OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - A Red Sox Dynasty: 1995-????

Moriarty9 · 04-06-2008, 12:32 PM

1997: 101 Wins, 2nd Place Finish
Red Sox enter playoffs as Wild Card team

For the first time since I took over as general manager of the Red Sox three years ago, the team didn't win the division. The team's 101 wins were good enough, however, to secure the AL Wild Card.

The team's 101-61 record put them four games behind the division-winning Baltimore Orioles, who had put together a 105-57 season.

The team drew more than 3.44 million fans (2nd highest total in AL) to Fenway Park with a $74.7 million payroll (3rd highest in AL).

KEY OFFENSIVE CONTRIBUTORS
Mo Vaughn, 1B (All Star, HR King)
Mo Vaughn continued to put together an impressive career in 1997, hitting .308 with 50 HR, 127 RBI and 143 runs scored. Vaughn led the league in homers and runs scored, was second in total bases (369) and third in RBI (127).

Manny Ramirez, RF (All Star)
In his second season with the Red Sox, Ramirez blossomed and hit .333 with 33 HR, 110 RBI and 101 runs. He led the AL in triples (9), second in extra-base hits (73) and batting average, eighth in RBI, 10th in home runs.

Reggie Jefferson, DH
Continuing to quietly impress, Jefferson hit .314 with 24 HR, 117 RBI and 92 runs scored with 50 doubles. He led the AL in doubles, was second in extra-base hits (76), fifth in RBI, sixth in total bases (316) and intentional walks (9), eighth in hits (190) and 10th in batting average.

Todd Helton, LF
Acquired in an off-season trade, Helton impressed in limited playing time during his first season with the Red Sox. The left-handed hitting Helton played in leftfield and spent a bit of time as a DH while also filling in at times at first base, he hit .358 with 19 HR and 60 RBI in 318 at bats over 114 games.

OFFENSIVE DISAPPOINTMENTS
John Valentin, SS
After two straight All Star seasons, Valentin's production suffered a drop off in 1997. The shortstop hit .227 with 16 HR and 76 RBI in 151 games.

KEY PITCHING CONTRIBUTORS
Randy Johnson (Cy Young)
After signing a five-year deal worth more than $69.3 million, the Big Unit's first season in Boston was one to remember as he went 22-8 with a 2.14 ERA and 318 strikeouts.
Johnson led the AL in ERA, wins, winning percentage (.733), strikeouts, strikeouts per nine innings (11.6), WHIP (1.01), and opponents average (.195).

Roger Clemens (Face of the rotation)
The Rocket rebounded after a subpar 1996 season with a 19-9 record, 4.11 ERA and 176 strikeouts in 33 starts. Clemens trailed only teammate Randy Johnson in wins and had the AL's fifth-best winning percentage (.679).

Aaron Sele (Breakthrough season)
Aaron Sele finally came through and showed why the Red Sox had been so high on him for several years as the 26-year-old starter went 12-3 with a 3.01 ERA and 109 strikeouts in 23 games.

Troy Percival (Closer)
In his first season as the team's closer, Troy Percival was impressive. The 27-year-old went 4-2 with 31 saves and a 2.72 ERA in 47 appearances. He was seventh in the AL in saves and ninth in games finished with 42.

PITCHING DISAPPOINTMENTS
Scott Sanders (Traded to Dodgers)
In 1997, Sanders no longer resembled the 1995 version of himself that won the Cy Young Award with the San Diego Padres. Sanders struggled to a 6-10 record with a 5.91 ERA in 19 games before the starter was dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers where he went 4-4 with a 4.33 ERA in 13 games.

Mike Myers
An All Star in 1996, left-handed specialist Mike Myers struggled in 1997, going 3-4 with one save and a 5.22 ERA in 51 appearances out of the bullpen.

