Ah yes, Manny Ramirez. Arguably one of the best right handed hitters the game has ever known. You don't see many of his ilk in the game, and it was a pleasure to watch him ply his trade at the plate. Ramirez also took the opportunity during the celebration to tell one and all that he had found God:
“To be honest, sometimes now that I’ve been in church almost for four years now, me and my wife, now I realized that I behaved bad in Boston,” said Manny Ramirez. “But I really realize that I behaved bad and I apologize for that. But I’m a new man. That’s what Jesus said, and that’s what I believe.”
I have a question for you Manny: What does Jesus say in church about taking things that don't belong to you? Don't know what I'm talking about? Well, think back to that marvelous Fall Classic of 2004, specifically the conclusion when the series MVP was awarded. Ramirez accepted this World Series hallowed honor which, for all intents and purposes, was pure larceny. There was only one person who should have had their hands wrapped around that trophy, and I just happen to have a pic below of that deserving recipient.
Damon returned the favor during the celebration as Ramirez threw out the first pitch, and everyone cheered and embraced the return of Manny. Everything forgotten, right? You're damn right! Something extremely important was certainly forgotten, and that was the contribution of Mark Bellhorn.
We are such suckers for the storybook, feel good endings, especially with athletes. A ruffian of sextenarians and faker of knee injuries (translation: quitter) trots back out on the field through the door in the Green Monster, and says all is good because he's been reading the Bible. Hey, I'm glad Manny is repenting his shortcomings, and I get all that whole "Those who live in glass houses..." thing. No one is perfect, and far be it for me to be anyone's moral compass. I like to think anyone with a conscience continually strives to be a better person. But certain things can follow you, and I now hold a different opinion of Ramirez today then I did ten years ago. I mean, six years for Ramirez to apologize to a travelling secretary for shoving him when he couldn't get tickets while he was making a gazillion dollars? The whole scene with his intro being the final and most focal one along with the ceremonial first pitch with the underlying "Manny Being Manny" shtick has long since grown old and was a bit taxing for this Sawx fan.
Coming into the 2004 season, Boston had a revolving door at second base. They employed 10 different second baseman in the ten previous seasons, and included in this group was the forgettable Jose Offerman. Offerman or Awfulman was a temperamental mental midget who ended the playing career of minor league catcher Jonathan Nathans after hitting him over the head with a bat while playing for the Long Island Ducks. Bellhorn was brought in with the thought of him being a utility infielder, as it was deemed Pokey Reese would man second as a regular. Theo Epstein made one of his shrewdest moves of the 2003 off season when he acquired Bellhorn from the Colorado Rockies for the o'l PTBNL. In his only season as a full time player, Bellhorn hit 27 homers and drove in 56 runs for the Chicago Cubs in 2002.
It was said that Boston wasn't getting him for his bat, but the guy could get on base. Before joining Boston his OBP was a stout .353 in his previous 99 games with the Cubs and Rockies, a number that would make past big money signings like Carl Crawford blush. He only hit 2 homers and drove in a modest 26 runs during that time but also had as many walks (50) as he had hits (55).
Pokey Reese was inked about a week after Bellhorn joined Boston, so Mark would have to win the job. Reese was coming off a season ending injury when he was with the Pirates after he tore his ulnar collateral ligament in his thumb, and Pokey quickly became a fan favorite in Boston due mainly to his defensive wizardry as fans became accustom to his appetite for the highlight reel web gems.
