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Friday, August 07, 2009

Oil Can Boyd: I can still pitch!

“Right now, I’d have to say that I’m 70 percent as good as anyone throwing a baseball anywhere, right now, today,” said Boyd, who currently resides in East Providence. “I can go out and do what I once did, and possibly do even better, there’s no question.”
[...]
“People thought I retired from baseball,” added Boyd. “No, I never retired from baseball. I was just never given another opportunity to play baseball, but would I like another one? You bet I would.”

I guess that with the Smoltz expiriment winding to a close, the Red Sox might be able to use another starter…

Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: August 07, 2009 at 03:11 PM | 25 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: red sox

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1. CraigK Posted: August 07, 2009 at 05:15 PM (#3284299)

I am shocked that he hasn't gotten a "sure, why the hell not" call.

2. Gamingboy Posted: August 07, 2009 at 05:18 PM (#3284304)

I'd take him. If only for the Freak Show publicity.

3. ellsbury my heart at wounded knee Posted: August 07, 2009 at 05:19 PM (#3284309)

Sure, Oil Can Boyd would listen if baseball called.

4. PASTE is not impressed by Albert Pujols (Zeth) Posted: August 07, 2009 at 05:20 PM (#3284310)

It's times like these I miss Bill Veeck. He'd have had Oil Can in uniform a month ago.

5. AROM Posted: August 07, 2009 at 05:26 PM (#3284321)

Can't be any worse than Russ Ortiz or Daniel Cabrera.

6. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: August 07, 2009 at 05:32 PM (#3284332)

From TFA: "If Boyd needed another boost of confidence, he got one earlier this spring during a fantasy baseball camp in Florida when he took the hill and found out that he could still throw the ball in the high 80s."

Just in case you were wondering.

7. Dewey, Steven Wright Wannabe and Soupuss Posted: August 07, 2009 at 05:32 PM (#3284335)

Boyd is only 49? Somehow I thought he'd be much older by now.

It's times like these I miss Bill Veeck. He'd have had Oil Can in uniform a month ago.

Wasn't he the one who put a 50-year-old Minnie Minoso out there?

8. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: August 07, 2009 at 05:38 PM (#3284343)

"Wasn't he the one who put a 50-year-old Minnie Minoso out there?"

Yep. And who-the-hell-knows-how-old Satchel Paige, too.

9. Shooty: Applying to be Fearless Leader

Posted: August 07, 2009 at 05:40 PM (#3284347)

By the way, Vlad, I still have my head! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Your henchmen are dust under my shoe!

10. Dewey, Steven Wright Wannabe and Soupuss Posted: August 07, 2009 at 05:40 PM (#3284348)

I think the White Sox put tentative feelers out about getting Minoso an AB during the 1990 season (when he was 64), making him the only six-decade MLB player, but the Commissioner's office told them no. Bud Selig might not be so quick to dismiss the possibility, though.

11. jwb Posted: August 07, 2009 at 06:11 PM (#3284396)

I would like to see this for two reasons other than the obvious. First, The Can is older than I am; I have been older than every professional baseball player that I know of since Julio Franco retired. Second, a guy I worked with many years ago played ball with him at Jackson State and the teammate of a buddy is like a buddy, so I've always rooted for him.

12. Gamingboy Posted: August 07, 2009 at 06:12 PM (#3284397)

It's times like these I miss Bill Veeck. He'd have had Oil Can in uniform a month ago.

On a tangent: Bill Veeck's leg is now used as a trophy in a Fantasy League.

More on topic:

If I were a owner of a small-to-mid market team, the first thing I'd do is call up Mike Veeck and say "I need an attendance increase, I'll give you free reign every weekend for the rest of the year. You can do anything that does not involve blowing up albums. How much do you want and what ideas do you have?"

13. Obama Bomaye Posted: August 07, 2009 at 06:13 PM (#3284400)

I think the White Sox put tentative feelers out about getting Minoso an AB during the 1990 season (when he was 64), making him the only six-decade MLB player, but the Commissioner's office told them no.

