Comments on: I know I’m in the minority here… http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2007/01/03/i-know-im-in-the-minority-here/ Media, Baseball, Boston, the Red Sox, Music, Literature, and Mnookins Fri, 05 Dec 2008 15:03:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Nordberg http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2007/01/03/i-know-im-in-the-minority-here/#comment-5229 Nordberg Tue, 09 Jan 2007 05:13:25 +0000 http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2007/01/03/i-know-im-in-the-minority-here/#comment-5229 Count me in, too. He should have been WS MVP in 2004. Foulkie deserved a better fate than what he got in 05 and 06. He can throw Whoppers in my face all he wants. I'd still shake his hand and say 'thanks' for what he did in 2004. Good luck, Foulkie. Count me in, too.
He should have been WS MVP in 2004.
Foulkie deserved a better fate than what he got in 05 and 06.
He can throw Whoppers in my face all he wants. I’d still shake his hand and say ‘thanks’ for what he did in 2004.
Good luck, Foulkie.

]]> By: V06 http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2007/01/03/i-know-im-in-the-minority-here/#comment-5040 V06 Thu, 04 Jan 2007 01:38:23 +0000 http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2007/01/03/i-know-im-in-the-minority-here/#comment-5040 "I know I’m in the minority here…" Well, nine out of the ten posters above agree with you, Seth. As do I. Keith Foulke may be a first class a**hole, a jerk to his family; and likes to, as a hobby, step on fluffy kittens. I really don't know. And I don't care (ummm...well... maybe I would about the kitten thing). It may be an understatement to say that Keith Foulke was not the most cuddly of the 2004 World Champ Red Sox (although the chick in the pict who has Foulke's tounge in her ear may disagree); but he, along w/ Schilling and Ortiz, were most responsible for giving Boston its first World Series title in 86 years. I kind of cared about that. For this alone he was worth every penny the Red Sox gave him and for this alone he will always receive my respect. I hope his first appearance back at Fenway is greeted by Sox fans with a standing ovation... the man earned this recognition if only for his balls-out efforts over 14 innings in October 2004. “I know I’m in the minority here…”

Well, nine out of the ten posters above agree with you,
Seth. As do I.

Keith Foulke may be a first class a**hole, a jerk to his family; and likes to, as a hobby, step on fluffy kittens. I really don’t know. And I don’t care (ummm…well… maybe I would about the kitten thing).

It may be an understatement to say that Keith Foulke was not the most cuddly of the 2004 World Champ Red Sox (although the chick in the pict who has Foulke’s tounge in her ear may disagree); but he, along w/ Schilling and Ortiz, were most responsible for giving Boston its first World Series title in 86 years. I kind of cared about that.

For this alone he was worth every penny the Red Sox gave him and for this alone he will always receive my respect. I hope his first appearance back at Fenway is greeted by Sox fans with a standing ovation… the man earned this recognition if only for his balls-out efforts over 14 innings in October 2004.

]]> By: Jack http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2007/01/03/i-know-im-in-the-minority-here/#comment-5034 Jack Wed, 03 Jan 2007 23:15:16 +0000 http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2007/01/03/i-know-im-in-the-minority-here/#comment-5034 I for one am really looking forward to his replacement... one Joel Piniero... NOT. I for one am really looking forward to his replacement… one Joel Piniero… NOT.

]]> By: tinisoli http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2007/01/03/i-know-im-in-the-minority-here/#comment-5025 tinisoli Wed, 03 Jan 2007 21:51:30 +0000 http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2007/01/03/i-know-im-in-the-minority-here/#comment-5025 I hear what you're saying. I miss Mark Bellhorn's timely homers and the dominant Foulke of yore, but to me the feeling is distinctly nostalgic. There's a difference between missing who those players are now and being sentimental about who they were back in '04. Mark Bellhorn will always earn your adulation? If he had been at Fenway last year, batting .190 and striking out every third trip to the plate as he did with the Padres, I can't imagine much adulation would have been in the air. I hear what you’re saying. I miss Mark Bellhorn’s timely homers and the dominant Foulke of yore, but to me the feeling is distinctly nostalgic. There’s a difference between missing who those players are now and being sentimental about who they were back in ‘04. Mark Bellhorn will always earn your adulation? If he had been at Fenway last year, batting .190 and striking out every third trip to the plate as he did with the Padres, I can’t imagine much adulation would have been in the air.

