I'm starting to come around that the answer is whoever they get back for Mookie. Whether it's a prospect or established player.
In his first year with the Red Sox, Jack Clark led the team in home runs, walks, RBIs, and SLG. He was second to Boggs in OPS, and he had an OPS+ of 127. While his numbers were "putrid" in his second and final season, he actually hit pretty well upon coming to Boston.I disliked Jack Clark upon arrival given his babbling criticisms of Tony Gwynn. Then he put up putrid numbers and almost boasted about declaring bankruptcy (seemingly oblivious to people never getting money from him that he legitimately owed them).
Weird to see Jason Bay on this list.Several of the post-championship teams suffered from my hate because of who left and who came in to replace them. Matt Clement, David Wells, Edgar Renteria in 2005, Jason Bay, John Smoltz later on.
I was thinking the same thing about Smoltz. Who was he the direct replacement of? As I recall, he was signed coming off surgery so the hope was if he could pitch at all, he might make a good mid-season "pick-up". They paid a silly premium for how little they got, but it really wasn't the sort of thing to get upset over.Weird to see Jason Bay on this list.
You should read the "name your THREE favorite albums" thread responsesListing six or seven guys kind of goes against the theme of the question.
Fuck no.You should read the "name your THREE favorite albums" thread responses
I was waiting for an old head to pick this one. I can still see him taking 8,000 strike threes right down the middle tooJack Clark
YES!!! I'd totally forgotten about how much I hated it at the time. Then I grew to love him.Jonny Gomes (really disliked him before he got here, then liked him)
Yup. Bad attitude, history of back problems, and at least tangentially involved in assault on a minor. I assume there are other red flag boxes that could have been checked, but none immediately come to mind.Alex Verdugo
Larry Anderson is a good guy and a decent baseball announcer. I've met him a few times and when I bring up I'm a Red Sox fan he always jokes and says....."I know, I know I'm the guy traded for Jeff Bagwell" What did he say or do??? He didn't ask for the trade, blame Lou Gorman. The title of this thread is what player did you hate at the time not what trade did you hate the most. He actually contributed while Reardon was out. And the 1990 was one of my favorite Red Sox seasons.To me it's Carl Crawford. Hands down. Not only did he fall off the cliff, he took every opportunity to blame Francona, his teammates, fans, the city, and everything else, even though he did no better after he was traded to LA.
There were some guys in the 1990's who I hated: Dante Bichette, Carl Everett, Mike Marshall, Larry Anderson (my most hated until Crawford came around), Darren Bragg (just because he got playing time). And in the Henry era: Rudy Seanez (both parts 1 and 2). But none come close to Crawford for me.
At this point the only debate is “Who’s the runner up?”Alex Verdugo
Yep. Hated him then. Hated him with the team. Almost went neutral on him in 2013. Back to hating him.John Lackey.
Really? I was thrilled we got Gagne. He hadn't played much in the past 2 years, but had elite numbers the three years before that. He was in the middle of a very good season. Very soon I was hoping he wouldn't be put into the game. Hard to believe many were "immediately pissed" about Carl Crawford. I was annoyed to see Rob Deer on the Sox.Came here just to write Eric Gagne. Although my experience with the Sox only goes back to the start of this century.
Alex Verdugo
For me, #1 with a bullet is Verdugo, and runner up is Danny Cater - I loved Sparky and hated the idea of a glove-only 1B, all while making the MFYs better and the Sox worse.At this point the only debate is “Who’s the runner up?”
Canseco's Boston career was interesting. Certainly not an overwhelming success, but he was good with the Sox. He played 17 season in MLB, 2 in Boston. His 2 seasons, he put up these lines:Surprised to see Canseco on the list. In retrospect, sure, but at the time I was pumped and thought he'd be a monster in Fenway.
I meant more because of his admitted steroid use. Never bothered me but YMMV.Canseco's Boston career was interesting. Certainly not an overwhelming success, but he was good with the Sox. He played 17 season in MLB, 2 in Boston. His 2 seasons, he put up these lines:
1995: 396 ab, 24 hr, .306/.378/.556/.933, 137 ops+
1996: 360 ab, 28 hr, .289/.400/.589/.989, 146 ops+
Now those two ops numbers rank #5 and #7 in his 17 year career. So even though he was hampered by injury (only played 102 and 96 games, respectively), he was really good offensively for Boston. I think even in today's launch angle era, we'd be happy with an OF that put up those numbers.
I don't remember the chronology. He didn't admit to steroids at the time, did he? And the reason I posted his numbers was because my memory was that he was a pretty big bust with the Sox...but it turned out not really to be the case, looking at his actual numbers.I meant more because of his admitted steroid use. Never bothered me but YMMV.
Yep that makes sense.He didn't admit to it until later. That's why I said I can understand how in retrospect people hated him on the Sox. Although now that I think about it there was wide speculation about his steroid usage going all the way back to his Oakland days so if that's the reason people hated when the Sox acquired I can understand that.
Best post in the thread.I'm starting to come around that the answer is whoever they get back for Mookie. Whether it's a prospect or established player.
The Fenway crowd chanted STER-OIDS at Canseco during the '88 & '90 playoffs. Everybody knew, even back then.He didn't admit to it until later. That's why I said I can understand how in retrospect people hated him on the Sox. Although now that I think about it there was wide speculation about his steroid usage going all the way back to his Oakland days so if that's the reason people hated when the Sox acquired I can understand that.
Yeah I remember that now that I think about it, but I either didn't care or didn't really believe players used steroids when they acquired Canseco.The Fenway crowd chanted STER-OIDS at Canseco during the '88 & '90 playoffs. Everybody knew, even back then.
He would have been a viable candidate without any of that stuff, just because he's replacing Mookie. As it is....Yup. Bad attitude, history of back problems, and at least tangentially involved in assault on a minor. I assume there are other red flag boxes that could have been checked, but none immediately come to mind.
Don't know if I harbored bad feelings for him, I don't think I did, but I was at a charity event and I went around and thanked the players for coming. Everyone had some type of return greeting except for AJ - who apparently didn't want to be there. He just grunted.Christ. This is really the one-and-only answer, isn't it?
Also dealt Tankersley, who had an infinity ERA in 2003 for the Padres.I’d like to throw in another vote for Ed Sprague. The only reason is that I thought Cesar Saba was going to be the next Ozzie Vizquel, but a better hitter. I could not believe they traded Saba for some stiff like Sprague.
Lugo had some ugly domestic abuse baggage before being traded here, don't sell short on him.Well considering Verdugos connection to a sexual assault incident he should be number 1 with a bullet. He leapfrogs players such as David Wells, Rent A Wreck, Lugo, Awfulman, AJ, Jack Clark and Matt "I can't throw to 1st" Young.