2004 Sox Vs. 2007 Sox; Best Of The Rest

So close, you can almost taste the champagne.
(cache.boston.com)

So it's down to the final stretch of my analysis ('04 team up 5-4 if you're counting) of who was the better Sox championship team of the last decade. I have to be honest, these entries are truly revving me up for the upcoming season and have me a little more optimistic about the team we're fielding this year. The rising anticipation is also accelerated with the Bruins' recent flop-fest (have won 1 of their last 11), and the Celtics, who are too old to play a full 4 quarters, displayed by their blowing of countless double-digit leads against teams they must beat. Forget Groundhog Day, my spring indicator is coming on Friday when the equipment truck makes its voyage to Fort Myers, preceding the inevitable reporting of the hometown team's first preparations on sun-soaked fields, marking the official start of the spring for baseball nuts like myself. But until then, I have this last part of my championship comparison amongst a ferocious wind chill, and snowfall forecasted for the near future. J.D. Drew's inevitable hamstring injury can't come quick enough! Anyhoo, here are the final statements and verdict.

Starting Rotation
The official logo for the '04 Sox starters.
(i2.cdn.turner.com)

2004 (over 50 IP):
Curt Schilling: (21-6, 3.26 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 203 K, 226 2/3 IP, 32 GS)
Pedro Martinez: (16-9, 3.90 ERA, 1.17 ERA, 227 K, 217 IP, 33 GS)
Derek Lowe: (14-12, 5.42 ERA, 1.62 WHIP, 105 K, 182 2/3 IP, 33 GS)
Tim Wakefield: (12-10, 4.87 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 116 K, 188 1/3 IP, 30 GS)
Bronson Arroyo: (10-9, 4.03 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 142 K, 178 2/3 IP, 29 GS)

Undoubtedly a vital part of the profile turnaround of a franchise that historically favored sluggers that aimed for Landsdowne Street. And it all started with the most famous Thanksgiving acquisition of all-time in Schilling (2nd in Cy Young voting), who with the best K/BB ratio in the AL (5.8) and his league best 21 victories, helped anchor the Sox staff throughout the season. It was his postseason achievements however, that entered him into Red Sox lore with his three victories, including two with a sock that matched his team's moniker. He teamed up with Pedro Martinez (4th in AL Cy Young voting) to make the most formidable 1-2 punch of any pitching staff in '04. While it wasn't '99 Pedro, he was good enough to get his 8th 200+ K of his career, and fought off a horrible September (2-4, 4.95 ERA) to obtain two October wins, including a World Series masterpiece in Game 3 in which he struck out 6, allowed no runs and retired the last 14 Cardinals he faced. Arguably the best story from the rotation was Derek Lowe, who was so marred with so much inconsistency during the season that he was banished to the bullpen for the playoffs. All he did was become the first pitcher the win all three clinching games, earning himself a 3-0 record with a 1.86 ERA in the postseason and was as big of a factor in bringing the World Series trophy through Boston with a Rolling Rally Parade. The most outstanding attribute of this staff was its ability to stay healthy, with the main five making all but 5 starts (Abe Alvarez (1), Pedro Astacio (1), Byung-Hyun Kim (3) with the others). The importance of this staff was truly highlighted in the World Series where in Games 2 through 4, Schilling, Martinez and Lowe allowed 0 ER and 4 BB in 20 IP while shutting down the mighty bats of Rolen, Edmonds and Sanders to a 1/39 clip through the 4 games. The 2004 starting rotation, a staff that boasted 5 double-digit winners, was a signal of the direction of philosophy with how these new Red Sox were going to win games in the future.

A man who knows the way come the postseason.
(cache.boston.com)

2007 (over 50 IP):
Josh Beckett: (20-7, 3.27 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 194 K, 200 2/3 IP, 30 GS)
Curt Schilling: (9-8, 3.87 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 101 K, 151 IP, 24 GS)
Daisuke Matsuzaka: (15-12, 4.40 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 201 K, 204 2/3 IP, 32 GS)
Tim Wakefield: (17-12, 4.76 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 110 K, 189 IP, 31 GS)
Julian Tavarez: (7-11, 5.15 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 77 K, 134 2/3 IP, 23 GS)
Jon Lester: (4-0, 4.57 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 50 K, 63 IP, 11 GS)

Although showing a different look, the influence of the '07 starting rotation definitely wasn't underestimated, leading a pitching corps that had the lowest ERA in the American League. One facet to that new look was the arrival of Japanese phenom Daisuke Matsuzaka, who came with a lot of buzz to go along with a $103 million price tag. The Dice Man actually was a solid pitcher in his first few months and the bigs, and probably was at one point one of the best pitchers in the AL (1.59 ERA in June). In the end, he led all rookies in wins and in strikeouts while winning 2 games in his first postseason despite late season struggles. '07 showed that you had to recognize the veterans too, for Tim Wakefield took a drink from the fountain of youth and tied a career high in wins (17). A nagging shoulder injury however, would ultimately leave him out of the World Series roster. Enter, Jon Lester, who came back from cancer to not only win the clinching game of the World Series, but showed the nation a strong character that would one day help him become an elite pitcher. And even though this old ace's stuff was down a couple ticks, you can't ignore Schilling's impact. The 2004 hero's season was hampered by a tired shoulder, but he came 1 batter shy of recording his 1st no hitter, while racking up another three postseason wins (11-2, 2.23 ERA overall). The latter win became significant for he was the 2nd pitcher to win a World Series game over the age of 40, and it would end up being the last game of his career, all under a standing ovation. But everyone knows that 2007 was all about Beckett, who had a '04 Schilling-type season, finishing 2nd for the AL Cy Young while resurrecting his place as one of the most dominant pitchers in the game by establishing his secondary stuff. His out-of-this-world postseason is what the fans will remember when he pitched to the tune of a 4-0 record with a 1.25 ERA, 35 strikeouts in 30 IP while only issuing 2 free passes and winning the ALCS MVP for his pivotal role in helping the Sox come back from a 1-3 deficit. The fact that the team got 7 quality starts from the enigmatic Julian Tavarez showed that the 2007 staff had the depth to get an innings eater when options seemed limited.

Winner: I find it amazing that the 2004 staff only missed 5 starts, and like I said in the right fielder comparison, being there is half the battle. Even though I believe the 2004 staff had the better 1-2, it is the 2007 staff's depth that proved more versatile, and according to the statistics, had the solid numbers to back it up. As you will find out later in the piece, the true depth goes deeper than those 6 listed above. ADVANTAGE: 2007

Bullpen

Simple as Foulke.
(cache.boston.com)

2004: Playoff Roster and Others
Mike Myers (5-1, 4.64 ERA, 1.59 WHIP, 32 K, 42 2/3 IP, 75 GP)
Ramiro Mendoza (2-1, 3.52 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 13 K, 30 2/3 IP, 27 GP)
Alan Embree (2-2, 4.13 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 37 K, 52 1/3 IP, 71 GP)
Mike Timlin (5-4, 4.13 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 56 K, 76 1/3 IP, 76 GP, 1 SV)
Scott Williamson (0-1, 1.26 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 28 K, 28 2/3 IP, 28 GP, 1 SV)
Curt Leskanic (3-5, 5.19 ERA, 1.78 WHIP, 37 K, 43 1/3 IP, 51 GP, 4 SV)
Terry Adams (2-0, 6.00 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, 21 K, 27 IP, 19 GP)
Keith Foulke (5-3, 2.17 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 79 K, 83 IP, 72 GP, 32 SV)

