Eventful as always, the Red Sox made their share of news in 2009 and produced yet another 95-win season.
While one of general manager Theo Epstein's annual goals is to field a postseason-caliber club each year, the Red Sox again were just that. It was their sixth journey into October in Epstein's seven years as GM. But this time, the Red Sox fell far short of their ultimate goal, getting swept out of the Division Series by the Angels.
There were standout performances on the field from the likes of Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis, Jon Lester, Josh Beckett, Jason Bay, Jonathan Papelbon and in-season pickup Victor Martinez.
By the close of the calendar year, there was much excitement following the signing of John Lackey. The Red Sox again established themselves as a team that held the attention of New England for a full 12 months.
Here is a look back at 2009.
January: Bogged down in Mark Teixeira sweepstakes -- that ultimately proved unsuccessful -- for much of the previous month, the Red Sox spent the first month of 2009 adding new players. The acquisition of future Hall of Famer John Smoltz -- one year at $5.5 million -- created much excitement, even though the player and the club agreed that the right-hander wouldn't take the mound in a game until roughly June 1. Epstein took another shot on a once successful pitcher coming off an injury-plagued season when he snagged Brad Penny off the free-agent market with a one-year deal. Penny wasn't the only ex-Dodger to come to Boston. Reliever Takashi Saito, a former star closer, was another free-agent acquisition who fell in to the low-risk, high-reward category.
And in a somewhat heartwarming story, the club unveiled outfielder Rocco Baldelli -- the pride of Rhode Island -- at the annual Boston Baseball Writers Dinner. Because of an ailment that causes excessive muscle fatigue, Boston signed Baldelli to be a part-time player and, they hoped, a force against left-handed pitching. While Epstein's main focus was the 2009 team, he looked ahead and secured Youkilis with a four-year, $41.25 million deal.
The Sox avoided arbitration with star closer Papelbon, agreeing on a one-year, $6.25 million pact. And Boston finally had a resolution to stalled contract talks with captain Jason Varitek, bringing the catcher back with a one-year, $5 million deal that included dual options for 2010.
But perhaps the best story of the month regarded one of the team's former stars, as Jim Rice was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame on his 15th and final try on the BBWAA ballot.
February: A couple of weeks before camp even started, one player already had an injury. OF-1B Mark Kotsay underwent back surgery, and the club set a May 1 time-table for his return. In one of the feel-good days of every New England winter, the equipment truck left Fenway on the 6th, with Johnny Pesky, the team's most enthusiastic ambassador, turning on the ignition in ceremonious fashion.
Once Spring Training opened, the big storyline was a potential shortstop battle between veteran Julio Lugo and young Jed Lowrie. Some alarms were sounded when right fielder J.D. Drew left camp to get an injection for his troublesome back. But it turned out to be nothing more than a precaution.
March: The month started with several of the team's key players departing for the World Baseball Classic, including David Ortiz, Bay, Youkilis and Pedroia. Because of travel logistics, Daisuke Matsuzaka had already been in Japan, and wasn't expected to report to Fort Myers until after the Classic.
Meanwhile, the Red Sox took it slow with Penny, pushing back his first Grapefruit League start so he could fully re-strengthen his shoulder. In an outing that proved to be a glimpse of what would become a significant storyline during the season, prospect Daniel Bard lit up the radar gun in Boston's exhibition game against Puerto Rico's World Baseball Classic entry. Bard blew a 99-mph fastball by Pudge Rodriguez and hit 100 mph against Mike Aviles.
There was reason for optimism on the injury front when third baseman Mike Lowell, coming off right hip surgery, made his exhibition appearance on March 10.
Thanks to the elimination of Canada and the Dominican Republic in the Classic, the Sox got Ortiz and Bay back on March 12. The next day, word started spreading around that Lester, an anchor of the rotation, had signed a five-year contract which included an option for 2014. Lugo essentially had to relinquish his shortstop battle with Lowrie when an MRI revealed that he needed right knee surgery. Pedroia and Youkilis returned from the World Baseball Classic early with what proved, in both cases, to be minor injuries that didn't linger. Catcher Josh Bard's second stint with the Red Sox was even more short-lived than his first, as he was released on March 18. George Kottaras won the role as Tim Wakefield's personal catcher.
