamilton
SoSH Member
Oct 31, 2013
72,429
Still amazing to me he had ZERO walks in the playoffs. Joe Kelly. Zero walks.
Will never forget this. He was our most nails traditional reliever. I feel sad for those who own Joe Kelly Fight Club tshirts. I will miss his 101 MPH heater and his goggles.
 

pedro1918

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 5, 2004
5,139
Map Ref. 41°N 93°W
I am of mixed emotions. I will always appreciate 2018 playoffs Joe. The inconsistent Joe was terrifying and I am kind of relieved I don;t have to put up with that for the next few years.

That said, thanks Joe. Amazing run this fall!!
 

MtPleasant Paul

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 28, 2015
168
The decision to let Joe go might not look so good if we fail to re-sign Kimbrel. I have a feeling Craig is not coming back.
 

ConigsCorner

Member
SoSH Member
Feb 22, 2001
557
Denver, CO
Forever, one of the twenty-five 4.0 (or 9.0). Were there 25-man rosters in 1903, etc.?

Anyway, you were platinum in the postseason, especially the Series.

Thanks, and enjoy going home.
 

Red(s)HawksFan

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 23, 2009
20,676
Maine
So do they mail him his ring or do they give it to him when he comes to town with the Dodgers in July.
July, of course. Unless he comes into town on his own for the home opener. I think Dave Roberts did that in 2005, so he might be willing to let Kelly do it.

Even if they get him the ring sooner, there will be some sort of recognition for him in July. That's fairly standard for departed players, especially those that won a ring.
 

Papelbon's Poutine

Homeland Security
SoSH Member
Dec 4, 2005
19,615
Portsmouth, NH
Thanks for everything JoKe. Second coming of Saturn Balls, but no way in hell would I want to pay you that deal. Congrats and see you at the reunion. Sincerely, best of luck.
 

Dan Murfman

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 21, 2001
4,186
Pawcatuck
July, of course. Unless he comes into town on his own for the home opener. I think Dave Roberts did that in 2005, so he might be willing to let Kelly do it.

Even if they get him the ring sooner, there will be some sort of recognition for him in July. That's fairly standard for departed players, especially those that won a ring.
Thought it might be a little stranger I do it since he will be on the team they beat.
 

Van Everyman

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 30, 2009
26,993
Newton
I said for months that I thought Kelly’s midsummer swoon was due to him working on his secondary pitches – there were appearances of his where it would seem he barely threw his four-seamer. My sense was that his performance during the playoffs was a direct result of that work. Will be interesting to find out whether he can put it all together for more than a six week stretch.
 

Adrian's Dome

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 6, 2010
4,424
I said for months that I thought Kelly’s midsummer swoon was due to him working on his secondary pitches – there were appearances of his where it would seem he barely threw his four-seamer. My sense was that his performance during the playoffs was a direct result of that work. Will be interesting to find out whether he can put it all together for more than a six week stretch.
He's been inconsistent for the entirety of his career. I don't think you can boil his inconsistency this season down to simply practicing something different for a while before the tree finally bore fruit.

This is always how he's been. He's an on/off switch.
 

JimD

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 29, 2001
8,681
I said for months that I thought Kelly’s midsummer swoon was due to him working on his secondary pitches – there were appearances of his where it would seem he barely threw his four-seamer. My sense was that his performance during the playoffs was a direct result of that work. Will be interesting to find out whether he can put it all together for more than a six week stretch.
Given that the Sox offered Kelly fewer dollars per year and wouldn't go longer than two years (according to Rob Bradford's piece today on WEEI.com - can't link to it right now), it would seem that the team's braintrust wasn't sold on the permanence of whatever adjustments resulted in Kelly's October performance.
 

Pandarama

New Member
Aug 20, 2018
149
Unless he comes into town on his own for the home opener. I think Dave Roberts did that in 2005, so he might be willing to let Kelly do it.
I believe you are thinking of Derek Lowe, who was able to get away from his new day job with LAD because he was a starting pitcher. As a reliever, JoKE won’t be able to get an excused absence.
 

Fred not Lynn

Dick Button Jr.
SoSH Member
Jul 13, 2005
5,253
Alberta
JoKe became anything but in the end. He was balls out in the playoffs. He'll never have to buy a beer in Boston.
Unless he comes back as manager of the opposing team in the World Series. I think you have to buy your own beer that week...