The 2004 bullpen unit may have not been the the most acclaimed during the season, but they definitely pulled their weight. It all started with the other big acquisition of the '03-'04 offseason in Keith Foulke, who not only provided the Sox a go-to guy in the bullpen (which was run by "committee" the year previous), but the comfort that they were handing the ball off to one of the elite stoppers in the league. Foulke was backed up by reliable set-up men Mike Timlin and lefty Alan Embree, who combined with Foulke, tallied 219 appearances amongst them. It was in the postseason that the bullpen shifted into another gear, especially after overcoming a 13-run shellacking in that 19-8 Game 3 in the ALCS. For the rest of the ALCS, the bullpen allowed only 4 runs in 19 2/3 IP (1.83 ERA), including a 13 2/3 inning scoreless run though the marathons of Games 4 and 5. The bullpen unit impressed in the Series as well, allowing 4 ER in 12 1/3 innings and being a huge reason why the Red Sox didn't trail at any point during the 4 games. Like with the rest of the team, there were so many unsung performances. For instance, Curtis Leskanic (3.58 ERA with Sox), who allowed 3 ER in 1/3 of an inning in Game 3, pitched 1 1/3 innings of scoreless ball in Game 4 that would not only give him the win, but would end up being the final appearance of his career. The bullpen even benefited from cameo roles, evidenced by Wakefield's bullpen-saving effort in Game 4 and his 3 scoreless innings in Game 5 while pitching to Varitek, who caught only 2 2/3 innings of knuckleballs all year. But it all goes back to Foulke, for throughout the entire postseason, he threw in 11 of the 14 games, threw 257 pitches in 14 innings, and recorded 19 Ks while only allowing 1 earned run throughout the entire month of October, and was the man who made the assist in the most memorable out recorded in the history of the Red Sox. While staying in the background of the heroics of Ortiz and Damon, the '04 'pen proved that they weren't just ordinary fo(u)lk(e).

Luckily, he pitches better than....whatever that is.
(fotr.mlblogs.com)

2007: Playoff Roster and Others
Javier Lopez (2-1, 3.10 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 26 K, 40 2/3 IP, 61 GP)
Kyle Snyder (2-3, 3.81 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 41 K, 54 1/3 IP, 46 GP)
Manny Delcarmen (0-0, 2.05 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 41 K, 44 IP, 44 GP, 1 SV)
Mike Timlin (2-1, 3.42 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 31 K, 55 1/3 IP, 50 GP, 1 SV)
Joel Pineiro (7-5, 4.33 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 60 K, 97 2/3 IP, 42 GP)
Eric Gagne (4-2, 3.81 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 51 K, 52 IP, 54 GP, 16 SV)
Brendan Donnelly (2-1, 3.05 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 15 K, 20 2/3 IP, 27 GP)
J.C. Romero (2-2, 1.92 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 42 K, 56 1/3 IP, 74 GP, 1 SV)
Hideki Okajima (3-2, 2.22 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 63 K, 69 IP, 66 GP, 5 SV)
Jonathan Papelbon (1-3, 1.85 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, 84 K, 58 1/3 IP, 59 GP, 35 SV)

The 2007 Sox bullpen were as dominant as you could get, and kept in rhythm on the mound like they were with their makeshift instruments in the 'pen. It was built with solid contributors, like Mike Timlin (a.k.a, captain of the "Black Pearl"), who at 41 years young recorded a lower ERA than he had in '04, while throwing a plus sinker that still made him a reliable option. Then there was Manny Delcarmen, who struggled a bit in the playoffs (8.31 ERA), but had the stuff and the numbers in the regular season to show that he could be a formidable presence in the 7th or 8th inning. The '07 bullpen didn't come without surprises. While Dice-K got all the attention coming from abroad, it was Hideki Okajima who emerged as the more dominant of the two, emerging as an All-Star set-up man from the get go with his quirky no-look delivery and his "okie-doke" screwball. If Okie was the ying, Eric Gagne was definitely the yang of the equation. After being acquired by Boston at the trading deadline, Gagne (a.k.a., Gag-me) had a 6.75 ERA with the Sox and removed all hopes of a 2 closer bullpen, while making me lose faith in pitchers who wear goggle-like eye wear. But the constant was our lord of the dance in Jonathan Papelbon, who followed his dominant 2006 with a 2007 of equal prowess, and it didn't stop at the regular season. Like Foulke in 2004, Papelbon had a dominant postseason, throwing 10 2/3 scoreless innings, beginning a streak that lasted until 2009 on a day I just don't wanna talk about. Like the 2004 bullpen, the '07 pen seemed to step it up a notch in the playoffs especially when facing elimination. After being down 3 games to 1 against the Indians, the bullpen didn't allow a run for the rest of the ALCS, and earned an ERA of 2.14 for the rest of the second season. The overall postseason would have microscopic if it wasn't for the complete meltdown in Game 2 of the ALCS where they allowed 7 runs in the 11th inning of a 13-6 beatdown, which seems to be a running theme for the Sox, even in the next year when Tampa trounced the Sox 13-4 before almost pulling off another amazing LCS comeback. Thanks to the work of the '07 pen, everyone got to dance in the end.

Winner: 2007 gets the victory here. The Papeljima show was just so dominant, while like the rest of the team, proved that homegrown talent can thrive immediately in the Boston spotlight. The 2007 Red Sox had the best ERA in the AL pitching in the AL East, and that bullpen deserves a ton of credit for the overall dominance of the pitching corps. ADVANTAGE: 2007

Bench/Call Ups/Others
Just inches away from changing history.
(3.bp.blogspot.com)

2004:

Pokey Reese (3 HR, 29 RBI, .221 Avg, .271 OBP, .303 SLG)
Doug Mientkiewicz (6 HR, 35 RBI, .238 Avg, .326 OBP, .350 SLG)
Doug Mirabelli (9 HR, 32 RBI, .281 Avg, .368 OBP, .525 SLG)
Gabe Kapler (6 HR, 33 RBI, .272 Avg, .311 OBP, .390 SLG)
Dave Roberts (4 HR, 35 RBI, .254 Avg, .337 OBP, .379 SLG)
David McCarty (4 HR, 17 RBI, .258 Avg, .327 OBP, .404 SLG)
Kevin Youkilis (7 HR, 35 RBI, .260 Avg, .367 OBP, .413 SLG)
Nomar Garciaparra (9 HR, 41 RBI, .308 Avg, .365 OBP, .477 SLG)
Lenny DiNardo (0-0, 4.23 ERA, 1.66 WHIP, 21 K, 27 2/3 IP, 22 GP)

