Wanna mess with a Redsock fan? (Of course you do.) Just mention Franchy Cordero

At last, karmic payback for Garrett Whitlock!

You remember Whitlock - plucked from our farm system in the 2020 Rule 5 draft, taken for a bureaucratic pittance, to become the Redsocks' trustiest reliever. Even today, on the Injury List, he's viewed a future rotation cog. And don't Boston fans cackle over the mention of his name? Two minutes into a spitting match, while oniony mucous flows from their toothless maws and ribald stains seep through their adult diapers, they'll scream, "Garrett Whitlock! Garrett Whitlock!" In the early predawn hours, outside our house, they gather in the street to grunt his accursed name. "Garrett Whitlock! Garrett Whitlock!"

I hope you'll join me to congregate outside your most merciless Redsock fan's home around - say - 4 a.m. to wail, "FRANCHY! FRANCHY! FRANCHY!" and wait for the SWAT unit. Yes, we'll give them a gingery taste of their own phlegm, because to Boston fans, Franchy Cordero looks like their worst scenario... the one who got away. 

Two HRs this weekend. When I look at Cordero, I see a bigger, faster, younger version of Matt Carpenter, (without the past success and respect.) I see the history of baseball, which is filled with greats who were early career near-washouts: Amos Otis. Bill Robinson. David Ortiz. Brigadoon Refsnyder... it's a long list, and there is nothing sorrier than watching a dud - dealt to the enemy - become a star.

Franchy - (we can call him that; The Master's call "You can bet the ranchy on Franchy") - has bounced around three franchises, including SD, KC and Boston, which traded Andrew Benintendi for him. Best part: With Boston, he conducted a master class in ruined expectations. Over 34 games last year - all with anticipatory hype - Franchy hit .179. They sent him to Triple A; he he hit .339. So they called him back up. Crickets. For Boston, he hit .189 - but for Worcester, .300. Hah. 

Last winter, Boston pulled the plug. DFA. He hooked up with Baltimore and crushed his spring training audition, but the O's are knee deep in prospects, and Franchy is 28. The Yankees signed him as a free agent. The guy's a strapping 6'3" and said to be one of the fastest players in the game. (He twice led the minors in triples.) He plays 1B and all three OF slots and - get this - he hits LH.

Okay, I know what you're thinking. It's barely mid-April and I'm forging his plaque for Monument Park. Let's not draft his Christmas speech to the United Nations. But on a weekend when the Gammonites gushed over Aaron Hicks' single - a grounder to left field - Cordero and Oswaldo Cabrera became the reasons for hope in LF and 3B. The sooner we can get beyond Hicks and Jackie Donaldson, the better. 

So, when you hear them chant "Garrett Whitlock," grab the bullhorn and scream, "Franchy, Franchy, Franchy." They'll disperse. For now, they have no response.