The Red Sox broke out their bats in dominant fashion in the March 23 exhibition against the Tigers, walloping four consecutive homers against Brandon Lyon, bringing back memories of the April 22, 2007, game against the Yankees. Lowell, Bay, Chris Carter and Ivan Ochoa were the ones who took Lyon over the wall, thrilling the City of Palms Park crowd. Matsuzaka led Japan to the World Baseball Classic again, being named Most Valuable Player, just as he was in 2006. Dice-K made his first appearance in Boston's camp on March 27. Despite a lights-out camp, Clay Buchholz was informed that he would start the year in Triple-A. However, he would be heard from again.
April: The Red Sox concluded Spring Training by traveling to New York and helping the Mets unveil Citi Field with two exhibition games. For the first time since 2002, there was a season-opener at Fenway Park, where the Red Sox faced off against the Rays, the team that eliminated them in Game 7 of the 2008 American League Championship Series. Thanks to rain, the game was played one day late. For the Red Sox, the wait was well worth it, with Josh Beckett leading the charge in a 5-3 victory and Pedroia belting the first pitch he saw in 2009 for a home run over the Green Monster. The highlight of the pregame ceremonies occurred when Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy, who would die later in the year because of brain cancer, threw out the first pitch.
One of the best games of the month was on April 11, when Bay clubbed two clutch homers en route to a 5-4 thriller at Anaheim. There was more drama the next day when Bobby Abreu called time and Beckett still went through with the pitch and buzzed the outfielder. Both benches emptied, but no punches were thrown. Beckett got suspended for six games. Suddenly, the Red Sox went from a shortstop battle to attrition. Lowrie had recurring problems with his left wrist and needed surgery. The job was in the hands of journeyman Nick Green, a non-roster invitee to camp.
It was clear that the World Baseball Classic was not a good thing for Matsuzaka, who was pulled after the first inning of his second start with shoulder fatigue. He would go on the DL. While that April 14 game required a big effort from the Boston bullpen in a 12-inning loss, Wakefield got his team off the mat the next day. The knuckleballer had a no-hitter for 7 1/3 innings and wound up going the distance, helping the struggling Sox improve their record to 3-6.
On April 19, Beckett received word that his suspension was reduced to five games. The first Red Sox-Yankees encounter of the season did not disappoint, with Bay clubbing a two-run, game-tying homer against Mariano Rivera in the bottom of the ninth. Kevin Youkilis belted a walk-off blast in the 11th. The next day, the Red Sox quickly erased a 6-0 deficit against A.J. Burnett, thanks to a grand slam from Varitek. They went on to a 16-11 win. But the most memorable moment of the weekend came in the sweep-capping Sunday night finale. That is when Jacoby Ellsbury stole home against Andy Pettitte. Lugo returned to action on April 27, sharing time with Green at short. The Sox concluded the month 14-8, tied with the Blue Jays for first place in the American League East.
May: The Red Sox's first visit to the new Yankee Stadium was short and memorable, as they swept their rivals in a two-game set. The Red Sox made history on May 7 vs. the Indians, scoring 12 runs in the sixth inning before making an out in a 13-3 win. The baseball world got some sad news on May 8, with the death of Dominic DiMaggio. The brother of the legendary Joe DiMaggio, Dom was a stellar center fielder who played his entire career with the Red Sox. He was 92.
The future became the present on May 10 when Bard, the righty with electric stuff, was recalled from the Minors. He would stay in the bullpen for the rest of the season. Boston lost the key bat of Youkilis for a short stint, as the first baseman went on the DL on May 12. One of the most memorable losses of the season came two days later in Anaheim, when Ortiz went 0-for-7 and tied a franchise record by leaving 12 men on base in a 5-4 loss in 12 innings. After the game, a despondent Ortiz, still without a homer on the season, declined comment, saying only, "Sorry, guys, I don't feel like talking right now. Just put down 'Papi stinks.'
Things were getting so bad for Ortiz that manager Terry Francona gave him the entire weekend series at Seattle off. A day after Ortiz returned to the lineup, he celebrated with his first home run of the season on May 20 vs. the Blue Jays. However, he would go homerless for the rest of the month. Matsuzaka returned to the mound on May 22, pitching against the great John Santana. The Mets rolled to a 5-3 win. Ortiz was moved to the No. 6 spot in the lineup on May 27, marking the first time since 2004 Francona had batted him anywhere but third or fourth. Francona was so worked up while being ejected from a May 28 win over the Blue Jays that he had to be treated for high blood pressure immediately after the game. The manager admitted he thought he was going to collapse on the field. He did not miss any games.
After a poor start to his season, Lester signaled that he was on the verge of a rebound by dominating the Blue Jays on May 30, striking out 12 over six innings. By the end of the month, the Sox were 29-22, a half-game behind the Yankees.