Many discard the benches when they analyze the overall health of the team, but usually the best teams have contributors from 1 to 25. The 2004 Sox were a true testament to that belief, and it goes deeper than the 3 2/3 innings that McCarty provided from the mound. For one, it was actually Gabe Kapler who was the mainstay in right field with 59 games started while taming Fenway's right field effectively. Then there is Mirabelli, who caught 186 of Wake's 188 1/3 knuckleballing innings during the season, while providing some extra pop at the plate every 5th day. 2004 also marked the debut of some Youkilis guy, who homered in his first game and was an admirable fill-in when Mueller was recovering from having his knees being under the knife. The bench also showcased some defensive specialists as well. Who can forget Pokey Reese, who provided flashy speed and was an artist with the leather in the middle infield positions, not to mention that game against the Royals in which he clubbed an inside-the-park and an outside-the-park homer May 8th against the Royals. But we all know the trading deadline acquisitions that defined the year, the bench and the franchise. It was the infamous three-way Nomar deal in which we got first baseman and defensive whiz Doug Mientkiewicz from Minnesota (who we were playing that day). In that same afternoon, a speedster from the Dodgers by the name of Dave Roberts was shipped to Boston and would be the protagonist in the reversal of fortune for the Sox in the ALCS with his 9th inning steal on Mariano Rivera. With a full tool set in reserve for every game, not to mention a future franchise corner infielder in the making, the '04 Sox proved that they were in every contest no matter who was to answer the call.

Don't blink! The future might run past ya!
(i.a.cnn.net)

2007:

Eric Hinske (6 HR, 21 RBI, .204 Avg, .317 OBP, .398 SLG)
Doug Mirabelli (5 HR, 16 RBI, .202 Avg, .278 OBP, .360 SLG)

Alex Cora (3 HR, 18 RBI, .246 Avg, .298 OBP, .386 SLG)
Bobby Kielty (1 HR, 12 RBI, .218 Avg, .287 OBP, .287 SLG)
Jacoby Ellsbury (3 HR, 18 RBI, .353 Avg, .394 OBP, .509 SLG)
Clay Buchholz (3-1, 1.59 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 22 K , 22 2/3 IP, GS)
Kason Gabbard (6-1, 4.65 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 55 K, 81 1/3 IP, 15 GS)
Wily Mo Pena (13 HR, 39 RBI, .253 Avg, .319 OBP, .439 SLG)

The 2007 reserves, like the team in 2004, had a solid cast of seasoned veterans that were easily to rely upon when the need came. Doug Mirabelli was the only returning cast member from the 2004 reserves, and while he declined at the plate a smidge, he wasn't a slouch when it came to catching Wakefield's dancing knuckler. Players like Eric Hinske, a former Rookie of the Year with the Blue Jays, was no exception in his reliability. Just ask the fans who saw the May 17th game vs. the Tigers when we made an unbelievable face-plant catch to keep the game scoreless, then hit the go-ahead homer two innings later. Then there was Alex Cora, who was the epitome of a skilled utility player who always came prepared and did the little things that never went under appreciated by the Boston faithful. Hell, the fans were calling for him to get the job at second when Pedroia was hitting .172 early in the season. Last, but not least in this group was Bobby Kielty, who played with as much intensity as his hair was red, while providing what proved to be the deciding homer in the World Series clincher on the only pitch he saw in the entire series. As good as the seasoned vets were, the defining characteristic of the 2007 team was the youth movement. Lefty Kason Gabbard, a May call-up, tossed a 3-hit, complete game shutout against the Royals in a mid-July game against the Royals, which apparently was good enough to get traded for 2 months of futility known as the Gagne project. You can't forget to mention Clay Buchholz, who in his second start on Sept. 1st, no-hit the Orioles, and thus making his profile known in an instant around the majors as the next potential young phenom (or my favorite piece of trade bait). The most important piece was Jacoby Ellsbury, who literally raced into relevance with his lethal speed and his game-breaking abilities that would change the Sox offensive attack. The World Series ended up being his coming out party, with his 3 doubles and 4 hits in Game 3 and his .438 average, helping him gain some serious national recognition while giving hope to the fans that he would be Damon's outright successor as the lead-off man and center fielder of the future. Overall, the 2007 extras displayed why the Sox were a force to be reckoned with in the present, as well as mirrored the potential success of the future of Red Sox baseball.

Winner: I think if it was just purely the bench, the edge would tip to the 2004 team, considering it had two guys who were starters in their previous team (Mientkiewicz, Roberts), a guy who was practically a starter for them during the season (Kapler), and a better Mirabelli. However, 2007 proved that prospects can play a fundamental role in a championship team, and the Sox had youth in abundance who could walk on the diamond and contribute immediately. You can't deny that the performances of Buchholz and Gabbard helped prove that the 07 Sox's rotation depth was deeper than that of the '04, who to be honest really needed to have all 5 healthy for them to be successful that year with what was available in the farm. In regards to the offense, replacing Crisp for Ellsbury was a logical decision even at the time because Ellsbury's catalytic potential was much higher. Plus out of the two teams, '07 demonstrates the only example of a changing of the guard not just for the current lineup, but for the future of the team, showing how influential a role that the youth movement plays for the new Red Sox. ADVANTAGE: 2007

The Ultimate Champion
ADVANTAGE: 2007!!!!!!!!!
(tfc.rwbcs.com)

Man, this is tearing me up. This is almost like picking your favorite kid! The tough part for me about picking between the two teams before was the power of context, but let's just say that these last three categories were definitely the difference maker in my final decision. The weight of expectations on that 2004 team was tremendous, with the 86 year drought plus having to face a deficit in the LCS that had never been overcome before against their bitter rival that always overcame their advances. Not only did they triumph in the ALCS, they went on to dominate by winning 8 straight games against 2 historically great teams that had won 100 + games in '04 (New York: 101, St. Louis: 105) with mega-lineups. Would the 2007 team be able to pull off this feat? I think with the mixture of highly-skilled veteran players and dynamic young talent, I think the 2007 team would not only beat the '04 Yanks, but would have had an easier time due to better overall pitching and team depth (not to mention a 7-5 category advantage). You also can't discount the heart of the 2007 team, who had to come back from a 1-3 gap against a team that had 2 Cy Young Award candidates, which was arguably harder than against a Yankee team that didn't have a 15-game winner on their staff and an aging bullpen that noticeably hit a wall. 2004 looked like a team built more for the short term, a team built to win that magical one title that would change the profile of the franchise. 2007 was built with the blueprint of the way the future Sox teams were going to be assembled, which included a number of young impact players. As Spring Training approaches, I'm hoping that this blueprint will engineer something resembling our team entering Government Square in amphibious vehicles, with a certain trophy in hand.

Only 4 days till Truck Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Click Here For Part 1
Click Here For Part 2

Before I Peace: Colt Killers
(sports.yahoo.com)

It's one of those moments where I feel so ecstatic to be proven wrong! And who would have known that it all turned around on an onside kick......in the third quarter! Congrats to the Saints and the city of New Orleans for a 31-17 Super Bowl victory over my personal football nemesis known as the Indianapolis Colts in Miami in front of the largest TV audience in history. You have to give huge props to a team that beat Warner, Favre and Manning to earn the franchise's first title in its 43 year history. It's even more outstanding for a city that has gone through over four years of rebuilding their city and their spirits following Hurricane Katrina, only to finally to see their beloved black and gold hoist the Lombardi Trophy. Also a big congrats to to Drew Brees, who won on the turf of the team that chose Daunte Culpepper over him almost 4 years back, while giving New Orleans a superb reason to extend what's already gonna be a crazy Mardi Gras. Seeing Peyton picked in the 4th quarter, the underdog team overcoming the odds, and Megan Fox in a bathtub, it truly was a Merry Man's Christmas!

