But instead it was Boston's longest-tenured pro athlete, Tim Wakefield, finally getting a well deserved 200th victory. Sure this isn't as big a deal as 300, and he's got about a good as chance of getting into Cooperstown as Larry David did with the bisexual.
But nevertheless, since 1995, Tim Wakefield has been the epitome of consistency and reliability for the Red Sox. Never elite, not by any means, but a player you could ask to do just about anything, be it start, close, long relieve, etc. Wakes has been there, done all that in his stay with Boston. The quintessential "innings eater" that so many teams lack, the Red Sox have been set with one of those since the Pittsburgh Pirates severed ties with the knuckle-baller at the end of the 1994-95 player's strike. And you wonder why that team hasn't had a winning season since.
And Wakefield no question has been a consummate professional both on and off the field. He's up there with a Tim Thomas or Tedy Bruschi type as the classiest acts to pass through this city in recent years. Wakefield is so humble, so down to Earth, it seems as though many people have not only forgiven him, but forgotten it was him that gave up the home run to Aaron Boone in 2003. Sure winning two World Series between now and then helps, but I can't imagine Wakes ever befalling the same fate as Bill Buckner, class an act as he may be as well.
Moving forward, Wakefield now has 186 career victories with Boston. Six more will push him into a 3-way tie for most in franchise history with a couple of characters by the names of Roger Clemens and Cy Young. Who's to say Wakes won't be back in 2012 at the tender age of 46? After all, fellow knuckle-baller (and 300+ game winner) Phil Niekro pitched til 48.
The Red Sox needed this win tonight, and even though Wakefield wasn't at his best, he did just enough to get the job done. Which is what he's done his whole career here. Get the job done.
