Now that the All-Aughts Team of the Decade roster is complete, it’s time to fill out the two remaining spots available: honorable mention and dishonorable mention. We’re tackling the former today.
The Red Sox have players worthy of being immortalized on the Team of the Decade even though they didn’t crack the roster. Below are the five candidates eligible for honorable mention. Please take your time and vote for the candidate you feel belongs on the roster, either at the end of this article or on the right sidebar, near the top.
Dave Roberts: Served 2004 with Boston. 101 at-bats, .256/.330/.442 with 10 doubles and five stolen bases. Claim to fame: The stolen base in Game 4 of of the 2004 ALCS, enabling Boston to tie the game on Bill Mueller’s single up the middle. Boston eventually won the game and went on to win the World Series after being down three games to none in the ALCS to the New York Yankees, Boston’s hated rival. Considered the seminal moment of the playoffs, season, decade and perhaps Boston’s history as a whole. Also scored the tying run in Game 5, both after Kevin Millar worked walks. Is Evan’s vote of honorable mention and narrowly missed out on a Team of the Decade spot to Eric Hinske, by virtue of Hinske’s longer service to Boston and ability to play first and third base, a necessity on the team.
Mike Lowell: Served 2006-2009 with Boston. 2,026 at-bats, .295/.350/.479 with 75 home runs and 140 doubles. Claim to fame: The 2007 World Series MVP. Was acquired along with Josh Beckett in a salary dump of the purest sense, as many felt he was cooked after his awful 2005. Found the Green Monster to his liking, peppered it with doubles and was a linchpin of the ‘07 team, nabbing a career high 120 RBI and being named the 2008 Fire Brand of the Year.
Kevin Millar: Served 2003-2005 with Boston. 1,501 at-bats, .282/.362/.451 with 52 home runs and 220 RBI. Claim to fame: Being the architect of the clubhouse harmony from 2003-2004. Pioneered “Cowboy Up” and the “Rally Karaoke Guy,” as well as “El Bencho,” a term of derision for being a bench player during his 2004 late-season struggles, plus the addition of Doug Mientkiewicz. Was a major offensive force in 2003. Worked the two crucial walks during ALCS Game 4 and 5 in 2004 that led to Boston scoring the tying run late in the game, spurring a World Series win. Narrowly missed out on being the starting 1B on the All-Aughts team to Kevin Youkilis.
Keith Foulke: Served 2004-2006 with Boston. 178.1 innings, 3.73 ERA, 47 saves. Was inhuman down the postseason stretch in 2004, pitching a total of 14 innings, eight walks (six against the Yankees, when they pitched very cautiously), 19 strikeouts and just one earned run in garbage time during the World Series. Finished three ALCS games and all four World Series game. Was the pitcher on the mound when Boston exorcised it’s World Series drought in 2004. Widely believed that his postseason heroics were responsible for his subsequent physical breakdown and exit from baseball.
J.D. Drew: Served 2007-2009 with Boston. .276/.390/.485 with 54 HR, 196 RBI. Claim to fame: The $14 million Grand Slam in the bottom of the first of Game 6 of the 2007 ALCS, propelling Boston to a win and eventually a second World Series win. Receives a lot of flak for his attitude, but outproduced Kevin Millar over a similar three-year period despite consistently hitting lower in the order. Is the 2010 Fire Brand of the Year winner.
Alright ladies and gentlemen, time to vote! Who should be the honorable mention of the All-Aughts Team of the Decade? Vote below or in the sidebar on the right. Voting will run one week.
Who should be on the All-Aughts Team of the Decade as honorable mention?
- Mike Lowell (31%, 88 Votes)
- Dave Roberts (21%, 61 Votes)
- Keith Foulke (20%, 58 Votes)
- Kevin Millar (17%, 47 Votes)
- J.D. Drew (11%, 36 Votes)
Total Voters: 284
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I have to go with Foulke here…Most under appreciated player of the decade. Without Foulke '04 doesn't happen. Without '04, the decade may have been dramatically different.
i'm with you, tim. while i certainly understand the contributions made by lowell and roberts on one play foulke, imo, was just as responsible for the ALCS victories as ortiz was.
I gotta go Lowell. His impact has been pretty huge since he arrived. I see what you are saying about Foulke Tim, but I gotta go Lowell.
I hate to chose between Lowell and Roberts, simply because they've both had big impacts in very different ways. In the end, I have to go Dave Roberts, just because that steal means so much.
Maybe not the most rational pick as the other guys provided more overall value but I'll go with Roberts. That steal was awesome.
Sorry guys but your votes didn't take for some reason, I need you to please resubmit.
If you commented here (Tim, barroomhero, maeamian and Aaron) your vote went through but if you did not, I need you to please resubmit your vote — sorry for the inconvenience.
"Without Foulke '04 doesn't happen."
This.
1 ER in 14 IP during the 2004 Playoffs. 19K in those 14 innings. A change up pitcher.
Game 6 ALCS (B-Ref): Bottom of the 9th, Yankees Batting, Behind 2-4, Red Sox' Keith Foulke facing 4-5-6
2 walks around 2Ks and a popup.
They Got Nothing.
Doesn't Theo belong on the All-Aughts somewhere?
I guess you could make that argument, but I was thinking more on the field accomplishments. What does Fire Brand think? Should we have an All-Aughts GM of the Decade?
The Nomar trade, the gorilla suit resignation and rehiring as an Executive VP, The Dice-K signing (very exciting when it happened), the Manny trade. That's a lot of Red Sox history tied to one guy.
i'm not in favor.
I couldn't bring myself to leave out the steal.
I voted Roberts, I think Foulke should be in at RP over Embree. I know there was an only one closer rule, but I think that was silly and Foulke deserves more than Honorable Mention.
The Roberts seal was great and very memorable, but you HAVE to have Foulke on this team. As people have said before, "Without Foulke '04 doesn't happen.", and who knows if future years would have turned out differently if that monkey wasn't off our back. Foulke actually deserves a starting spot, not just an honorable mention, I'd remove Embree or Myers for him.