His legend grew in Boston during a May 8th game against the Kansas City Royals. Pokey hit 2 homers in the 9-1 thrashing of the Royals with one being of the inside-the-park variety which showcased his blazing speed. Pokey had been playing shortstop since the 2004 season began due to an Achilles injury to all-star shortstop Nomar Garciaparra . Bob Ryan's report on the game attempted to implant some foreshadowing on the playing time of Bellhorn. One tidbit from the article read: "He (Reese) was supposed to be the starting second baseman, and he will be."and he then ended the article with: "And the fans don’t know the half of it. Wait till they see this guy play his real position." Christ, Reese got two standing ovations from the Fenway crowd that day during the same at bat: one when he came up in the eighth and the second after he struck out! It got to a point that every bobble or uncaught ball that came in Bellhorn's direction brought the phrase "Pokey woulda had it!" to the lips of the Fenway spectators. Poor ol' Mark couldn't win even though his OBP at that time was an insane .409. But everyone made sure Pokey was at the celebration.
All that would change during a game against Minnesota on June 24. As he attempted to track down a ball, Pokey rolled over on his glove hand sustaining a partial tear of the same ligament he injured when he was with Pittsburgh. Hampered by the injury, he would never unseat Bellhorn at second as he was eventually placed on the 15 day DL on July 21st. He wouldn't return until September 10th. Upon learning of Reese's injury after the game against the Twins, Captain Jason Varitek was quoted as saying ""He's (Reese) a huge part of this team. I love him." Oh, and in that game in Minny, Tek? Mark hit is eighth homer of the 2004 season and his OBP was .392. Yawn...
Now, don't misunderstand me. Bellhorn certainly was an all or nothing proposition as well. The guy set a Major League Baseball record for strikeouts in the 2004 season for a switch hitter with a grand total of 177. He also broke the Red Sox record for strikeouts previously held by Butch Hobson who whiffed 162 times. Fans were incredulous that skipper Tito Francona kept penciling him in as the #2 hitter. But Tito knew what Mark already did:
"I've always kind of been a good on-base guy. I try to get on base so everybody can drive me in.''
Heck, nearly half of his 2004 plate appearances turned out to be one of the "Big Three" for Mark: a homer, a walk, or a strikeout. I can just hear Meatloaf's lyrics running through my mind as I wrote that:
"I want you,
I need you,
But there ain't no way I'm ever gonna love ya,
Don't be sad,
Cuz two out of three ain't bad."
So if he was one of the famous band of "Idiots", why didn't we hear more about him? Probably because he never told anybody much about anything, let alone himself. His former manager in Colorado, Clint Hurdle, use to call him "Mute", and at one point during the championship season of 2004, Francona thought Mark was angry with him because he never spoke to him. Johnny Damon knew Bellhorn the best as he and Mark played on the same all-star teams down in Florida where they both grew up. Damon said of Bellhorn:
"He didn't say that much back then. He was just a quiet kid who went about his business.We try to get him talking. I can see how he can be misunderstood. He just doesn't talk much. He's quiet. He's a gentleman. The rest of us aren't.''
Misunderstood indeed. Bellhorn wasn't really an outsider after all. He was Massachusetts born and bred from the city of Weymouth, a 30 mile drive from Boston. That didn't matter to the denizens that resided in Fenway Park - that is - not until that magical October of 2004.
Boston was fresh off that epic comeback, and the World Series seemed almost anti-climatic. Fenway would host their first World Series game since October 23rd, 1986. Game One was a dizzying see-saw affair which would once again test the mettle of the Red Sox Faithful. Boston roared out of the gate against Cardinals starter Woody Williams and hung a 4 spot on him in the first inning with the centerpiece being a David Ortiz three run homer. The Cardinals managed a couple of fenceposts in the second and third inning, the home team roared back and chased Williams from the game adding three more runs in the home half of the third inning for a cozy 7-2 lead. One of those runs was courtesy of Mark Bellhorn as he drew a one out walk.
"Good times never felt so good"
... for now.
However, Boston starter Tim Wakefield never made it out of the fourth inning as his night would end with a loss of control. He gave up 3 consecutive walks and added a passed ball. Toss in a Kevin Millar error and a sacrifice fly and sounds of the feel good vibes of Neil Diamond were melting into the autumn air, and a familiar fall dirge faintly began to creep in to the psyche of Red Sox Nation. The lead had been narrowed to 7-5.
