Through the years
Mike Timlin stood by his locker last night playing a game with Manny Delcarmen while talking to a few reporters. Delcarmen (who was 11 years old when Timlin threw his first major league pitch) stood behind the pack and flicked suds from a beer can toward Timlin, who jerked his neck in order to catch them in his mouth.
“You see those skills?” Timlin asked Delcarmen, patting him on the shoulder.
Snaring flying foam with one’s mouth, apparently, is an acquired ability. Timlin has the requisite practice. He is one of four Red Sox players who has been in Boston since 2003, one of four players to experience the Red Sox renaissance in full, along with only Jason Varitek, David Ortiz, and Tim Wakefield.
“It never gets old,” Timlin said. “Never.”
Theo Epstein last night spoke about becoming a team, like the Braves and Yankees of recent years, that fans associate with playoff baseball. In making it five of six years, that has started to happen.
Consistency and sameness are not the same. The turnover from 2003 to now is staggering, starting with the fact that only four players have been here the whole time. What, Timlin was asked, stood out about this particular group?
“We moved guys in and out,” Timlin said. “This franchise has not been afraid the past two years to say ‘We’re going to put the best players out there that we can. You guys got to mesh.’ They did. That chemistry that we had that year was a lot different than this year.”
The five Red Sox playoff teams from 2003 to now have all forged their own identities. Here now is a brief summary of each:
2003: THE COWBOYS
Key figures: Trot Nixon, Kevin Millar, Todd Walker, Derek Lowe, Nomar Garciaparra, Grady Little, Bill Mueller, Johnny Damon, Jason Varitek, Pedro Martinez, Derek Lowe, Byung-Hyun Kim, David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez
Key events: Closer by committee is an epic failure; Todd Walker says, “We’re going to roll into Oakland and whip some ass;” Lowe’s cutter completes comeback from 0-2 in Oakland; Martinez throws down Don Zimmer; Aaron Boone
Legacy: The memories of Carl Everett, Dan Duquette, and Jimy Williams were still fresh wounds when this team – the group who defined the Dirt Dogs ethos – came together. They were renegades – remember when two bench players (bonus points for commenters who recall who) spelled out “Li-Ly” with athletic tape on their backs, imploring the crowd to heckle Ted Lilly? – who produced some of the craziest moments of the recent past.
2004: THE IDIOTS
Key figures: Terry Francona, Curt Schilling, Keith Foulke, Kevin Millar, Bill Mueller, Johnny Damon, Mark Bellhorn, Alan Embree, Orlando Cabrera, Derek Lowe, David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, Doug Mientkiewicz, Bronson Arroyo, Gabe Kapler, Tim Wakefield, Mike Timlin
Key events: Francona replaces Grady Little; Schilling arrives “to break an 86-year-old curse;” Manny Ramirez is put on waivers; Alex Rodriguez nearly replaces Garciaparra; Garciaparra sulks in New York; Theo Epstein trades Garciaparra; “The Yankees are my daddy;” Schilling stumbles; sweep in Anaheim; the Bloody Sock; the Comeback; the Slap; the Sweep; “Do you believe it?;” three million people watch duck boats
Legacy: They broke the Curse, perhaps aided by pregame shots of Jack Daniels. The team that broke through was going to have to be carefree. They were.
2005: THE HANGOVERS
Key figures: David Wells, Matt Clement, Edgar Renteria, Curt Schilling, Tony Graffanino, Kevin Millar, John Olerud, Wade Miller, Bill Mueller, Trot Nixon, David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, Tim Wakefield, Mike Timlin, Chad Bradford
Key events: Pedro Martinez leaves for the Mets; Clement makes the all-star team; Clement collapse; Schilling tries closing; the White Sox sweep
Legacy: This team, in retrospect, never had a chance. They began the year a house of fire, but the taxing offseason (they were on every TV show from SportsCenter to Queer Eye) and pressure to follow the most memorable season in Red Sox history took its toll. They eked into the playoffs and immediately ran out of gas once there.
