Revisiting the 2009 Boston Red Sox

     

Kevin Youkilis (pictured) was an integral part of the 2009 Red Sox team

        2009 was a good season for the Boston Red Sox that started and ended with disappointment. It started with the pursuit of Mark Texeira, only to have him go to the New York Yankees for about $2 million more. That same offseason, they watched the Yankees sign C.C. Sabathia and A.J. Burnett to monster contracts, tying up over $423 million between the three players. The Red Sox would play out the season, winning 95 games, getting a wildcard spot in the playoffs, only to be swept by the Los Angeles Angels and to watch the Yankees win the World Series. The Red Sox also sparked interest when they announced Jon Lester would start game 4 (they never got to game 4 however) on three-day’s rest rather than pitching Daisuke Matsuzaka. The 2009 season was an interesting ride for the Red Sox. Here is to reliving that season:

David Ortiz entered the season as a question mark in the Red Sox lineup. It’s funny to think about after all that Ortiz has done, but Ortiz’s 2008 season ended prematurely after he suffered a wrist injury. He followed it up with his worst seasons in a Red Sox uniform, hitting .238 with a .332 on-base percentage. Ortiz only hit 28 home runs and hit a lowly .212 against lefties with only six home runs. The season led many Sox fans to believe that Ortiz was done, that he was old and would be retiring soon. Red Sox nation was wrong as Ortiz went on to hit another 224 homers and carry the team to the 2013 World Series, batting .688/.760/1.18.

            2009 was also the first year the Red Sox had Jason Bay in their lineup for the entire season after acquiring him in a blockbuster trade at the July trade deadline in 2008 that sent Manny Ramirez to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Bay anchored the Red Sox lineup, hitting 36 home runs, 119 RBI and stole 13 bases while batting sixth the majority of the season. The Red Sox elected not to resign Bay following the season. He didn’t do much in the years after his time with the Red Sox, making it a good move on general manager at the time Theo Epstein’s part. I still believe that the Red Sox didn’t really want Bay in the first place, but acquired him because 1.) They needed to get rid of Ramirez asap due to the problems he caused in the clubhouse and 2.) It blocked the Tampa Bay Rays, who were inching up on the Red Sox in the standings, from acquiring him.

            Jacoby Ellsbury also solidified his place as the starting center fielder after spending time at every outfield position in 2008. Boy did Ellsbury perform. He stole 70 bases while hitting .301 with 10 triples at the top of the batting order. Ellsbury was one of the best center fielders the Red Sox have had when it comes to speed and defensive capability (Ellsbury committed two errors in 2009 and eight in the six years he spent with the Sox).

            The Red Sox were expected to have a very good bullpen and they did, seeing rank eighth in bullpen ERA with a 3.80 team ERA. The bullpen was anchored by Jonathan Papelbon, pitching to a 1.85 ERA in 68 innings along with 76 strikeouts despite pitching terribly in the postseason, getting the loss in game 3. They also had Hideki Okajima, Takashi Saito and Ramon Ramirez in the bullpen, each having one of their best seasons of their career.

            The starting rotation was a mess throughout the season. After Jon Lester and Josh Becket, every starter was a question mark. Clay Buchholz, Matsuzaka and Tim Wakefield were having subpar seasons. They tried the likes of Brad Penny, John Smoltz and Junichi Tazawa to no avail. They used Justin Masterson, one of the team’s top prospects and found some success before moving him to the bullpen where he became a critical asset to the seventh inning.

Clay Buchholz looking good as usual

     At the trade deadline, the Red Sox should have targeted pitching but elected to trade Masterson away to the Indians along with pitching prospect Nick Hagadone for catcher Victor Martinez. Martinez played well, hitting 8 home runs and 41 RBI with the Sox while batting .336 in 221 at-bats. The moves became one of the most controversial moves of Epstein’s career after he elected to not resign Martinez while dealing with the “what-if” scenario of, could the Red Sox have won the World Series if they acquired some pitching help (The Red Sox were also linked to acquiring Roy Halladay that offseason, but things fell apart when the Toronto Blue Jays asked for Buchholz and Daniel Bard).

            The Red Sox began to slide in August but saved themselves by winning six of their last seven games in the month. They basically played .500 ball in September, going 15-13 while ending the month on a six-game skid, getting swept by the Yankees and Blue Jays. They would end the skid, winning all four games they played in the month of October. They then entered the post season facing the Angels.

            John Lackey silenced the Red Sox in game one, holding them to zero runs on four hits, winning the game 5-0. Lester pitched well, going six innings but a three-run home run to Tori Hunter proved the difference in the game. Game 2 was no different as Jered Weaver held the Sox to one run on two hits, his only blemish being an RBI single to Martinez. The Angels won game 2, 4-1. The bullpen fell apart for the Red Sox in game 3. Buchholz left with the 5-2, only to see Billy Wagner give up two-run double to Bobby Abreu. Papelbon then came in blowing the lead by giving up three runs—and the lead—on four hits. Their season came to an end when the Sox went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the ninth as the Angels advanced to the ALCS to face the Yankees.

            2009 was a good regular season for the Red Sox. It was a fun team to watch every night, fun team to complain about and cheer for. Thinking about their postseason run brings back bad memories, but we’ve got Doug Fister and David Price now, so everything panned out in the end…maybe…