Bronson Arroyo was the first out of the pen for the Red Sox and set the Cardinals down in order in the fifth, but St. Louis would complete their first comeback tacking on two runs in the sixth with a spirited 2 out rally to even the ledger at 7-7. Disbelief ensued. Boston had blown a 4-0 and a 7-2 lead.
For the bottom of the seventh, the Cardinals opted for Kiko Calero after Haren held the Boston offense down for 3.2 scoreless innings in relief of Williams. Calero couldn't find the zone and issued two free passes, one of those to... guess who? Yep, Mark Bellhorn. Both runs were sandwiched around a ground out and the dynamic duo of Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz brought life back into Fenway by delivering RBI singles to push the ledger to a 9-7 advantage for the good guys.
Not to be outdone, St. Louis ralled as current Cardinals' skipper Mike Matheny hit a one out single off Mike Timlin, and Roger Cedeno pushed him to second with a single of his own off Alan Embree. This would forced Francona's hand. Keith Foulke came on and was asked to get a five out save. It didn't happen.This was due, in large part, to Manny Ramirez. Foulke allowed a single to left that was booted by Manny Ramirez and Cardinals' pitcher Jason Marquis, who came in to pinch run for Matheny, scored to narrow the margin to one. St. Louis finished off their second comeback as Larry Walker sent another ball Ramirez's way. Manny tripped going for the ball, and it caromed off him for his second consecutive error on as many plays. Cedeno scampered home and the game was even at nine runs apiece. Ladies and gentleman, I give you your 2004 World Series MVP. Kinda ugly, huh?
Boston was in deep trouble as they weren't set up to go long into the night after burning Timlin and Embree. Keith Foulke was pretty much running on fumes. Boston needed something special. Cue our man Bellhorn. After Jason Varitek reached on an Edgar Renteria error (he would join us in 2005 and become Edgar Rent-a Wreck), Mark Bellhorn strode to the dish. Cardinal reliever, Julian Tavares had Mark in a 1-2 hole and then he drove a Tavares' breaking ball down the right field line that looked and sounded like this:
That was all she wrote. I maintain that the series was over after that first game. Mark Bellhorn broke the backs of the Cardinals by hitting his third homer in as many games. Mark also clubbed a three run homer in Yankee Stadium in Game 6 of the ALDS that led Boston to victory, and he drove a nail onto the Yankees' coffin in Game 7 with his "Clang Shot" off the right foul pole of Yankee Stadium. Rightfully, it should have been him that gathered up that Ruben Sierra ground ball at second for the final out in New York, but he was being lifted for Pokey Reese for defensive purposes (ironically he rode in the victory parade with Reese - see bottom of page).
Pokey Reese was inked about a week after Bellhorn joined Boston, so Mark would have to win the job. Reese was coming off a season ending injury when he was with the Pirates after he tore his ulnar collateral ligament in his thumb, and Pokey quickly became a fan favorite in Boston due mainly to his defensive wizardry as fans became accustom to his appetite for the highlight reel web gems.
His legend grew in Boston during a May 8th game against the Kansas City Royals. Pokey hit 2 homers in the 9-1 thrashing of the Royals with one being of the inside-the-park variety which showcased his blazing speed. Pokey had been playing shortstop since the 2004 season began due to an Achilles injury to all-star shortstop Nomar Garciaparra . Bob Ryan's report on the game attempted to implant some foreshadowing on the playing time of Bellhorn. One tidbit from the article read: "He (Reese) was supposed to be the starting second baseman, and he will be."and he then ended the article with: "And the fans don’t know the half of it. Wait till they see this guy play his real position." Christ, Reese got two standing ovations from the Fenway crowd that day during the same at bat: one when he came up in the eighth and the second after he struck out! It got to a point that every bobble or uncaught ball that came in Bellhorn's direction brought the phrase "Pokey woulda had it!" to the lips of the Fenway spectators. Poor ol' Mark couldn't win even though his OBP at that time was an insane .409. But everyone made sure Pokey was at the celebration.
