Major League Baseball 21st Century World Series Champions, Ranked: 2007 Red Sox Are No. 5
As we take a look at the 25 World Series champions since 2000, it’s interesting to see how the 2007 Red Sox secured the fifth spot on this list.
Beckett and Lowell Trade: A Two-Year Wait
The mega-trade that brought Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell to the Red Sox in November 2005 took two years to bear fruit as expected. However, when the results finally came through, they were hard to argue with.
Beckett was anticipated to be the successor to Pedro Martinez in the Boston rotation, but he struggled during the 2006 season with a 5.01 ERA, leaving Curt Schilling as the team’s lone ace. By 2007, Beckett delivered precisely what the Red Sox needed, leading American League (AL) pitchers in wins above replacement, leading the majors with 20 wins, and maintaining a 3.27 ERA over 200 innings swerte99 registration.
A Stellar Season for Lowell
While Lowell was consistent during the 2006 season, he truly shone in 2007, enjoying the best season of his 13-year career with a batting line of .324/.378/.501, complemented by his usual stellar defense at third base.
Not Just the Stars
It wasn’t only about Beckett and Lowell. J.D. Drew joined the team as a free agent and posted an impressive .373 on-base percentage. Rookies Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia made significant contributions, with Ellsbury batting .353/.394/.509 in 33 games, and Pedroia earning AL Rookie of the Year honors with a .317/.380/.442 line. Kevin Youkilis added to the lineup with a .288/.390/.453 performance while also winning a Gold Glove at first base. Coco Crisp improved in his second season in Boston, solidifying the outfield defense.
Powerhouse Offense
Manny Ramirez continued to be a force in left field, hitting .296/.388/ taya365 app download latest version ios.493. However, it was David Ortiz who stood out the most, leading the AL in on-base percentage at jili slot ph.445 while smashing 35 home runs and totaling 88 extra-base hits. The Red Sox collectively posted a .362 on-base percentage, well above the league average of . jilibet.login336. This relentless approach helped them overpower starting pitchers early, leading to more encounters with relievers.
Strong Pitching Staff
The bullpen featured standout performances from Jonathan Papelbon (1.85 ERA in 59 games) and Hideki Okajima (2.22 ERA in 66 games). Beckett and Schilling, while only managing 151 innings across 24 regular-season starts, were healthy during the postseason. Daisuke Matsuzaka provided above-average innings after his six-year, $52 million contract transition from NPB to MLB, and Tim Wakefield remained a reliable option. Notably, 23-year-old Jon Lester returned to the mound after a cancer diagnosis in 2006 and was pivotal in starting the decisive game of the World Series sweep for Boston.
Conclusion
The 2007 Red Sox blended a mix of veteran talent and promising newcomers to create a standout championship team jili77 download app. With their powerful offense and reliable pitching staff, how does this team compare to your favorite World Series champions?
