Unknown Heroes Pt. 40: Jonny Gomes

Jonny Gomes is one of those players that has a ton of intangible qualities that are hard to measure.  He is a terrific clubhouse presence and keeps things loose.  His teams generally perform better after he is brought in.

Gomes had been with Tampa Bay for quite some time, and been a player that Boston had some trouble with, particularly during brawls.  In 2013, he was brought to Boston on a short, two-year free agent deal.  Immediately he brought a lot of levity to the team.  He was one of the principal players to start the whole beard-growing trend that took over the team.  Gomes hit .247/.344/.426 with 13 home runs and 52 RBIs in 2013.  He was in a semi-platoon with Daniel Nava for most of the season.  He generally had more power, but Nava was better at getting on base and much better defensively.  Gomes though, had a flair for the dramatic.  He walked off with a home run on a couple of occasions, usually doing something humorous, like drop-kicking his helmet, upon reaching home plate.

In the World Series, Gomes contributed a very important three-run home run in Game 4 that eventually won the game for Boston, tying the World Series and putting Boston back in control after losing Games 2 and 3 and struggling most of Game 4.

Gomes's numbers declined a bit in 2014, and so did his playing time.  He was eventually traded at the trading deadline along with Jon Lester to Oakland for Yoenis Cespedes.  Oakland made it to the postseason.  After the season, Gomes signed with the Braves and was traded to Kansas City late in the year.  So Gomes got his second World Championship.

A Sweep of the Fathers

The Red Sox took on the slumping Padres in Fenway Park this week.  Of course the Padres are without several key players and have some others slumping.  So this was not a shocking victory this week.

07/02:  Red Sox 4 (51-34) Padres 1
One thing that has not been talked about a lot with the success of the Red Sox this year has been the resurgence of John Lackey.  Seriously, he looks great this season.  Brandon Snyder continued his hot hitting since his call-up, which may last longer now that Stephen Drew has officially been placed on the DL.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

JOHN LACKEY:  8 innings, 6 hits, 1 earned run, 1 walk, 6 strikeouts.

07/03:  Red Sox 2 (52-34) Padres 1
Jonny Gomes won it with a walkoff home run in the ninth pinch-hitting for Brandon Snyder.  Jon Lester had his best start in weeks but did not factor in the decision.  Koji Uehara got the win.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

JONNY GOMES:  Walk-off, pinch-hit home run.

07/04:  Red Sox 8 (53-32) Padres 2
Allen Webster got his first Major League victory after several attempts.  Brandon Snyder hit his first home run of the year and the Red Sox rolled to a victory.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

JACOBY ELLSBURY:  3 for 4, home run, RBI.

Another Series Win Against Rays

I am a little late to this.  I was in court all day today.  The Red Sox played three games in two days against the Rays and won the doubleheader but lost the single game.  Pretty weird huh?

06/18 Game 1:  Red Sox 5 (43-29) Rays 1
In a game that featured a nearly three hour rain delay, the Red Sox held off the Rays.  Alfredo Aceves got another spot start and took the win despite only pitching five innings and not having quite his best stuff as he walked three and gave up three hits.  Jacoby Ellsbury came within a home run of the cycle.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

JACOBY ELLSBURY:  3 for 5, 3 runs, double, triple.

06/18 Game 2:  Red Sox 3 (44-29) Rays 1

Felix Doubront pitched very well through eight innings and was taken out with the lead.  But Andrew Bailey, who has been becoming a big issue closing games, gave up a game-tying home run.  Luckily Jonny Gomes came through with a walkoff two-run homer.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

FELIX DOUBRONT:  8 innings, 3 hits, 6 strikeouts

06/19:  Rays 6 Red Sox 2 (44-30)

Boston had a chance until the bullpen unraveled in the seventh inning with Craig Breslow and Alex Wilson giving up three runs.  Pedro Beato made his first appearance for the Red Sox.  Jose Iglesias saw his 18 game hit streak come to an end.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

JONNY GOMES:  2 for 4, 2 RBIs

Red Sox Lose 3 out of 4 to O's

Well you can't win them all.  It was a rough weekend for Boston as they lost three games against the Orioles.  Sometimes teams just have your number and I guess Baltimore has been pretty tough against the Red Sox lately.

06/13:  Orioles 5 Red Sox 4 (41-27)
Boston managed to come back from down 3-0 and 4-2 to tie it in the seventh then could not come up with another run in the 13 inning game.  The winning run scored off of Alex Wilson on a bloop single with two outs.  The bullpen was impressive, but the offense sputtered.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

NO CARD

ANDREW MILLER:  2 innings, 0 hits, 0 runs, 2 walks, 4 strikeouts.

