Via CBSSports: ”In 2011, the Red Sox missed the playoffs after a historic September collapse. In 2012, a disastrous season ended with a 69-93 record, a last place finish and a managerial firing. In 2013, the Boston Red Sox are going back to the playoffs. With a 3-1 win over the Orioles in Fenway Park Thursday evening, the Red Sox clinched at least a wild card spot. They entered Thursday with a magic number of three in the AL East, so they could have that nailed down as soon as Friday. They also came into Thursday with a 2.5-game lead for the best record in the entire AL, so they aren’t done playing meaningful regular-season games by any stretch.”
At the start of this season, the media, the sports guys, the experts said the Red Sox would finish fourth. Not all of them, but enough of them that the public bought in. Now they’re heading back to the playoffs with a team that seems to really enjoy playing with themselves.
Last fall, the Red Sox sold off most of their “high profile” players in a late season trade with the Los Angeles Billionaires to rid themselves of the players that were causing a stink in the clubhouse. Then, in the off season, Ben Cherington and his team made a bunch of moves that most people scoffed at. They signed the flyin’ Hawaiian, Shane Victorino to patrol the outfield along side Jacoby Ellsbury. They signed Mike Napoli to a deal that protected them against injuries, picked up Ryan Dempster to eat innings, Jonny Gomes for depth and signed Stephen Drew to play shortstop when he returned from injury. Everyone looked at those moves and concluded that the Red Sox were doomed. I felt differently. I thought this team had character and that the guys they had signed were all a little bit under the radar and didn’t hand cuffed the team over the long haul.
Guess what, I was right. That’s because I’m always right! Victorino has been more than outstanding; leading to people wondering if they need to try that hard to re-sign Ellsbury this winter (I still think they should, at the right price.) Napoli has been outstanding at the plate, eerily similar to the way Kevin Millar showed up to Boston and hit home runs and relaxed the clubhouse with his personality. Stephen Drew has been solid in the field, better as of late at the plate and provided the insurance we needed to pull off the Iglesias/ Peavy trade (which was awesome by the way!) All in all, their veteran signings have worked out more so than they have failed this season. On top of that, Ellsbury remained healthy, until recently, and was hitting all year. Lester, Buchholz and surprise, surprise, John Lackey, all found their stroke and put together strong seasons. And even after two of our big free agent bullpen trades over the last two years went down with season ending injuries, Koji Uehara was there to pick up the slack and dominate the rest of the league.
This team is a throwback to those mid 2000 teams who were winning with confidence and personality. They enjoyed playing together, for the most part, and everyone had one thing in mind, winning a World Series. Can this team do that? That remains to be seen. What is a guarantee after last night is that the Red Sox are headed back to the MLB Playoffs where they belong.
P.S. John Lackey complete game to clinch? That’s half chub stuff right there. This guy can pitch in the postseason folks and the fact that he went all nine last night is a good look for the Sox.
P.P.S. How good was Ben Cherington’s off season? Did he make any mistakes? Love this guy for the moves he made and how he didn’t mortgage the future with these contracts. Plenty of wiggle room going forward to continue to build this team.
