Roger Clemens is on notice. Cy Young, too.
On Saturday, Tim Wakefield arrived in style atop a Red Sox franchise record list. The 42-year-old knuckleballer continued his remarkable season by delivering six shutout innings to lead his club to a 1-0 victory over the Braves in Atlanta (recap).
Wakefield (10-3, 4.18 ERA) allowed just three hits -- all singles -- to the Braves. No Atlanta baserunner got past second base while he was on the mound.
With the shutout performance, Wakefield became one of just three pitchers in the American League this year to reach double digits in victories. But that accomplishment was less impressive than one that attests to his place in Red Sox franchise history.
Wakefield’s 382nd start since signing with Boston in 1995 tied him with Roger Clemens for the most starts ever by a Red Sox pitcher. The number speaks to the pitcher’s reliability and durability over the years, as well as the length of his tenure in Boston: Wakefield’s 15 seasons with the Sox are the most ever by a pitcher.
“It’s a testament to not only longevity and perseverance, but also the organization for keeping me around and giving me a chance to still pitch in a Red Sox uniform,” Wakefield told reporters after the game. “Just to be mentioned with the names that I’m mentioned with is pretty cool.”
Of course, the record for most starts in franchise history is one that speaks to lunch-pail professionalism. But Wakefield is quickly coming to a point where more glamorous accomplishments are within reach.
He now has 174 wins, third most in franchise history. He is 18 wins shy of Cy Young and Clemens for the most victories in Sox history. That mark must now be considered attainable by the end of 2010, particularly given how rapidly Wakefield is accumulating victories this year.
Moreover, with the season just under halfway over, Wakefield has a shot at winning 20 games. If he accomplishes the feat, he would become the oldest player ever to do so for the first time, surpassing Mike Mussina, who was 39 when he finally cracked 20 W’s in 2008.
And, finally, Wakefield is building a case for inclusion in the 2009 All-Star game. If he is sent on the basis of his wins total and quality starts (he has 10, tied for 10th most in the A.L. with pitchers such as Roy Halladay, James Shields and Justin Verlander), he would become the second-oldest first-time All-Star ever, behind only Satchel Paige.
Wakefield’s candidacy for the honor received a major boost on Saturday. Because the Sox-Braves game was broadcast nationally, it created a broader awareness for his season-long contributions. On Saturday night, national baseball shows touted Wakefield’s worthiness for a spot on the squad that will represent the American League in St. Louis.
The Sox will surely throw their weight behind a sentimental favorite whose accomplishments in a Boston uniform represent more than just a long period of time in the same uniform.
“He continues to pitch his rear end off," Red Sox manager Terry Francona told reporters. "He just keeps going out there and doing what he’s supposed to do. It's fun to watch."
THE RED SOX MADE HAY IN THE OFFSEASON OUTFIELD MARKET
In early November, the consensus on whether Mark Kotsay might end up back in Boston was fairly straightforward: no chance.
Kotsay had offered a larger-than-expected contribution as an outfielder as well as a first baseman over the final five weeks of the regular season and during the playoffs. But while he was happy to embrace a part-time role for a short time, doing so for the long haul seemed out of the question. Kotsay, after all, was viewed by some as the best outfielder available in free agency.
But a market for Kotsay’s services – at least as a starter – never materialized. And so, the outfielder accepted the opportunity to return to a city where he enjoyed playing for a couple months as a backup. He signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract (with incentives he’s unlikely to reach this year).
Though he missed the first two months of the season following back surgery and a calf injury, Kotsay has reshaped the Red Sox’ bench in June. He’s been a useful offensive contributor despite his part-time role, hitting .297 with a
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