Forgiving Buckner? - The Boston Red Sox, 1987 and beyond

[reflections]

You have a lot of confidence in a guy with 53 major league at bats, to bat him clean up for the defending AL champions

Definitely although the starting 1B for the '88 sox....the immortal Todd Benzinger

[soxfan93]

In those 53 At Bats (18 Games), he hit 3 Home Runs and 9 RBIs... If you convert that to a full season, it would have been 27 HRs and 81 RBIs. However, he hit just .189 with .259 OBP. So, you might be right. I'll look it over and try to find a better spot to bat him (perhaps 6th, move Evans to 3rd, Boggs to 4th, Rice to 5th?).

Thank you for pointing that out. I guess I accidentally went by ratings instead of realistic logic, if that makes any sense.

[filihok]

In those 53 At Bats (18 Games), he hit 3 Home Runs and 9 RBIs... If you convert that to a full season, it would have been 27 HRs and 81 RBIs. However, he hit just .189 with .259 OBP. So, you might be right. I'll look it over and try to find a better spot to bat him (perhaps 6th, move Evans to 3rd, Boggs to 4th, Rice to 5th?).

Thank you for pointing that out. I guess I accidentally went by ratings instead of realistic logic, if that makes any sense.

Too late, you already promised him. You don't want to be one of THOSE kind of GM's do you?

[soxfan93]

Yeah, that's true. But, I guess if he doesn't perform well in Spring Training and/or the first month or so, the lineup would need to be adjusted, anyway. Right?

[soxfan93]

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December 5, 1986
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Lou Gorman: "John, are you sure you want to bat Mark cleanup?"
John McNamara: "Yes, Lou, I am. I think he has the potential to do very well in this league. Plus, think about it, a right-handed pull hitter, in Fenway Park. He should send one into the nets once per series, at least."
Gorman: Laughs. "You have a lot of confidence in a guy with 53 major league at bats, to bat him clean up for the defending AL champions."
McNamara: "You are absolutely right. I do have a lot of confidence in Mark's abilities. As the manager, I have to in order to keep him happy and excited to be here."
Gorman: "If you say so."

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December 12, 1986
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Gorman (on phone): "Hello. I am looking for Bill Lajoie."
Secretary, Detroit Tigers: "Who is this?"
Gorman: "Oh, pardon me. My name is Lou Gorman, General Manager of the Boston Red Sox."
Secretary: "I'll let him know."
Gorman: "Thank you."

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Bill Lajoie, General Manager of the Detroit Tigers: "Good afternoon, Mr. Gorman."
Gorman: "Good afternoon, Mr. Lajoie."
Lajoie: "How can I help you?"
Gorman: "I was wondering if Alan Trammell is available. Is he?"
Click.
Gorman: "Well, that was rude..."

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Gorman (on phone): "Hello?"
McNamara: "Hello, Lou. It's John."
Gorman: "How are you doing?"
McNamara: "Pretty good. Have you found anybody stupid enough to take on that defensive liability yet?"
Gorman: "No. I'm still trying, but having some very, very bad luck. It seems to be impossible. Nobody wants him."
McNamara: "Do you blame them?"
Gorman: "... Not at all."

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[Red Sox Fan 734]

Wow, this is really good so far, keep it up!

[soxfan93]

Thanks RSF. I'm glad to see so many people reading this.

[Mizerak]

This is a neat way to handle it...can't wait to see how the Buckner situation is resolved. I thought you were going to keep him on the Red Sox, based on the title...I guess you still could.

The use of McGuire's picture from the congressional hearings was priceless. Well done.

[soxfan93]

Thanks, Mizerak.

Yeah, I thought that I would keep Buckner when I started... but then I got some ideas... I don't know, we'll have to wait and see.

[soxfan93]

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December 20, 1986
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John McNamara: "So, Lou, have you found anyone to take him?"
Lou Gorman: "No. Seriously, nobody wants a 37-year old first baseman earning $840,000.00 on their bench."
McNamara: "What are you saying?"
Gorman: "I'm saying it's going to take a miracle to get him off of this team."

