45-year-old knuckleballer Tim Wakefield wants to pitch an 18th season for the Red Sox next year, he told Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. Said Wakefield: "I've definitely made up my mind that I definitely want to come back next year. I have another goal in front of me that I'd like to accomplish, and that’s the all-time record for the Red Sox in wins. I’m only seven away. I think the fans deserve an opportunity to watch me chase that record."
With 192 victories, Roger Clemens and Cy Young share the current franchise record. Wakefield has 186 for the Sox, and 200 in total. He has a 5.12 ERA, 5.4 K/9, 2.7 BB/9, 1.45 HR/9, and 38.4% groundball rate in 154 2/3 innings this year, and the righty explained that his job as a a fourth or fifth starter is to give the club innings.
I love Wake and all, but this is extremely risky.
Such a greedy SOB! Retire old man, you have been at the trough long enough.
Truth be known, you are a 4-inning 50 pitch pitcher…. on your good days.
Let a younger man have your roster spot.
Do you really think it’s greed or do you think the man just loves playing baseball?
I’m thinking he’s just a competitor who loves playing the game. Good on him.
i think you’re right that it’s love of the game, but when he mentions the record it doesn’t sound quite so charming
Especially when he assumes that “fans deserve to watch” him take another two seasons to get enough victories to become the sole record holder…
it sounds like he thinks he’s more significant to the red sox franchise than a perennial fourth/fifth starter ever could be. every starting pitcher’s job is more than simply ‘provide innings’, if you’re not out there to win every time out then you shouldn’t be sent out.
Look, on the day his team is to play its final game, a win or lose situation, with the playoffs on the line, Tim meets with the press to talk about his plans for the future. If that isn’t self centered, narcissistic behavior, of a man totally devoid of a sense of team loyalty and importance of the circumstances around him, I don’t know what is.
The truth is, Wakefield wants to come back in 2012 for the $2,000,000 salary because he cannot do anything outside of baseball to earn a living. At best, he is a 4-inning starter. His ERA spanning the past 3 years has been nearly 6.00/9 innings. Only Lackey is worse. Simply put, the man can no longer cut the mustard, he needs to retire.
BTW, Red Sox management would do us all a favor if the also deleted Drew, Veritek, Lowrie, Macdonald, Jenks, Wheeler, Bowden, Lackey, Bedard, Matsuzaka and Youkilis from their plans for 2012 and beyond. The aforementioned are either, over the hill, inept, too brittle, or too full of themselves to play for the Red Sox ever again.
Tim Wakefield is anything but greedy. He’s never had a base salary over $5M and had a perpetual $4M option in his previous contract. His most recent was $5M over 2 years.
That’s all very nice, but do the Red Sox want him and as a starter???????
I hope not.
No thanks. He’s no longer an innings eater and I’d prefer to not see him start a game. I’d rather see Felix Doubront or Junichi Tazawa pitching in the 5th spot.
“the fans deserve” cmon Wake you are losing your grip on reality. One of the reasons this team won’t make the playoffs is because of YOU!
“I think the fans deserve an opportunity to watch me chase that record.”
Are you kidding. The fans who pay money, deserve to see the best team on the field, not wakefield trying to set a personal goal. This does not sound like a statement from a player seeking what is best for the team.
First point: Wakefield is not the worst Red Sox starter in their rotation. And given the garbage we saw this September, I don’t think he’s the first pitcher that needs to go. If the Sox are willing to bring six pitchers in then they should probably dump Wakefield, but I don’t know if they can land six FA pitchers, not when the Yankees have nearly as many rotation problems as they do.
Second point: I’m sure Wakefield would do just fine in the Red Sox bullpen.
In addition to being a lousy pitcher, Wakefield is a cancer on the bench.
dude
no
I love Wake, great man, great guy in the clubhouse. Problem is, I think it took 8 tries to get number 200, so, to get 7 wins, at that pace he would need 56 starts. I say, thank you for everything Wake, it’s time to go.
