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

Moriarty9 · 07-27-2008, 08:30 PM

End of the year notes, highlights and news.

The Philadelphia Phillies were in the World Series once again but were swept by the Cleveland Indians in four games.
Chipper Jones had retired and been inducted into the Hall of Fame. Jones spent 19 years in the big leagues, 16 of which were with the Atlanta Braves, and hit .298 with 460 home runs and 4,709 RBI in 2,523 games. A seven-time All Star, he won a Gold Glove at third base in 2004 and was the 1996 National League MVP after hitting .350 with 33 home runs and 132 RBI in 153 games.
Before giving the Boston Red Sox an opportunity to act on a team option for 2013, outfielder Ichiro Suzuki decided to call it a career and was inducted into the Hall of Fame. Suzuki spent his entire 13-year-career with Boston, hitting .323 with 2,260 hits, 117 home runs, 776 RBI, 508 stolen bases and 1,166 runs scored in 1,607 games. Ichiro hit .309 with five triples, eight home runs, 56 RBI, 77 runs and 28 stolen bases in 132 games with the Red Sox this year.
Reliever Keith Foulke (2-1, 9.99 ERA in 18 G) decided to retire after a disappointing season with Boston. He retires after 17 years with the California/Anaheim Angels, San Diego Padres, Chicago White Sox, Colorado Rockies and Boston. He went 52-57 with 103 saves and a 3.99 ERA in 941 appearances.
Catcher Mike Rivera (.202, 2 HR, 15 RBI, 114 AB) retired after 11 seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants, St. Louis Cardinals, New York Mets, Atlanta Braves and Boston Red Sox. He hit .238 with 63 homers and 326 RBI in 860 big league games.
Long-time bench coach Rick Down has retired from Kevin Kennedy's coaching staff.
Several managers were fired after losing seasons in 2012: The Baltimore Orioles (73-89) fired rookie manager Cal Eldred, the New York Mets (78-84) fired Jose Lopez and the Cincinnati Reds (74-88) fired first-year manager Eugene Dunbar.
Taking over as interim manager at the end of the 2012 season, Ruben Rios watched as the Houston Astros went 6-13 during his tenure. He will not be back with the club next year.
Willie Vaughan, recruited from the collegiate ranks to take over the Los Angeles Dodgers joined GM Dennis Rasmussen in the unemployment line as the club made changes in its heirarchy. Vaughan led the Dodgers to a 46-60 record during his time as manager.
American League Gold Glove winners: Orioles pitcher Melvin Watkins, White Sox catcher Russell Martin, Orioles firstbaseman Roberto Najera, Twins secondbaseman Wilson Betemit, Indians thirdbaseman Garrett Atkins, Blue Jays shortstop Felipe Lopez, Twins outfielder Patrick Harris, Yankees outfielder Domingo Medina, former Red Sox outfielder Nick Markakis of the Tigers.
National League Gold Glove winners: Brewers pitcher Glenn Curry, Marlins catcher Ed Harris, Marlins firstbaseman Chad Tracy, Phillies secondbaseman Alonso Gutierrez, Phillies thirdbaseman Ryan Braun, Marlins shortstop Adrian Poole, Marlins outfielder Chris Jones, Rockies outfielder Lance Berkman and Astros outfielder Keith Godfrey.
Santiago Sevares of the Detroit Tigers took home the AL Rookie of the Year award. Sevares hit .309 with 22 homers, 81 RBI, 81 runs and 15 stolen bases in 118 games with ther Tigers. In the NL, Cincinnati Reds outfielder Sean Simms took home the award. He hit .297 with 18 homers, 63 RBI, 84 runs and 18 stolen bases in 146 games.
Forrest Jordan of the Angels was the AL's top pitcher in 2012, going 20-9 with a 3.62 ERA and 228 strikeouts in 36 starts. Franklin Morales of the Nationals won the NL Cy Young with an 18-8 record, 1.88 ERA, 28 walks and 298 strikeouts in 219 2/3 innings of work for Washington.
Indians outfielder Hunter Pence was awarded with the AL MVP for 2012, hitting .335 with 222 hits, 50 doubles, 12 triples, 33 home runs, 103 RBI, 112 runs and 16 stolen bases in 154 games while playing a flawless centerfield for 1,384 1/3 innings.
Former Red Sox star Ryan Howard won his fourth MVP award as he hit .292 with 55 homers and 138 RBI for the Atlanta Braves this year.