Locked Up In Your Own Prison

In body or in spirit, a wrong decision could equal this.
(channel.nationalgeographic.com)

If you know me or have seen some of my rants, I not a big fan with what's on TV. In fact, the last show I followed from beginning to end as it was happening was 'Boston Public', and even that got ridiculous after the second season. I would think that even my high school would have shut down with all that dysfunction. In some ways, it isn't necessarily about the shows. Sometimes, the fans of these shows take an elitist mentality, telling you that you will not get it in trying to follow it, only to tell you that your purchase of 5 seasons on DVD isn't worth it when the final episode comes along. I can only imagine how the 'Lost' fallout is gonna be like in a couple of months. Whether it's '24' or 'The Sopranos', the modern show has you so high with optimism, only to have you question everything about Hollywood after the third season due to some massive curveballs. Recently however, there has been this one show I have been magnetized to. There's this program on National Geographic, 'Locked Up Abroad', mostly detailing the accounts of real people who got caught smuggling some not-so-legal substances from foreign countries, and paid for it with their freedom. My YouTube history is just filled with clips from these intense mini documentaries. It's all predictable, but it has the most captivating re-enactments of any show with all the pauses and slow-downs, which makes me think that this show has better acting than about 75% of what's on TV currently. Recently though, I found that there is something about this show that hits on a personal level. Originally, I was quick to calling these smugglers the dumbest ducks on the pond, but an experience in my life made me realize something. You see, today marks the one year anniversary of me leaving that sketchy MLN (multi-line marketing, another clever euphemism for a pyramid scheme) sales job, which was a mess I should have never been in the first place. In many of these episodes, I find myself in the story of the interviewee, almost like I've been through that exact situation before, right down to virtually every segment of the episode. I learned through the show and through this particular experience in my life that when the tides turn your situation upside down, it's much easier to be a casualty of the system. You have no idea how long I've been waiting to write something on this crummy experience, and now I have the perfect lens to articulate this story. Listen up, ladies and gents! I know this seems like a long read, but there is a lesson to be learned through all of this.

Philly for the company party, 5 days before I left.
(CEB II)

The "My Life Is Bland, I'm Broke And I Need To Improve It" Intro
In most of these episodes (especially the drug ones), the subject states that they were working some dead-end job or had no job while living in a bleak town (Shocker: A lot of these are from Britain). These people talk themselves into the fact that they have very few options if any and like any other young person, are intrigued by the advancement of his/her financial situation to access multiple opportunities and travel the world (eerily familiar). Enter me, who right before Christmas got laid off from his job in the middle of a bad economy, especially bad for my concentration (marketing), which was one of the sets of jobs that wasn't faring too well in the market fallout. Looking back, I was completely moronic in thinking I was in such a desperate situation. I mean, I had a ton of money in the bank (those were the days), for I had a Eurotrip to fund as well as unemployment insurance queued up for me for the next couple of months. It goes back to my New Year's entry on how the human mind can convince itself that anything is a good idea, even something with a ton of red flags, only because you have your eyes on a prize that really isn't attainable. Sorry folks, this story gets worse.

The "This Looks Slightly Off, But Seems Otherwise Legitimate" Moment
In the show (see: Venezuela, Mexico episodes among others), this moment usually occurs at some bar or club where they run into a guy who makes the convincing proposition, usually consisting of an all-expenses paid vacation and a significant sum of money in exchange for bringing back a small package. The subject(s) usually ask what the contents are, and get the chilling response of it being a white powder that isn't baby powder. The drug lord however will ease the worries of the future participants by saying it's only a kilo or two, that everyone is paid off and no one has ever been caught. I find this eerily similar to the three interviews that I had with this MLN company, two of which were in this less than average looking office building. The first buttered me up with a generic 15 minutes of what they do and which clients they serve, and then they said that they would call me for the 2nd interview (pretty close to right away), which was a walk-through of the door-to-door part of it. Mind you, my walk-through was on New Year's Eve during a hefty snowfall (huge red flag). During this "interview", they bring you to lunch and show you the pay scale, which is based on commissions, and formulate it so if you make a few leads a day ($50 a lead for gutters and windows, although I learned a few weeks later that door leads were actually $35), you can be making more money than you can even dream of, and in a year I could be running my own office. In my mind, I found it kind of weird that they had me wear a suit and tie for all of this outdoor roaming, or that my college degree in reality wasn't that useful for this profession, but it looked like an intriguing opportunity in a time where not many were present. Bad mistake Chucky, bad mistake.

The "Fate Changing Step Into The Quicksand of Hell" Moment
It's the all-dreaded moment in the show where the subject(s) make the fateful decision to oversee all the red flags and make the shady journey to doom. In many of the episodes (see: Lima, Cuzco, just about all the drug ones), there is hesitation and doubt, but in the end, the future drug mules end up willing to carry out the task either because they feel as if they have no choice, or they talk themselves into the fact that it's an opportunity too good to be missed. For myself, I felt a bit of both. The first two interviews presented me several warnings, like the hints that I would be working nights outside in some inclimate weather with no guarantee of getting consistent pay. All I saw unfortunately, was the office and loads of cash. I thought that I couldn't get this kind of chance with anyone else during this awful recession. So when my observer went in the manager's office to request a third interview (which I found out later is just to tell the manager I basically had a pulse and didn't revolt during the day), I felt like I was making the first step into the rest of my life. I told the manager I would start right away, which I later learned in training, were the magic words that would open up that box of fools' gold. My foot was firmly entrenched into the pathway to hell.

The Glaring "I Have To Get Out Of This" Moment
This part of the episode usually comes during or after the high of the paid vacation when the realization of what they are actually doing becomes all too real. The first example that comes to mind is in the Jamaica episode, where T.K. decides to whip out her bag of ganja she just bought at a newspaper stand, only to have her gangster accomplices freak out on her, and thus when she finds out that the sticky icky is illegal in Jamaica. It was then she realized that she was in a world of hurt, considering it was marijuana that she was going to be smuggling through Jamaican customs in a few days. That day for me was a couple weeks in. In the beginning I had some success, but the rigors of the lifestyle were killing me. The cold weather, an all-fast food diet, getting home late at night with my dinner in the microwave, and the questioning of whether I was passionate enough about this job. I mean, I was offering free estimates on certain home improvement repairs. Did I wanna risk frostbite for this? Especially when my manager kept dodging the question of health insurance, considering it is required by law in the state of Massachusetts (However, he was always annoyed when I wore my winter hat indoors when I walked into that cold office. Things that make you go, 'What?!?!'). Worst off, some days it felt like I was dodging the police, for there were many times in the beginning where I had an intuition we needed a license in some of these towns in order to canvass the area. But just when the job and the weather couldn't get any more dodgy, one Wednesday in January, it did. The philosophy for these MLN companies who do residential work is that the crappy days are the best because everyone is at home, regardless of the pneumonia risk. So an 'intensity day' is implemented, when an salesman gets a certain amount of leads that seems attainable (usually 2), to pick up a quick ticket home, Trust me, easier said than done in stormy weather.

