If I had told you on Dec. 31, 1999, that the next decade for the Red Sox would include seven 90-win seasons and, yes, the end of “The Curse” as well as a second World Series championship, I’m pretty sure the news wouldn’t have come as a galloping shock. Why would it?
I know, the Yankees were in the middle of a dynastic run, but did they have Nomar Garciaparra, who was 25 years old and hit .357 in 1999? Or how about Pedro Martinez? Just 27, entering his prime. He went 23-4 with a 2.07 ERA in 1999.
OK, Jimy Williams was quirky, but he did lead the Sox to 94 wins and the ALCS in 1999. And Dan Duquette? Won’t be filming any sitcom pilots soon, but between the Pedro trade, the Jason Varitek/Derek Lowe deal and the ability to find guys off the street (Reggie Jefferson, Troy O’Leary, Bret Saberhagen, Tim Wakefield), it sure would have seemed that he was the right guy for the job.
The core was in place.
Well, things have a way of changing.
What was Theo Epstein doing in 1999? Passing the California bar exam. Terry Francona? Just finished his third (losing) season as Phillies manager. He’d be fired in 2000 after winning 65 games. David Ortiz had 20 at-bats for the Twins in 1999. His batting average? How about .000? What kind of odds would you have given me on 12/31/99 that these guys would be a huge part of the first Red Sox World Series winner in 86 years?
So here’s a look at the decade that was for the Red Sox. We’ll hand out a few awards, ask a few questions and try to figure out what it all meant.
(Just one thing before we get started. I’ve decided to ignore the steroid factor when dealing with the last 10 years. Before the e-mails come in blasting me for being inconsistent (I’ve written plenty about how toothless baseball has been on the issue), let me say that I am very well aware that some guys on the Red Sox took performance-enhancing drugs over the last decade. But the truth is that (a) I have no idea who did what when, and (b) you don’t either. Time may very well change all that, but for now we are still in the dark. Sort of weak, I know, but for this kind of thing it’s the best I can do.)
So here we go (and, as always, feel free to e-mail away to kminihane@weei.com).
ALL-DECADE TEAM:
C: Jason Varitek
1B: Kevin Youkilis
2B: Dustin Pedroia
SS: Nomar Garciaparra
3B: Bill Mueller
LF: Manny Ramirez
CF: Johnny Damon
RF: Trot Nixon
DH: David Ortiz
SP: Pedro Martinez
SP: Curt Schilling
SP: Josh Beckett
RP: Jonathan Papelbon
A couple of thoughts:
Bill Mueller hit for a higher average (.303 to .295, almost a wash), had a better OBP (.378 to .350) and OPS (.853 to .829) in his three seasons with the Sox than Mike Lowell has in four seasons in Boston. Sure, Lowell was the World Series MVP in 2007, but Mueller was every bit as good in the 2004 World Series (Mueller batted .429, Lowell .400). I was surprised, but it was a pretty easy choice. If you had asked me before I started the column I would have assumed Lowell.
You could also make a case for J.D. Drew in right field, but I think the volume of Nixon’s work (six years vs. three, during which Drew has better numbers but not by enough) gives him the edge. No other position has anything even close to a debate.
If I had chosen four starters, Derek Lowe probably would’ve made the cut. If I had picked two relievers, Derek Lowe probably would’ve made the cut. Some say that if they had nominated six for the Best Supporting Actor Oscar in 2004, Derek Lowe probably would’ve made the cut for his work in “Still We Believe.”
The best season by an eligible player not on this list? Would you believe Carl Everett in 2000 (34 homers, 108 RBI, .300 batting average, .587 slugging)?
Do any Sox make my all-decade MLB team?
C: Jorge Posada (Maybe never the best catcher in
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