Cup of Coffee: January 30, 2024

Hi all.

Apologies, but it’s another programming note today. For what it’s worth, it’s related to last week’s programming note. But this time instead of being unavailable due to some unexpected personal life crap popping up, my unavailability today represents the unexpected personal life crap being resolved. So yay. Tomorrow should be back to normal.

Before departing for the day, I did want to at least mention the most notable news yesterday: Jimy Williams dying at the age of 80.

Williams managed the Jays, Red Sox, and Astros for a total of 12 years. He was a longtime Bobby Cox lieutenant in Atlanta during their epic 1990s run as well. He played a little too, appearing in 14 games at second and short for the Cardinals in 1966 and 1967.

Most people would probably say that Williams’ top achievement as a manager was winning the 1999 Manager of the Year Award. Personally, I think his top moment came on September 25 1997.

Longtime Atlanta starter Steve Avery had signed with the Red Sox before the 1997 season. It was a one-year deal for a $4.85 million, but if Avery made 18 starts it’d trigger a $3.9 million option for 1998. Avery sucked eggs, however, and the Sox pulled him out of the rotation following his 17th start of the year on August 31. The Red Sox weren’t exactly in a pennant race that year — they finished in fourth place — so It seemed pretty clear that the primary reason Avery was sent to the bullpen was so that Boston wouldn’t have to pick up Avery’s option.

Except on September 25 Jimy Williams named Avery his starter in a meaningless game against the Detroit Tigers. Avery taking the hill in the first inning that day triggered his $3.9 million option. After the game Williams admitted that that was his intention, too, saying that if the Red Sox were perceived to have messed with Avery’s incentives like that future free agents wouldn’t trust them and would sign elsewhere. Oh, and Avery shut out the Detroit Tigers on two hits over five innings and the Red Sox won so not only was it an honorable decision, it was a good one too.

Way to stick it to the bosses, Jimy. May you rest in peace.

Have a great day everyone.