The location was Arlington, MA on a day where the cold was accompanied by every form of precipitation. My jacket was covered by a layer of ice, all my sign-up gear was frozen and virtually every house had an uphill, icy climb to the doorstep. There must have been at least 6 instances where I almost cracked my skull from slipping on the ice as if an invisible Troy Polamalu up-ended me from behind. It was there where I met the most resistance from frosty people, probably influenced by the bleak conditions. There was one particular incident where I went to a house with a 'NO SOLICITING' sign on it, with the MLN philosophy usually being they will be nice to you because they rarely get visitors, or they had just moved in the house. What I got was an epic tongue lashing from a middle-aged man which almost got me a free ride in a cop car (getting kinda ironic). Not a moment soon after came a call from my manager, which felt like I was being watched from a sniper tower. He asked me how I was doing, followed by how it sounded like I didn't have a positive attitude, and that it needed to change. No s!@#, Sherlock! I'm a chocsicle, my papers are so frozen that I can't sign anybody up and I almost got arrested 30 seconds ago! Tough love in that situation obviously wasn't a good motivation technique. It was then and there in the middle of an Arlington neighborhood where I broke a cardinal rule. I used the phone to call back a couple of friends that had called me earlier in the day. It was then that my enthusiasm for this job officially started to wane. After that day in the field, the other four in the office started to treat me with kid gloves, almost training me from scratch. Looking back, it wasn't necessarily because I wasn't executing, I just didn't give a damn about trying anymore. That freeze-dried day in Arlington was the pivot point, the point of no return and the point of realizing how ludicrous this job was.

The "Arrival To The Slum That Makes The Moment All Too Real" Part
In many of the episodes, the drug mules get sent to this rough part of town, where they will have the drugs strategically packed in their bags, or have the contraband strapped to their own bodies. It is at this point where the participant(s) in this scheme are now roaming in the visual representation of how out-of-their-element they are truly in. In a way, it is an insight to their doomed future and the unpredictable environment they will face when they go in the slammer. Let's time travel to late January 2009, to Wayne, New Jersey, where me and two others were sent on a 'road trip' to train in one of the best ran MLN offices in the country. It was our manager who told us about a $40/night Ramada Inn, which existed in structure, but not in price. After a 4-hour drive and a little bit of disappointment, we end up staying at this sketchy motel near some old truck trailers with an chain smoking, 70-year old dude manning the front desk. Apparently, we find out the next day that in order to get a room at the Ramada for that cheap, we simply had to go on Priceline.com and enter it in. Kind of an important detail to leave out. Anyhoo, this New Jersey office primarily focused on Home Depot and estimates on cabinet resurfacing. It was an indoor operation, meaning it was 72 degrees and sunny everyday! It was there that I found out that even the best salespeople were implementing unethical practices, for example calling a contractor relative to give a name of one of their own customers, only to have them call it off under 24 hours before the scheduled appointment to secure the $35 dollar lead. Another pitfall was that the promotion was over saturated, meaning that people were starting to hear the same pitches everyday from different sales people. Even some of the sales pitches were so uncomfortable, that they felt like a purse snag away from resembling an all-out robbery. Most of the people in the store didn't even care to even think about repairs. Recession, remember? Did I have to be that much of a bad person to do this job? Probably just like the drug mules in the slum scenes, I realized I was stepping into one shady world.

The "Tropical Vacation" Part
Unlike in the show, the "tropical vacation" didn't come for me till after all of the other horrors. It was in the form of a company party in Philly, where all these Cydcor/Smart Circle based companies get together to get brainwashed by the top dogs, and then get drunk and crunk on the dance floor. The presence of Budweisers and babes made it feel like a Utopian oasis in a desert of fraudulence. Just when I was about to settle into my little paradise, my manager brought me and the rest of the crew to a club where his brother's friend was the drummer in the band playing that night. It was that camaraderie of twenty-somethings that can make any night a good night, including seeing a girl in that small venue, let's just say didn't need to learn how to swim. It was probably that camaraderie that kept me from leaving after that brutal day in Arlington a week before. It was like I owed them my allegiance and my success and that we were truly all in it for each other. Like the vacations in the episodes, the company party was just a quick escape from the reality that I was truly involved in. While I was relishing indulging in some European brews and melodic tunes, I won't lie, looking back, I definitely wished that I went back to the hip scene at the Marriott, especially knowing what happened 5 days later (Although still scarred by seeing the New Jersey manager drunk and shirtless after coming back from the club. Yup, you guessed it. Another red flag.).

The "Moment Of Truth" Moment
Well it was back to the grind outside in the teens and single-digit temperatures of southern New Hampshire, where before I dragged my feet through another New Hampshire town, I found out that my manager wouldn't cover the costs of the transmission breakdown that one of our associates had the day before the Philly excursion, and the even more bogus part that I would somehow owe money by the end of this, even though I would never know if I would get my check from my work in New Jersey in the first place. Give that a red flag for un-business like conduct. I mean, aren't businesses supposed to cover all travel costs? I thought of myself and my Jeep, which is always on the verge of creating smoke of its own and thought, "How could I afford to be in this circus?". After doing quite well in the indoor confines of Home Depot, I got right back into my funk. The whole job had started to wear me down completely. All the lack of ethics, the faux professionalism, the constant purchases of hand warmers, what and who I was working for, it was like a 5-ton boulder on my head and spirit. Bring the time machine to Thursday, February 5th in Merrimack, NH, during a 10-lead group intensity day. The monotony was the same, passionless romp through another New Hampshire neighborhood, thinking about future options and of course, avoiding all "NO SOLICITING" signs. It was 7:30 in the evening and pitch black when I approached this house that would eventually decide my fate.

When I began my 5-step sales pitch, she couldn't hear me due to the sound of her running faucet, prompting her to ask me to come in. When doing residential, it is always a treat when someone allows you in, not just for the warmth that the candy and hot chocolate provides, but it makes the pitch much more conversational. I found out that the man worked near my hometown. She had stated that she and her husband had saw me and felt empathy for me, and revealed that they were Jehovah's Witnesses, which helped me gain an almost painful insight on how people felt about me and my current profession. After a 30 minute time-killing convo with the compassionate couple, I walked outside so that I can be picked up by my crew. While I rolled another doughnut, the rest of the group got a combined 9 of 10 possible leads. The car ride home had that pink elephant in the room feel. Almost like in the Brazil episode where none of the drug-packed friends were talking to each other on the way to the airport, no one was talking to me. It was that feeling in the airport that each drug mule describes as if every one in that area knows what they are up to, and what their scheme was. Amidst the sounds of alternative rock on the radio, I felt no different.

