PAWTUCKET, R.I. — First base wasn’t supposed to be such a nettlesome spot for the Boston Red Sox.
Not with All-Star (or should have been) Kevin Youkilis manning the job so ably.
Why even give even a thought to an insurance policy, when the fiery Youkilis is such money in the bank?
Funny how one jammed thumb can change the situation.
Plan B (as in back up)?
You don’t just replace Youk’s bat, or his glove, or even his cache’.
Mike Lowell is too gray. Lars Anderson is too green. And Big Papi’s first baseman’s mitt might have been left in Portland two years ago during his rehab stint for all anyone has seen of it.
Into the breech steps, or limps, Carlos Delgado, the 38 year old former Blue Jay, Marlin and Met slugger, who has 473 big league homers on a resume written with a quill.
Delgado, who has had two hip surgeries since his last game as a Met, May 9 of last year, answered the Sox’ S.O.S for first base help, signing a minor league deal over the weekend.
He began his comeback Monday night with the PawSox, going 0-for-3 against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees.
Still, if all goes well, “the Big Cat” will work his way into a September call up by Boston.
“Boston’s a great place to play,” said Delgado, after his initial solo workout with Pawtucket manager Torey Lovullo. “It’s a great opportunity, and I’m looking forward to it.”
Delgado was signed for what is known in the trade as “short money.” The Sox are obviously hoping that his bat can still make some big noise. Hoping, too, that his hip can withstand the everyday wear that comes with the position.
After all, what good is a first baseman who can’t make that big stretch?
So far, so good.
“It’s nice to get out of the clinic for a while,” he said. “The hip feels pretty good. Obviously it’s going to be a transition from rehab into the game situation. But I feel good, and I’m going to give it a try. I think everything is going to be fine.”
In everyother respect, Delgado appears to be in terrific shape.
Since the second surgery in February, he’s done a lot of conditioning, but just a little bit of hitting.
“You can’t duplicate the game situation in rehab,” he said. “It’s impossible to find somebody to throw 90 m.p.h. fastballs, and to throw curveballs inside. I’ve been swinging. It’s just a matter of getting that timing back.”
Plenty of time has passed since Delgado rode minor league buses with any regularity.
A couple of rehab stints ”“ the last coming in 2004 ”“ perhaps.
For him, it’s been charter jets, four star hotels, and big league meal money.
No all-nighters on the road to Scranton for him.
However, he says he’s ready to take that limp down memory lane, if there’s something better waiting at the other end.
“If this means getting to the big leagues,” Delgado said. “Then so be it.”
Meanwhile, he’s aware that young hopefuls like Anderson are working to get where he’s already been.
“If you can share your experience and help players out, that would be good,” Delgado said. “These young players are working to make it to the big leagues. I understand that and respect that. I’m just going to be one of the guys and do what I’m supposed to do. Get my work in and work my way to the big league team.”
If he does, he may find a crowd waiting for him at first base.
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