2018 World Series Champions Boston Red Sox

[Behindenemylines]

I'd put them as the #2 seed of our 4-teams ...

 

2004 I'd put #1 ... better starting pitching, the most complete lineup of the bunch

#2 - 2018

2007 #3

2013 #4

 

The 2004 Team (The Idiots) will probably always be the team that most put at the top because they broke the curse, and the 2013 team (Bearded Brothers) will probably always be at the bottom because no one saw that one coming. The bottom line is that the Sox have enough recent championships that the question can be discussed.

[redsoxrules]

I can't believe people are still discussing this. The 2004 team was Inconsistent.

 

This year's team rolled from start to finish. They were so good that I was shocked when they lost a game. They were never in any danger at any point in the season. The 2004 teams had a lot of doubts. They didn't start playing good till the end of season. On August 6 they were just 9 games above 500. NINE.

 

It took a stolen base from Robert's to force a game 5. It took 14 innings to force a game 6. It took arods purse slap to force a game 7.

 

 

 

Last time the sox were 9 games above 500 this year was way back in April 13

 

There were never in any danger in the playoffs

[sk7326]

I can't believe people are still discussing this. The 2004 team was Inconsistent.

 

This year's team rolled from start to finish. They were so good that I was shocked when they lost a game. They were never in any danger at any point in the season. The 2004 teams had a lot of doubts. They didn't start playing good till the end of season. On August 6 they were just 9 games above 500. NINE.

 

It took a stolen base from Robert's to force a game 5. It took 14 innings to force a game 6. It took arods purse slap to force a game 7.

 

 

 

Last time the sox were 9 games above 500 this year was way back in April 13

 

There were never in any danger in the playoffs

 

The 2004 team went 98-64. The playoffs were not really in doubt - the doubt was being down 3-0 to the Yankees. But it was also the only 3 games they lost in the postseason. The Red Sox won 108 games in a league where there were a high number of 95+ loss teams. Now, there is no wrong answer here. Heck, I'd say the Red Sox had a more dominant season in 2018 (nobody is really arguing otherwise). But I'd probably pick 2004 in a best of 7 for many marbles.

[redsoxrules]

The 2004 team went 98-64. The playoffs were not really in doubt - the doubt was being down 3-0 to the Yankees. But it was also the only 3 games they lost in the postseason. The Red Sox won 108 games in a league where there were a high number of 95+ loss teams. Now, there is no wrong answer here. Heck, I'd say the Red Sox had a more dominant season in 2018 (nobody is really arguing otherwise). But I'd probably pick 2004 in a best of 7 for many marbles.

 

There was a lot of weak teams in 2004 as well. Red Sox and Yankees were the only team above 500 in their division that year.

It was a tougher division this year than It was in 2004.

 

The central was weak that year and so was the west.

[sk7326]

There was a lot of weak teams in 2004 as well. Red Sox and Yankees were the only team above 500 in their division that year.

It was a tougher division this year than It was in 2004.

 

The central was weak that year and so was the west.

 

If I go tale of the tape (fwiw):

 

Lineup: 2004

Bench: 2018

Rotation: 2004

Bullpen: push - though this is tricky. The pitching staff was managed differently in 2018 than anyone though to manage a staff in 2004. But I cannot assume the starters except for Lowe and Wakefield that 2004 would have the flexibility to rove. That said, Foulke was the best reliever on either team. It's a tough call.

Defense: 2018

Manager/Coaching - push.

[OH FOY]

Not giving the 2007 team enough credit, that team was a wagon. We were down 3-1 to Cleveland, who was also very good that year, and came back and won 3 straight. We always go to the Yankee series, but that was a great comeback too.

[OH FOY]

For me its impossible, after enduring Post-Season all the way back to 67. Just glad we can have favorite WS Championships, discussions, which team is the best.

[Bellhorn04]

For me its impossible, after enduring Post-Season all the way back to 67. Just glad we can have favorite WS Championships, discussions, which team is the best.

 

Yes, absolutely.

 

Comparing Red Sox teams on their postseason records is just SO much more fun than it once was.

[Kimmi]

Each one of our championship teams is special for their own reasons.

 

For me, no World Series Championship will ever top 2004.

 

If we had never won another World Series after that, I'd be good to go. Not that I haven't thoroughly enjoyed each of the others, and not that I don't want to win every year, but I was set after 2004. The rest of these championships are gravy.

[notin]

Each one of our championship teams is special for their own reasons.

 

For me, no World Series Championship will ever top 2004.

 

If we had never won another World Series after that, I'd be good to go. Not that I haven't thoroughly enjoyed each of the others, and not that I don't want to win every year, but I was set after 2004. The rest of these championships are gravy.

 

Agreed That was the one we all wanted to see".. just once before I die..". Whereas today the second string second baseman can be vilified for costing the team a single game in a series they won 4 games to one....

[Bellhorn04]

Agreed That was the one we all wanted to see".. just once before I die..". Whereas today the second string second baseman can be vilified for costing the team a single game in a series they won 4 games to one....

 

To be fair, the vilification took place when the series was 2-1. And it did seem like a crushing loss at the time. Thankfully the team turned right around and pulled off an amazing comeback the next game.

[OH FOY]

I liked the 2013 team a lot too. Did wonderful with less. Their mental toughness, once they hit the Post-Season, was great. Nothing bothered them. That's how I'll always remember that team. Of all the teams to me that would grind you to death was that one. The Vets, took over that team, it seemed to me, nothing was going to stop them.

[dgalehouse]

Which one of your kids do you like the best ?