The Aftermath
Getting back was almost a relief, considering the awkwardness of rolling another doughnut was paralyzing me. I was tempted to leave right way like I always did, but there was a Celtics-Lakers game on the TV in the office, and also some dude from another MLN company was in the building, who happened to grow up where my manager grew up in Pennsylvania, which proceeded into an hour long conversation where I felt would have been more awkward and impolite to just flee from. After what seemed like an eternity, the reminiscing finally ended and I rushed to my old Jeep, which takes 5 minutes and a black magic ritual to start in the cold. When the engine finally hummed, I drove off realizing I couldn't do this to myself anymore (Vividly remember the Pearl Jam song 'Release' play on my iPod on the ride home. Omen?). Of course, the decision was made easier when my mentor texted me and said to take Friday and Saturday off. Red flag for unprofessionalism. What happened to face-to-face assessment? That moment was the opening of the cage for me, where I could choose to run free. That's when I realized, like smuggling heroin in a girdle out of Bangladesh, this MLN crap was a joke, a crime and a waste of time (sorry for the rhyme...damn it!). Finally, I had stopped accepting the absurdities of this job that were previously being taught to me as necessary realities.

So how do I feel afterward? For one, I will not have ill will to another Jehovah's Witness after this. I will still make some jokes, because that's just how I am, but nothing evil out of this heart will be directed towards them, that's for sure. As for the job, I feel as if I was the one who actually listened to his instincts and flushed the drugs down the toilet like the people in the show should have. Amazingly enough, I lasted a month in that compnay, more time than a kid I met in my first days who had served our great country in the deserts of Iraq. Damn, I saw kids devise clever excuses to get out of the hell in their first day! However, like Daniel in the Ecuador episode, I still feel that greyness from the experience at the end of it all. Writing a mini-novel about this probably shows that I still may have not gotten over it. I'm free of the experience, but there is no joy that comes out of being free. It's not like I can put a company like this, who are linked to many others with poor reputations, on my resume, which makes it a wasted month of work experience. But in the end, what hurts the most is that I can't really blame those in the companies. In a way, they are victims too, especially the ones who had been in it for months and were a sniff way from that promised managerial spot. They had already spent too much time away from their families, friends and their significant others to get this close. Why stop now? Those are the ones I truly feel for. The hardest part is that I have to acknowledge that I made my own bed. The fact that I'm very conscious about cults and brainwashing makes me feel even worse about being duped. In the intro, I said that anyone can be vulnerable to seedy situations if they perceive themselves vulnerable, and even the very aware can be victims of trickery if the right buttons are pressed. Like these drug mules turned unsuspecting convicts, I ultimately convinced myself I needed this job when I truly didn't, and got what I asked for in not recognizing all the warning signs, setting up a huge mea culpa. Another thing, DON'T JOIN THOSE MLN COMPANIES! These will be the companies all over the job search sites that promise an entry level position with management training, and some even say they work in sports (knocking my head with a hammer that I didn't see this before). They make it seem like they are in it for your own interests when in reality, they are just using you as a step for their ladder of success, a deceitful system if you ask me. Especially if it's about money, always think whether the personal pros are worth the consequences of the personal cons before putting yourself in a venture. If they say anyone can do it, ask those people to give you an honest answer as to why there aren't a ton of millionaires doing this job. In the end, the only way to make myself happy about this situation is that luckily, I got out before I trapped myself in that scam, and got locked up in my own prison.

Super Bowl In The City Where The Heat Is On

Will Miami be Peyton's Place or Payton's Place?
(americanfootballblog.com)

It's off to Miami, where we will witness through our giant high-definition boxes, who will replace the Steelers as the owners of the Vince Lombardi Trophy. I've spent the last 4 days trying to get a certain Will Smith song out of my head that hasn't possessed my soul to this degree since middle school. I have to admit that I'm kind of bothered by one thing: I never expected a Super Bowl week in Miami to be this subdued. Sure, there were a few men dressed in lingerie, but you probably could have seen that in New Orleans, which is where the real party is at this year. Maybe it's been the weather, which has been a little drab this past week down at the MIA, but I will take the projected game day temp of 68 right now, believe me. All I know is that I'm always ready for the Super Bowl, a.k.a, Man's Christmas. For me, it doesn't matter who the teams are. I mean, who can turn down a winner-takes-all sporting event involving the biggest sport in the country with arguably the two best quarterbacks in the league? Even if the game isn't up to par, the clever multi-million dollar commercials make for solid backup programming. Besides, this game has some personal importance for me, only because I'm cheering for the sanity of Boston sports fans like myself, who are on the verge of seeing the Yankees, Lakers and Colts conquer their respective leagues in the span of almost 8 months (still waiting for the steam to stop pouring out of my ears). Also, don't forget to place your bets on how many Archie Manning/Kim Kardashian shots we will get during the game, which will surely rival the competition on the field. Let's get to my final football prediction of the year, because I know deep down inside that you are disappointed that I didn't analyze the Pro Bowl!

Gun show, Miami, Sunday, and thankfully no Gilbert Arenas!
(imgsrv.wwl.com)

(1) Indianopolis Colts vs. (1) New Orleans Saints

It took 43 years and a mistake prone quarterback (you know who I'm talking about), but the Saints are finally in the Super Bowl. Maybe it was destiny the way the game played out (although pretty cruel for already tortured Vikings fans), maybe it was Favre being Favre, or maybe it was that God awful Vikings fight song that was written by all people, Prince. As we all know however, turnovers are part of the game, and the better team never commits 5 turnovers. In New Orleans, all eyes will be on Drew Brees and whether he can give a city that has had its share of trying times its first professional title. The Saints will surely be the nation's pick for sentiment, and because of the spread of the many relocated after Katrina. Many of "Who Dat Nation" will be wondering whether Reggie Bush as another big game in him like he had against the Cardinals and whether their defense (only 1 sack in the 2 playoff games) can muster up a consistent pass rush against Peyton. I believe the big key for them is to establish a running game not only to balance their offensive attack, but so they can keep the ball away from Manning. A few of those "remember me" hits that were talked about by defensive coordinator Gregg Williams would also be a vital ingredient to the victory recipe. On the other side, we have a Colts team that has triumphed in spite of the multitude of changes that any NFL team goes through (including head coach), thanks to the help of constant presences like Wayne, Freeney, and of course, Manning. The status of one of those constants (Freeney) is in limbo after an ankle sprain in the AFC Championship game, which will significantly stunt a Colts defense that uses its flash as a weapon. The $64,000 dollar question the Colts must ask themselves is whether a Freeney at 50-75% is going to be as/more effective than a Raheem Brock at 100%. Their main weapon however, is obviously at the quarterback position, with a guy who just won his 4th MVP and seems to get better and more focused as he gets older (avoiding not to make a vicious Brady comment here). He has a chance to win this game purely on his own merit, considering I don't think that the Saints defense can trap big playmakers like Wayne and Clark like the Jets did, and even the Jets still lost. Unfortunately, I just don't see how you go against the Colts, who not only have that speedy defense that flusters quarterbacks, but has a quarterback who has seen pretty much every defensive scheme you can possibly devise. In the midst of the crazy weather of Miami, I predict a re-coronation of the Colts in the Magic City the place where they beat the Bears 4 years back. Yup, the Yanks, the Lakers, and the Colts. It's gonna be like dying, waking up, and just dying all over again. I have a feeling I will be taking 50 kamikaze shots and passing out before the end of the game........with 'Welcome to Miami' in the background.

