Friday, October 17, 2008
$133 Million
The Red Sox have a very high payroll (4th in the MBL at the start of the season) and are constantly accussed of buying their championship teams ('04, '07). But if you look at the 25 man ALCS roster for this year's AL wild card and ALDS winner you'll see that it's a homegrown team and not one made up of bought superstars.
Players brought up from the Red Sox farm system (8 players, all position players are starters and all pitchers get significant playing time):
Manny Delcarmen, P, Drafted by the Sox in 2000, Actually from Boston
Jacoby Ellsbury, OF, Drafted by the Sox in 2005
Jon Lester, P, Drafted by the Sox in 2002
Jed Lowrie, SS, Drafted by the Sox in 2005
Justin Masterson, P, Drafted by the Sox in 2006
Jonathan Papelbon, P, Drafted by the sox in 2005
Dustin Pedroia, 2B, Drafted by the Sox in 2004
Kevin Youkilis, 3B, Drafted by the Sox in 2001
Players that have never played for another MLB team (1 player, Captain and starting catcher):
Jason Varitek, C, Drafted by Seattle but traded to the Sox and has been playing full time since 1998 (11 seasons)
Players that have played for the Sox for 5 or more seasons (3 players, 2 starters):
David Ortiz, DH, Has played for the Sox since 2003 (6 seasons)
Mike Timlin, P, Has played for the Sox since 2003 (6 seasons)
Tim Wakefield, P, Has played for the Sox since 1995 (14 seasons)
Everyone else (13 players, 5 starters):
Jason Bay, OF, Picked up by the Sox in July of 2008
Josh Beckett, P, Has played for Sox since 2006
Paul Byrd, P, Picked up by the Sox in August of 2008
Sean Casey, 1B, Has played for Sox since 2008
Kevin Cash, C, Has played for Sox since 2007
Alex Cora, SS, Has played for Sox since 2005
Coco Crisp, OF, Has played for Sox since 2006
J.D. Drew, OF, Has played for Sox since 2007
Mark Kotsay, OF, 1B, Picked up by the Sox in August of 2008
Javier Lopez, P, Has played for Sox since 2006
Daisuke Matsuzaka, P, Has played for Sox since 2007
Hideki Okajima, P, Has played for Sox since 2007
David Ross, C, Picked up by the Sox in August of 2008
Off the ALCS roster but significant:
Mike Lowell, 3B, Has played for Sox since 2006
Conclusion: the Red Sox are expensive but ARE NOT a bought team.
Players brought up from the Red Sox farm system (8 players, all position players are starters and all pitchers get significant playing time):
Manny Delcarmen, P, Drafted by the Sox in 2000, Actually from Boston
Jacoby Ellsbury, OF, Drafted by the Sox in 2005
Jon Lester, P, Drafted by the Sox in 2002
Jed Lowrie, SS, Drafted by the Sox in 2005
Justin Masterson, P, Drafted by the Sox in 2006
Jonathan Papelbon, P, Drafted by the sox in 2005
Dustin Pedroia, 2B, Drafted by the Sox in 2004
Kevin Youkilis, 3B, Drafted by the Sox in 2001
Players that have never played for another MLB team (1 player, Captain and starting catcher):
Jason Varitek, C, Drafted by Seattle but traded to the Sox and has been playing full time since 1998 (11 seasons)
Players that have played for the Sox for 5 or more seasons (3 players, 2 starters):
David Ortiz, DH, Has played for the Sox since 2003 (6 seasons)
Mike Timlin, P, Has played for the Sox since 2003 (6 seasons)
Tim Wakefield, P, Has played for the Sox since 1995 (14 seasons)
Everyone else (13 players, 5 starters):
Jason Bay, OF, Picked up by the Sox in July of 2008
Josh Beckett, P, Has played for Sox since 2006
Paul Byrd, P, Picked up by the Sox in August of 2008
Sean Casey, 1B, Has played for Sox since 2008
Kevin Cash, C, Has played for Sox since 2007
Alex Cora, SS, Has played for Sox since 2005
Coco Crisp, OF, Has played for Sox since 2006
J.D. Drew, OF, Has played for Sox since 2007
Mark Kotsay, OF, 1B, Picked up by the Sox in August of 2008
Javier Lopez, P, Has played for Sox since 2006
Daisuke Matsuzaka, P, Has played for Sox since 2007
Hideki Okajima, P, Has played for Sox since 2007
David Ross, C, Picked up by the Sox in August of 2008
Off the ALCS roster but significant:
Mike Lowell, 3B, Has played for Sox since 2006
Conclusion: the Red Sox are expensive but ARE NOT a bought team.
# posted by Keith @ 11:17 AM 
Comments:
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Well documented. I would recommend adding "and is dreamy" after noting Wake's 14 seasons, but other than that, you were very thorough. We should induct Theo into the hall of fame today.
And let me start by saying, I'm not bitter, I was scared of the Sox playing TB going in (especially as I was thinking in game 6, why don't they just use Price and finish it), and there's only so much magic a team can muster to make it close, etc etc.
But here's a little follow up about that "Homegrown Team" that just beat the sox:
10 players drafted by TB still on the TB active roster (vs Bos' 8+Tek)
Gross, Floyd, Pena, Bartlett, Aybar, Navarro...all starters, all not drafted by TB.
Of their pitchers, only the 3 of their 4 starters & David Price (who really is a starter) were drafted by TB. Meaning that every one of their regular releif pitchers were not drafted by TB.
Don't get me wrong, it's good to see a young team, with great pitching, hitting, & running play. But no team in today's game is really homegrown. At least no good team.
But here's a little follow up about that "Homegrown Team" that just beat the sox:
10 players drafted by TB still on the TB active roster (vs Bos' 8+Tek)
Gross, Floyd, Pena, Bartlett, Aybar, Navarro...all starters, all not drafted by TB.
Of their pitchers, only the 3 of their 4 starters & David Price (who really is a starter) were drafted by TB. Meaning that every one of their regular releif pitchers were not drafted by TB.
Don't get me wrong, it's good to see a young team, with great pitching, hitting, & running play. But no team in today's game is really homegrown. At least no good team.
dude - i don't like baseball at all (unless i'm physically at a game enjoying great weather, eating awesomely fattening food and drinking beer), but i can really appreciate your "passion" for it. sorry that the sox didn't take home the big win. :-(
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