One-Card Wonder Pt. 34: Javy Lopez

During the 2006 stretch run, the Red Sox found themselves decimated by injuries.  The injury with the most repercussions was the injury to catcher Jason Varitek.  Combined with the less-than-stellar hitting of Doug Mirabelli, Boston was scrambling for catching help.  In early August, Boston acquired former All Star catcher Javy Lopez from the Orioles for a player to be named later, who eventually turned out to be Adam Stern.

Lopez had been an All Star three times while with the Braves and one year hit 43 home runs.  Unfortunately, he was well past his prime by the time that he joined the Red Sox.  He was not the answer the team was looking for to cure the catching woes.  Lopez played in just 18 games with the Red Sox and hit just .190/.215/.270 with no home runs and just four runs batted in.  He hit just five doubles and scored six runs.  Boston continued to flounder and eventually fell out of the race.

When Varitek returned from the disabled list, Lopez was released.  He did not finish out the season with the Red Sox and his only time spent with the team encompassed the approximately a month from early August to early September.  It is surprising then that he even had one card with the Red Sox.  But luckily, Upper Deck found a way to include him in its third series from the 2006 set.

Busts Pt. 14: Javy Lopez

Sometimes, offseason acquisitions work out. Sometimes they don't. Sometimes, they are spectacular failures.

JAVY LOPEZ
The Red Sox dealt with some disastrous injuries in 2006, not the least of which was to their starting catcher Jason Varitek. Doug Mirabelli was also having a bad year, so the Red Sox shipped former Husker Adam Stern over to Baltimore for Javy Lopez, who lasted all of 18 games with the Red Sox.

Javy Lopez, who once hit 43 home runs for the Braves, a mark he hit just three years earlier, was a complete disaster for Boston. Lopez hit .190/.215/.270/.485. What's more, he did not hit a single home run. Five doubles accounted for all of his extra base hits.

Defensively, Lopez was pretty bad as well. He allowed 15 stolen bases, catching only two in 18 games. He also allowed two passed balls.

Lopez was released just a month after being acquired when Varitek returned to the lineup.

Boxscore: August 8, 2006: Royals 6 vs. Red Sox 4

This is, to this date, the last Red Sox game I have attended. My friend from work and I went down to Kansas City to see the Red Sox take on the Royals. This was during a particularly cold streak for Boston and they could not win a single game against the Royals that series. Injuries had decimated the team and the pitching was particularly hurt.

Jon Lester started the game, but he was a rookie and was very wild. He pitched five innings, giving up four runs, three walks, and five strikeouts. Of course, the bullpen was pretty bad and Craig Hansen and Rudy Seanez each gave up a run. Julian Tavarez also pitched in the game.

The big bright spot for the game was Wily Mo Pena who hit a ball so hard that the outfielders did not even move. The ball landed on top of the concession stand and was one of the furthest hit home runs in Kaufman Stadium history. David Ortiz also hit a home run in the game, his 41st. Manny Ramirez, Alex Gonzalez, and recent pickup Javy Lopez each had two hits in the game. Mike Lowell and Kevin Youkilis also each had a hit. Ramirez, Lopez, Youkilis, and Gonzalez each had a double. Coco Crisp stole a base, and Mark Loretta and Alex Cora each had two hitless at-bats.

The Royals simply played better than the Red Sox that game.