FIVE FAVORITE PLAYERS
After a terrible 2006 season, Jason Varitek was back in 2007. He hit .255/.367/.421 with 17 home runs and 68 RBIs. He also had a fine season behind the plate and hit .333 in the World Series.
His power numbers were down a little bit in 2007, but he still lead the team with 35 home runs and was second with 117 RBIs. He also had a career high with a .332 batting average and had a line of .332/.445/.621. He was an All Star, won a Silver Slugger, and finished fourth in the MVP race.
His finest moment in the 2007 season was hitting a walk-off three-run home run in Game 2 of the ALDS. Ramirez was hurt for awhile and ended up the season hitting .296/.388/.493 with 20 home runs and 88 RBIs.
After a rough first season in Boston, Josh Beckett was one of the best pitchers in the league in 2007. He lead the league in wins, was an All Star and finished second in the Cy Young vote, which he might have won if he had pitched more innings. He finished 20-7 with a 3.27 ERA and 194 strikeouts. And the best was yet to come in the postseason.
Lowell was a beast in 2007. He hit .324/.378/.501 with 21 home runs and 120 RBIs in his best overall season as a Major Leaguer. He was an All Star, finished fifth in the MVP vote and should have won a Gold Glove. He was that good in 2007.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
2007 was Schilling's final active Major League season and he went out on a high note. He was just 9-8 but had a 3.87 ERA and struck out 101 versus 23 walks in 151 innings.
The most enduring image of the 2007 season is Papelbon's celebration after striking Seth Smith to clinch the World Championship. He had another dominating season as a closer: 1-3, 1.85 ERA, 84 strikeouts in 54.1 innings, and 37 saves.
Youkilis won the Gold Glove in 2007 at first base and had his first really good season by hitting .288/.390/.453 with 16 home runs and 83 RBIs.
The venerable knuckleballer finished second on the team with 17 victories. He pitched to a 4.27 ERA and racked up 189 innings as a very valuable member of the pitching staff.
FAVORITE ACQUISITIONS
Dice-K was the most high-profile international acquisition Boston has ever brought in. In 2007 at least, he was successful, going 15-12 with a 4.40 ERA and leading the team with 201 strikeouts in 204.2 innings. He finished fourth in the Rookie of the Year vote and surprised with a run-scoring hit in Game 3 of the World Series.
Drew was not great in 2007. He was slightly above-average but he did hit .270/.373/.423 with 11 home runs and 64 RBIs. But his grand slam home run in the ALCS was his defining moment as a Red Sox player.
FAVORITE MIDSEASON ACQUISITION
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FAVORITE ROOKIE
Despite a brutal start to the season, Pedroia came on strong and ran away with the Rookie of the Year. He hit .317/.380/.442 with eight home runs and 50 RBIs and hit a leadoff home run in Game 1 of the World Series.
Okajima was the most-deceptive Red Sox pitcher since Luis Tiant. He was a dominating southpaw setup man and was voted to the All Star game in the final vote. He was 3-2 with a 2.22 ERA and 63 strikeouts in 69 innings. He also saved five games. Okajima finished sixth in the Rookie of the Year vote.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENTS
Lugo had been coveted by Boston for awhile. Unfortunately he did not live up to his past numbers. He was brutal in the field and only hit .237/.294/.349 with eight home runs and 73 RBIs. He did lead the team with 33 stolen bases and hit well in the postseason.
Gagne was acquired from the Rangers for three players to solidify the bullpen. It did not work out as he was just 2-2 with a 6.75 ERA and blew a few saves.
POSTSEASON HEROES
The ALCS MVP was 1-0 in the ALDS, 2-0 in the ALCS, and 1-0 in the World Series. He gave up just four earned runs in the postseason and struck out 35 in 30 innings.
Lowell capped off his great regular season with the World Series MVP after hitting .400/.500/.800 with a home run, three doubles, four RBIs, and even a stolen base.
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