Tim Wakefield
Tim Wakefield
Timothy Stephen "Tim" Wakefieldis an American former professional baseball pitcher. Wakefield began his pitching career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, but is most remembered for his 17-year tenure with the Boston Red Sox, starting in 1995 and ending with his retirement in 2012 as the longest-serving player on the team. Wakefield, at the time of his retirement, was the oldest active player in the majors...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionBaseball Player
Date of Birth2 August 1966
CityMelbourne, FL
CountryUnited States of America
I'm honored. Really honored that the Red Sox have asked me to possible be on the board of the Red Sox Foundation and do some stuff on their charitable works that they are so passionate about.
There's been times where I've come out of the bullpen thinking I was going to throw a no hitter, and I've lasted two or three innings. So I try not to use my pre-game warm ups as a barometer of how I'm going to pitch.
It's nice to have a catcher who knows my mechanics, too. That way if I get into trouble he can stop it before I get out of control.
It's so easy to be thankful when you're on top of your game and everything is going right. But when I gave up the home run to Aaron, I had to be thankful for that, too. It may have been God's plan to make me stronger for 2004.
He did a good job today back there. First time getting in the game is a totally different animal than catching on the side. I thought he did a really good job back there today.
I am happy for Doug. I'm disappointed in a selfish way for myself, but you have to look at the future for Doug, and he's going to get a chance to play every day in San Diego and do some good things for his family.
You always want to get back out there. I had pretty good stuff in Texas, almost too good. I couldn't control it and I couldn't throw it for strikes. When that happens, you start walking guys and it leads to really big innings. Today I felt more comfortable.
We came in today knowing we needed to win. We didn't want to back into the playoffs by having Cleveland lose and we lose. We came out and played hard.
I felt good. I got some work in and got my pitch count up a little higher than I did last time. I think Josh Bard did a great job back there.
That ball was smashed. The way the wind was blowing, that shows how strong the guy really is.
I had good stuff from the bullpen going into the game. The ball stayed up for Stairs, and from there it was a battle to keep the team in the game the rest of the way. You hate to put your team in a deficit right away. Manny got us back in the game, and it was my job to keep us there.
Going through college a Red Sox fan and knowing the history behind everything that was going on back in the '80s and finally getting a chance to win a World Series for this great city and bringing it back after 86 years, it was truly special, and it's one of the highlights that I'll remember for a long time.
It's a huge honor, considering some of the guys who had just as good years as I did. I have to say I couldn't have done what I did this year without the help of every member of my team.
Its nice to have a catcher who knows my mechanics, too. That way if I get into trouble he can stop it before I get out of control.