06/14:  Orioles 2 Red Sox 0 (41-28)

The offense could not come through at all.  Boston only managed three hits, two by Jose Iglesias.  Ryan Dempster pitched very well and deserved better than taking the loss.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

JOSE IGLESIAS:  2 for 4, double

06/15:  Red Sox 5 (42-28) Orioles 4

They finally came through in this game with John Lackey pitching very well and getting offensive contributions from Mike Carp and Jonny Gomes.  They nearly gave it up however when Andrew Bailey struggled but they got out of it due to a baserunning gaffe by Alexi Casilla.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

JONNY GOMES:  2 for 4, home run, 2 runs, RBI

06/16:  Orioles 6 Red Sox 3 (42-19)

And back to losing.  Jon Lester struggled yet again.  He did not walk anyone and struck out eight but gave up five runs in the losing effort.  

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

WILL MIDDLEBROOKS:  1 for 4, home run, 3 RBIs

05/08: Twins 15 Red Sox 8 (21-13)

I don't even want to discuss this one.  It was ugly from the moment it began.  Allen Webster still has some seasoning to do.  I have serious concerns about Felix Doubront's velocity.  Boston fell into a tie for first place.  Just an ugly game.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

JONNY GOMES: 1 for 4, grand slam, 5 RBIs

The New Acquisitions

For the first post back, let's take a look at the new members of the Red Sox:

C - DAVID ROSS
Ross was signed for two years and $6.2 million.  This is probably the best signing of the offseason for the team.  Ross provides veteran leadership behind the plate in a platoon role.  The big question will be whether he platoons with Jarrod Saltalamacchia or Ryan Lavarnway.

1B/C/DH - MIKE NAPOLI
Napoli was signed for one year and $5 million.  He has a bat seemingly tailor-made for Fenway Park and should knock more than a few balls out of the park.  It will be interesting to see if there are any lingering ill will effects from having to renegotiate his original three year $39 million contract.

IF - BROCK HOLT
Holt was acquired in a trade with the Pirates along with Joel Hanrahan.  Holt has had limited Major League experience but has shown a decent eye at the plate.  He could stick in a bench role.

SS - STEPHEN DREW
Drew signed as a free agent for one year and $9.5 million.  This one does not make much sense to me.  Drew blocks Jose Iglesias at shortstop and is being paid too much when his numbers have been on the decline for a couple of years.  Yes he has had injury concerns, but this still does not make a lot of sense.

RF - SHANE VICTORINO
Victorino was signed as a free agent for three years and $39 million.  He is coming off his worst season as a regular which saw the popular outfielder traded from the Phillies to the Dodgers.  He did steal 39 bases, but his other numbers across the board were down.  It will be difficult for Victorino to live up to his contract.

LF/DH - JONNY GOMES
Gomes was signed as a free agent for two years and $10 million.  Gomes has been a journeyman bat, usually off the bench.  He was once a major antagonist in fights with the Rays so it was a little surprising that he signed with the Red Sox.  This is a little bit of a reach in terms of money, but Gomes should provide some power.  He is very capable of hitting 20 home runs.

SP - RYAN DEMPSTER
Dempster signed for two years and $26.5 million as a free agent.  Boston attempted to acquire Dempster a couple of times throughout the 2012 season.  He was traded from the Cubs to the Rangers at the trading deadline.  Dempster's numbers promptly declined coming to the American League.  Boston is hoping he will learn from those mistakes.  He will not be expected to be a top of the rotation starter which takes some pressure off.

RP - KOJI UEHARA
Uehara signed for one year and $4.25 million.  He is a control pitcher from the bullpen, further strengthening what has already become a powerful weapon for the team.

RP - JOEL HANRAHAN
Hanrahan was acquired in a trade with the Pirates along with Brock Holt.  Hanrahan is expected to take over as the team's closer.  He had decent numbers with the Pirates when the team was contending last year, but those took a slide with the team's fortunes.  He should be fun to watch.

The big concern that I have is that a lot of the signings block players that were seemingly ready for the Major Leagues in 2013.  Ross and Napoli block Ryan Lavarnway.  Drew blocks Jose Iglesias.  Gomes and Victorino block Ryan Kalish.  Lavarnway, Iglesias, and Kalish are not expected to be superstars, but they deserve a shot to see if they could stick at the Major League level.