Pick The Most Impressive Seasons

[Orange Juiced]

There are no CIF spots left. Petrocelli has taken that CIF spot, and Ortiz has the U spot. Only MIF need apply now.

 

Actually, check that. Petrocelli in '69 was more of a SS than a 3b. So we can shift him to the MIF position. That leaves us with a CIF spot open. What say ye? Here are the candidates in my view:

 

- Adrian Beltre 2010

- Mo Vaughn 1995 or 1996

- Kevin Youkilis 2008 (can play 1b or 3b)

- Walt Dropo 1950

- Adrian Gonzalez 2011

- Vern Stephens 1949

- Mike Lowell 2007

 

What do you guys think?

[Orange Juiced]

I would argue that Papelbon's best season was 2006, and Ortiz' best season was 2007.

 

I changed Paps' to 2006, but I'm sticking with Ortiz' 2006 season. I know his ops+ was higher in 2007, but in 2006 he set the Sox' record for HR, so that's gotta be in there somewhere. But yeah, lots of good options there.

[Orange Juiced]

Ok here's the game, probably one that's been played here before. But take the best season for individual Red Sox players at each position - so the best season by a Sox' catcher, first baseman, second baseman, etc. And each player can only be used once. So you can't use a season for Yaz at LF and then again at 1b, or two Roger Clemens' seasons, etc. Here are the positions. I'm editing this as people plug in their choices.

 

Starters:

C - Carlton Fisk, 1977, .315/.402/.521/.922, 138 ops+, 26 hr, 102 rbi

1b - Jimmie Foxx, 1938, .349/.462/.704/1.166, 182 ops+, 50 hr, 175 rbi

2b - Bobby Doerr, 1944, .325/.399/.528/.927, 165 ops+, 15 hr, 81 rbi

3b - Wade Boggs, 1987, .363/.461/.588/1.049, 174 ops+, 24 hr, 89 rbi

SS - Nomar Garciaparra, 1999, .357/.418/.603/1.022, 153 ops+, 27 hr, 104 rbi, 14 sb

LF - Ted Williams, 1941, .406/.553/.735/1.287, 235 ops+, 37 hr, 120 rbi

CF - Tris Speaker, 1912, .383/.464/.567/1.031, 188 ops+, 10 hr, 90 rbi, 52 sb

RF - Dwight Evans, 1984, .295/.388/.532/.920, 147 ops+, 32 hr, 104 rbi, 121 r

 

Subs:

C

CIF

MIF - Rico Petrocelli, 1969, .297/.403/.589/.992, 168 ops+, 40 hr, 97 rbi

OF - Carl Yastrzemski, 1967, .326/.418/.622/1.040, 193 ops+, 44 hr, 121 rbi, 10 sb

OF - Babe Ruth, 1919, .322/.456/.657/1.114, 217 ops+, 29 hr, 114 rbi

U - David Ortiz, 2006, .287/.413/.636/1.049, 161 ops+, 54 hr, 137 rbi

 

SP - Pedro Martinez, 2000, 18-6, 1.74 era, 291 era+, 284 k, 0.74 whip, 11.8 k/9

SP - Roger Clemens, 1986, 24-4, 2.48 era, 169 era+, 238 k, 0.96 whip, 8.4 k/9

SP - Smoky Joe Wood, 1912, 34-5, 1.91 era, 179 era+, 258 k, 1.02 whip, 6.8 k/9

SP - Cy Young, 1901, 33-10, 1.62 era, 219 era+, 158 k, 0.97 whip, 3.8 k/9

SP

RP - Dick Radatz, 1964, 16-9, 2.29 era, 170 era+, 181 k, 1.03 whip, 10.4 k/9

RP - Jonathan Papelbon, 2006, 4-2, 0.92 era, 517 era+, 75 k, 0.78 whip, 9.9 k/9, 35 sv

RP

RP

RP

RP

 

Manager - Terry Francona, 2004 - 98-64, won the World Series

 

Since I came up with the thread, I get to fill the first slot. I'll go with my favorite all-time Red Sox player, Pedro Martinez, from the year 2000. Lots of incredible seasons to choose from, but it came down to 2000 and 1999 for me. Pretty equivalent seasons. 1999 featured more K's and a better W/L record, but 2000 had a better era, era+, and an unfathomably great whip. So 2000 it is.

 

PS - There's no DH, but you can have Ortiz be the CIF or U spot if you want.

 

Lots of pitching slots still available too, people. And lots of excellent candidates to fill those roles.

[Dojji]

Lefty Grove's 36 campaign should round out the rotation. Led the league in WHIP, ERA and walks-to-strikeouts ratio and finished with 11 WAR.

[User Name]

I still like Keith Foulke's 2004 for one of the RP slots.

[Dojji]

Also there's no reason not to give the last catcher spot to Tek. This is not a franchise with a rich catching tradition. Did we even have a catcher between Fisk and Tek that was above average on both sides of the ball? I suppose Gedman had a good year here and there, and Hatteberg was half decent before he blew out his shoulder but on the whole, we've settled for a lot of subpar catching over this team's history.

 

Pick any of 03, 04 and 05, they were the three best years we've gotten out of a starting catcher in decades. I'd go with 04 because other than homers his other numbers are a little better. Also because it's 04.

