The other loss in the Wily Mo trade

Interesting ruminations apropos of nothing heading into tonight’s deceptively huge Curt Schilling start (here’s the preview of tonight’s game against the Angels from Baseball-Reference) …

Look, we know. We used the photo a couple of days ago. But we’ll never get to see Pena in a Sox uni again, and this is definitely the best shot of that gorgeous left arm, so live with it.

As much as the Wily Mo Pena trade robs the Red Sox of one of the best nicknames on the team - The Coyote (seriously, will someone in Washington please buy the poor man another “L” for his name?) - it also takes a chunk out of another underrated strength of the organization: body art.

That’s right, Wily Mo has some seriously cool tattoos. They’re unique yet not overpowering, distinct yet deceptively within the confines of everyday American acceptability. His entire left arm is like the unholy love child of Mike Tyson’s Maori face and A.J. Burnett’s arms. In short, they’re not your everyday tribal tats.

So, with Wily’s considerable tattooed presence now property of the Nationals, who will take the forefront in Boston’s tattoo parlor? Here’s the short list, in order of significance:

1) Curt Schilling: The once and former ace is a serious video game aficionado, and he backs it up on his body … literally. The pitcher had the logo of his 38studios (formerly Green Monster Games) - an alien looking monster called Munch - drawn on his left shoulder over the offseason at Skinartstudio in Cambridge. The three-color design is a good four inches, and while you can’t see it under his jersey, Schill has been happy to mug the design by rolling up his sleeves in training sessions. Final tattoo score? 6 of 10.

2) David Ortiz: Papi’s huge bicep inking of his deceased mother, Angela Rosa Arias, is truly a work of art. Significant detail, classic green pigment and understated classiness (if you can say that about a tattoo). While garishness is usually a significant factor in determining the value of work on the skin, we’re willing to give this one the go ahead regardless. Final tattoo score? 8 out of 10.

Sure, he’s a Boston hero, but the Big Schill couldn’t crack the top spot on the tattoo countdown.

3) Brandon Moss: A darkhorse in this race, because he only played in three games for the big league Sox, among other reasons. Still, it’s hard to overlook the impressive design on Moss’s left bicep. Nobody seems quite sure what it is, but it has five segmented ovals along the bottom of his jersey sleeve, showing just enough ink to prove he’s a badass. An understated work worthy of high praise. Final tattoo score? 7 out of 10.

4) Manny Ramirez: ManRam’s had some work done, but he seems to hide it rather religiously. The long sleeves, or wrist and arm bands, or high gloves … nearly every inch of his body is perpetually covered, so the arm ink hardly ever gets noticed. The mere lack of exposure for Manny’s designs drops him down the list, despite a personality that makes you think he could head back in for more any day now. Final tattoo score: 5 out of 10.

OK, so we know there’s more on the chiseled young arms of other Sox players out there, but those were our four most notable. And our winner is? Big Papi, now the king of tats as well as clutch. Congrats David, go celebrate with Tiffany.

– Cameron Smith