June: Matsuzaka finally had a good result in an increasingly frustrating season, picking up his first win on June 2 at Detroit. It would be his last until September. Ortiz hit home run No. 2 on the season on June 6 against the Rangers, and finally settled into a power groove. That same night, Lester took a perfect game into the seventh inning. He wound up with a two-hit, 11-strikeout gem. The Red Sox continued to dominate the Yankees, sweeping them at Fenway to make it eight in a row. It was the first time the Sox took the first eight of a season-series against New York since 1912.
The Red Sox played in front of a record 500th consecutive sellout at Fenway on June 17, riding Penny's 100th career win. Matsuzaka was booed off the mound in a June 19 loss to the Braves and was placed back on the disabled list by the time the weekend was out. Derek Lowe, a hero from the 2004 Red Sox, pitched at Fenway for the first time in five years, but in a losing cause. Green made Father's Day a game to remember, clubbing a walk-off homer around Pesky's Pole.
Smoltz made his debut for the Sox on June 25 at Washington, but was pounded. Unfortunately, it became a recurring theme. Ortiz reached the 1,000-RBI milestone with a homer that same night.
Lowell had more problems with his hip by late in the month, and was placed on the disabled list until after the All-Star break. On June 27, Wakefield tied Roger Clemens for most starts in Sox history, earning a 1-0 victory at Atlanta. The Red Sox were 47-30 at the end of June, leading the division by 2 1/2 games.
July: The month began with Papelbon surpassing Bob Stanley for first place on the team's all-time save list. Remarkably, it took Papelbon less than four seasons to break the record. The next day was an off-day, and Bay spent it by being sworn in as a U.S. citizen. Six Red Sox players were selected to the All-Star team, with Wakefield the most notable among them. It was the first All-Star berth for the venerable right-hander.
It was an emotional July 6 at Fenway, when former icon Nomar Garciaparra returned to the park for the first time since he was traded in July 2004. Garciaparra, playing for the Oakland Athletics, received a thunderous ovation. Smoltz, meanwhile, made his Fenway debut and was unimpressive on a night the Sox were shut down by lefty Brett Anderson. Ortiz pounded career homer No. 300 in an 8-6 loss to the Royals. Beckett closed out the first half with a complete-game gem, notching career win No. 100 against Kansas City. When his wife Kelli went into premature labor, Pedroia relinquished his spot on the All-Star team. The Sox went into the break leading the division by three games. No Red Sox player had a more memorable experience than Papelbon, who earned the win in a game he set up Rivera, a man he has long idolized.
After the break, the Red Sox parted ways with the underachieving Lugo, designating him for assignment and eventually trading him to the Cardinals. Meanwhile, Buchholz earned his trip out of the Minor Leagues, kicking off the second half with a win over Toronto. Lowell and Lowrie returned from the disabled list. The Red Sox announced there would be no more contract talks with Bay until after the season, perhaps the first sign of where things were headed. The bats went ice-cold after Buchholz's win, losing the next five games. But help was on the way, when Epstein announced a trade with the Pirates for Adam LaRoche.
With Wakefield's back in duress, Buchholz returned to the rotation for good. Rice, meanwhile, was enshrined in Cooperstown along with Rickey Henderson on July 26.
There was a stunner on July 30, when the New York Times reported that Ortiz and former Sox star Manny Ramirez were among 104 players who tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug during baseball's survey testing in 2003. Ortiz confirmed the positive result, but vowed that he had never taken steroids. Big Papi kept the distraction out of his mind enough that day to clock a game-winning homer in a matinee against the Oakland Athletics.
Epstein went back to the trade market on July 31, acquiring the elite bat of Victor Martinez from the Indians. Suddenly, LaRoche, a Red Sox for all of a week, was expendable, and he was traded to the Braves for Casey Kotchman. By month's end, the Sox trailed the Yankees by 1 1/2 games.
August: In his second game with the Sox, Martinez announced his presence with authority, going 5-for-6 in a romp over the Orioles. After landing a sweep in Baltimore, things went downhill fast for the Sox. They were swept in two games at Tampa Bay, and then in four straight in New York by the Yankees. The series in New York started with Smoltz getting belted around, and then designated for assignment the next day. Ortiz had a packed press conference in New York that weekend to discuss his inclusion on the list of 104. He said that he was careless about taking supplements in '03, but still wasn't sure what triggered the positive test.
