Well, he got almost $20 mil to put in that one good season/postseason, so I'm not sure that this was an act of total selflessness. But he definitely gave his all on the field, and the maybe 3 bWAR wins (2.5 + postseason) we got back was a very good deal for all parties.
I looked up the contract and you're definitely right about him getting paid for the last two years when he was no longer an "elite closer". Each of 05/06 he was paid 7.5m to do..not much good after the first 3.5m year of being dominant.
This is the litmus test for Sox fandom as far as I'm concerned. Loved the Foulke signing from day 1, still have a 29 jersey with his name floating around somewhere. Nearly pummeled some chump in Denver after Game 4 in 2007 for giving me shit about wearing it.
No argument here. I mean, what could have happened otherwise we'll never know. But I guess the thing I most appreciate about him is that he represents the essence of sports, putting it all on the line in pursuit of a championship rather than thinking about his personal fortunes. And I bet you he would NEVER make that decision any differently.
I want to add Okajima in the 2007 post-season to your list only none of his work was quite as do or die, lose and we go home as any on your list. But an oft-overlooked aspect of that title was his work getting games to Papelbon. Game 2 of the WS comes to mind when he came in in the sixth in relief of Schilling and faced seven guys and got seven outs to get the ball to Papelbon. All after looking absolutely gassed in late August and September. It's a marvel how that team survived that October with essentially 3.5 decent pitchers, and the half was the combo of Schilling and Matsuzaka on fumes. Thank goodness the offense came to life when it did and made most of the wins blowouts.
Agreed. My son and I watched that game on DVD a couple of months ago and I still felt like throwing up on the last pitch.
Looking at it again, the changeup that got Bernie was breaking away from the LHH like a screwball. He had no chance. The one to Clark looked like higher velocity, with not so much break. So yeah, we got lucky, or Foulke had some magic we couldn't see, or Clark just fanned on not Foulke's best pitch.
Yeah his changes had nasty movement. The screw action always seemed a little unfair. Fun to watch. Foulke always seemed like a straight shooter too. Glad he's back as a coach.
This is a great call. I also want to give an honorable mention to Koji, game 6 of the 2013 ALCS. 11 pitches, all strikes, and the one hit was an infield single.
At 34'45", Foulke in the postgame hugs&handshakes: "Whoo! Gotta make it interesting!"
One of my greatest memories. Never felt anything like it before or after. I literally held a couch pillow up to my eyes because I was afraid to watch. I called my dad (on a landline) between every half inning. Now that my dad is battling health wise it takes on even more meaning. Any opportunity like this to revisit those nights is really welcome.
He's been in the Legends Suite, where former players have a video package shown and greet the crowd between innings, at least three times in the last few years. He's always well received.
Bobby Jones
He did pitch two days before, but that wasn't the opener. The Sox lost the opener 7-2.
Every red sox fan thinks this is the dumbest Huff Post headline ever:
Christ, you're right and I'm not sure how I forgot that, since I was at that game. Chilly night in the bleachers at Camden.
