Daily Red Sox Links: Notes from a historic start

The following notes are courtesy of Jake Devereaux.

• This past week the Red Sox sent five players to the All-Star game, they had done this only three other times in 2010, 2005, and 1969.
• The Red Sox finished the 2010 season with 89 wins, the 2005 season with 95 wins, and the 1969 seasons with 87 wins.
• The Red Sox have sent seven players to the All-Star game four times and six players to the game four times.
• They sent seven players in 2008-95 wins, 2002-93 wins, 1978-99 wins, and 1977-97 wins.
• None of those teams won the World Series.
• In the years the team sent six players, 2016-93 wins, 2011-90 wins, 2009-95 wins, and 2007-96 wins—the team won one World Series in 2007.
• All of these years except for 69, 77, and 78 took place under the John Henry ownership group.
• Mookie Betts made the All-Star team this year for the third consecutive season.
• Betts has now made the All-Star team for three consecutive seasons during his age 23, 24, and 25 seasons.
• The only other players to accomplish that feat are Hall of Famer Bobby Doerr, whose number 1 is retired at Fenway, and Dustin Pedroia.
• Both Doerr and Pedroia played second base, Betts came up as a second baseman.
• The only player in Red Sox history to make three consecutive All-Star games is Ted Williams who made it during his age 21, 22, and 23 seasons before spending his next three years fighting for his nation in World War II.
• During ages 23-25 Betts is ranked second all-time in fWAR among Red Sox behind only Tris Speaker.
• Speaker ended that year with 25.0 fWAR over those three seasons.
• Betts is already at 20.2 with 59 more games to play in his age 25 season.
• Other Red Sox players whose numbers adorn the right field shelf at Fenway include Jim Rice, Carlton Fisk, and Pedro Martinez.
• Rice made it at ages 24-27, Fisk at 24-26, and Martinez at 24-28.
• Although, Martinez’ first two appearances were with the Montreal Expos.
• Maybe the most interesting case is Carl Yastrzemski who made his All-Star debut at 23 like Betts, but missed the game at 24.
• Yaz would go on to make 15 straight games through age 39.
• Seemingly just to prove how great he was Yaz also made the All-Star game in his last two seasons at age 42 and 43 respectively.
• Fred Lynn might not have his number retired at Fenway, but it’s his career and playing style that is most similar to Betts so far.
• Lynn made nine straight All-Star games from age 23-31 accumulating 30.0 fWAR.
• The Red Sox have had 24 players make three or more All-Star games in a row.
• The ones I haven’t mentioned yet are Wade Boggs, Rick Burleson, Rodger Clemens, Dom DiMaggio, Doc Cramer, Joe Cronin, Rick Ferrell, Jimmie Foxx, Lefty Grove, Tex Hughson, Craig Kimbrel, Frank Malzone, David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, and Vern Stephens.
• Since the first All-Star game was played in 1933 at Comiskey Park in Chicago there have been several notable Red Sox players snubbed.
• The biggest snub of in Red Sox history belongs to John Valentin in 1995.
• Valentin led all of baseball in fWAR at 8.2 while playing incredible shortstop.
• Valentin would fail to make it at any point in his career despite another stellar season in 1993 where he led the American League in SS fWAR.
• Ted Williams was snubbed in 1939 as a 20-year-old rookie—a year in which he accumulated 7.1 fWAR.
• Dustin Pedroia’s best season by fWAR was 2011 where he finished 4^th in baseball with a mark of 7.8.
• Pedroia out earned his 2008 MVP season that year 7.8 to 6.3 fWAR and failed to earn an All-Star game selection.
• Other notable snubs include:
• 1998 Nomar Garciaparra-second behind only A-Rod in SS fWAR
• 1970 and 1971 Reggie Smith who was third in OF fWAR behind only Yaz and some dude named Hank Aaron over that time.
• 2007 Mike Lowell- 2^nd in fWAR among AL third basemen. He would be the WS MVP that year.
• 1983 and 1984 Wade Boggs- 7.7 and 6.0 fWAR over those two seasons. Good for fourth best in baseball and trailing only third base GOAT Mike Schmidt at his position.
• More with a case include 1988 Ellis Burks, 2003 Trot Nixon, 2009 J.D. Drew, 2013 Jacoby Ellsbury, 2003 Bill Mueller, 1982 Dwight Evans, and 1945 Eddie Lake.

So it turns out all that talk about Zach Britton was for nothing, as it was actually the Yankees who traded for him. (Nick Cafardo; Boston Globe)

It’s really too bad because the Red Sox are in need of bullpen help with how poorly Joe Kelly has been pitching. (Jason Mastrodonato; Boston Herald)

Even if the Red Sox missed out on Britton, they are still beating the Yankees where it counts. (Jen McCaffrey; The Athletic) ($$)

Rafael Devers is still figuring it out. (Nick Cafardo; Boston Globe)

David Price already figured it out, at least in his most recent start. (Chad Jennings; The Athletic) ($$)

Returning to bullpen trade targets, the Marlins’ Drew Steckenrider is a 27-year-old reliever with a 108 ERA+ this season. That hasn’t stopped Miami from asking for quite a lot in return for his services. (Chris Cotillo; MassLive)

After how poorly Drew Pomeranz pitched last night in his return from the DL, the real need might be in the rotation. (Matthew Kory; The Athletic) ($$)