FanPost

GREATEST RED SOX LINEUP EVER

STARTING LINEUP

3B – Wade Boggs (1987) – Sure, the balls were juiced that season, but 24 homers is 24 homers. And oh, by the way, his OBP (the most important stat for hitters) was an absurd .461.

RF – Mookie Betts (2018) – Season obviously isn’t complete but barring a major injury I don’t see how his season doesn’t go down as the best ever from a Sox RF. Best defense since Dwight Evans (and actually probably better despite our memories) and unreal offense along with speed and everything else.

LF – Ted Williams (1941) – you could pick almost any year of his career but who doesn’t love a .400 hitter?

1B – Carl Yastrzemski (1967) – He played more than enough 1B to qualify, and his 1.040 OPS in a year where the league average was .654 was other-worldly.

DH – David Ortiz (2007) – Who else? Amazing to think that he almost matched his insane slash line of .332/.445/.621 nine (9) years later when he was 40.

SS – Nomar Garciaparra (2000) – 7.6 WAR that year, with a ridiculous .372/.434/.599 slash line and solid defense to boot. NOMAH!!!!

CF – Tris Speaker (1912) – I wanted to put Freddy Lynn’s rookie year here but Tris Speaker’s MVP season included a .464 OBP and the defensive metrics say he played great out there (just kidding).

C – Carlton Fisk (1972) – a 162 OPS+ from the best team leader we ever had behind the dish (and that’s NOT a dig on Jason Varitek, who I love). And if we need a guy to fight the Yanks, he’ll be there.

2B – Dustin Pedroia (2008) – He’s been worth the price of admission every game he’s out there, but he was never better than his MVP season (well-deserved gold glove too).

SP – Pedro Martinez (2000) – some would say his 1999 season was better, but to me, this is the greatest season by a starting pitcher ever. All his stats were downright silly, but my favorite is his 291 ERA+. The 0.74 WHIP in the height of the steroid era ain’t bad either. How did he lose 6 games?

BENCH

SP – "Smoky" Joe Wood (1912) – Different era of course, and pitcher wins are overrated. But 34-5 is 34-5. 10 shutouts. And as Walter Johnson once said, "Nobody throws harder than Smoky Joe Wood."

SP – Roger Clemens (1986) – I’d love to keep him off but he was 24-4, won the Cy Young AND MVP and made every 5th day exciting.

SP – Curt Schilling (2004) – He was better with other teams but what he did that season can’t be overlooked or overstated. I’ll always love him no matter what he says in interviews.

Closer – Craig Kimbrel (2017) – pretty good season, as I think he struck out every batter he faced the entire year. Well, that’s how it felt. 319 ERA+. 16.4 K’s/9 innings. Yowza

RP – Koji Uehara (2013) – we have NEVER had a more fun closer to watch. If you grabbed a drink and missed 45 seconds of the 9th, there were already 2 outs. The guy was a machine. 0.565 WHIP. That’s preposterous.

RP – Jonathan Papelbon (2007) – We’ve been blessed with incredible closers over the last 15 years or so. 0.771 WHIP.

RP – Chris Sale (2018) – It’s only been half a season, but what he’s doing is insane, and we need a LOOGY. Can you imagine being able to bring him in to face a left-handed hitter in a crucial spot?

RP – Keith Foulke (2004) – there were seemingly 37 different heroes on that team but never forget that this guy basically sacrificed the rest of his career, pitching every day, to finally bring us a championship.

RP – Dick Radatz (1963) – we need a long man and he pitched 132 innings (with a 1.97 ERA). Finished 5th in MVP voting even.

SP/RP - Dutch Leonard (1914) Need a spot start? How about Dutch and his 0.96 ERA (279 ERA+). You could use Josh Beckett (2007) and be just fine as well.

OF – Fred Lynn (1975) – Rookie of the Year, MVP, scintillating defense in CF, I think he’ll do as a 4th outfielder and defensive replacement for The Kid.

OF/DH – JD Martinez (2018) – like with Mookie and Chris Sale, the year isn’t complete, but I want this guy on the roster. JD may stand for Just Dingers but he does a lot more. Would be a great pinch hitter if we need one (spoiler alert - we wouldn’t).

IF – Kevin Youkilis (2009) – He can back up at 1B or 3B and the Greek God of Walks and his .413 OBP won’t hurt us at either spot. I considered Pokey Reese as a defensive replacement, but who are you going to replace??

IF – Rico Petrocelli (1969) – people forget how incredible he was that year, hitting 40 bombs and posting a .992 OPS in a pitcher’s era.

C – Jason Varitek (2004) - His bat was always secondary with him but his .872 OPS was pretty impressive. Nobody handled pitchers better.