[iortiz]

I think there’s not out there a better team than this 2018 Red Sox in baseball history. This team won 108 games and literally destroyed 2 100+W teams, and was way superior than its rival in the WS. Arguably the path to win the WS this 2018 was the toughest in PO history on paper. Also, in POs their dominance on the road was without precedents, I could bet. They won 11 and only lost 3 games in POS against heavy weight caliber teams. Edited November 4, 2018 by iortiz

[moonslav59]

2004 was a magical season that broke a cycle of frustration and ineptitude. It will likely be the most special championship for most Sox fans old enough to realize the significance of that season. The way we came back vs our nemesis, the Yanks, make that season even more legendary and memorable.

 

2007 showed the world the Sox were here to stay and that 2004 was not a fluke. It's actually pretty amazing how few players were significant players on both the 2004 and 2007 teams. Bothe the 2004 and 2007 teams were great teams on paper.

 

2013 was a season of guts and grit. The way the city responded to the Marathon bombing and united in so many ways was a special back-drop to that season's championship run. It was hard not to love that team. They were not the best, on paper, but the clubhouse was tight, and they pulled together to do whatever it took to win it all.

 

To me, 2018 is the best team on paper. The record, the coaching, the balance, and the focus & determination combined seemed unmatched by previous Sox teams. I wouldn't call the 2018 championship season the most memorable, but to me, this is the best Sox team I have ever seen, and I've been a Sox fan since 1972. 2004, 2007, 2013, 1975 and 1978 were great teams, too, but this one is better.

[moonslav59]

Which one of your kids do you like the best ?

 

The best one.

[OH FOY]

2004 team beat 2 teams that totaled 206 wins that year. This years team beat 2 teams that totaled 203 wins. The 04 team only won 98 games (ha), not expected to beat those strong teams. This years team with 108 wins, had to be the favorite to win it all.

[OH FOY]

Another thing about the 04 team since they were the WC winners, all their games except WS opened up on the Road. Games 6+7, were at Yankee Stadium, to finish comeback. We were still down by 2 games. That's not easy against that strong Yankee team.

[sk7326]

The 2013 team was eerily similar to the 2018 one ... led from wire to wire, beat the defending AL champion in the LCS (including surprisingly beating Justin Verlander) and then beat a better Saint Louis team than the Dodgers team they faced.

[sk7326]

2004 will always have my heart - really it was the win that made it hard to be angry anymore at losses. (the Celtics losing to the Lakers in 2010 was the closest I've gotten since) Every other title is special of course - this year because my oldest is old enough to at least understand why daddy has this mental disease.

[TylerD]

2004 will always have my heart - really it was the win that made it hard to be angry anymore at losses. (the Celtics losing to the Lakers in 2010 was the closest I've gotten since) Every other title is special of course - this year because my oldest is old enough to at least understand why daddy has this mental disease.

Agreed with this. Only thing about 2004 was that I was 17. And just started liking baseball a couple years before. I didnt understand how special baseball and the Sox would become to me. So 2007 was pretty amazing for me.

[Kimmi]

The 2013 team was eerily similar to the 2018 one ... led from wire to wire, beat the defending AL champion in the LCS (including surprisingly beating Justin Verlander) and then beat a better Saint Louis team than the Dodgers team they faced.

 

I agree. Many of us have made comparisons to the 2013 throughout the season.

[redsoxrules]

Another thing about the 04 team since they were the WC winners, all their games except WS opened up on the Road. Games 6+7, were at Yankee Stadium, to finish comeback. We were still down by 2 games. That's not easy against that strong Yankee team.

 

Your just proving my point that the 2018 sox were better. If the 2004 team was better they wouldn't have to worry about playing game 6 and 7 on the road and would have won the division to begin with.

[sk7326]

Your just proving my point that the 2018 sox were better. If the 2004 team was better they wouldn't have to worry about playing game 6 and 7 on the road and would have won the division to begin with.

 

If the 2004 team could be physically relocated closer to the Mississippi River ...

[moonslav59]

Your just proving my point that the 2018 sox were better. If the 2004 team was better they wouldn't have to worry about playing game 6 and 7 on the road and would have won the division to begin with.

 

As it turned out, we were so good, we didn't even need the home field advantage.

 

[redsoxrules]

As it turned out, we were so good, we didn't even need the home field advantage.

 

 

Yeah that's good logic

[notin]

As it turned out, we were so good, we didn't even need the home field advantage.

 

 

Arguably it worked against them, since they gave it up in the first two rounds...

[OH FOY]

04 team was 6-2 on the Road, this years team was 7-1. Down 2 games, going into Yankee Stadium, big difference, then going there tied 1-1. Or even Houston tied 1-1. To me a lot more pressure on the 04 Team. Against a Team that won multiple Championships.

Yankees also had the best Home Record in the Majors that year. 57-24

This year we were 57-24 at home.

Edited November 5, 2018 by OH FOY!

[Slasher9]

the 2004 yankees would have smoked the 2018 yankees.

how would our 2018 Red Sox team done vs the 2004 Yankees? thats the question if you want to compare our 2018 team vs our 2004 team.

i love them both. 2004 will ALWAYS be the best because: 86 years/1918. it ended all of the stupid chants by all the stupid yankees fans. it gave us a parade. something we never thought we would see. it made our grandparents smile. even the dead ones.

[OH FOY]

I will say what this years team did in Houston, was unreal. So it close, just factoring in the pressure of a loss. With that I have to go 04. 1 loss and its over, on the Road. Edited November 5, 2018 by OH FOY!