Weeks later, after his first error in Boston contributed to an early spate of defensive miscues for the club and allowed the Tampa Bay Rays to score four unearned runs in the first inning of a game against Clay Buchholz, Cameron sat dejected in his locker.
The Red Sox’ new center fielder with a reputation for defensive wizardry, had looked bad on a ball hit right at him, allowing it to glance off his glove and open up the rally. He said it was a “play I’ve made a million times” while answering questions from reporters for several minutes and looking every bit like the season was lost. On April 17.
Maybe Cameron knew something we didn’t. The awkwardness of that play perhaps illustrated some of the abdominal issues he was undergoing, issues that did, in effect, sink his season before it really ever started. As he approaches 38 and what figures to be his last year as a member of the Red Sox, how much does Mike Cameron have left in the tank?
Whether or not the sports hernia that eventually required surgery was the cause of Cameron’s error that night, the play served as a bit of foreshadowing. Cameron would never be right again and would play the fewest games in a season since he was a 23-year-old call-up with the Chicago White Sox in 1996.
That was one year after Cameron toiled for Red Sox manager Terry Francona, then the skipper for Double-A Birmingham. The man who has seen him play both young and old feels that the old man has a little left, although he will reserve judgment.
“I don’t know that Cam is at the end of his career,” Francona said. “He had a really tough year. He’s an older guy and he had a lot of health issues that he tried to play through. … He had a lot done to that stomach area. I know he’s working hard but you’re not going to know what you have until you see him. There’s some age there and there’s some wear and tear there that we’re all aware of.”
There is reason to believe a turnaround is still possible. While he will be 38, Cameron is just one year removed from a typical Cameron year. He hit 25 homers, drove in 70 RBIs in 2009 with Milwaukee, which saw him showcase his typical solid defense. And during one relatively healthy 17-game stretch before surgery last year he hit (.333) with four homers and 13 RBIs.
Cameron is under contract for $7.25 million in 2011. He figures to enter spring training as a factor in the Red Sox’ outfield but after Francona admitted that he needed to wait and see, he also indicated that if the club signs someone like Carl Crawford or Jayson Werth that “maybe that changes things a little bit.”
Obviously, it’s a fluid situation. Free agent signings have to take place, as does Cameron’s rehabilitation and trip to Fort Myers, where his health and ability will be monitored closely. He’ll enter with a smile. With good health, he has a chance to keep that smile on his face.
Each day of November, NESN.com will explore a different issue facing the Red Sox this offseason.
Saturday, Nov. 27: Will the AL East be as strong as it was in 2010?
Monday, Nov. 29: Where will Felix Doubront begin the 2011 season, and will he be starting or relieving?