Final Score: Colts 27, Saints 21

2004 Sox Vs. 2007 Sox; The Outfielders & The Two Papis

Who doesn't love some bling?
(graphics8.nytimes.com)

Finally, I'm now able to sit down and give my complete attention to the 2nd part of this 2004 vs. 2007 comparison piece, just 17 before pitchers and catchers (trying to keep from flying through the roof!). It should help me recover from that painful loss against the Lakers, a loss that showed once again that these Celts aren't able to play a complete 4 quarters, especially in that all-important 4th quarter. Nevermind the Celts losing 11 of the last 17, last nights Grammys have me questioning again why I even get roped into watching these award shows. I find that it's usually the opportunity for these academies to award either the flavor of the moment (Taylor Swift), or some veteran artist/group who didn't win in their heyday and the powers that be decide to give them a few trophies in consolation (Steely Dan in 2001). All I have to say is when Taylor Swift accepted Kanye's apology, she should have written a 'thank you' to go along with that. After the "Interruption Heard 'Round The World", she has seen sales of her album (Fearless, actually released in Nov. 2008) skyrocket almost exponentially, upgraded from a Jonas Brother to one of them vampire dudes, has hosted Saturday Night Live and pretty much has wrestled away the 'America's Sweetheart' title from Jennifer Aniston. I still think that Kanye was a complete moron not only for the interruption, but for calling Beyonce's 'Single Ladies' video the best of all-time (still befuddled on that one). However, as much as America may hate me for saying it, I can't stand Taylor Swift. I compare her to those super sweet Smarties candies that are so highly concentrated with sugar that you only need one before you start getting sick. Maybe it's because I can't relate to her music, or maybe I don't get how everyone has started to overrate her post "Kanye-gate" simply because they feel sorry for her, but I just can't stomach her recent popularity. But beware for the backlash, my friends. I'm not saying this because I have a recent grudge on Swift's popularity, but it happens to everyone that famous, especially in this TMZ world. Pardon me for making predictions for the next year, but my bold, somewhat out there prediction for 2011 will be that she will be involved in the scandal of the year. No one stays spotless in a world desperate for celebrity hidden skeletons, and with media outlets more than willing to find the dirt. Plus, remember the days when Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan were innocent? And we all know what happened to the image of the once squeaky-clean El Tigre. Now that I have spewed my venom, let me warm my heart with some Sox championship talk,......and I thought I wouldn't have a substantial intro for this piece. Enjoy, ladies and gents!

Left Fielder

The real achievement is what he's growing on his head.
(assets.espn.go.com)

2004: Manny Ramirez (43 HR, 130 RBI, .308 Avg, .397 OBP, .613 SLG)
Ah, yes. The ferocious Manny in his prime, the Manny pre-female fertility fame. He, along with Big Papi, were easily the most feared duo in the majors in 2004 as they were the 1st duo to hit 40 homers, drive in 100 runs and hit over .300 since Ruth and Gehrig in 1931, while going yard back-to-back a record-tying 6 times. Manny not only led the league in homers, but also led the league in OPS (1.009), which helped earn him third place overall in the AL MVP voting ahead of fellow paisano and teammate Ortiz to go with a Silver Slugger. But arguably his most illustrious accomplishment was winning the World Series MVP, which was marked by a .412 average and tying the record for the longest postseason hit streak at 17 games. Overall, Manny hit a respectable .350 on the postseason with 2 homers and 11 RBI. Not bad, considering he didn't drive in one run the ALCS. This will also be the year in which he not only had had his best temper in a Sox uni, but he sort of came out of his shell a bit more in '04, elevating the "Manny being Manny" persona to new heights. With all the accolades and everything else, 2004 was arguably Manny's best all-around season as a pro, and he once drove in 165 in a previous season! This is the Manny I truly miss.

Now there's one 'bad' man!
(cache.boston.com)

2007: Manny Ramirez (20 HR, 88 RBI, .296 Avg, .388 OBP, .493 SLG)
A strained oblique (or so we think) became the governor to his usually stellar 30, 100, .300 campaigns that he normally puts up, but Manny was still the most feared right-handed slugger this side of Albert Pujols when he did step up in the box. Just ask Fransisco Rodriguez. He did make his 11th All-Star game in '07, and he very well would have accomplished those automatic numbers if he hadn't missed 29 games in 2007. Sure, Manny is known for his offensive prowess, no doubt, but he led all AL left fielders in fielding percentage (.990) and was 5th amongst major league left fielders in assists (8), but I can't say all of that prevent the near heart attack I got on every pop-up in Colorado during the World Series. In the second season, he proved to be as dominant as ever, hitting .348 with 4 homers and 16 RBI to go along with a .524 on-base percentage. This would also be the postseason in which he broke Bernie Williams's total postseason homerun record, furthering his place as one of the most feared postseason sluggers of all-time. On the whole, it definitely wasn't 2004 in direct comparison, but Manny proved to the world the he was still a 'bad man'.

Winner: Have to go with Manny in 2004, a year in which he arguably could have won an AL MVP to accompany his World Series MVP on the shelf in his den. However, I would still have 2007 strained oblique Manny in my 2010 lineup any day, for he would probably be the best hitter in the entire team. Don't worry 2010 Sox, I still have faith in ya (for now)! ADVANTAGE: 2004

Center Field
As for breaking curses, a caveman can do it.
(i.a.cnn.net)

2004: Johnny Damon (20 HR, 94 RBI, .304 Avg, .380 OBP, .477 SLG)

2004 will be the year known by Sox fans as the year in which Jesus played center field at Fenway, and I think that even the Lord's son would appreciated the show Johnny Damon put on. In 2004, Damon established himself as one of the premier lead-off hitters and defensive center fielders in the big leagues. Becoming only the 4th lead-off hitter to drive in 90+ runs was good for starters. He hit 20 homers from the top spot and was 2nd in the league in runs scored (123), proving he was one of the most important catalysts in any lineup. Garnering just as many headlines was the extra fuzz on his mug coming into Spring Training, which looked like he just came from an audition for the movie, 'Passion of the Christ'. His caveman look was a hit for the team, who followed along with their own crazy beards and hair styles, as well as the fans who crowded the ballpark armed with their own ridiculous wig and fake beard combos to cheer on number 18. His catalytic importance was further proven in the postseason, where after an abysmal start in the ALCS, he definitely finished with a splash with his 2 homers (including a grand slam) in Game 7 against the Yankees to complete Boston's improbable comeback. He kept hitting after that, and provided the proverbial final nail in the coffin with his lead-off homer in Game 4 of the World Series against the Cardinals. Damon's performance and his hair made him a favorite amongst the Faithful, and a leader amongst the 'Idiots'. Now it looks like he will be applauded for it once again.

Finally, a center fielder that makes me reminisce of chocolate cereal!
(mlb.mlb.com)

2007: Coco Crisp (6 HR, 60 RBI, .268 Avg, .330 OBP, .382 SLG)
You are probably calling for Ellsbury on this spot, but you have to remember that it was Coco Crisp who predominantly manned center field for the Sox in 2007, and he didn't do a bad job. Sure his offense left a little to be desired, considering he was signed to the tall task of taking over Johnny Damon's role on the club. When he was on base however, he was a threat on the base paths, stealing 28 bags (2nd on the team), adding an element to a mighty, but different Red Sox offense. Plus, how could I forget that game-tying triple off Rivera early in the season, or his 1st multi-homer game of his career against the Braves? But even if you're just a casual Sox fan, you know that it was his defense that earned him his paychecks (1 E in 416 chances). Crisp made some of the most spectacular, stupefying and clutch grabs, solidifying him as one of the best defensive center fielders in the game if not the best. Defensively, he easily surpassed Damon, and I thought it was a shame he didn't win a Gold Glove in his time at Boston. Just to think we almost lost his Gold Glove-caliber defense because Mariner Moose almost ran him over with an ATV. Even though Coco struggled so mightily in the postseason that he was replaced inevitably by the flashy Ellsbury, his catch-and-crash final out of the ALCS will always be one of the iconic images of a triumphant 2007 season for the Sox. Whether it was his name or his acrobatic defense, the fans were crazy for Coco in 2007!

