Me and Julian Down by the Ballyard
Has any player in recent Red Sox history turned the fan base around in more dramatic fashion than Julian Tavarez? From the doghouse...with the emphasis on "dog" in early 2006...to fan favorite in 2007, the quirky Tavarez has turned out to be fun to watch and one of Theo's better moves.
When the Sox signed Tavarez in the offseason following the 2005 season, we in Boston knew little about him. Most looked at him as a National League fruitcake, best known for breaking his pitching hand in a one round loss to the dugout phone in St. Louis. Sox fans also knew him for offering up the game winning two run gopher ball to Mark Bellhorn in Game 1 of the 2004 World Series.
He got off on the wrong foot with the Sox by whacking Joey Gathwright of the Devil Rays in a spring training game which cemented his reputation as a major loose canon. When he rejoined the Sox he proceeded to stink up the joint. He gave up 6 runs in his first 8 1/3 innings and posted a 5.40 ERA in April. And he heard it from the fans, who did not appreciate his performances.
He then commited the mortal sin of calling out the Sox fans and complained about how Red Sox nation treated its players. The handwriting appeared to be on the wall. Julian was not long for the Fenway hothouse.
Then a funny thing happened. As the Sox began to unravel in August and Tito was frantically searching for arms, he landed on Tavarez to give him a spot start on August 31. Julian's start was inauspicious as he gave up three runs in the first inning. But then he pitched two more scoreless innings before being taken out.
In his second start on September 4, Tavarez shut out the defending World Champion White Sox for six innings before tiring and giving up a pair of runs in the seventh. The Sox went on to win 3-2.
From there, Tavarez continued to play hard, something that can't be said for his hamstrung buddy Manny Ramirez. The rubber armed pitcher started four more games, winning three of them. In the process, he began earning back the admiration of the Sox fans for his attitude and work ethic.
He looked destined for some type of set up role in the 2007 Sox bullpen when the Sox brass toyed with the ill-fated "Let's-Make-The-Best-Closer-In-Baseball-a-Starter" experiment with Jonathan Papelbon. But when cooler heads prevailed and Pap was rightfully installed at the back end of the bullpen, the number five starting slot was up for grabs. Tito gave it to Tavarez as a reward for his end of 2006 effort.
Everyone knew he was just holding the spot awaiting the return of Jon Lester, who would quickly supplant the veteran. But something interesting happened. Tavarez became one of the best fifth starters in the game. He came out to pitch every fifth day and never complained about what his ultimate role would be, again endearing himself to the Boston fans.
Along the way, Tavarez also entertained us. Rolling a ball to first base instead of throwing it...TWICE...and playing traffic copy on grounders to the infield. He also endured a head massage from his buddy Manny that had NESN's Jerry Remy and Don Orsillo in stitches. He also reached base on a swing bunt. With Julian, you never know what you are going to get.
As a matter of fact, when my brother was planning a trip to Arizona to watch the Sox play the Diamondbacks, we worked through the rotation and determined he would be seeing Tavarez on the hill. He was dissapointed. But I reminded him that he was actually going to see the most entertaining pitcher on the Sox staff.
So I sit here tonight watching Tavarez mow down the Braves as the Sox cruise 8-0. It's the top of the seventh, and Tavarez is still out there. Forget that in his last start he limped off the mound. No babying him. "I'll be out there to pitch," he promised. And pitching he is. Through seven, he has allowed only three hits to a team that beat up Curt Schilling two nights ago.
After losing four of his first five starts (three of those to Kevin Millwood, Roy Halladay and Johan Santana), he is about to win his fourth game to up his record to 5-4. His ERA will be lowered to 4.50 from the 4.97 with which he entered the game. More importantly, the Sox have now won 8 of his 13 starts and have given them the luxury of allowing Lester to come back slowly from cancer. Not bad for a fifth starter.
Now with Schilling on the DL, Tavarez may not be leaving the rotation in the near future after all. Good for him.
He's earned it.
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