13 replies to this topic

[budcrew08]

http://fullcount.wee...nce-retirement/

Thanks for the memories... you'll always be a part of the Sox.

[AimingForYoko]

I hate our bullpen even more because he really could have gotten to 200. *sigh*

Ciao Timmy, and thanks.

[collings94]

I always liked Wakefield for the fact that every year, he might not have had a spot in the rotation, but he always came prepared. Once a starter went down, we could always count on Tim to come in a give us some strong starts. Thanks for the memories Wake.

[KillerBs]

Remember the good times...when the knuckler was on, he was absolutely dominant. I am thinking of the CG 3 hitters of which there were a few.

I really tired of watching him the last few years and came to resent him unaccountably. But I am getting a bit misty thinking of him hanging it up. For more than a few of us he was the last big leaguer left who was older than we were.

I think he slides in comfortably at the Pesky/Dewey/Petrocelli level of Red Sox greatness/lifetime achievement.

[betheriver]

No words for what this guy has done for this team. He's a model player and citizen. Obviously we don't know who he really was, but on the surface Tim was the kind of guy I'd like to be as a professional athlete. Appreciative of his gifts, willing to use them to help the team any way possible without complaint, and never afraid to back down when there was blame to be handed out. It's a shame he couldn't catch POS Clemens, but in my opinion he gave more to the Sox than Clemens ever did. Thanks for everything. Another one of the 25 gone. That leaves Tek and Ortiz.

Edited by betheriver, 17 February 2012 - 04:02 PM.

[Jimmy Walsh]

I always loved this Keys to the Game by Sosh's Jose Melendez. It sums up my feelings on Wakefield:

1. Jose loves Tim Wakefield and Jose loves the knuckleball. Or more accurately, Jose loves Tim Wakefield because of the knuckleball. This is not a secret.

Time and time again, Jose has described how he became enamored of the knuckleball while watching one of the Niekro brothers on The Baseball Bunch. (Note: Isn’t it time for a new Baseball Bunch? Could Barry Bonds play the Johnny Bench role, teaching kids the fundamentals, like hitting, throwing and proper use of performance enhancing drugs? “Cream on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, clear on Mondays and Wednesdays and Fridays kids. But on Sunday you rest. That’s God’s time.) Jose has described his lifelong effort to throw knuckleball and how it has resulted in him throwing exactly two out of, perhaps 10,000 pitches thrown. Jose has even claimed that he likes the knuckleball because it is like magic. It is the baseball equivalent of having a 5’3’’ NBA player who is in the league solely on his ability to hit half court set shots. At least that’s why Jose thought he loved the knuckleball. But he has had a change of heart. He has, if you will, flip flopped or perhaps sandaled.

Jose loves the knuckleball, because it is a metaphor for life. maybe not for everyone’s life, but for Jose’s life. The thing about the knuckleball that is so extraordinary is that unlike other pitches, it cannot be controlled, only directed, managed. Tim Wakefield cannot force the knuckleball up or down in the zone. He cannot choose for it to be a strike or a ball. What he can do is affect how sharply it breaks by speeding it up or slowing it down. And time after time, he can repeat, with the greatest possible precision, the exact motions that have brought him, and other knuckleballers before him, optimal results. Sometimes the outcomes are excellent, and sometimes, like now or in his magical 1995 stretch, they are astonishingly good for lengthy stretches. At others, such as when he was left off the 1999 ALCS roster after he seemed capable of blowing a 98 run lead in Game 4 of the ALDS, nothing he does seems to matter.

This is how life goes for Jose. He keeps the fingernails of his being trimmed and filed to exactly 3mm, he goes out of the figurative pitching motion and does his best to make the little tweaks required to keep the knuckleballs of daily life breaking hard over the plate. Sometimes the results are wonderful. Sometimes the Jason Giambis of despair, the Derek Jeters of adversity swing and miss and look as foolish as jesters. Sometimes, even thought they swing and miss, the ball evades the catcher and sneaks to the back stop, as seemingly good fortune melts into bad. But other times, there is Aaron Boone. Other times, Jose does the best he can, rotates the horsehide of his being forward by exactly one-fourth of a rotation, and still, there is no break, no movement. Whether it is a gust of wind from the frozen north, a butterfly batting its wings in Malaysia or a fan sneezing in section 23, the knuckleball fails to knuckle, the good intentions yield bad results and the ball makes an abrupt about face into the bleachers and into the emotional void of failure.

