Was 2007 the best up-and-coming Red Sox team?

[kenmeister]

I was just thinking about how many great players burst onto the scene shortly before or in 2007: Lester, Pedroia, Youkillis, Papelbon, Ellsbury, Dice-K, Okajima, & Buchholz. Have any of you ever seen such a huge crop of players emerge all at once like that?

[notin]

I was just thinking about how many great players burst onto the scene shortly before or in 2007: Lester, Pedroia, Youkillis, Papelbon, Ellsbury, Dice-K, Okajima, & Buchholz. Have any of you ever seen such a huge crop of players emerge all at once like that?

 

Early 70's team that saw Rice, Lynn, Evans, Fisk, and Burleson all come up within a few seasons of each other?

[moonslav59]

Early 70's team that saw Rice, Lynn, Evans, Fisk, and Burleson all come up within a few seasons of each other?

 

The Richard O'Connell Years (GM 1965-1977)

 

Fisk had a brief cameo in 1969, but came up in 1971. FT in 1972.

Ben Oglivie in 1971. (Traded in '74.)

Cecil Cooper in 1971 for a few games. ('73 30 gms/1974 121 gms)

Dwight Evans in 1972 (FT by '74)

Jim Rice in 1974 (FT in '75)

Fred Lynn in 1974 (FT in '75)

Rick Burleson in 1974. (FT by '75 and traded by '81)

Butch Hobson in 1976 (after 4 PAs in '75/ FT by '77)

 

Then, Haywood Sullivan took over and it was all over, so quickly.

Lou Gorman brought us '86, and Duquette set the stage for Port/Theo & Co.

Edited February 10, 2021 by moonslav59

[a700hitter]

The Richard O'Connell Years (GM 1965-1977)

 

Fisk had a brief cameo in 1969, but came up in 1971. FT in 1972.

Ben Oglivie in 1971. (Traded in '74.)

Cecil Cooper in 1971 for a few games. ('73 30 gms/1974 121 gms)

Dwight Evans in 1972 (FT by '74)

Jim Rice in 1974 (FT in '75)

Fred Lynn in 1974 (FT in '75)

Rick Burleson in 1974. (FT by '75 and traded by '81)

Butch Hobson in 1976 (after 4 PAs in '75/ FT by '77)

 

Then, Haywood Sullivan took over and it was all over, so quickly.

Lou Gorman brought us '86, and Duquette set the stage for Port/Theo & Co.

Rogelio Moret

Bill Lee

Sparky Lyle

Reggie Smith

[cp176]

Jim Lonborg - Tony Conigliaro - George Scott - Mike Andrews - Reggie Smith - Rico Petrocelli - and a new an improved version of Captain Carl

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Jim Lonborg - Tony Conigliaro - George Scott - Mike Andrews - Reggie Smith - Rico Petrocelli - and a new an improved version of Captain Carl

 

Beat me to it. The core of those Impossible Dreamers was all in their low-to-mid 20s; Yaz was the old vet at 27. After Tony C got beaned, they added Hawk Harrelson, 25. Lonborg had two seasons before transforming into Cy Young at 25.

 

The late-80s Sox had a promising crop, but no Lonborg. In '87, the outfield featured Greenwell, Burks and Benzinger. Jody Reed got called up, then was a starter the next year. Sam Horn socked 14 HRs in 46 games, then became a website. The next season Brady Anderson and Carlos Quintana debuted. No pitchers, though.

[mvp 78]

Lars, Bowden, Reddick, Bard, Tazawa, Hagadone, Casey Kelly, Almanzar, Westmoreland

[Bellhorn04]

I was just thinking about how many great players burst onto the scene shortly before or in 2007: Lester, Pedroia, Youkillis, Papelbon, Ellsbury, Dice-K, Okajima, & Buchholz. Have any of you ever seen such a huge crop of players emerge all at once like that?

 

Not sure why you're including Dice-K and Oki.

[mvp 78]

Not sure why you're including Dice-K and Oki.

 

And excluding fielding geniuses like Che-Hsuan Lin. He could really surprise some people in 2010!

[notin]

Not sure why you're including Dice-K and Oki.

 

The only reason I can see to include Daisuke was that BA did list him as the #1 overall prospect despite his already having had a very successful professional career overseas. I do think BA needs to stop including Japanese imports as "prospects"...

[mvp 78]

The only reason I can see to include Daisuke was that BA did list him as the #1 overall prospect despite his already having had a very successful professional career overseas. I do think BA needs to stop including Japanese imports as "prospects"...

 

I think we need to stop calling human beings "imports" like they are commodities.

[moonslav59]

Rogelio Moret

Bill Lee

Sparky Lyle

Reggie Smith

 

We were talking about players brought up in the early to mid 1970's- very good to great ones.

 

Lee came up in 1969, but his first significant season was 1971, so maybe he can count.

 

Lyle should not count. He pitched 43 innings in 1967 and 66 in '68.

 

Reggie Smith, too. He had a few games in '66 but was FT by 1967.

 

Roger Moret fits the time frame but maybe not the very good player aspect of the category. He pitched a little in 1970 and over 70 innings in '71. He had a 116 ERA+ from 1970-1975, sso that may be considered "good enough."

 

The list is clearly weighted by non pitchers, that's for sure.

 

 

[notin]

I think we need to stop calling human beings "imports" like they are commodities.