NOTEABLE TRANSACTIONS
Sox deal Steinbach for prospect Helton
To Boston Red Sox: Todd Helton
To Detroit Tigers: Terry Steinbach
Content to give the starting catcher's job to Scott Hatteberg, the Red Sox dealt veteran backstop Terry Steinbach to the Tigers for Todd Helton. Helton hit .358 with 19 HR and 60 RBI in 114 games with Boston in 1997 and became a mainstay in the middle of their lineup for a number of seasons. Through the 2008 season, Helton has remained in Boston and is a career .324 hitter with 339 home runs.
Steinbach hit .243 with 14 HR and 65 RBI for the Tigers in 1997 at the age of 35. He spent two seasons with Detroit before heading to Milwaukee and later Philadelphia. He retired after the 2002 season.

Big Unit signs big deal with BoSox
Coming off a Cy Young season with the Mariners, Randy Johnson filed for free agency and ultimately signed a five-year deal with the Red Sox worth $69.36 million. Johnson spent the rest of his career in Boston and retired after the 2007 season with a 302-148 career record, a 3.59 ERA and 4,257 strikeouts.

THE DRAFT
Boston drafts infielder Polanco
Losing their first round pick as compensation for signing Randy Johnson, Boston selected Placido Polanco with its second round draft choice.
Polanco hit .300 with 8 HR and 31 RBI in 96 games, primarily at second base, for the Red Sox in 1997.

THE PLAYOFFS
Division Series: Indians v. Red Sox
In a replay of the previous season's division series, Boston fell to Cleveland in five games.

Division Series: Mariners v. Orioles
Baseball's best record kept on rolling as Baltimore knocked AL West's division winners from Seattle out of the playoffs in four games.

Division Series: Giants v. Phillies
San Francisco advanced to the NLCS for the second year in a row by defeating Philadelphia in a four-game series.

Division Series: Astros v. Expos
Houston was swept out of the postseason at the hands of an NL East team for the second year in a row, this time the division-winning Expos.

ALCS: Indians v. Orioles
After coming one victory from the World Series in 1996, the Indians got over the hump by defeating the Orioles in six games.

NLCS: Expos v. Giants
The strongest team in the National League with 104 wins, 11 more than the next best team, Montreal swept the defending NL-champion Giants out of the playoffs and advanced to their first World Series.

World Series: Expos v. Indians
For the third straight year, a team with the letter "X" in its name won the World Series. The Expos took the title with relative ease, defeating the Indians in five games.

AWARDS
Palmeiro, Hundley win MVP awards
A key to Baltimore's best record in baseball, Orioles 1B Rafael Palmeiro was honored with the MVP award with a .324, 47 HR, 156 RBI campaign. He edged out challengers Jim Thome (.435 OBP, 1.057 OPS, 47 HR, 134 RBI, 116 runs, 116 walks) of the Indians and Mo Vaughn (50 HR, 127 RBI, 143 runs) of the Red Sox.
New York Mets catcher Todd Hundley was a surprise pick as the NL MVP in 1997. Hundley hit .288 with 46 home runs and 108 RBI for the fourth place Mets. He beat out Larry Walker (.345, 136 RBI, 118 runs, 41 steals) of the Rockies and Jeff Bagwell (37 HR, 116 RBI, 123 runs) of the Astros.

Big Unit repeats, Pedro takes home 1st Cy Young
Randy Johnson held onto the AL Cy Young Award for a second straight season in 1997 after going 22-8 with a 2.14 ERA and 318 strikeouts for the Boston Red Sox. Johnson led the AL in ERA, wins, winning percentage (.733), strikeouts, strikeouts per nine innings (11.6), WHIP (1.01), and opponents average (.195).
After leading the Expos to baseball's best record and its first World Series championship, Pedro Martinez was recognized with the NL Cy Young Award. Martinez went 22-5 with a 2.41 ERA and 276 strikeouts for Montreal. His dominance was deemed slightly better than that of reigning-Cy Young winner Greg Maddux (2.19 ERA, 7 complete games, 5 shutouts, 0.9 walks per nine innings) and his teammate John Smoltz (16 wins, 2.26 ERA, 247 strikeouts, .227 opponents average).

Middle infielders Catalanotto, Bush win Rookie of the Year trophies
Anaheim Angels secondbaseman Frank Catalanotto's .289 average, nine home runs and 94 RBI were good enough to win the AL Rookie of the Year award.
Houston Astros shortstop Homer Bush was tabbed as the NL's top rookie after hitting .301, 18 HR and 80 RBI while making 11 errors in the field for NL Central Division champions.