Jose cannot control his life any more than Tim Wakefield can control his knuckleball. He can only put faith in the soundness of his actions, the purity of his intentions and know that when his wins and losses are counted up at the end of the season, his record will be a little above five hundred. No, he may not be extraordinary, but he will be effective, he will be valued and maybe, just maybe he will hit that hot streak, that mystical spot at just the right time, and he can do something truly legendary.

[AimingForYoko]

I know that it's time. I think everyone knows that it's time. For some it's even past time.

Still sucks though.

Stupid allergies.

Edited by AimingForYoko, 17 February 2012 - 05:15 PM.

[Papo The Snow Tiger]

I loved watching Wakefield pitch, especially in his early years with the Sox. It looked like he was throwing so effortlessly. What I'll remember him most for is coming into Game 3 of the 2004 ALCS to save the pen and giving up a start in Game 4. You could argue that weas the beginning of the turning of the tide. Thanks for the memories Tim!

[scottyno]

ill never forget how dominant he was vs the yankees in the 2003 alcs before boone closed his eyes and found the bleachers, guy was unhittable in his 2 starts

[keninten]

My favorite moment for Wake was when he made the All-Star team. I just have a small sliver of hope that he stays in shape and if the Sox need someone for a few starts he`ll be ready.

[GreenMonster49]

What I'll remember him most for is coming into Game 3 of the 2004 ALCS to save the pen and giving up a start in Game 4.

It's important to remember that Lowe was supposed to be the long man in the bullpen and Wakefield was the 4th starter. When Wakefield went in the game, it meant that Lowe was starting Game 4 instead. Lowe doesn't get a chance to start Game 7 if Wakefield doesn't give him his starting slot.

I'll remember Wakefield's second start ever for the Sox, when he threw 7-1/3 innings in Oakland on two days' rest because Aaron Sele and Vaughn Eshelman could not start. He left with a runner on first and a 1-0 lead. Stan Belinda managed to load the bases, and he and Ken Ryan somehow got out of the jam.

Then in 2009, in Oakland again, with the bullpen totally taxed, he took a no-hitter into the 8th inning after telling Francona not to takle him out of the game, no matter what.

Most of all, I'll remember what I have on good authority that Charlie Hough said. Something on the order of "Why don't more pitchers throw a knuckleball? The same reason more guys don't throw 95! It's f------ hard!"

[Eck'sSneakyCheese]

I'll remember Wake as one of the best to ever wear the laundry. He gave us 17 yrs of memories ranging from being unhittable as a starter and reliever, to serving up Boone, and everything in between. He gave a valliant effort last year, but most of us could see that he was done. Thanks for the memories Tim.

[Monbonthbump]

I'm glad he didn't just try to stick around long enough to pass Roger and Cy on the Red Sox list. Hanging on only to get a record demeans a successful career. I'm old enough to remember Early Wynn doing that when he had nothing left. I personally witnessed the Sox losing the only two games I got to see in Kansas City the last two years trying to help him get to 200 and I won't be sorry to see the erratic knuckler become a nonfactor in our pitching and catching decisions this year. With that said, Wake was one of the classier guys to ever wear a Sox uniform and I would like to thank him for his long career and wish him well now that he can devote his full time to his family.

[tripleplay]

Wakefield - ends it with style and grace
Going out as a Red Sox player - fabulous. Not bitching too much about 9 more games - mahalo. Retiring in a timely manner with minimum fuss should not be discounted. It becomes increasingly rare.
A classy team player who gave whatever the team needed. When the knuckler was fluttering , he was a scourge to all who faced him. His wins could almost be counted as 1.5 victories for the aftereffects to hitters timing. When it was flat, we all died slowly, inch by inch, watching his games. Of which there were many... And for that I am also thankful.
He ate up so many innings in so many ways, I am sure there will be times this season when we will wish he were sitting in the bullpen. But it was time for Tim to go.
Tim Wakefield will always be a favorite of mine - never to be tarnished by buying another year at some other franchise. He will go down in history as a beloved Red Sock...one of the 25. His sacrifice in 2003 was the cornerstone of the 2004 Dream Season - he took a big one for the team and Boston's fans were smart enough to know that. Their response to him in 2004 made me proud to be a fan.
I hope he finds a meaningful place in the organization and helps them to win another ring. I will cheer the day he enters the Sox HoF. I want his shirt to commemorate a special career - unlikely, unconventional, committed, hard-working, self sacrificing, team-oriented, frustrating, infuriating, unique, unbelievable - Ladies and gentlemen - meet our Timmeh!
I will wear #49 with pride.
Hello Jason…