What happened to the 2002 Red Sox?

[kenmeister]

I've always wondered why this team didn't even advance to the playoffs. They had:

 

1. Pedro Martinez go 20-4 with a 2.26 ERA
   
2. Derek Lowe go 21-8 with a 2.58 ERA
   
3. Tim Wakefield go 11-5 with a 2.81 ERA
   
4. Ugueth Urbina have 40 saves with a 3.00 ERA
   
5. Manny Ramirez hit .349 with 33 homers
   
6. Nomar Garciappara hit .310 with 24 homers
   
7. Trot Nixon hit .256 with 24 homers
   
8. Shea Hillenbrand hit .293 with 18 homers
   
9. Brian Daubach hit .266 with 20 homers
   
10. Johnny Damon hit .286 with 14 homers
    

 

Overall the team batted .277, scored 859 runs, and pitched to a 3.75 ERA.

 

By comparison, the 2018 Red Sox batted .268, scored 876 runs, and pitched to a 3.75 ERA as well.

 

It seems crazy that this team went nowhere.

[Bellhorn04]

They won 93 games, and their Pythagorean record was 100-62. But they had an inordinate number of blowout wins.

 

It was disappointing to miss the playoffs, but this team was the prelude to the great run of success that followed.

[Kimmi]

They won 93 games, and their Pythagorean record was 100-62. But they had an inordinate number of blowout wins.

 

It was disappointing to miss the playoffs, but this team was the prelude to the great run of success that followed.

 

The 2002 Sox were a very good team, but an unlucky team. It wasn't the number of blowout wins that was inordinate, but rather the number of one run losses.

 

According to Pythagoras, with whom I agree, the Sox should have won the division by one game.

[kenmeister]

Pythagorean wins, thanks I forgot about that stat. I do recall a whole bunch of those one run losses.

[notin]

Simple. They needed Papi...

[Station 13]

To even make the playoff that year as Wild Card team, 100 wins was needed.

[kenmeister]

To even make the playoff that year as Wild Card team, 100 wins was needed.

 

Yikes you're right! I should have looked at the standings.

[SCM33]

They go almost ZERO production out of 2 of their lineup spots (2B and DH/1B....depending on which Daubach was NOT penciled in at)

 

Their pitching rotation was a mess outside of Pedro and Lowe. #3,4 and 5 were terrible.

 

They actually didn't even have a consistent 5 man rotation all year. They barely had a 4 man rotation. John Burkett was their #3 SP and he had a 1.439 WHIP. Their #4 SP was Frank Castillo (only 23 starts) and he was terrible. The bullpen was decent. Their hole was the starting rotation.

[moonslav59]

They go almost ZERO production out of 2 of their lineup spots (2B and DH/1B....depending on which Daubach was NOT penciled in at)

 

Their pitching rotation was a mess outside of Pedro and Lowe. #3,4 and 5 were terrible.

 

They actually didn't even have a consistent 5 man rotation all year. They barely had a 4 man rotation. John Burkett was their #3 SP and he had a 1.439 WHIP. Their #4 SP was Frank Castillo (only 23 starts) and he was terrible. The bullpen was decent. Their hole was the starting rotation.

 

I think you answered your own question.

 

Too much was expected from Burkett & Castillo/ Tony Clark & Rey Sanchez.

 

Still, we only had 4 holes. We did win 93 games in 2002. That's about what some are projecting this team to win.

[Bellhorn04]

The 2002 team was a harbinger of great things to come and just needed a few additional pieces.

[SCM33]

The 2002 team was a harbinger of great things to come and just needed a few additional pieces.

 

Realistically, they made some decent moves. Cliff Floyd was a great trade deadline move. Alan Embree was a great move.

 

They lacked a #3 Starting Pitcher. If they had one, they win over 100 games. If you replace Frank Castillos 6-15 with a 14-8, we win 101 games.