OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - WIN AT ALL COSTS! The 2004 Boston Red Sox

AZTarHeel · 03-22-2004, 12:10 AM

Optimism surrounds '04 Sox
By Ian Browne / MLB.com

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Not a cloud could be found here on the eve of the official reporting date for Red Sox pitchers and catchers.

Sunshine filled the air with cozy warmth. In a way the conditions were fitting, considering the aura of optimism surrounding the 2004 Red Sox.

The argument can be made that this is the deepest and most talent-laden squad the Red Sox have sent to Spring Training since 1978, when such players as Carl Yastrzemski, Jim Rice, Fred Lynn, Dwight Evans, Carlton Fisk, Luis Tiant and Dennis Eckersley roamed the grounds.

Incidentally, that group won 99 games but lost a one-game playoff to the Yankees and finished second in the AL East.

More than a quarter-century later, this group -- hoping for a happier ending -- will be represented by such players as Pedro Martinez, Nomar Garciaparra, Curt Schilling, Manny Ramirez, Jason Varitek, Derek Lowe and Keith Foulke.

As Red Sox owner John W. Henry said earlier this week, "Let the games begin."

When last we saw the Red Sox, they were walking off the Yankee Stadium sod after the most gut-wrenching of losses in Game 7 of the ALCS. The 2003 Sox stole hearts in New England for much of the season, "Cowboying up" for 95 wins and inventing every type of comeback win imaginable before it came to that crashing halt in the Bronx.

The talent is certainly there for the Sox to take that next step and get to the World Series for the first time in 18 years.
Aside from the fact that the bulk of the 2003 team is back, this group has Schilling to slot in behind Martinez and Foulke to serve as the elite closer last year's group could only dream of.

"I think the guys here are focused on one thing, that's winning," said general manager Theo Epstein during Thursday's pre-Spring Training media briefing. "We really do have a hungry club. All the players who were on last year's club left hungry. They want to take care of some unfinished business from last year. And then the new additions are here for one thing: They're here to win a World Series."

Make no mistake about it, anticipation is indeed in the air as this Sox team reports to camp.

"I think this year we kind of feel like we're anxious to show what we have," said Epstein. "We like our club a lot. We came within five outs of the World Series last year. I think in the off-season we've made our club a little bit better balanced, a little deeper. That should serve us well this year. Our pitching staff is probably the biggest difference."

03-22-2004, 12:10 AM	#3 (permalink)
AZTarHeel All Star Starter Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,173	Optimism surrounds '04 Sox By Ian Browne / MLB.com FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Not a cloud could be found here on the eve of the official reporting date for Red Sox pitchers and catchers. Sunshine filled the air with cozy warmth. In a way the conditions were fitting, considering the aura of optimism surrounding the 2004 Red Sox. The argument can be made that this is the deepest and most talent-laden squad the Red Sox have sent to Spring Training since 1978, when such players as Carl Yastrzemski, Jim Rice, Fred Lynn, Dwight Evans, Carlton Fisk, Luis Tiant and Dennis Eckersley roamed the grounds. Incidentally, that group won 99 games but lost a one-game playoff to the Yankees and finished second in the AL East. More than a quarter-century later, this group -- hoping for a happier ending -- will be represented by such players as Pedro Martinez, Nomar Garciaparra, Curt Schilling, Manny Ramirez, Jason Varitek, Derek Lowe and Keith Foulke. As Red Sox owner John W. Henry said earlier this week, "Let the games begin." When last we saw the Red Sox, they were walking off the Yankee Stadium sod after the most gut-wrenching of losses in Game 7 of the ALCS. The 2003 Sox stole hearts in New England for much of the season, "Cowboying up" for 95 wins and inventing every type of comeback win imaginable before it came to that crashing halt in the Bronx. The talent is certainly there for the Sox to take that next step and get to the World Series for the first time in 18 years. Aside from the fact that the bulk of the 2003 team is back, this group has Schilling to slot in behind Martinez and Foulke to serve as the elite closer last year's group could only dream of. "I think the guys here are focused on one thing, that's winning," said general manager Theo Epstein during Thursday's pre-Spring Training media briefing. "We really do have a hungry club. All the players who were on last year's club left hungry. They want to take care of some unfinished business from last year. And then the new additions are here for one thing: They're here to win a World Series." Make no mistake about it, anticipation is indeed in the air as this Sox team reports to camp. "I think this year we kind of feel like we're anxious to show what we have," said Epstein. "We like our club a lot. We came within five outs of the World Series last year. I think in the off-season we've made our club a little bit better balanced, a little deeper. That should serve us well this year. Our pitching staff is probably the biggest difference." Last edited by AZTarHeel : 03-22-2004 at 12:13 AM.