 

Immigrants? Visa applicants taking American jobs?

[moonslav59]

Jim Lonborg - Tony Conigliaro - George Scott - Mike Andrews - Reggie Smith - Rico Petrocelli - and a new an improved version of Captain Carl

 

That was a nice era, too.

[a700hitter]

I think we need to stop calling human beings "imports" like they are commodities.

All players are commodities.

[a700hitter]

We were talking about players brought up in the early to mid 1970's- very good to great ones.

 

Lee came up in 1969, but his first significant season was 1971, so maybe he can count.

 

Lyle should not count. He pitched 43 innings in 1967 and 66 in '68.

 

Reggie Smith, too. He had a few games in '66 but was FT by 1967.

 

Roger Moret fits the time frame but maybe not the very good player aspect of the category. He pitched a little in 1970 and over 70 innings in '71. He had a 116 ERA+ from 1970-1975, sso that may be considered "good enough."

 

The list is clearly weighted by non pitchers, that's for sure.

 

 

i was just rounding out the Dick O’Connell era

[moonslav59]

i was just rounding out the Dick O’Connell era

 

I thought of that after I wrote my post mentioning his era. Some great ones surely came up during his time as GM. (Some were acquired before he became GM, but still...)

[cp176]

Beat me to it. The core of those Impossible Dreamers was all in their low-to-mid 20s; Yaz was the old vet at 27. After Tony C got beaned, they added Hawk Harrelson, 25. Lonborg had two seasons before transforming into Cy Young at 25.

 

The late-80s Sox had a promising crop, but no Lonborg. In '87, the outfield featured Greenwell, Burks and Benzinger. Jody Reed got called up, then was a starter the next year. Sam Horn socked 14 HRs in 46 games, then became a website. The next season Brady Anderson and Carlos Quintana debuted. No pitchers, though.

 

Those late 60 era teams easily represented the most exciting times to watch baseball in general for me. No question at all. When Billy Rohr just about had the no hitter that spring highlighted by Yaz's catch to last weekend when we were all glued to radios and tvs anticipating what was going to happen - concluding with that easy pop up catch by Rico. "the impossible dream"-

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Those late 60 era teams easily represented the most exciting times to watch baseball in general for me. No question at all. When Billy Rohr just about had the no hitter that spring highlighted by Yaz's catch to last weekend when we were all glued to radios and tvs anticipating what was going to happen - concluding with that easy pop up catch by Rico. "the impossible dream"-

 

"And there's pandemonium on the field!" Ned Martin taught me as much vocabulary in those days as Stan Lee (but not alliteration). Both were more meaningful to kids in New England than any text books.

[moonslav59]

Those late 60 era teams easily represented the most exciting times to watch baseball in general for me. No question at all. When Billy Rohr just about had the no hitter that spring highlighted by Yaz's catch to last weekend when we were all glued to radios and tvs anticipating what was going to happen - concluding with that easy pop up catch by Rico. "the impossible dream"-

 

That was before my time, but it seems like the games meant more when we were young.

 

That 75 team really got me into baseball more than ever before. Although my heart was broken, that team (all the way up to 1978) will always hold a special place in my heart and mind.

 

Tiant, Lee, Lynn, Burleson, Rice, Evans, Carbo and more.

 

2004 was incredible. 2018 was amazing. 2007 & 2013 were great, but there's something about those teams of the mid to late 70's that makes it more special than the others.

 

First love, maybe?

[Bellhorn04]

That was before my time, but it seems like the games meant more when we were young.

 

That 75 team really got me into baseball more than ever before. Although my heart was broken, that team (all the way up to 1978) will always hold a special place in my heart and mind.

 

Tiant, Lee, Lynn, Burleson, Rice, Evans, Carbo and more.

 

2004 was incredible. 2018 was amazing. 2007 & 2013 were great, but there's something about those teams of the mid to late 70's that makes it more special than the others.

 

First love, maybe?

 

It must be, because 1978 has always been the worst heartbreaker for me.

[notin]

It must be, because 1978 has always been the worst heartbreaker for me.

 

Worse than 1986? One out away?

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Worse than 1986? One out away?

 

One STRIKE away, like three times. But it wasn't vs. the Yankees...

[Bellhorn04]

Worse than 1986? One out away?

 

moon explained it. Those teams of the 70's were my favorite teams too. Plus losing to the Yankees with Reggie, Nettles et al. And my favorite player Yaz fouling out to end it.

 

1986 was awful but I was a little more numb or something.

[cp176]

That was before my time, but it seems like the games meant more when we were young.

 

That 75 team really got me into baseball more than ever before. Although my heart was broken, that team (all the way up to 1978) will always hold a special place in my heart and mind.

 

Tiant, Lee, Lynn, Burleson, Rice, Evans, Carbo and more.

 

2004 was incredible. 2018 was amazing. 2007 & 2013 were great, but there's something about those teams of the mid to late 70's that makes it more special than the others.

 

First love, maybe?

 

i will never ever forget that summer and fall (67) - getting my driver's license was one thing but the SOX. Transistor radios stuck to the ear on hot muggy August nights. Youth I guess as much as anything.

[cp176]

"and there's pandemonium on the field!" ned martin taught me as much vocabulary in those days as stan lee (but not alliteration). Both were more meaningful to kids in new england than any text books.

 

 

you bet!!!