All that would change during a game against Minnesota on June 24. As he attempted to track down a ball, Pokey rolled over on his glove hand sustaining a partial tear of the same ligament he injured when he was with Pittsburgh. Hampered by the injury, he would never unseat Bellhorn at second as he was eventually placed on the 15 day DL on July 21st. He wouldn't return until September 10th. Upon learning of Reese's injury after the game against the Twins, Captain Jason Varitek was quoted as saying ""He's (Reese) a huge part of this team. I love him." Oh, and in that game in Minny, Tek? Mark hit is eighth homer of the 2004 season and his OBP was .392. Yawn...
Now, don't misunderstand me. Bellhorn certainly was an all or nothing proposition as well. The guy set a Major League Baseball record for strikeouts in the 2004 season for a switch hitter with a grand total of 177. He also broke the Red Sox record for strikeouts previously held by Butch Hobson who whiffed 162 times. Fans were incredulous that skipper Tito Francona kept penciling him in as the #2 hitter. But Tito knew what Mark already did:
"I've always kind of been a good on-base guy. I try to get on base so everybody can drive me in.''
Heck, nearly half of his 2004 plate appearances turned out to be one of the "Big Three" for Mark: a homer, a walk, or a strikeout. I can just hear Meatloaf's lyrics running through my mind as I wrote that:
"I want you,
I need you,
But there ain't no way I'm ever gonna love ya,
Don't be sad,
Cuz two out of three ain't bad."
So if he was one of the famous band of "Idiots", why didn't we hear more about him? Probably because he never told anybody much about anything, let alone himself. His former manager in Colorado, Clint Hurdle, use to call him "Mute", and at one point during the championship season of 2004, Francona thought Mark was angry with him because he never spoke to him. Johnny Damon knew Bellhorn the best as he and Mark played on the same all-star teams down in Florida where they both grew up. Damon said of Bellhorn:
"He didn't say that much back then. He was just a quiet kid who went about his business.We try to get him talking. I can see how he can be misunderstood. He just doesn't talk much. He's quiet. He's a gentleman. The rest of us aren't.''
Misunderstood indeed. Bellhorn wasn't really an outsider after all. He was Massachusetts born and bred from the city of Weymouth, a 30 mile drive from Boston. That didn't matter to the denizens that resided in Fenway Park - that is - not until that magical October of 2004.
Boston was fresh off that epic comeback, and the World Series seemed almost anti-climatic. Fenway would host their first World Series game since October 23rd, 1986. Game One was a dizzying see-saw affair which would once again test the mettle of the Red Sox Faithful. Boston roared out of the gate against Cardinals starter Woody Williams and hung a 4 spot on him in the first inning with the centerpiece being a David Ortiz three run homer. The Cardinals managed a couple of fenceposts in the second and third inning, the home team roared back and chased Williams from the game adding three more runs in the home half of the third inning for a cozy 7-2 lead. One of those runs was courtesy of Mark Bellhorn as he drew a one out walk.
"Good times never felt so good"
... for now.
However, Boston starter Tim Wakefield never made it out of the fourth inning as his night would end with a loss of control. He gave up 3 consecutive walks and added a passed ball. Toss in a Kevin Millar error and a sacrifice fly and sounds of the feel good vibes of Neil Diamond were melting into the autumn air, and a familiar fall dirge faintly began to creep in to the psyche of Red Sox Nation. The lead had been narrowed to 7-5.
Bronson Arroyo was the first out of the pen for the Red Sox and set the Cardinals down in order in the fifth, but St. Louis would complete their first comeback tacking on two runs in the sixth with a spirited 2 out rally to even the ledger at 7-7. Disbelief ensued. Boston had blown a 4-0 and a 7-2 lead.
