At 49, "Oil Can" Boyd would like to try a comeback

[redsmetz]

From a Boston Globe Red Sox blog:

At 49, Boyd wants to turn fantasy into reality

Dennis "Oil Can" Boyd has long felt the game of baseball was taken away from him far too soon. He was 31 years old when he threw his last pitch for the Texas Rangers in 1991.

But now, at age 49, Boyd believes his shoulder is stronger than ever. He says his velocity is up in the low 90s and the 12-6 curveball and changeup have returned. He wants a chance to show a major league team he can still pitch.

"I have nothing to lose, and all a major league team has to lose is 15 minutes," said Boyd. "Give me 15 minutes and I'll show I can still pitch. That's all I want."

It's always been Boyd's dream to carry on the legacy of Satchel Paige and pitch into his 60s. Two weeks ago, at the Red Sox fantasy camp, Boyd started throwing in earnest again and was pleased with the results.

"After surgery in '87, it took me 10 years to feel good," he said. "I wasn't on the field, started gaining weight. All of a sudden, my arm has healed. The arm strength is there and it's there consistently. The more I throw, the better it feels."

Former Red Sox catcher Mike Stanley, who caught Boyd at the camp, said, "He looks no different to me now than when I caught him in Texas. He still has the same passion. I don't know if he was getting to 90 because we didn't have a gun, but he still had the same stuff. The same tight slider, curve, fastball."

"Satchel being my idol and knowing he didn't come into the game until he was in his early 40s, that's always been in the back of my mind," said Boyd. "Now, I've been given back the fastball I once had. I want to play.

"I spoke to some people about it. If I was given an opportunity, I'd love to work my way back. I think it would be good for the game. It shows me baseball is a forgiving game."

[MartyFan]

I WOULD LOVE THIS!!!

Being that I am a 40-something yeare old, I always love it when I hear or read about another persons PASSION to do something that our culture and physics usually say we cannot...if he has enough arm to compete, put him on the field and if he can throw another year, 10 years or 20 years what a story.

[Sea Ray]

Kudos to him for giving it a try.

I doubt it'll work out though. The problem with being 49 yrs old isn't how you look in a 15 min workout or even how you do the first month. The problem with that age is that we don't recover as quickly and you're much more injury prone. Can he withstand the rigors of a 162 game season? I remember when Jim Palmer, already a member of the Hall of Fame, tried a comeback and he did pretty well in Grapefruit League play until he pulled a muscle in his leg. He then saw how slowly he recovered and he called off his comeback. It had little to do with his performance on the field. He questioned whether his body could do it for 162 game season

[UKFlounder]

Or kind of like Brett Favre in the NFL this year - pretty good for 10 or 11 games, but just about worn out by the end of the year. (Some of that may be due to lack of pre-season planning & training, but it's the same basic idea.)

Originally Posted by Sea Ray

Kudos to him for giving it a try.

I doubt it'll work out though. The problem with being 49 yrs old isn't how you look in a 15 min workout or even how you do the first month. The problem with that age is that we don't recover as quickly and you're much more injury prone. Can he withstand the rigors of a 162 game season? I remember when Jim Palmer, already a member of the Hall of Fame, tried a comeback and he did pretty well in Grapefruit League play until he pulled a muscle in his leg. He then saw how slowly he recovered and he called off his comeback. It had little to do with his performance on the field. He questioned whether his body could do it for 162 game season

[Chip R]

Don't let Dusty hear about this.

[BoydsOfSummer]

"This guy here is dead!"

"Well cross him off then!"

[princeton]

odd timing, given that Oil Can Boyd returned last year. His new name is Daryl Thompson.

[Highlifeman21]

Originally Posted by BoydsOfSummer

"This guy here is dead!"

"Well cross him off then!"

Excellent Major League reference

[redsfan4445]

why not!! give him a chance somewhere.. prb Boston might, but heck that will be a feel good story after all the steroid talk!!

[cincrazy]

There is no way that his body, at 49, would respond positively to this. None whatsoever. I'm sure Nolan Ryan can still unleash one when he wants to, and John Elway can still probably rifle a football like no other for a few throws. But the rigors of a season will destroy someone of that age.

[blumj]

Maybe he could give you a good month or so, though, if you could manage to time it for when you really need that month.

[wally post]

Sign Pedro to teach the kids..

[Chip R]

They were talking about this on MLB Network this morning and I think it was Harold Reynolds or Barry who said that the Can said he was throwing as good as he was at the end of his career. But they added that's not necessarily a good thing because at the end of his career, he wasn't good enough to be on a roster.

[Strikes Out Looking]

Maybe he can tell the Nats he is only 45 and sign with them.

[George Anderson]

Originally Posted by Strikes Out Looking

Maybe he can tell the Nats he is only 45 and sign with them.

He never played with the Reds so I doubt Jimbo would want him.