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.
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