The Red Sox surprised many with the free agent signing of future Hall of Famer Manny Ramirez to a one-year deal worth just less than $800,000. Ramirez had been seeking more money but decided to return to Boston, where he spent 15 of his 20 years in the big leagues. Ramirez left Boston as a free agent following the 2010 season, in which he hit .303 with 31 homers and 99 RBI in 147 games. He struggled mightily with the Chicago White Sox the last two seasons, hitting .217 with 11 home runs and 43 RBI over 406 at bats. A lifetime .298 hitter with 577 homers and 1,798 RBI, many expect Manny to be back at Fenway for a swan song before heading off into the sunset.
Vernon Wells, who played with Boston from 1999-2002, has signed a three-year deal with the San Francisco Giants worth more than $63 million. Wells hit .284 with 27 homers and 91 RBI in 127 games with the Cincinnati Reds last year.
In an attempt to improve their starting rotation, the Red Sox signed Kameron Loe to a one-year, $6 million deal with a player option for $6 million in 2014. Loe, 31, went 10-14 with a 3.88 ERA in 32 starts for the Milwaukee Brewers and Washington Nationals last year. In his big league career, he has gone 57-76 with a 4.73 ERA in 195 starts.
After going 107-49 with a 3.86 ERA in eight seasons with the Red Sox, Erik Bedard has signed with the Colorado Rockies. The 2008 Cy Young winner will earn more than $45.6 million over three years with Colorado - the third season being a player option. The Rockies also signed Tim Lincecum, a 28-year-old starter who went 14-8 with a 3.24 ERA for the Chicago White Sox this year. Lincecum (86-49 with a 3.27 ERA in six years) was inked to a four-year deal worth nearly $71 million.
With Erik Bedard leaving Boston, the Red Sox signed Danny Haren as his replacement. Haren, 32, signed a one-year deal worth $12.5 million with a mutual option for the same amount in 2014. Haren was 13-8 with a 3.68 ERA in 32 starts for the New York Mets last year. In his 10-year career, Haren has gone 109-142 with a 4.50 ERA.
Nick Markakis, a Boston outfielder from 2006-2011, has signed a three-year deal worth almost $50.3 million with the Philadelphia Phillies. Markakis hit .289 with 18 homers and 84 RBI in 128 games with Detroit last year and is a lifetime .299 hitter.

07-27-2008, 08:30 PM	#205 (permalink)
Moriarty9 Major Leagues Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 413	End of the year notes, highlights and news. The Philadelphia Phillies were in the World Series once again but were swept by the Cleveland Indians in four games. Chipper Jones had retired and been inducted into the Hall of Fame. Jones spent 19 years in the big leagues, 16 of which were with the Atlanta Braves, and hit .298 with 460 home runs and 4,709 RBI in 2,523 games. A seven-time All Star, he won a Gold Glove at third base in 2004 and was the 1996 National League MVP after hitting .350 with 33 home runs and 132 RBI in 153 games. Before giving the Boston Red Sox an opportunity to act on a team option for 2013, outfielder Ichiro Suzuki decided to call it a career and was inducted into the Hall of Fame. Suzuki spent his entire 13-year-career with Boston, hitting .323 with 2,260 hits, 117 home runs, 776 RBI, 508 stolen bases and 1,166 runs scored in 1,607 games. Ichiro hit .309 with five triples, eight home runs, 56 RBI, 77 runs and 28 stolen bases in 132 games with the Red Sox this year. Reliever Keith Foulke (2-1, 9.99 ERA in 18 G) decided to retire after a disappointing season with Boston. He retires after 17 years with the California/Anaheim Angels, San Diego Padres, Chicago White Sox, Colorado Rockies and Boston. He went 52-57 with 103 saves and a 3.99 ERA in 941 appearances. Catcher Mike Rivera (.202, 2 HR, 15 RBI, 114 AB) retired after 11 seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants, St. Louis Cardinals, New York Mets, Atlanta Braves and Boston Red Sox. He hit .238 with 63 homers and 326 RBI in 860 big league games. Long-time bench coach Rick Down has retired from Kevin Kennedy's coaching staff. Several managers were fired after losing seasons in 2012: The Baltimore Orioles (73-89) fired rookie manager Cal Eldred, the New York Mets (78-84) fired Jose Lopez and the Cincinnati Reds (74-88) fired first-year manager Eugene Dunbar. Taking over as interim manager at the end of the 2012 