John Flaherty Retires

by Rob Booth on Mar 7, 2006 3:30 PM EST in News

John Flaherty, who was considered to be the front-runner to be Jason Varitek's backup, has decided to retire.

"It is with mixed emotions that I am announcing my retirement from Major League Baseball today," said Flaherty in a press release issued by the Red Sox. "I am grateful to Theo Epstein and Ben Cherington for giving me the opportunity to play on a world class team and my appreciation is not diminished because of the judgment call I am making today.

It is now a two horse race between Josh Bard and Ken Huckaby for the backup position.

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Comments

RE:

I wasn't a big fan of Flaherty anyways. I kind of want to see Bard win the job, but it doesn't really matter as long as the best defensive catcher wins. It's not like either can really hit.

OverTheMonster.com

by Randy Booth on Mar 7, 2006 4:14 PM EST reply actions

well...

i think it was flaherty who was catching wake the other day and he dropped the first 10-12 knucklers. the only balls he caught were the fastballs and curveballs. thus, this does not devastate me...

by SweSox on Mar 7, 2006 5:53 PM EST reply actions

RE

Flaherty's retirement doesn't devastate me either. I was never too big on the idea of him getting the job, and Bard doesn't impress me much, and I don't know enough about Huckaby to form an opinion. I might be in the minority here, but I miss Doug. At least with Doug, you knew what you were getting every 5th day.

by Rob Booth on Mar 7, 2006 6:46 PM EST up reply actions

Why on earth?

Why on earth did they not work to keep Mirabelli?

by Hudson on Mar 7, 2006 10:23 PM EST reply actions

Re: Belli

Probably because they had a chance to get Loretta?

by Matt Rivers on Mar 7, 2006 10:44 PM EST up reply actions

I think Mirabelli for Loretta is a good deal...

...with the provision that someone can catch Wakefield. If not...ummmmm...

by Devine @ Over the Monster on Mar 8, 2006 12:34 AM EST up reply actions

Could It Be?

Uh, because they had the chance to trade a backup catcher for an all-start second baseman who was debatably the best in MLB in 2004?

by NinetyNineTails on Mar 8, 2006 3:25 AM EST up reply actions

... Could it Be...

"who was debatably the best in MLB in 2004?"... why didn't we go after the best in 2005?

Ok, maybe he wasn't available. But then again, I'm like others. "It's better to know the devil you know, then the devil you don't."

Every fifth day you had someone that wanted that position. Plain and simple. Did you ever once hear him cry "I want to be a starter", "Trade Me"

It's very rare these days to get these type of players and I really wonder if that trade would have been made by Theo if he were GM at the time? I don't think so?

My two cents!

The Red Head

by the red head on Mar 8, 2006 7:48 AM EST up reply actions

Mirabelli

It's nice to have a solid catcher every five days, but wouldn't you rather have a good second baseman playing every day? He wasn't traded because of his attitude or his comments. Most trades don't work that way. He was traded because San Diego felt desparate for a catcher and wanted to shed a couple million in salary. The Sox jumped on it because they were getting the better end of the bargain by far. Would Theo have made that deal? Yes. Without a second of hesitation.

Friendly Fenway

by Brian Martin on Mar 8, 2006 11:05 AM EST up reply actions

... Could it Be...

I'll refrain from adding other comments other than... we'll see at the end of the year! Sorry, but I'm a "what have you done for me lately" type of GM!

The Red Head

by the red head on Mar 9, 2006 9:21 AM EST up reply actions

GM

Luckily for us, Theo is a "what will you do for me in the future" kind of GM.

Friendly Fenway

by Brian Martin on Mar 10, 2006 12:32 AM EST up reply actions

mirabelli

what's unfortunate is they traded mirabelli in part to give him the opportunity to start and then the padres went out and got piazza who I'm hearing will start over doug.... hmmm, maybe we can trade to get him back...

by MCaussade on Mar 8, 2006 8:28 AM EST reply actions

Bonds

I'm sure everyone is aware of the book Game of Shadows by now. It details Bonds' steroid use through recent years.

[sarcasm] I didn't see this coming at all!

I liked Olney's alternate-reality what-if article today.

"You know you're having a bad day when the fifth inning rolls around and they drag the warning track." - Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles pitcher, 1992.

by SoxDevil on Mar 8, 2006 8:32 AM EST reply actions

knuckler

Varitek can catch the knuckleball. He did for a few years before Mirabelli was even on the team.

Most people just remember the 2 passed balls he had vs the Yankees in the 2004 playoffs, but he actually handled Wakefield just fine for years before that. People tend to forget about that.

Our back-up catcher, probably Bard, will not need to be a knuckleball specialist.

by SmokeyJoeWood on Mar 8, 2006 9:26 AM EST reply actions

RE:

I agree. Wakefield said the same thing after Flaherty flopped in catching his knuckler. Varitek is capable of catching Wake, a little more practice in spring would be nice, though.

OverTheMonster.com

by Randy Booth on Mar 8, 2006 9:46 AM EST up reply actions

Catching Wake is tiring

catching takes a lot out of a body
catching Wake takes even more out a body.

If we want to get the most out of Tek, we should let Bard catch Wake.

by cdamon @ Over the Monster on Mar 8, 2006 10:21 AM EST up reply actions

Tek

Francona has already said that whoever wins the back up job will be catching Wakefield. Tek can do it, but I'm sure Bard or Huckaby will do fine with it too.

Friendly Fenway

by Brian Martin on Mar 8, 2006 11:06 AM EST up reply actions

Shoppach

I'm all for the trade that shipped Mirabelli out of town. That was a no-brainer. And the Crisp deal was a good one for the Sox...but I'm starting to wish that Shoppach hadn't been included in that deal.

Friendly Fenway

by Brian Martin on Mar 8, 2006 11:07 AM EST reply actions