2007: THE PROFESSIONALS
Key figures: Jonathan Papelbon, Josh Beckett, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Hideki Okajima, Mike Lowell, Dustin Pedroia, Curt Schilling, Kevin Youkilis, Jacoby Ellsbury, Coco Crisp, Julio Lugo, Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz, Tim Wakefield, Mike Timlin, Julian Tavarez
Key events: Dice-K arrives; Ellsbury called up; Clay Buchholz’s no-hitter; Papelbon’s Riverdance; Pedroia wins ROY; Ramirez’s ALDS walk-off; J.D. Drew’s grand slam; Beckett dominates Game 1; Matt Holliday picked off; another sweep
Legacy: The farm system was officially an assembly line, and the organizational goals of Epstein and Co. had taken hold. There was no curse breaking, no nicknames, no crazy brawls. Just baseball. Hitters 1-9 devoured starting pitchers by taking pitch after pitch, then clobbered bullpens. Defense was sound.
2008: THE SURVIVORS
Key figures Kevin Youkilis, Jason Bay, Jon Lester, Dustin Pedroia, Mike Lowell, J.D. Drew, Jed Lowrie, Clay Buchholz, Coco Crisp, Jacoby Ellsbury, Sean Casey, Paul Byrd, Jonathan Papelbon, Manny Delcarmen, Justin Masterson
Key events: Japan trip; Lester’s no-hitter; Manny hits 500th; brawl with Tampa Bay; Manny bes Manny; Manny traded; Buchholz to Portland; sellout record broken; Sox clinch wild card
Legacy: Remains to be seen. For now, it’s that Theo Epstein is apt to do anything, up to and including trading one of the best righthanded hitters in the history of the game, if he thinks it's necessary. Where 2007 was a smooth ride, this year was filled with the adversity brought on by injuries and the hectic trading deadline. Wait and see how it ends.
What do you think of these team identities? Did we nail them or do you have better ideas? Let us know in the comments section.
2008- The Warriors
They battled through so much....
Lou Merloni, Adrian Brown, Doug Mirabelli, and Andy Abad
What about 2006?
Fill in 2008 with 2005, 'They eked into the playoffs and immediately ran out of gas once there'. There, thats how it will end. We do not have the consistent hitting, or the bullpen to do it again in 08. As much as I would love to be proven wrong, this is my prediction.
Nice analysis. Of course you could include hundreds of events from 2004, but I think a major turning point which should be included is Varitek and A-Rod "having words", followed by Mueller's 2-run walk-off home run from Mariano Rivera. The radio clips of these two moments are hardwired into my brain.
I don't see why Varitek isn't a Key Figure every year, especially 2004, when his glove in A-Rod's face (which should be a Key Event) ignited both the Sox and Red Sox Nation.
Was it Todd Jones and Kapler? I'm pretty sure it was Todd Jones and someone back in 03
No, Adam - this team is The Next Generation.
Pedroia's still shiny-new enough to fit into the 'Next Generation' category, along with rookies like Ellsbury, Lester, and Masterson. But the nickname is about much more than the rookies.
The release/trade of Manny really makes this team a 'Next Generation' in terms of attitude and star power. Note that left fielders have historically long been the most prominent and long-lived stars of the Sox. (Consider the careers of Williams, Manny, Yaz, Rice - all of whom defined and powered their respective teams.) Therefore, Jason Bay's insertion into left makes this, truly, a 'Next Generation' Red Sox team. Manny, after all, has been with this group since they started getting these 'nicknames' in 2003. The trade makes this a time of starting again.
Nevermind. I was way off. So it was Lou Merloni, Andy Abad, Adrian Brown and Mirabelli, huh?!?
Oh, and I think the line has always been "Can you believe it?", not "Do you believe it?"
Yes, the next generation in 2008. Good line.
Good story Adam.
Add "So I guess I hate the Yankees now" to 2004. Why I still love the guy.
and
2006: The yin and the yang. Ortiz hits 50 plus bombs while Rameriz sits out the stretch run. Right then we knew this team was changing.
Difference between 05 and 08 is critical. 05 was a power team with five mediocre starters. 08 is a mediocre offensive team (with the present injuries) but three potential aces. It may not win, but it has a chance. In 05, there was no chance.
Tek's brawl with Arod should definitely be in there. That was turning point of the '04 season. And also, 2006 should be labeled "The Disappointments."
2005 key event: Doug Mientjksjdfjklneklnwitz keeping the baseball from 2004
2003 - you have to list Little not pulling Pedro from the game way before he did!
I'm surprised the Globe would even include anything positive about Manny Ramirez in any of its reporting. And although I have really nothing against him, until he has helped win a couple of playoff games, I don't think you can yet include Jason Bay as a "key figure" in 2008. Just my opinion.
I love this year's team, but one thing that seems very different is they rarely seem to come from behind. If they're down late, it's over. Previously, you always felt it was down to the last out, especially with a healthy Big Papi.