04-06-2008, 12:32 PM	#4 (permalink)
Moriarty9 Major Leagues Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 334	1997: 101 Wins, 2nd Place Finish 1997: 101 Wins, 2nd Place Finish Red Sox enter playoffs as Wild Card team For the first time since I took over as general manager of the Red Sox three years ago, the team didn't win the division. The team's 101 wins were good enough, however, to secure the AL Wild Card. The team's 101-61 record put them four games behind the division-winning Baltimore Orioles, who had put together a 105-57 season. The team drew more than 3.44 million fans (2nd highest total in AL) to Fenway Park with a $74.7 million payroll (3rd highest in AL). KEY OFFENSIVE CONTRIBUTORS Mo Vaughn, 1B (All Star, HR King) Mo Vaughn continued to put together an impressive career in 1997, hitting .308 with 50 HR, 127 RBI and 143 runs scored. Vaughn led the league in homers and runs scored, was second in total bases (369) and third in RBI (127). Manny Ramirez, RF (All Star) In his second season with the Red Sox, Ramirez blossomed and hit .333 with 33 HR, 110 RBI and 101 runs. He led the AL in triples (9), second in extra-base hits (73) and batting average, eighth in RBI, 10th in home runs. Reggie Jefferson, DH Continuing to quietly impress, Jefferson hit .314 with 24 HR, 117 RBI and 92 runs scored with 50 doubles. He led the AL in doubles, was second in extra-base hits (76), fifth in RBI, sixth in total bases (316) and intentional walks (9), eighth in hits (190) and 10th in batting average. Todd Helton, LF Acquired in an off-season trade, Helton impressed in limited playing time during his first season with the Red Sox. The left-handed hitting Helton played in leftfield and spent a bit of time as a DH while also filling in at times at first base, he hit .358 with 19 HR and 60 RBI in 318 at bats over 114 games. OFFENSIVE DISAPPOINTMENTS John Valentin, SS After two straight All Star seasons, Valentin's production suffered a drop off in 1997. The shortstop hit .227 with 16 HR and 76 RBI in 151 games. KEY PITCHING CONTRIBUTORS Randy Johnson (Cy Young) After signing a five-year deal worth more than $69.3 million, the Big Unit's first season in Boston was one to remember as he went 22-8 with a 2.14 ERA and 318 strikeouts. Johnson led the AL in ERA, wins, winning percentage (.733), strikeouts, strikeouts per nine innings (11.6), WHIP (1.01), and opponents average (.195). Roger Clemens (Face of the rotation) The Rocket rebounded after a subpar 1996 season with a 19-9 record, 4.11 ERA and 176 strikeouts in 33 starts. Clemens trailed only teammate Randy Johnson in wins and had the AL's fifth-best winning percentage (.679). Aaron Sele (Breakthrough season) Aaron Sele finally came through and showed why the Red Sox had been so high on him for several years as the 26-year-old starter went 12-3 with a 3.01 ERA and 109 strikeouts in 23 games. Troy Percival (Closer) In his first season as the team's closer, Troy Percival was impressive. The 27-year-old went 4-2 with 31 saves and a 2.72 ERA in 47 appearances. He was seventh in the AL in saves and ninth in games finished with 42. PITCHING DISAPPOINTMENTS Scott Sanders (Traded to Dodgers) In 1997, Sanders no longer resembled the 1995 version of himself that won the Cy Young Award with the San Diego Padres. Sanders struggled to a 6-10 record with a 5.91 ERA in 19 games before the starter was dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers where he went 4-4 with a 4.33 ERA in 13 games. Mike Myers An All Star in 1996, left-handed specialist Mike Myers struggled in 1997, going 3-4 with one save and a 5.22 ERA in 51 appearances out of the bullpen. NOTEABLE TRANSACTIONS Sox deal Steinbach for prospect Helton To Boston Red Sox: Todd Helton To Detroit Tigers: Terry Steinbach Content to give the starting catcher's job to Scott Hatteberg, the Red Sox dealt veteran backstop Terry Steinbach to the Tigers for Todd Helton. Helton hit .358 with 19 HR and 60 RBI in 114 games with Boston in 1997 and became a mainstay in the middle