For the bottom of the seventh, the Cardinals opted for Kiko Calero after Haren held the Boston offense down for 3.2 scoreless innings in relief of Williams. Calero couldn't find the zone and issued two free passes, one of those to... guess who? Yep, Mark Bellhorn. Both runs were sandwiched around a ground out and the dynamic duo of Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz brought life back into Fenway by delivering RBI singles to push the ledger to a 9-7 advantage for the good guys.
Not to be outdone, St. Louis ralled as current Cardinals' skipper Mike Matheny hit a one out single off Mike Timlin, and Roger Cedeno pushed him to second with a single of his own off Alan Embree. This would forced Francona's hand. Keith Foulke came on and was asked to get a five out save. It didn't happen.This was due, in large part, to Manny Ramirez. Foulke allowed a single to left that was booted by Manny Ramirez and Cardinals' pitcher Jason Marquis, who came in to pinch run for Matheny, scored to narrow the margin to one. St. Louis finished off their second comeback as Larry Walker sent another ball Ramirez's way. Manny tripped going for the ball, and it caromed off him for his second consecutive error on as many plays. Cedeno scampered home and the game was even at nine runs apiece. Ladies and gentleman, I give you your 2004 World Series MVP. Kinda ugly, huh?
Boston was in deep trouble as they weren't set up to go long into the night after burning Timlin and Embree. Keith Foulke was pretty much running on fumes. Boston needed something special. Cue our man Bellhorn. After Jason Varitek reached on an Edgar Renteria error (he would join us in 2005 and become Edgar Rent-a Wreck), Mark Bellhorn strode to the dish. Cardinal reliever, Julian Tavares had Mark in a 1-2 hole and then he drove a Tavares' breaking ball down the right field line that looked and sounded like this:
That was all she wrote. I maintain that the series was over after that first game. Mark Bellhorn broke the backs of the Cardinals by hitting his third homer in as many games. Mark also clubbed a three run homer in Yankee Stadium in Game 6 of the ALDS that led Boston to victory, and he drove a nail onto the Yankees' coffin in Game 7 with his "Clang Shot" off the right foul pole of Yankee Stadium. Rightfully, it should have been him that gathered up that Ruben Sierra ground ball at second for the final out in New York, but he was being lifted for Pokey Reese for defensive purposes (ironically he rode in the victory parade with Reese - see bottom of page).
His final line in Game 1 > 2-3, 2 walks, 1 HR, 2 RBI and 3 runs scored. And what does the guy do for an encore? He goes out the very next night in Game 2 and hits a clutch two out double to plate the winning run in a 6-2 win. He walked three more times in the Game 4 clincher and finished the series with a .300 BA while owning a nutty .563 OBP. Ramirez hit a shade over 100 points higher, but like Bellhorn, also had 1 homer and 4 RBI. Manny wasn't nearly the impact player that Mark was in the series except when he was attempting to give Game One away with his comedy of errors.
These days, Mark has returned to Boston and owns a few Dunkin' Donut franchises in the greater Boston area. I'm sure he would have loved to have been recognized at the reunion this past spring, but I also think that he felt that he wouldn't really be missed. You see, we didn't really know what a bargain we had in Bellhorn when he donned the Sox jersey during that incredible 2004 season. Sometimes it's like that, especially in sports. But for me, this "King of Swing" will forever be the true MVP of that most memorable series which culminated ten years ago today.
And, you know what? Mark Bellhorn wasn't just something. He was something else.
These days, Mark has returned to Boston and owns a few Dunkin' Donut franchises in the greater Boston area. I'm sure he would have loved to have been recognized at the reunion this past spring, but I also think that he felt that he wouldn't really be missed. You see, we didn't really know what a bargain we had in Bellhorn when he donned the Sox jersey during that incredible 2004 season. Sometimes it's like that, especially in sports. But for me, this "King of Swing" will forever be the true MVP of that most memorable series which culminated ten years ago today.
And, you know what? Mark Bellhorn wasn't just something. He was something else.
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