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TALENT PATROL The Sox hope to heal their clubhouse woes with the addition of upbeat new outfielder Jonny Gomes. numbers; they needed a good clubhouse guy. The Sox needed Jonny Gomes. Gomes, signed last November to a two-year, $10 million contract, won't excite fans with his offensive numbers. He is not a dazzling defensive outfielder. He won't be seen stealing a bunch of bases. But he has a unique Personal motto: and proven skill: He's the glue. "Tough times go In baseball, a good clubhouse guy peraway; tough people don't." forms a number of duties. He is a role model Favorite thing and a source of information for the younger about Fenway: players. He is a confidant or sounding board "The fans." for the veterans. He can be another way for Last book read: the manager to get a message to his team. "James and the He always seems to know when the guys Giant Peach by need a good laugh or a kick in the pants and Roald Dahl." is capable of delivering both. A good clubFirst MLB home house guy is a curious blend of motivator, run: "Off Ted Lilly in Toronto in psychiatrist, disciplinarian, co-conspirator, 2005." and comedian. He has a knack for keeping First Little his teammates loose during a long season League team: while still helping them stay focused. Most "The Plumbers." of all he is always seen as a great teammate, a guy you can trust. The last good clubhouse guy the Sox had might have been Kevin Millar—and we all remember how Millar and his "cowboy up" attitude played a part in reversing the curse. Jonny Gomes has all of that and more. When you talk with the native Californian, you understand immediately why he is such a positive teammate. He is quick to share credit and cares more about the game and his team than he does his own stats. When asked about leadership he quickly responds, "This team has plenty of leaders. Everyone here brings something to the table." Ask him about personal accolades and again he demurs: "Whether I go zero-for-four or four-for-four doesn't matter. What matters is that we RED SOX NEWCOMER JONNY GOMES WILL EARN OUR play the game the right way." Now trust me, I have been RESPECT WITH MORE THAN HIS BAT AND GLOVE. around professional sports for a long time. I can recognize when athletes are telling the media and the fans BY STEVE DEOSSIE what they want to hear. I did it myself at times. There is no hint of this when you talk with Gomes. He believes fter their disastrous 2011 and 2012 seasons (including the club- in and plays by what he says. He is a guy other players want to be around house chicken-and-beer scandal of September 2011), the Red Sox because of his positive attitude. Gomes has the respect and admiration of nearly every baseball person went into the off-season last fall determined to acquire more than just the usual assortment of pitchers and hitters. The myriad acronyms that who has met him, and he will soon have the same from Red Sox Nation. He scouts use to evaluate players—ERA, OBP, BA, RBI, OPS—were not going will earn it as he always has. Not so much with his bat and glove as with his to reveal the guy the Red Sox desperately needed. They did not need more character, personality, and leadership. BC INSIGHT A 54 PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL IVINS/BOSTON RED SOX a clubhouse home run BOSTONCOMMON-MAGAZINE.COM 054_BC_SP_TalentPatrol_LATESPRING_13.indd 54 4/10/13 12:22 PM