Alive and Kicking in the Minor Leagues

Along with the video of Pirates manager Lloyd McClendenon stealing first base over a disputed play, this is one of the funniest clips of the year. Red Sox farmhand Izzy Alcantara, believing he was being thrown at, kicked the opposing catcher in the mask and then charged the mound before being subdued.

Alcantara was fined an undisclosed amount and given a six-game vacation for his troubles. He’s a strange case. Right now he’s 28 and tearing up AAA (.344, 26 HRs, 1115 OPS); you’d think the Red Sox could use his bat, given all of their injuries.

But Alcantara is the pawn in the eternal chess match between Red Sox Manager Jimy Williams and GM Dan Duquette. He’s forever in Williams’ doghouse for one memorable day last summer when he made an error, loafed after several balls in right field, and got picked off base. The guy played so lazily that one expected Carlton Fisk to grab the next flight in for the express purpose of kicking his ass for not playing baseball the right way.

After that incident, Williams wanted him out. Duquette wouldn’t oblige–Izzy was out of options and couldn’t be sent down without the risk of losing him. Perhaps Duqette hoped to corner the market on 27-year-old righties who could shred AAA pitching but wouldn’t hustle once they made the bigs. He ordered Williams to play Izzy, who got only 48 plate appearances in three months, but hit well when he got the chance (.289, 4 HR, 911 OPS).

Izzy was released at the end of last season but has found his way back to Pawtucket to rot on the vine. This incident probably didn’t help his cause any. Given that he hadn’t already been called up with all of Boston’s injuries, I get the sense that Williams would rather lose without this guy than win with him. I’m tempted to say I don’t blame him, but then again, I may be biased.