Winner: Although Coco Crisp dominates in the defensive category and in the name category, Damon gets the nod here. Like Crisp, Johnny put his body on the line out there like no one else, and combined with his offensive skills was the premier lead-off guy that year, even over the likes of Ichiro. Sometimes, 'idiots' do triumph! ADVANTAGE: 2004

Right Field
Dictionary image for the word, 'grit'.
(i.cnn.net)

2004: Trot Nixon (6 HR, 23 RBI, .315 Avg, .377 OBP, .510 SLG)

Somewhat controversial in a way, considering he only started 36 games in right field. This should be a spot reserved for Gabe Kapler, who started 59 games in right and played almost 3 times as many games as Trot did in '04. But when Nixon recovered from his thigh and back ailments, there was no question who was going to man that tricky right field of Fenway. In a team known for hairstyles and pranks, Nixon personified the guts of the 2004 team, not just for coming back from some tough injuries, but for the way he would risk the health of his body and the cleanliness of his jersey to win a ballgame. Even though I thought he was slightly over-hyped, you can't help but respect someone who would do whatever to win, and we wouldn't have won that elusive championship without that spirit. He played a smart right field in a ballpark where it's necessary (1 E in 306 chances), while proving to be a great complimentary piece on offense with his penchant for fastballs. Trot definitely proved his worth in the postseason, especially in the World Series where he hit .357 and clubbed 3 doubles with 2 insurance RBIs in the final game of the World Series in St. Louis. Nixon's 'dirt dog' attitude will remain within the minds Sox fans long after his dirty hat disintegrates.

It's like he just won $70 million.
(redsoxgirl46.mlblogs.com)

2007: J.D. Drew (11 HR, 64 RBI, .270 Avg, .373 OBP, .423 SLG)
What a roller coaster 2007 was for J.D. Drew, but thankfully it didn't end up in a complete drop. Of course, a ton of expectations naturally come with a 5 year, $70 million dollar deal that was delayed almost 2 months due to the editing of language to protect the organization of a disastrous right shoulder injury. You can also consider it a baffling deal for many, considering he was injury prone and was the anti-Trot Nixon in terms of intensity. Despite a hamstring injury and missing time due to a health scare with his son, Drew played 140 games, which is the most games he has played in a Sox uniform. However in those games, he proved inconsistent, forcing me and many others to call him 'Nancy' among other names that I won't bother writing. On the other hand, Drew didn't completely shoot us in the foot in right field (5 E in 220 chances) and proved to be a steady presence on the bases, thus sort of defending Theo's decision to give him a boat load of money, but just sort of. Not only was he a part of the 4 consecutive homeruns against the Chase Wright and the Yankees, he is the only player in MLB history to be part of two back-to-back-to-back-to-back sessions, his previous occasion being with the Dodgers (being the 2nd shot in both). His season-saving highlight was his 1st inning grand slam in Game 6 of the ALCS against Trot Nixon and the Indians on the three year anniversary of the Sox completion of the greatest comeback in history (You know what that is!) and was a huge boost in another amazing ALCS comeback by the Sox. It was a feel-good moment in a rough season for Drew and up to that point, a rough postseason. In the end, he finished the ALCS with a .360 average and batted .333 in the World Series, earning his salary, at least for 2007. At least for now, I'm actually yelling, "Dreeeeeeeeew"!

Winner: Both are no Dewey Evans, but that's asking for a lot. This is another tough one to measure up only because I think both players left a lot to be desired despite some highlights. In the end, I give a slight edge to J.D. Drew here, only because he played enough of a sample of games to size up his performance. Like I said in the Trot Nixon section, the right field position could have easily gone to Kapler or even Kevin Millar, who started 53 games at right in 2004. Sometimes, being there is half the battle, and you have to applaud Drew for even doing that. ADVANTAGE: 2007

Designated Hitter

A pose worth staying up till 1 in the morning for.
(top-10-list.org)

2004: David Ortiz (41 HR, 139 RBI, .301 Avg, .380 OBP, .603 SLG)
If 2003 was his coming out party, 2004 proved that Papi was going to be the life of the party for several more years. Pretty much everything has been said about Ortiz and his 2004, from the playoff walk-offs to the opposite field homers to his ever-present joy that made the 2004 Red Sox so much fun to watch. With his shots over the monster and his jovial nature, Big Papi became the new face of the franchise and a city in one bound. Nevermind being the power that rivaled the offensively minded Sox teams of the past, the combined production in the middle with Manny was historic. Ortiz finished 4th in the AL MVP voting, received his first trip to the All-Star Game (in which he homered), his first Silver Slugger and won the most-deserved LCS MVP ever handed out (.387, 3 HR, 11 RBI), helped out by his playing a pivotal role with his team facing elimination in Games 4 and 5. Overall in the playoffs, he hit .400 with 5 homers and 19 RBI with 3 walk-off hits, while not only proving his status as one of most respected hitters in the game, but one of the most clutch hitters as well. Sure there was Damon's hair, Manny being Manny and Pedro's Jheri curl, but Papi is still considered the most iconic piece to that 2004 championship puzzle.

Eye wear = Experienced winner
(2.bp.blogspot.com)

2007: David Ortiz (35 HR, 117 RBI, .332 Avg, .445 OBP, .621 SLG)

This was a Papi that changed into more of a pull hitter after his record setting 2006 season. This was a Papi that showed he was 3 years older, but he also established that he was still a threatening presence. Injuries to his knees, shoulders and quads turned down his power and clutchness a smidge, but it didn't stop Ortiz from contributing in a major way to the 2007 offensive attack. Like 2004, Ortiz earned an All-Star appearance, a Silver Slugger and was 4th in the AL MVP race. He recorded the highest batting average of his career, while leading the league in walks (111), on-base percentage and extra base-hits (88). The postseason proved no different, hitting a whopping .714 with 2 HRs and 6 walks in the ALDS against the Angels and hit .370 with 3 homers and 10 RBI in October, showing once again he was still a force to be reckoned with. However, this was the year which provided a hint of foreshadowing to a possible decline in health and performance. At the end of the day, you couldn't complain in 2007 that he was on the way down, especially because he was still an important factor in why the Red Sox were on top.

Winner: As good as the two Papis were, 2004 Papi has to be the winner for being not only the best player out of all the players on both championship teams, but for being the most iconic player on a team and a city that finally got to celebrate a World Series victory for the first time since the Woodrow Wilson administration, and humiliated the Yankees doing it! ADVANTAGE: 2004

Pitchers, benches/call-ups, and the final verdict on Part 3!
(cache.boston.com)

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