In a recent ESPN column, the Red Sox' third baseman expressed interest in one day donning the home whites along the banks of the Ohio River. While in years past, such admissions of desiring to play anywhere outside the Commonwealth usually led to fan outrage and disdain, in Youk's case, he's simply stating some opinions — obvious ones at that.
"If I were to go anywhere, I would want to go to Cincinnati and play in front of my parents at home," Youkilis told ESPN. "I think it would be really cool for my dad and my mom, but especially for my dad, growing up in Cincinnati, that would be a real cool thing."
That's a big "if," as Youk's contract is through 2012 with an option for 2013. The emotional third baseman has some time to think about which red socks he'll be wearing in a couple of years.
"If it wasn't Boston, I would want to play in Cincinnati just to say that I did it," the former Cincinnati Bearcat explained. "I grew up rooting for them. I used to be bitter towards the Reds because they didn't draft me, but that bitterness is gone. It would be fun and it would be for my family."
Youk's not turning against the fans and calling out Johnny from Burger King (thanks for that, Keith Foulke), nor is he riling up the media and nicknaming someone a curly-haired boyfriend (thanks Carl Everett). This isn't a hint to Theo Epstein and the Sox front office, nor is it smoke signal to Reds general manager Walt Jocketty, who has third baseman Scott Rolen coincidentally on the books through 2012.
Ask yourself this: which slugger — whether or not tied to the city in one way or another — wouldn't want to play at Cincy's "Great American Small Park?" The homer-happy stadium has been in the top eight in taters-per-game in each of the last six straight years (currently ranked third this year). Also, can you blame a guy for wanting to go home and play half of his games in front of his family and friends? After all, as Don Vito Corleone put it in The Godfather: "A man that doesn't spend time with his family can never be a real man."
While 99 percent of the Red Sox' fanbase would like to see Youk one day retire inside the quaint green confines of Fenway Park, who's to say he doesn't deserve the right to live out a childhood dream of playing for his hometown team in his backyard in front of his folks?