He already holds the career loss record so now maybe the “Pitching Pinata” has his sights set on Ruffings single season loss record? Maybe add to that HR allowed total? Some know when to walk away with the fans holding pleasant memories and others walk away with a stench. Make the memories pleasant and retire.
Love of baseball or not, there are younger players in the farm system that cost less, would probably do the same if not better job, and are hungry to make the team. Give them a chance! I swear if Wakefield is stealing a roster spot come next season, I will no longer support the Sox. If you think I don’t like Wakefield, you are mistaken. I love everything he has done for the team and the community over the years. I just think it’s very selfish to chase records while denying a younger guy a chance at the bigs.
Theo’s computer (Carmine) must say no to this one. He might be back if we make the playoffs, but if we don’t, he def. wont be back. I think it’s just time to hang it up Wake.
Hahahaha
Wake, you could’ve had the record THIS YEAR if you didn’t stink. Love ya man, but it’s true.
Sorry Tim, I love all that you’ve done for Boston throughout your amazing career, but accept it or not, you have been a major liability for this team.
The fact that a knuckleballer brings too many uncertainties to the game (will the knuckler show up? will the catcher be able to handle?), as well as turn the other team into a bunch of trackstars on the basepaths, I say it’s time to move on from Wakefield.
He get rocked everytime he hits the mound. Great player but it’s time to hang em up.
Calling Tim Wakefield “Greedy” is like calling Joseph Stalin a great guy. pure stupidity.
Wanting to keep pitching for the Red Sox despite not being any good anymore just so he can hold a record sounds greedy to me. It isn’t the malicious kind, but it is, at the very least, selfish of him.
I want to pitch for the Red Sox, even though I’m not any good at it. Does that make me greedy or selfish?
But you aren’t in a position to actually do it. If he’s the 5th starter next year, he is taking away a spot from someone who most likely has a future in the bigs simply because he wants to break a record. He’s hurting the team, and he’s hurting the future of whoever would replace him.
It in no way makes him a bad person, but it is still a selfish act.
He’s not the one to make the final decision. If he’s back next year as the #5 starter, it’s because the Sox want him there.
Obviously you can say that he should realize that he’s not longer suited to pitch in the bigs, but if the Sox want him back, why would he decline (if he wants back as well)? That’s like saying if you were offered to be Apple’s CEO, would you decline even though you’re probably no good at it? If they offered you the position, they want you there.
You must be a relative of big Tim’s… (just kidding)
To be expected to be paid $2+M year for being a 4-inning starting pitcher with an ERA nearing 6 per 9 innings (over the past 3 years), is insane. He is a narcissistic, greedy, self serving individual, no doubt about it. He is a 46-year old, old man.
I’ll wager he is probably old enough to be your grandfather.
Yes, it is time for Timmy boy to hang up his spikes, and, if necessary go sell used cars in sunny Florida.
They’ll pay him a pittance (probably the MLB min.) and it will be a good pairing to the 100th Anniversary of Fenway. And no, he’s not old enough to be my grandfather, hardly old enough to be my dad. lol.
We deserve to see him chase the record as much as we deserved watching him play a huge role in deep-sixing the Sox this year. Want to play another season? Go sign somewhere else….please!
Wake is a great guy. I’d love to see him back, but I hope the Sox don’t depend on him to fill a rotation spot. BTW- He could have hit the record this year with a little run support.
Sorry Kenny, but i dont’ think the team will be able to come back from a 6-0 hole in the first inning. It’s time for him to go, too many wild pitches, stolen bases. I like the guy but it’s time to move on.
Didn’t the Red Sox lead the American League in runs scored this year?
Tim is one of the reasons we did not make the playoff. Gave him 7 chances to win 2oo and he lost 7 out of 8. Blame the manager for this. Should not have made him pitch as a starter