Doug Mirabelli

Doug Mirabelli has been waived by the Red Sox.

As one of the few members of both the 2004 and 2007 Championship teams you would think Mirabelli would have been more popular but even his supporters understand that this move may have been overdue in coming. Mirabelli is the proverbial one-trick pony. He could catch the knuckleball and that is all. He can't hit (just a .202 BA with five HR and 16 RBIs in 114 at-bats last season), he can't run (perhaps the slowest player in the Red Sox system) and he can't even stay healthy.

It may have been this last point that was the deciding factor. Mirabelli just had to be available to catch every fifth day when Tim Wakefield's turn rolled around but last season Mirabelli couldn't manage that so the Red Sox had to sign Kevin Cash. During his stint Cash proved that he could both catch the knuckleball and stay healthy. It says a lot that Cash is even worse with the bat than Mirabelli but Cash is the one they are keeping.

At this point - Mirabelli's detractor's probably outweighed his supporters. My friend Tim, for an example, called Mirabelli "Fat Belly" every time Tim saw Mirabelli step to the plate. When Tim said "Fat Belly" there was no humor in his voice. It was all distaste. I think Mirabelli drew such fan ire for 3 main reasons.

1. He had a huge drop off of efficiency at the plate. His first year with the Red Sox he was touted as a guy who could start for many other teams and who was perhaps the best back-up in baseball. The last two seasons he was a guy who was lucky he could catch one specific pitcher otherwise he'd be out of baseball. By the way - Mirabelli is not Italian for Bob Montgomery.

2. The "I could do that" factor. How many guys sitting on a bar stool looked at Mirabelli and thought "I could be just as bad at the plate and just as slow - damn if I could catch a knuckleball it could have been me on that team." Major league players are supposed to be special not lucky, lucky bastards.

3. Mirabelli represents the dearth of major league ready catching prospects in the Red Sox system. Neither George Kottaras nor Mark Wagner are MLB ready and even though that's no fault of Mirabelli's - he was the lightning rod for that resentment of the hole in the system. I say it's not his fault but the Red Sox did have to trade Josh Bard to get Mirabelli back.

So now the Red Sox will probably break camp with Jason Varitek as the starter and Kevin Cash as the back-up. Kottaras will get more seasoning at Pawtucket and Wagner will do the same in Portland. My dream scenario is that the Red Sox somehow acquire Matt Wieters from the Orioles. I just think it would be perfect if the guy to replace Jason Varitek was another Georgia Tech alum.

EDIT: Curt Schilling says goodbye to Doug Mirabelli.

Baseball Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous baseball thoughts and observations.

With the Padres and Rockies playing a 163rd game - I was reminded that in 1978 when the Red Sox went to a playoff - Jim Rice played in every game that season - all 163 of them. Adrian Gonzalez came close to Rice's mark by playing 161 games this season... I figured out who was to blame for the Mets' collapse - Mr. Met. Wally the Green Monster never would have allowed the Red Sox to fall apart like that... If I had a vote for NL MVP - I'd have to give it to Matt Holliday of the Rockies. Holliday was taken in the 7th round of the 1998 draft. In the first round the Rockies took pitcher Matt Roney with the 28th pick, outfielder Choo Freeman with 36th pick and catcher Jeff Winchester with the 40th pick. If I'm the Rockies I'm not sure how I feel about the success of those 3 first rounders... Prediction - if the Phillies go on to win the World Series then the number of people who die in the "celebration" will outnumber the US military deaths in Iraq for October... If I had a vote for NL Manager of the Year - I'd vote for Willie Randolph just to screw with people... The Red Sox having to carry 3 catchers on their playoff roster for the series against the Angels points out how much of an albatross Doug Mirabelli has become. His only skill is being Tim Wakefield's buddy. He's become Robert DiNiro in Bang the Drum Slowly. I understand the flexibility having 3 catchers give you in the late innings but come on - there's a reason no playoff teams normally carry 3 catchers...

Red Sox Magic Number - 28

The Red Sox magic number is now 28 and their lead over the Yankees is up to 6.5 games in the AL East.

There are two players who wore the number 28 that I'd like to mention.

First - the number 28 was worn by Sparky Lyle in his days in Boston. In New York - Lyle is remembered as the 1977 AL Cy Young Award winner and as a clutch reliever but in Boston he is remember as the man who made the name Danny Cater a sort of a curse word and as the next to ultimate example of why the Red Sox should never deal with the Yankees (Babe Ruth being the ultimate example).

The number 28 is also currently worn by Doug Mirabelli who is known in some circles as Tim Wakefield's binky or as Doug Fatbelli (though to be fair - Mirabelli reported to camp in great shape this year). I'm of two minds with Mirabelli. On one hand I don't like the Red Sox using up a roster spot on a guy who has trouble hitting his weight. On the other hand - Mirabelli is a veteran and al the pitchers are comfortable with him and honestly back-up catcher is not the most vital position on the roster.