Boston Red Sox: Ranking 15 Biggest Martyrs in Franchise History

The Boston Red Sox have one of the longest histories in MLB. Many players, managers, and general managers take the blame for something that wasn't totally their fault. That is exactly how I see a martyr; someone who gets tossed under a bus, or gets traded away due to their coaching or playing styles.

Terry Francona is on this list due to the fact that he was let go, because the Red Sox failed to make the playoffs after losing a majority of their games back in September. Sure Francona shouldn't have taken all of the blame, but it is time to move on. He now works for ESPN, and the Red Sox have a new manager in Bobby Valentine.

15. Daisuke Matsuzaka

Daisuke Matsuzaka is going to be at least out until June or July of 2012, since he had Tommy John surgery this past season.

What makes Matsuzaka a martyr you ask? Daisuke lives and dies by baseball. He would do anything to be pitching for the Red Sox right now, but hat is how he injured his elbow. His pitching regimen has not been approved of by the Red Sox.

The Red Sox should have allowed him to throw as much as he wanted. Maybe they would not be in the market for both a fourth and fifth starter.

14. Nomar Garciaparra

Nomar Garciaparra was the face at shortstop with the Red Sox for some time before he got traded to the Chicago Cubs in a four-team deal in 2004.

Garciaparra played his heart out for the Red Sox. He was a great hitter, but a so-so defender. That is why they used him as a trade chip to get a better team in 2004. It ended up panning out that the Red Sox won the World Series that year.  They really did just use Nomar to get what they wanted, and many fans were upset over this trade.

13. John Lackey

John Lackey should be taking less heat for a historically bad 2011 season. Since he had Tommy John Surgery, many fans are happy that he is out for all of the 2012 season.

Lackey sure did hurt his reputation by divorcing his wife, who has breast cancer. Also, for his involvement in drinking beer and eating fried chicken. Lackey was the problem in the dugout, and should be blamed for some of the dugout dysfunction, not all of it.

12. Dan Duquette

Dan Duquette's only problem was signing Manny Ramirez to a monster contract that kept him in Boston for too long. That is why Manny was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers eventually.

Manny's antics make Duquette look as if he didn't know what he was doing. Manny was a great asset in the lineup, but his personality and crazy ways made him basically a cancer to the clubhouse. Duquette should be blamed for this contract. Although, it is not his fault that Manny did not pan out.

11. Theo Epstein

The Chicago Cubs' new General Manager Theo Epstein, abandoned ship after the historic collapse of the 2011 Red Sox. He created this team, yet did not help motivate the final month of the regular season.

Epstein did not pull out all the stops. He should have landed some outfield help for the Red Sox. Over the last several seasons, Epstein made some contract deals that were good. Also, many that were not so good. His baseball mind is impeccable, but he needed to leave to get a better challenge out of his career.

Epstein should take the blame for the signings, but the collapse is all on the players that he brought in.

10. Roger Clemens

Roger Clemens played a majority of his career with the Red Sox. He is known for his steroid use, which made him such an effective pitcher. However, his lack of performance in the 1986 World Series against the New York Mets is what puts him on this list.

Clemens had a poor outing in Game Two of the World Series that year. In Game Six, he could only last seven innings. He left with a 3-2 lead that the Red Sox eventually blew, and lost the game. Clemens could have pitched a couple more innings, but apparently took himself out due to a blister problem. This lack of commitment to the Red Sox is why Clemens is a martyr in my book.

9. Calvin Schiraldi

Calvin Schiraldi was another pitcher on the 1986 Red Sox team. He took both losses in Game Six and Game Seven to lose the World Series.

The Red Sox relied on him too much in these two contests. He is to blame for pitching poorly in both losses.

8. Bob Stanley

Bob Stanley was the closer for the Red Sox during the 1986 World Series. He was the one who got the Red Sox one out away from winning the World Series. However, he allowed a run to score by throwing a wild pitch. Then Bill Buckner made an error that gave the New York Mets the victory.

Stanley had 132 career saves with the Red Sox. He is now the second all-time in saves with the Red Sox. Now, Jonathan Papelbon holds the team record.

7. Terry Francona

Terry Francona was basically thrown under a bus when the Red Sox ended their 2011 season with a flop. Francona is probably the best manager in Red Sox history with two World Series titles in his eight-year stint with the ball club.

6. Harry Frazee

Harry Frazee started the 86-year long drought for the Red Sox by trading away one of the best baseball players who ever lived, Babe Ruth. He was traded back in 1919 to the New York Yankees.

Frazee wanted to finance a Broadway play, and sold Ruth to get this accomplished. Now he forever lives in infamy as the owner who started the great Red Sox curse, that finally ended in 2004.

5. Johnny Damon

Johnny Damon wanted more money after the 2005 season. So he decided to go to the hated New York Yankees, which is a big no-no for Red Sox fans.

Damon was a huge part of the 2004 World Series champions. He is a great player, but going to the Yankees is unforgivable.

4. Grady Little

Grady Little nearly made the World Series in 2003, but he left Pedro Martinez out there too long. He will be known as the manager who should have pulled Pedro. The Red Sox had the lead in that game. Yet because of Little, the Red Sox ended up losing the next couple of games.

3. Johnny Pesky

Johnny Pesky has been around a very long time. Not many of us remember that in the 1940s he did hold the ball. That is right, he held the ball as the winning run scampered from third to home. The Red Sox might have been able to finally win a World Series.

2. John McNamara

John McNamara was within one out of winning the World Series, but his team fell short. He took most of the heat for the Red Sox not winning that season.

McNamara was later fired midway through the 1988 season. He never returned to the playoffs with the Red Sox.

1. Bill Buckner

Bill Buckner was finally welcomed back to Boston on Opening Day in 2008 to throw out the first pitch. He could be on the Red Sox's coaching staff in 2012.

Buckner's error in the 1986 World Series lost the game. Buckner should have removed himself earlier due to injury. He will forever be in Red Sox history. Although, he might be able to redeem his name if he returns as a coach in 2012.