season, Ruben Rios watched as the Houston Astros went 6-13 during his tenure. He will not be back with the club next year. Willie Vaughan, recruited from the collegiate ranks to take over the Los Angeles Dodgers joined GM Dennis Rasmussen in the unemployment line as the club made changes in its heirarchy. Vaughan led the Dodgers to a 46-60 record during his time as manager. American League Gold Glove winners: Orioles pitcher Melvin Watkins, White Sox catcher Russell Martin, Orioles firstbaseman Roberto Najera, Twins secondbaseman Wilson Betemit, Indians thirdbaseman Garrett Atkins, Blue Jays shortstop Felipe Lopez, Twins outfielder Patrick Harris, Yankees outfielder Domingo Medina, former Red Sox outfielder Nick Markakis of the Tigers. National League Gold Glove winners: Brewers pitcher Glenn Curry, Marlins catcher Ed Harris, Marlins firstbaseman Chad Tracy, Phillies secondbaseman Alonso Gutierrez, Phillies thirdbaseman Ryan Braun, Marlins shortstop Adrian Poole, Marlins outfielder Chris Jones, Rockies outfielder Lance Berkman and Astros outfielder Keith Godfrey. Santiago Sevares of the Detroit Tigers took home the AL Rookie of the Year award. Sevares hit .309 with 22 homers, 81 RBI, 81 runs and 15 stolen bases in 118 games with ther Tigers. In the NL, Cincinnati Reds outfielder Sean Simms took home the award. He hit .297 with 18 homers, 63 RBI, 84 runs and 18 stolen bases in 146 games. Forrest Jordan of the Angels was the AL's top pitcher in 2012, going 20-9 with a 3.62 ERA and 228 strikeouts in 36 starts. Franklin Morales of the Nationals won the NL Cy Young with an 18-8 record, 1.88 ERA, 28 walks and 298 strikeouts in 219 2/3 innings of work for Washington. Indians outfielder Hunter Pence was awarded with the AL MVP for 2012, hitting .335 with 222 hits, 50 doubles, 12 triples, 33 home runs, 103 RBI, 112 runs and 16 stolen bases in 154 games while playing a flawless centerfield for 1,384 1/3 innings. Former Red Sox star Ryan Howard won his fourth MVP award as he hit .292 with 55 homers and 138 RBI for the Atlanta Braves this year. The Red Sox surprised many with the free agent signing of future Hall of Famer Manny Ramirez to a one-year deal worth just less than $800,000. Ramirez had been seeking more money but decided to return to Boston, where he spent 15 of his 20 years in the big leagues. Ramirez left Boston as a free agent following the 2010 season, in which he hit .303 with 31 homers and 99 RBI in 147 games. He struggled mightily with the Chicago White Sox the last two seasons, hitting .217 with 11 home runs and 43 RBI over 406 at bats. A lifetime .298 hitter with 577 homers and 1,798 RBI, many expect Manny to be back at Fenway for a swan song before heading off into the sunset. Vernon Wells, who played with Boston from 1999-2002, has signed a three-year deal with the San Francisco Giants worth more than $63 million. Wells hit .284 with 27 homers and 91 RBI in 127 games with the Cincinnati Reds last year. In an attempt to improve their starting rotation, the Red Sox signed Kameron Loe to a one-year, $6 million deal with a player option for $6 million in 2014. Loe, 31, went 10-14 with a 3.88 ERA in 32 starts for the Milwaukee Brewers and Washington Nationals last year. In his big league career, he has gone 57-76 with a 4.73 ERA in 195 starts. After going 107-49 with a 3.86 ERA in eight seasons with the Red Sox, Erik Bedard has signed with the Colorado Rockies. The 2008 Cy Young winner will earn more than $45.6 million over three years with Colorado - the third season being a player option. The Rockies also signed Tim Lincecum, a 28-year-old starter who went 14-8 with a 3.24 ERA for the Chicago White Sox this year. Lincecum (86-49 with a 3.27 ERA in six years) was inked to a four-year deal worth nearly $71 million. With Erik Bedard leaving Boston, the Red Sox signed Danny Haren as his replacement. Haren, 32, signed a one-year deal worth $12.5 million with a mutual option for the same amount in 2014. Haren was 13-8 with a 3.68 ERA in 32 starts for the New York Mets last year. In his 10-year career, Haren has gone 109-142 with a 4.50 ERA. Nick Markakis, a Boston outfielder from 2006-2011, has signed a three-year deal worth almost $50.3 million with the Philadelphia Phillies. Markakis hit .289 with 18 homers and 84 RBI in 128 games with Detroit last year and is a lifetime .299 hitter.