]]> By: MarshallDog http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2007/01/03/i-know-im-in-the-minority-here/#comment-5022 MarshallDog Wed, 03 Jan 2007 21:00:08 +0000 http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2007/01/03/i-know-im-in-the-minority-here/#comment-5022 Foulke was unfairly treated by most of the media since he was signed by the Red Sox. Even when he was shutting down opposing teams in 2004, no one gave him credit for being a dominant closer. All anyone wanted to talk about was how he could barely touch 90 on the radar gun, and that kind of stuff didn't "scare" opposing hitters. I remember Denis and Callahan talking one morning after Foulke blew his first save, asking themselves, "Really, how was he even doing it in the first place?" I think that turns out to be the biggest reason I respect him so much. Instead of relying on lights-out stuff and the hitters "fear" he uses precise location and deception; the hitter's overconfidence plays right into Foulke's plan when a juicy fastball turned out to be a looping changeup. I have missed that for the last two years, and if he returns to form for Cleveland next year, I'll miss it even more. I think appreciation for Foulke is not lost in Red Sox Nation. I was at a Lowell Spinners game last year (actually, a Mike Lowell Spinners game!) when Foulke was on rehab. Every time he appeared from the dugout, he got a big ovation. Every strike he threw drew a huge cheer from the crowd. When he left the field, he got standing ovation. It was refreshing to see some people who don't have a "What have you done for me lately?" additude. By the way, guys like Mark Bellhorn will always earn my adulation. Here's a minimum-salary guy that was an afterthought in spring training and became the every-day second baseman. Apparently being a major part of a World Series team isn't enough to earn respect unless your name is Orlando Cabrera. Foulke was unfairly treated by most of the media since he was signed by the Red Sox. Even when he was shutting down opposing teams in 2004, no one gave him credit for being a dominant closer. All anyone wanted to talk about was how he could barely touch 90 on the radar gun, and that kind of stuff didn’t “scare” opposing hitters. I remember Denis and Callahan talking one morning after Foulke blew his first save, asking themselves, “Really, how was he even doing it in the first place?”

I think that turns out to be the biggest reason I respect him so much. Instead of relying on lights-out stuff and the hitters “fear” he uses precise location and deception; the hitter’s overconfidence plays right into Foulke’s plan when a juicy fastball turned out to be a looping changeup. I have missed that for the last two years, and if he returns to form for Cleveland next year, I’ll miss it even more.

I think appreciation for Foulke is not lost in Red Sox Nation. I was at a Lowell Spinners game last year (actually, a Mike Lowell Spinners game!) when Foulke was on rehab. Every time he appeared from the dugout, he got a big ovation. Every strike he threw drew a huge cheer from the crowd. When he left the field, he got standing ovation. It was refreshing to see some people who don’t have a “What have you done for me lately?” additude.

By the way, guys like Mark Bellhorn will always earn my adulation. Here’s a minimum-salary guy that was an afterthought in spring training and became the every-day second baseman. Apparently being a major part of a World Series team isn’t enough to earn respect unless your name is Orlando Cabrera.

]]> By: HFXBOB http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2007/01/03/i-know-im-in-the-minority-here/#comment-5021 HFXBOB Wed, 03 Jan 2007 20:51:39 +0000 http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2007/01/03/i-know-im-in-the-minority-here/#comment-5021 There was lot of reliable evidence last year that people both in management and the clubhouse felt Manny had quit on the team and wasn't hurt enough to be sitting. I could be wrong but I don't remember anything like that about Foulke's injuries. Just the fact that he had a blase attitude means little. He probably had the same attitude in 2004 when he was doing well. Sure, Foulke may have been an ass, big deal. Bob Stanley is probably a great guy, but he can't even set foot in Fenway without being booed to death. All people care about is that, unlike Foulke, he couldn't get the job done when it mattered most. There was lot of reliable evidence last year that people both in management and the clubhouse felt Manny had quit on the team and wasn’t hurt enough to be sitting. I could be wrong but I don’t remember anything like that about Foulke’s injuries. Just the fact that he had a blase attitude means little. He probably had the same attitude in 2004 when he was doing well.

Sure, Foulke may have been an ass, big deal. Bob Stanley is probably a great guy, but he can’t even set foot in Fenway without being booed to death. All people care about is that, unlike Foulke, he couldn’t get the job done when it mattered most.

]]> By: tinisoli http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2007/01/03/i-know-im-in-the-minority-here/#comment-5020 tinisoli Wed, 03 Jan 2007 19:37:38 +0000 http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2007/01/03/i-know-im-in-the-minority-here/#comment-5020 Anybody who thinks they'll miss Keith Foulke now that he's gone should have already been missing him these last two seasons, because the Foulke of '04 has been gone all that time. 15 saves over two seasons and ERAs of 5.91 and 4.35. Not good. Yeah, he was hurt, but I don't think we should assume that his physical problems stemmed from his valor in '04. Anyone who harps on Manny for faking an injury should pay more attention to Foulke, who has admitted to not caring much about baseball. And he's been a major ass the whole time, from the stupid stint on WEEI to the infamous Burger King comment to the blasé attitude about the game itself. He struck me as one of the most unlikable characters on the team of the last three years, and I'm glad he and his arm are gone. Thanks for the '04 series, but I won't miss you one bit. Missing Keith Foulke is like missing Mark Bellhorn. There was a time when they earned our adulation, but that times is over. Anybody who thinks they’ll miss Keith Foulke now that he’s gone should have already been missing him these last two seasons, because the Foulke of ‘04 has been gone all that time. 15 saves over two seasons and ERAs of 5.91 and 4.35. Not good. Yeah, he was hurt, but I don’t think we should assume that his physical problems stemmed from his valor in ‘04. Anyone who harps on Manny for faking an injury should pay more attention to Foulke, who has admitted to not caring much about baseball. And he’s been a major ass the whole time, from the stupid stint on WEEI to the infamous Burger King comment to the blasé attitude about the game itself. He struck me as one of the most unlikable characters on the team of the last three years, and I’m glad he and his arm are gone. Thanks for the ‘04 series, but I won’t miss you one bit. Missing Keith Foulke is like missing Mark Bellhorn. There was a time when they earned our adulation, but that times is over.

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