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Bill Buckner (on phone): "Hello?"
Gorman: "Hello, Bill. It's Lou Gorman. Listen, do you have any preferences as to where you want to play next year?"
Buckner: "Not Boston."
Gorman: "We're not an option, anyway; we've moved on, and we don't want you."
Buckner: "Just release me. I'll take it from there."

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December 22, 1986
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Gorman: "I talked to Bill."
McNamara: "Buckner?"
Gorman: "Yes."
McNamara: "Why?"
Gorman: "I asked him if he had any preferences as to where we send him."
McNamara: "Does he?"
Gorman: "He told me, quote, 'not Boston.'"
McNamara: "Ouch."
Gorman: "It doesn't matter to me. He said just release him, and he'll take it from there."
McNamara: "You know, he makes a good point. Why haven't you just released him? I mean, we don't want him here, he doesn't want to be here. It makes sense to me."
Gorman: "Not to me. First of all, I want him to suffer. After what he has done, and said, he doesn't deserve to control his fate. Second, again, it would cost us more to release him than it would to trade him. In that case, we might as well keep him, which isn't going to happen. If we can't trade him..."

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[5DiMaggio]

gorman: "not to me. First of all, i want him to suffer.

rofl

[JeepGuy63]

Two pages - a 5 for 1 deal and a petty GM.

[soxfan93]

Two pages - a 5 for 1 deal and a petty GM.

I'm still trying to set the scene and story, you know?

[soxfan93]

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January 5, 1987
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Syd Thrift, Pittsburgh Pirates General Manager: "Good morning. My name is Syd Thrift, and I am the General Manager of the National League's Pittsburgh Pirates."
Jessica Stevens, Boston Red Sox Secretary: "Good morning, Mr. Thrift."
Thrift: "I was hoping to speak to Lou Gorman. Is he in?"
Stevens: "Yes, he is. One moment, please."

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Lou Gorman: "Hello, Mr. Thrift."
Thrift: "Hello. How are you today, sir?"
Gorman: "I am doing well, how about you?"
Thrift: "I am doing well, myself."
Gorman: "How can I help you?"
Thrift: "Malcom Prine, the President and CEO of this organization, has told me that Bill Buckner is available. Is this true?"
Gorman: "Yes, sir, he is."
Thrift: "Good. Mr. Prine is very interested in him, so much as to tell me to acquire him. After thinking it over, and looking at the stats, I have become a little bit interested in him, as well."
Gorman: "Okay. What kind of deal were you thinking of?"
Thrift: "That was the problem. What are you interested in?"
Gorman: "For Bill Buckner? Whatever I can get."
Thrift: Laughs. "Well, how about we expand this a little bit?"
Gorman: "To what?"
Thrift: "We are very interested in Dwayne Hosey."
Gorman: "Our top prospect?"
Thrift: "Yes."
Gorman: "It could take quite a bit to lure him away, as he should develop into an excellent player."
Thrift: "I know. That's why we want him."
Gorman: "Okay. Again, he will take something big."
Thrift: "Buckner, Hosey, and maybe a couple of pitchers."
Gorman: "Which pitchers?"
Thrift: "Peter Hoy?"
Gorman: "And?"
Thrift: "Jeff Plympton?"
Gorman: "Okay. For who?"
Thrift: "Who do you like?"
Gorman: "For Hosey? A top prospect from the Pirates organization."
Thrift: "That's only fair. Name anyone."
Gorman: "Barry Bonds."
Thrift: Laughs. "No."
Gorman: "I expected that. How about Moises Alou?"
Thrift: "Hmm... We do have Bonds, Bobby Bonilla, and Orlando Merced for our future. And, if we move Bonds to a corner, one becomes expendable and Hosey goes to center."
Gorman: "Right. Add in a pitcher, maybe Tim Wakefield?"
Thrift: "We would rather keep Tim in Pittsburgh. How about Brett Gideon?"
Gorman: "Okay, that might work."
Thrift: "So, do we have a deal?"
Gorman: "... Yes."

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[TheBigBomber]

Well me myself ran a Pirates' dynasty, you may of read it, not sure but anyways I played with Alou, never heard of Gideon. Alou turns into a superstar, was really nice. I would've tried to get Wake though, he projected at my second starter or something like that. Sucks to give up your top prospect, but losing Buckner must be a load of your back.