[User Name]

Keith Foulke's 2004 should be included in the RP list both because of the numbers he posted and historical importance. Jason Varitek's 2004 season should be a strong contender for the bench C spot as well. Rico Petrocelli's 1969 for the MIF spot, and give the CIF to someone else.

 

^

[Orange Juiced]

I still like Keith Foulke's 2004 for one of the RP slots.

 

Done.

 

Lefty Grove's 36 campaign should round out the rotation. Led the league in WHIP, ERA and walks-to-strikeouts ratio and finished with 11 WAR.

 

Yeah he was great. But look at some of these other notable SP seasons: What do you think?

 

- Schilling, 2004

- Eck, 1978

- Tiant, 1974

- Kinder, 1949

- Lester, 2010

- Beckett, 2007

[Dojji]

Beckett and Schill are interesting, but Grove in 36 was still better on paper.

[Orange Juiced]

Also there's no reason not to give the last catcher spot to Tek. This is not a franchise with a rich catching tradition. Did we even have a catcher between Fisk and Tek that was above average on both sides of the ball? I suppose Gedman had a good year here and there, and Hatteberg was half decent before he blew out his shoulder but on the whole, we've settled for a lot of subpar catching over this team's history.

 

Pick any of 03, 04 and 05, they were the three best years we've gotten out of a starting catcher in decades. I'd go with 04 because other than homers his other numbers are a little better. Also because it's 04.

 

What about Victor Martinez in 2010? Here's Tek's best seasons compared with Victor's:

 

Varitek 2003: .273/.351/.512/.863, 120 ops+, 25 hr, 85 rbi, 3.0 WAR

Varitek 2004: .296/.390/.482/.872, 121 ops+, 18 hr, 73 rbi, 4.0 WAR

Varitek 2005: .281/.366/.489/.856, 122 ops+, 22 hr, 70 rbi, 3.9 WAR

Martinez 2010: .302/.351/.493/.844, 122 ops+, 20 hr, 79 rbi, 3.6 WAR

 

Pretty even, right? Maybe 'Tek in 04 gets the nod because of the special season that was?

[Orange Juiced]

Beckett and Schill are interesting, but Grove in 36 was still better on paper.

 

In some ways, yes, but in other ways no. Schilling and Beckett had better K, K/9 numbers, W-L records, and WHIPs.

[User Name]

Derek Lowe's 2002 and Flash Gordon's 1998 for RP slots.

[Orange Juiced]

Derek Lowe's 2002 and Flash Gordon's 1998 for RP slots.

 

Pick one for the moment. Which is your preference?

[User Name]

Derek Lowe's 2002

[Orange Juiced]

Derek Lowe's 2002

 

Ok got it.

[Orange Juiced]

Derek Lowe's 2002 and Flash Gordon's 1998 for RP slots.

 

I'm sorry...you must mean Lowe's 2000 season. His 2002 season he was one of the best starters in baseball. His 2000 season in relief was awesome.

[User Name]

I'm sorry...you must mean Lowe's 2000 season. His 2002 season he was one of the best starters in baseball. His 2000 season in relief was awesome.

 

You are indeed correct, his 2000 season is the one where he had 42 saves and had whooping 91 IP as a reliever.

[Dojji]

What about Victor Martinez in 2010? Here's Tek's best seasons compared with Victor's:

 

Varitek 2003: .273/.351/.512/.863, 120 ops+, 25 hr, 85 rbi, 3.0 WAR

Varitek 2004: .296/.390/.482/.872, 121 ops+, 18 hr, 73 rbi, 4.0 WAR

Varitek 2005: .281/.366/.489/.856, 122 ops+, 22 hr, 70 rbi, 3.9 WAR

Martinez 2010: .302/.351/.493/.844, 122 ops+, 20 hr, 79 rbi, 3.6 WAR

 

Pretty even, right? Maybe 'Tek in 04 gets the nod because of the special season that was?

 

Varitek in 04 and 05 beats Martinez, so he's not in conversation as the best season for a catcher.

 

I can see why people would call that close, but Tek wins on points in 2 of his 3 comparable years.

[Orange Juiced]

Varitek in 04 and 05 beats Martinez, so he's not in conversation as the best season for a catcher.

 

I can see why people would call that close, but Tek wins on points in 2 of his 3 comparable years.

 

Yeah I think you're right. So which 'Tek season do you think?

[User Name]

Varitek should get +2 WAR in 2004 for bitch-slapping A-Rod.

[mvp 78]

Varitek should get +2 WAR in 2004 for bitch-slapping A-Rod.

 

Mo is on for his George Bell tackle.

[a700hitter]

Lefty Grove's 36 campaign should round out the rotation. Led the league in WHIP, ERA and walks-to-strikeouts ratio and finished with 11 WAR.

I think Mel Parnell had a better season in 1949. 295 innings, 27 CG, 25 wins, 2.77 ERA.

[mvp 78]

Jeff Reardon in 91 for rp? 3.03, 40 saves, whip 1.18.

[Laser Show]

I think Mel Parnell had a better season in 1949. 295 innings, 27 CG, 25 wins, 2.77 ERA.

 

Parnell '49 - 122 SO, 134 BB, 158 ERA+, 1.327 WHIP

 

Grove '36 - 130 SO, 65 BB, 189 ERA+, 1.192 WHIP, and 30 CG

 

 

Sub-1.0 SO/BB ratio. Ouch. Individual W-L record shouldn't matter either, as the '36 Sox 74-80 while the '49 Sox went 96-58.