History and Milestones

The Blue Jays' Jose Bautista hit his 48th home run of the season to break a club record held by George Bell (1987), as Toronto won a slugfest, 11-9, over the Red Sox at Fenway Park on Friday night.

Bautista wasn't the only one to make history on the field; Boston pitcher Tim Wakefield set yet another Red Sox record when he made an appearance in the seventh inning.

According to the Associated Press, Wakefield became the oldest player to appear for the Boston franchise in 102 years. The knuckleball pitcher, at 44 years and 46 days old, surpassed Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski (44 years and 41 days). Deacon McGuire, who made his last appearance for the Red Sox on August 24, 1908, was 44 years and 280 days old.

Wakefield isn't going to surpass McGuire until next season, assuming the Red Sox decide to re-sign him. But loyalty and history aside, there's no reason to continue bringing him back year after year. The knuckleballer is 4-10 with a 5.17 ERA. He is certainly not an innings-eater (with only 134 IP this season).

If the Red Sox want to be serious about making the postseason next year, it's time to cut ties with Wakefield and give that roster spot to another pitcher. A younger one.

Bautista of the Blue Jays isn't exactly young (he will turn 30 in October), but he sure has established himself as one of the best power hitters in baseball. From April to August 2009, Bautista was a horrible utility player: .225, 3 HRs, 19 RBIs, in 227 at-bats. He then hit 10 home runs after September 1st to finish the year with 13 dingers.

Including his final month in '09, Bautista has now hit 58 home runs in the last 6+ months.

Is he going to have another monster year in 2011? There are some skeptics in baseball circles. Keith Law of ESPN, for one, doesn't appear to think Bautista can duplicate his 2010 success and should have traded him earlier this year, feeling his trade value will never be higher. Law cited the name Davey Johnson on an interview on FAN 590 over a month ago, saying some players will have a fluke year and then come back to earth the following season. (Johnson, whose previous high in HRs was 18, slugged 43 for the '73 Braves as a 30-year-old, and then hit only 27 home runs total the rest of his career.)

I am leaning toward Keith Law, thinking Bautista will not be able to have another 40-homer season. I think the Blue Jays should have dealt him to a contending team before the trade deadline.

As for Wakefield? Time to get rid of him, if you are the Red Sox.