*official 2007 red sox thread*

[Toro]

The 2004 team had better hitters but the 2007 team hit better in the playoffs. The 2004 team had better starting pitching and better set up bullpen, 2007 team better closer.

Pretty close all in all, but 2007 team was more fun to watch because of the homegrown talent/youth.

[gehrig]

04 was better. they had significantly better hitting and two josh becketts. they also faced much better teams in the postseason

[adios]

[ QUOTE ]
The 2004 team had better hitters but the 2007 team hit better in the playoffs. The 2004 team had better starting pitching and better set up bullpen, 2007 team better closer.

Pretty close all in all, but 2007 team was more fun to watch because of the homegrown talent/youth.

[/ QUOTE ]


Hail to the Red Sox. I think this 2007 team will probably be better next year if they stay healthy. Very nice mixture of veterans and young players. Beckett certainly deserves the Cy Young just based on his regular season and he's only 27. I realize pitchers have had better years statistically in yesteryear. In today's game his accomplishments were just phenomonal. And then we have the playoffs. Awesome performance and he's only 27. The Red Sox have a lot of good up and coming young players in the field and on the mound. The middle of their lineup is just incredible. Manny is 35 but he should have more good in him. Not sure about free agent status of Red Sox players but things look good for the Red Sox long term.

[kyro]

The 2004 team will always be special to me, but I said 2007. Maybe it's being in the moment.

[kyro]

Also, I'd like to thank the Sox for putting together a 6+ game winning streak for the first time this year.

[zer0]

i like the '07 team better at 1b, closer, rf. i like the '04 team better at ss, cf, bullpen. 2b and ace are a wash.

'04 gets the advantage for the "holy [censored]" factor. even down 3-1 to the tribe, i was confident this years team would come back and win.

[kyro]

2nd base is a wash? Really?

[Scary_Tiger]

2007 vs 2004

>>> huge edge
>> edge
> small edge

Lineup

C Varitek <<< Varitek
1B Youkilis > Millar
2B Pedroia >> Bellhorn
SS Lugo <<< Cabrera
3B Lowell >>> Mueller
LF Manny << Manny
CF Crisp/Ellsbury <<< Damon
RF Drew >> Nixon/Kapler

So 2004 has the edge at C, SS, LF, CF while 2007 has the edge at 2B, 3B, RF. Overall, 2004 had the better position players and outscored the 2007 team 949 runs to 867 runs. Interestingly, two of the big disadvantages for the 2007 team were Manny and Varitek who had one of the best years of their careers in 2004. Team defense was definitely better in 2007 though with Drew, Youkilis and Lowell being huge upgrades.

Starting Pitching

Beckett = Schilling
Schilling << Pedro
Matsuzaka <<< Arroyo
Wakefield = Wakefield

I certainly didn't remember just how good Arroyo was in 2004, but he was a lot better than Daisuke. Looking at his numbers, I definitely don't think we should have traded him. Ah well. The 2004 starting pitching was stronger for the postseason, though in the regular season Gabbard/Lester/Tavarez were better than Lowe.

Bullpen

Papelbon > Foulke
Okajima >>> Timlin
Delcarmen >>> Embree
Timlin >> Leskanic

There's no argument for the 2004 bullpen, here the 2007 bullpen was incredible. Snyder and Lopez were also better than anyone in the 2004 bullpen not named Leskanic or Foulke.

Overall, the 2004 team is the better playoff team, but not all that much better when you take into account defense, 5th and beyond starters, and the entire bullpen situation.

[gehrig]

oh hey its the offseason

1) pls dont resign mike lowell. its been fun but i really dont want to root for his age 36 season
2) pls trade manny someone will give up a [censored] too much and hes basically an average player at this point. fukodome would be nice <3

[TruFloridaGator]

Just wanted to say congrats to all the Red Sox fans. I enjoyed pulling for them myself mostly because my fiancee is a Sox fan & now I obviously get all the sex in the world for the next week. Congrats to all of you though!