Left in his Wake

News item: Tim Wakefield made his 382nd start as a member of the Red Sox yesterday, tying him with Roger Clemens for most in team history. ATLANTA - At first glance, it hits you like some kind of typographical error. You assume one of the interns in the Red Sox media relations department pressed a wrong button, and that an extra hundred starts were added to Tim Wakefield's ledger. Yes, Wakefield has been around a long time, and, yes, he has made many starts. But wait: Isn't he the guy who, back in 1995, was plucked from the Triple-A trash heap by then-general manager Dan Duquette? And wait: Isn't he the guy who in 1999 was pulled out of the starting rotation and sent to the bullpen? And didn't he spend most of the next four seasons moving from the rotation to the bullpen and back again? Sorry, but guys who get picked off the Triple-A trash heap are not supposed to tie the record for career starts for an original American League franchise. And guys who spend four seasons doing most of their work out of the bullpen . . . no, this just isn't supposed to happen. Yet there he was yesterday, working six shutout innings in the Red Sox' 1-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field. The short-term good news is that Wakefield is 10-3 with a 4.18 ERA in 2009, burnishing his credentials for what would be his first trip to the All-Star Game. And the long-term good news is tying the Rocket for most starts in Sox history. Here's how the list looks: Wakefield (382), Clemens (382), Cy Young (297), Luis Tiant (238), Mel Parnell (232). ``To have my name mentioned with the names I've been mentioned with is pretty cool,'' said Wakefield. ``It's a testament not only to longevity, but also to the organization for keeping me around and giving me a chance to still pitch in a Red Sox uniform.'' Well, it's a testament to the people who run the organization now. It was Joe Kerrigan, pitching coach back in '99, who convinced manager Jimy Williams to send Wakefield to the bullpen. Wakefield hated it, but did as he was told. He did bullpen work in 2000 and 2001, and then Grady Little took over as manager. And for a time, Wakefield remained in the bullpen. ``But when Grady took over,'' said Wakefield, ``I felt a little better about my situation. Even when I started that (2002) year in the bullpen, he was using me in more important roles. And then I got back into the rotation and pitched really well, and I've been there ever since.'' Still, Wakefield logged only 15 starts in 2002. He was 35 years old. Could anyone have imagined back then that a 35-year-old sometimes-starter, sometimes-reliever would end up making the most starts in franchise history? ``While I was in the bullpen, no,'' said Wakefield. And he said it so plainly that there's no doubt he was telling the truth. So, what's next? He has one remaining start before the American League's All-Star pitching staff is announced. Were he to pitch well and win that remaining start, he'd be looking at an 11-3 record, and with an ERA hovering around 4.00. And there is this: He is 18 wins away from his 192nd as a member of the Red Sox , which would tie him with Clemens and Young for most in team history. ``That's been happening a lot lately when Wake does something,'' said manager Terry Francona, noting that some new record seems to be set every time the old knuckleballer wins. ``When you've been around as long as he has and you pitch that well, there are going to be a lot of things like this happening.'' And the hits just keep on coming. Oh, and speaking of hits, Wakefield also singled to center field in the third inning yesterday. If you're keeping score at home, that leaves him only 3,415 hits from tying Carl Yastrzemski for most in Red Sox history. - sbuckley@bostonherald.com