They did and they did. Part of the reason I never liked Fay Vincent.

14. Jose Can You Seabiscuit Posted: August 07, 2009 at 06:14 PM (#3284407)

One of my fondest memories as a kid was standing in Fenway after Game Six of the '86 ALCS chanting "Oil Can, Oil Can" over and over until he came out and ran up the left field line slapping five with the fans who stuck around. At this point, he can't be worse than Smoltz.

15. PASTE is not impressed by Albert Pujols (Zeth) Posted: August 07, 2009 at 06:16 PM (#3284410)

I would like to see this for two reasons other than the obvious. First, The Can is older than I am; I have been older than every professional baseball player that I know of since Julio Franco retired.

And Julio Franco is more than a year older than Oil Can Boyd. God bless Julio Franco.

16. jwb Posted: August 07, 2009 at 06:20 PM (#3284417)

5/1/2008 Julio Franco anunció su retiro del Tigres de Quintana Roo

17. Smiling Joe Hesketh Posted: August 07, 2009 at 06:22 PM (#3284422)

Clearly the Can is crazy if he thinks he can still pitch.

Brushes with greatness: Oil Can grabbed my wife's derriere at a Red Sox World Series party the winter following the '04 win. This took place right in front of me, mind you.

My wife laughed it off. My friends asked me if I was pissed off about it. "Pissed off? My wife got groped by Oil Can! That's awesome!"

That's all I got.

18. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: August 07, 2009 at 06:42 PM (#3284462)

"By the way, Vlad, I still have my head! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Your henchmen are dust under my shoe!"

"There ain't nothing sacred about a hole in the ground or the man that's in it. Or you. Or me."

19. BarrettsHiddenBall Posted: August 07, 2009 at 06:49 PM (#3284468)

Favorite OCB moment: late 80's in Minnesota (Toronto? definitely a dome), his hat came off in the middle of a pitch. Bob Montgomery: "Oil Can Boyd just flipped his lid!" It was hilarious. (To be fair, I was like 7).

Give him a shot, Theo. Or at least let him train with Byrd.

20. John DiFool2 Posted: August 07, 2009 at 10:39 PM (#3284809)

I guess that with the Smoltz expiriment winding to a close, the Red Sox might be able to use another starter…

Nah, the Sox already have an Oil-Can clone in high A: matching stuff, matching quirky name, matching rail thin build, everything.

21. Tim Stauffer, Trot Nixon's Coming (Dan Lee) Posted: August 07, 2009 at 10:53 PM (#3284819)

I'd suggest the Indians put out a feeler, but I'm not sure the Can would be interested in pitching so close to the ocean.

22. Tom Nawrocki Posted: August 07, 2009 at 11:56 PM (#3284872)

I think the White Sox put tentative feelers out about getting Minoso an AB during the 1990 season (when he was 64), making him the only six-decade MLB player, but the Commissioner's office told them no.

As I recall, the White Sox players - who were in the middle of their first pennant race in years - weren't too crazy about the idea of having their season turned into a circus, either.

23. puck Posted: August 08, 2009 at 01:00 AM (#3284933)

This thread lacks the "Jurassic" tag but it still seemed worth mentioning that Mike Timlin is actually pitching with the Rockies' AAA affiliate in Colorado Springs.

24. 47YOUNEVERKNOW47 Posted: August 08, 2009 at 01:27 AM (#3284965)

I believe "The Can" was a replacement player in spring training 1995.

Leftover hard feelings must be the only reason he can't get a starting gig.

25. Ron Johnson Posted: August 08, 2009 at 01:35 AM (#3284982)

Leftover hard feelings must be the only reason he can't get a starting gig.

Well the solution is obvious. Wait until the last guys who were active in 1995 have retired. And then wait for the call.

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Oil Can Boyd: I can still pitch!

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