of their lineup for a number of seasons. Through the 2008 season, Helton has remained in Boston and is a career .324 hitter with 339 home runs. Steinbach hit .243 with 14 HR and 65 RBI for the Tigers in 1997 at the age of 35. He spent two seasons with Detroit before heading to Milwaukee and later Philadelphia. He retired after the 2002 season. Big Unit signs big deal with BoSox Coming off a Cy Young season with the Mariners, Randy Johnson filed for free agency and ultimately signed a five-year deal with the Red Sox worth $69.36 million. Johnson spent the rest of his career in Boston and retired after the 2007 season with a 302-148 career record, a 3.59 ERA and 4,257 strikeouts. THE DRAFT Boston drafts infielder Polanco Losing their first round pick as compensation for signing Randy Johnson, Boston selected Placido Polanco with its second round draft choice. Polanco hit .300 with 8 HR and 31 RBI in 96 games, primarily at second base, for the Red Sox in 1997. THE PLAYOFFS Division Series: Indians v. Red Sox In a replay of the previous season's division series, Boston fell to Cleveland in five games. Division Series: Mariners v. Orioles Baseball's best record kept on rolling as Baltimore knocked AL West's division winners from Seattle out of the playoffs in four games. Division Series: Giants v. Phillies San Francisco advanced to the NLCS for the second year in a row by defeating Philadelphia in a four-game series. Division Series: Astros v. Expos Houston was swept out of the postseason at the hands of an NL East team for the second year in a row, this time the division-winning Expos. ALCS: Indians v. Orioles After coming one victory from the World Series in 1996, the Indians got over the hump by defeating the Orioles in six games. NLCS: Expos v. Giants The strongest team in the National League with 104 wins, 11 more than the next best team, Montreal swept the defending NL-champion Giants out of the playoffs and advanced to their first World Series. World Series: Expos v. Indians For the third straight year, a team with the letter "X" in its name won the World Series. The Expos took the title with relative ease, defeating the Indians in five games. AWARDS Palmeiro, Hundley win MVP awards A key to Baltimore's best record in baseball, Orioles 1B Rafael Palmeiro was honored with the MVP award with a .324, 47 HR, 156 RBI campaign. He edged out challengers Jim Thome (.435 OBP, 1.057 OPS, 47 HR, 134 RBI, 116 runs, 116 walks) of the Indians and Mo Vaughn (50 HR, 127 RBI, 143 runs) of the Red Sox. New York Mets catcher Todd Hundley was a surprise pick as the NL MVP in 1997. Hundley hit .288 with 46 home runs and 108 RBI for the fourth place Mets. He beat out Larry Walker (.345, 136 RBI, 118 runs, 41 steals) of the Rockies and Jeff Bagwell (37 HR, 116 RBI, 123 runs) of the Astros. Big Unit repeats, Pedro takes home 1st Cy Young Randy Johnson held onto the AL Cy Young Award for a second straight season in 1997 after going 22-8 with a 2.14 ERA and 318 strikeouts for the Boston Red Sox. Johnson led the AL in ERA, wins, winning percentage (.733), strikeouts, strikeouts per nine innings (11.6), WHIP (1.01), and opponents average (.195). After leading the Expos to baseball's best record and its first World Series championship, Pedro Martinez was recognized with the NL Cy Young Award. Martinez went 22-5 with a 2.41 ERA and 276 strikeouts for Montreal. His dominance was deemed slightly better than that of reigning-Cy Young winner Greg Maddux (2.19 ERA, 7 complete games, 5 shutouts, 0.9 walks per nine innings) and his teammate John Smoltz (16 wins, 2.26 ERA, 247 strikeouts, .227 opponents average). Middle infielders Catalanotto, Bush win Rookie of the Year trophies Anaheim Angels secondbaseman Frank Catalanotto's .289 average, nine home runs and 94 RBI were good enough to win the AL Rookie of the Year award. Houston Astros shortstop Homer Bush was tabbed as the NL's top rookie after hitting .301, 18 HR and 80 RBI while making 11 errors in the field for NL Central Division champions.