The Sox turned things around when they got home. They got the first Major League win from Junichi Tazawa, a right-hander from Japan. Lowell aided Tazawa's cause by ripping a grand slam off the bench on a night Youkilis was ejected when he charged the mound after being plunked by Detroit righty Rick Porcello. Youkilis was suspended for five games. Beloved NESN commentator Jerry Remy, out for most of the season as he recovered from lung cancer, revealed that his return to the booth had been delayed by depression.
Epstein acquired an old friend on Aug. 14, acquiring shortstop Alex Gonzalez from the Reds. At last, Boston had some stability at short. One of the best wins of the season came on Aug. 15 at Texas, when Martinez tied it up with a clutch two-run single in the ninth. The ever-busy Epstein acquired still more help for the stretch run, landing Billy Wagner from the Mets. Wagner, an elite closer, turned into Papelbon's setup man. Big Papi turned back the clock on Aug. 26, ripping two homers, including a walk-off blast that sank the White Sox. And Ellsbury stole his 55th base, surpassing Tommy Harper for the single-season club record. The last game of August was a feel-good game for Boston, as Paul Byrd came out of semi-retirement to defeat the Blue Jays. Boston finished the month 6 1/2 games behind the Yankees, but with a four-game cushion in the Wild Card standings.
September: In a statement series, the Sox took two out of three at Tropicana Field against the Rays, ending their futility at a place they had struggled at in recent years. On Sept. 15, Matsuzaka showed how productive his three-month rehab had been, pitching brilliantly in a win over the Angels. The next night, the Sox came back three times against the Angels, riding a bloop single by Gonzalez to a walk-off win.
The Sox lost to the Jays on Sept. 29, but were able to celebrate a Wild Card berth about three hours later when the Rangers lost at Anaheim. Most of Boston's players came back to the clubhouse and had the usual champagne ritual, despite the unusual circumstances of having to wait around. Once again, the Red Sox would be playing the Angels in the Division Series.
October: Boston's run of October dominance against the Angels came to an end. This time, the Red Sox had no answers for the team they had eliminated in 2004, 2007 and 2008. Lackey -- remember that name -- stymied the Sox in Game 1, outdueling Lester. One bad inning was enough to beat Beckett in Game 2, as Boston couldn't come up with any answers for Jered Weaver. When the series returned to Boston, it seemed the Red Sox were still capable of some of those comeback heroics that had marked previous postseason runs. Papelbon had a 6-4 lead with two outs and two strikes in the ninth and Lester was set to pitch Game 4 on three days' rest. But there would not be a Game 4, as Papelbon suffered the first postseason meltdown of his career. Vladimir Guerrero produced the game-winning hit, an RBI single to center.
Long-time Red Sox bench coach Brad Mills got some great news when the Astros hired him as their manager. Jed Hoyer, Epstein's assistant, had the same type of fortune when the Padres named him their general manager. But pitching coach John Farrell told the Indians he was staying in Boston rather than pursuing a chance to be their manager. Wakefield underwent back surgery on Oct. 21, and the prognosis was optimistic.
November: Epstein's first move of the winter was a modest one, as he got outfielder Jeremy Hermida in a trade with the Marlins. A first-round Draft pick, Hermida struggled mightily in 2009.
Instead of picking up Wakefield's option, the Red Sox restructured his contract and signed him to a two-year deal. Boston declined its option on Gonzalez. The Red Sox declined their $5 million player option on Varitek, but the captain exercised his $3 million option. Though it seemed like just a cursory chat at the time, it was reported on Nov. 13 that the Red Sox met with Lackey's agent, Steve Hilliard.
Boston filled the vacancy left by Mills by shifting third-base coach DeMarlo Hale to bench coach, moving Tim Bogar from the first-base box to third, and promoting Triple-A manager Ron Johnson to first-base coach.
December:The Sox found their new shortstop, signing Type A free agent Marco Scutaro to a two-year deal that included an option for a third year. At the Winter Meetings, the Red Sox didn't make any major moves, but announced that top prospect Casey Kelly would focus exclusively on being a pitcher. Meanwhile, the club worked out a tentative deal to send Lowell and cash to the Rangers for catching prospect Max Ramirez. But that was voided when it was revealed Lowell needed right thumb surgery.
The Sox made a big splash on Dec. 16, unveiling Lackey and outfielder Mike Cameron at Fenway press conferences. Both were signed off the free-agent market. Lackey signed for five years at $82.5 million while Cameron agreed to a two-year, $15.5 million pact. Both moves signified that Bay had likely played his last game for Boston.
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