1/7/2024 0 Comments Red sox roster 2003![]() ![]() Unfortunately, Byung-Hyun Kim let two runners reach base before Alan Embree allowed a game-tying single. Walker went 4-for-5 with two home runs and three RBI in the opener of the series and powered the Red Sox to a 4-3 lead entering the bottom of the ninth inning. It was a disheartening start, especially since game one was in Boston’s grasp. ![]() In the first two games of the series, the Red Sox seemed to bend to Oakland’s star power, falling behind 2-0 after a 5-4 loss in extra innings in game one and a 5-1 defeat in game two. The Red Sox certainly didn’t when they went shopping in the offseason. Oh, and don’t forget All Star closer Keith Foulke. Eric Chavez, 2002 AL MVP Miguel Tejada and All-Star reserve Ramon Hernandez held down the middle of the order while Tim Hudson, 2002 Cy Young winner Barry Zito and Mark Mulder formed a trio of aces at the top of the starting rotation. This was the year Moneyball was released, but Oakland had plenty of big-name stars of its own. Oakland went 96-66 and won the AL West in 2003. Of course, the Red Sox had a really difficult task when it came to the ALDS. In terms of standouts, Garciaparra joined Manny Ramirez and Jason Varitek as All-Star reserves, Pedro Martinez was magnificent in 29 starts, Bill Mueller won the AL batting title and David Ortiz came in fifth in AL MVP voting in his first season in Boston. In terms of the actual roster, there were a lot of players who would hoist the trophy in 2004 on the Red Sox in 2003, but some of the key members who didn’t get that catharsis included Nomar Garciaparra, Todd Walker, John Burkett and Casey Fossum. Luckily, the Red Sox did enough to fend off the Seattle Mariners and earn the AL Wild Card and a matchup with the Oakland A’s in the ALDS. They spent the rest of the summer looking up at the Yankees, who tied with the Atlanta Braves for the best record in baseball (101-61). After an 18-9 start, the Red Sox had a losing record in May and ultimately tasted first place for the last time in early June. The Red Sox went 95-67 during the regular season, which is a pretty stellar record, but wasn’t enough to win the AL East. Let’s all hop aboard.īefore we dig into the playoffs themselves, let’s bring a little bit of context to the table. So, now that I’ve had 17 years of separation and four World Series titles to help wash away the pain of 2003, I thought it would be cathartic to really go back and relive the Red Sox’s postseason march of 2003. If the Red Sox had managed to vanquish the Yankees that year, perhaps 2003 would be the mystical year we all remember instead of 2004. The playoff ride that brought them to the eventual disaster in game seven of the ALCS was a wild one and filled with plenty of fun moments. The Red Sox were a 95-win team in 2003 and they came as close as possible to the World Series as you can get without actually getting there. However, with all that forgetting, a lot of really great moments have fallen by the wayside. I actively avoid replays of Aaron Boone’s walk-off home run and I’ve treated Grady Little’s name like Tom Riddle’s alias. During that time I have rarely, if ever, revisited the Red Sox’s playoff run from that year. It has been nearly 17 years since the Boston Red Sox lost game seven of the 2003 American League Championship Series. ![]()
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