Keith Folke Retires

Keith Foulke has decided to retire. And I say, "Good for him." Foulke in effect just walked away from at least $5 million by retiring. He could have gone on the DL with a sore elbow and cashed a check but instead he said, "enough."

I don't think baseball was Keith Foulke's passion. It seemed to me that it was just his job and a job that he was willing to do as long as he could compete at the highest level. He wanted to be a sub 3.00 ERA guy not some (in his words) "middle bullpen, 5.00 ERA guy."

Over the course of his career - Foulke has earned over $32.8 million. Hopefully he has put enough away to live comfortably. The fact that he walked away from a $5 million guaranteed contract would indicate that Foulke ain't exactly worried about mortgage payments.

I am grateful to Keith Foulke because without him - the Red Sox don't win the World Series in 2004. True Red Sox fans know that Foulke was the real MVP of that post season. Consider the fact that he went 1-0 with 3 saves with a 0.64 ERA in 14 innings pitched in the playoffs in 2004 to see how valuable he really was.

As a Red Sox fan - this could be the best possible outcome. The Red Sox get a supplemental draft pick because he signed with Cleveland but now we don't have to feel the discomfort of facing him (you'd want the Red Sox to score a lot of runs against him but by the same token part of you would be rooting for him).

May the road rise to meet you Keith Foulke. And may the wind always be at your back.