What about 2004: Varitek vs. A-Rod? Probably the defining moment of the season...
Did you forget Dave Roberts' stolen base? Not even his name in the list! Good story overall.
Not to nit-pick, but if "Lowe's Cutter" is in reference to his strikeout to end the ALDS, I believe it was actually a 2-seamer.
It was dougie and someone else....two letters per back Li-ly.
And Lily pwned the sox for years after that.
Is there a reason Tek isn't a key figure in every single season? Putting aside his hitting suckitude this year...
Matsuzaka not a key figure in 08 at 18-2?
Yes, Jason Varitek, Pedro Martinez and Dave Roberts all belong as key members of the Idiots.
Did you notice Derek Lowe's name twice, as a key figure in the 'cowboys' of '03? Even though the phrase was Millar's, I suppose Lowe is the biggest "cowboy" of 'em all.
Bay definitely deserves to be a key figure in '08. He's been as key to this closing stretch as almost anyone. Also think Dice-K deserves mention. Though Kilgore is hard on him, I think Dice-K is a first class pitcher. My personal belief is that the walks and the "nibbling" is more attributable to a Japanese mindset than an inherent deficiency. If anything, this is the year when he is really showing signs of putting it together. Take out Buchholz, though. He;s a non-factor.
What's with the 08 Dice-K snub? Where is Papi? I know he was hurt for a while but the guy's number two in team RBIs at 88.
Sounds like a Billy Joel Song to me
For some reason I thought Wakefield (the Game 2 starter, who would've been in the dugout) was involved with Mirabelli in the Li-ly incident. It always seemed out of character for Wake to partake in such a bush-league stunt. So if this thread is confirming it was all backups, it removes that blemish my mind was erroneously clinging to.
Lou Merloni was definately one of the Cowboys with some sort of L-i-l-l-y taped to the back of his jacket. Dougie came off the bench and scored on Trot's Game 3 walkoff off of Rich Harden, I believe.
Actually I saw a surprising stat: the Sox have 21 wins in their last at bat, one more than the Rays. Earlier in the year they were 12-2 in one run games at home and 2-12 on the road. Stats aside it does feel like the sox didn't have the magic this year and the Rays did.
2006: The Gastrointestinals. Kelly Shoppach has how many home runs now? How about the greatness of Javy Lopez? Or J.T. Snow? Jason Johnson should ride around in a black duck boat bound for a river of hot, scalding lead. The upside: Mark Loretta, Kason Gabbard, and a couple of Wily Mo Pena bombs. This team had character. Moxie. Chutzpah. But it gave me heartburn for seven straight months.
2006: Not mentioned because they didn't make the playoffs that year, so it wasn't worth mentioning. 06 is a year best forgotten.
on 03: Lowe's strikeout pitch to end the ALDS was indeed a 2-seam fastball, was on the inside of a left handed hitter and came in from outside the plate.
on 04: Definitely disappointing neither Dave Roberts nor that stolen base were mentioned. If Roberts doesn't steal that base, none of that other stuff happens. No Ortiz walkoff hits, no bloodied sock, no Damon grand slam, and no sweep of the Cardinals. In my humble opinion that Dave Roberts stolen base is the most clutch play in 2004, if not in Red Sox history.
On 08: Yeah, Dice-K should be listed. His 18-win record and his ability to prevent so many of the free passes he gave out turning into runs conceded is a very big factor in the Sox making it this year.
Good Job especially for the 2007 group - "The Professionals"
You left out a name under the key contributors - J.D. Drew !!
For 2004, must add "The Steal" by Dave Roberts as a key event.
Unfair and inaccurate dscription of the 2005 team, which was every bit as impressive in its response to adversity as the 2008 model. Francona's best year managerially, the 2005 Sox tied for the division lead despite losing its #2 and #3 starters to free agency and coping with Schilling and Foulke being injured and ineffective most of the season. By play-off time the pitching ranks were too thin, but the "legacy" that this team lost becuase it partied too hard after 2004 is just plain slander.
"For 2004, must add "The Steal" by Dave Roberts as a key event."
JJ's right of course.
This blogger might want to review your comment before posting it.
Red Sox Twitter
E-mail your question
- Amalie Benjamin,
- Nick Cafardo,
- Chad Finn,
- Adam Kilgore or
- Tony Massarotti
Or if your comment or question is non-specific to a particular reporter, enter it in the form below:browse this blog
by categoryINside Boston.com