2008 Boston Red Sox season

Last updated

2008  Boston Red Sox
American League Wild Card Winners
Boston Red Sox cap logo.svg
League American League
Division East
Ballpark Fenway Park
City Boston, Massachusetts
Record95–67 (.586)
Divisional place2nd (2 GB)
Owners John W. Henry (New England Sports Ventures)
President Larry Lucchino
General manager Theo Epstein
Manager Terry Francona
Television NESN
Radio WRKO
WEEI
WROL (Spanish)
Stats ESPN.com
BB-reference
  2007 Seasons 2009  

The 2008 Boston Red Sox season was the 108th season in the franchise's Major League Baseball history. The Red Sox, as the defending World Series champions, finished in second place in the American League East with a record of 95 wins and 67 losses, two games behind the Tampa Bay Rays. The Red Sox qualified for the postseason as the AL wild card, and defeated the American League West champion Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the ALDS. The Red Sox then lost to the Rays in the ALCS in seven games. This was the franchise's fourth appearance in the ALCS in six seasons.

Contents

In late March, the team started the regular season playing in Tokyo against the Oakland Athletics for MLB Japan Opening Day 2008. In July, seven Red Sox players were selected for the AL All-Star team, with outfielder J. D. Drew being named the game's MVP. On July 31, the Red Sox traded long-time star player Manny Ramirez to the Dodgers in a three-way blockbuster (which also included the Pirates) for Jason Bay and minor leaguer Josh Wilson. In September, the team officially retired uniform number 6 in honor of Johnny Pesky. [1]

Regular season

Johnny Pesky's number 6 was retired by the Boston Red Sox in 2008. RedSox 6.png
Johnny Pesky's number 6 was retired by the Boston Red Sox in 2008.

Opening Day lineup

15 Dustin Pedroia 2B
20 Kevin Youkilis 1B
34 David Ortiz DH
24 Manny Ramírez LF
25 Mike Lowell 3B
44 Brandon Moss RF
33 Jason Varitek C
46 Jacoby Ellsbury CF
23 Julio Lugo SS
18 Daisuke Matsuzaka P

Season standings

AL East W L Pct. GB Home Road
Tampa Bay Rays 97650.59957–2440–41
Boston Red Sox 95670.586256–2539–42
New York Yankees 89730.549848–3341–40
Toronto Blue Jays 86760.5311147–3439–42
Baltimore Orioles 68930.42228½37–4331–50

Notable transactions

Roster

2008 Boston Red Sox
Roster
PitchersCatchers

Infielders

Outfielders

Other batters

Manager

Coaches

Record vs. opponents

TeamBALBOSCWSCLEDETKCLAAMINNYYOAKSEATBTEXTORNL
Baltimore 6–124–54–44–35–33–63–37–110–58–23–154–56–1211–7
Boston 12–64–35–15–26–11–84–39–96–46–38–109–19–911–7
Chicago 5–43–411–712–612–65–59–102–55–45–14–63–31–712–6
Cleveland 4–41–57–1111–710–84–58–104–35–44–55–26–46–16–12
Detroit 3–42–56–127–117–113–67–114–23–67–33–46–33–513–5
Kansas City 3–51–66–128–1011–72–36–125–56–37–23–52–72–513–5
Los Angeles 6–38–15–55–46–33–25–37–310–914–53–612–76–310–8
Minnesota 3–33–410–910–811–712–63–54–65–55–43–35–50–614–4
New York 11–79–95–23–42–45–53–76–45–17–211–73–49–910–8
Oakland 5–04–64–54–56–33–69–105–51–5-10–93–67–124–610–8
Seattle 2–83–61–55–43–72–75–144–52–79–103–48–115–49–9
Tampa Bay 15–310–86–42–54–35–36–33–37–116–34–36–311–712–6
Texas 5–41–93–34–63–67–27–125–54–312–711–83–64–410–8
Toronto 12–69–97–11–65–35–23–66–09–96–44–57–114–48–10
Red Sox vs. National League
TeamNL Central 
CHCCINHOUMILPITSTLARIPHI
Boston2–11–23–01–22–12–1

Game log

2008 Regular Season Game Log
2008 Postseason Game Log

Player stats

Batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs scored; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; AVG = Batting average; SB = Stolen bases; Bold Indicates team leader in category.

PlayerGABRH2B3BHRRBIAVGSB
David Aardsma 51000000.0000
Jeff Bailey 275010141126.2800
Jason Bay 491843954122937.2933
Josh Beckett 26000000.0000
Chris Carter 918560003.3330
Sean Casey 691991464140017.3221
Kevin Cash 61142113270315.2250
Bartolo Colón 12000000.0000
Alex Cora 7515214418209.2701
Coco Crisp 11836155102183741.28320
Manny Delcarmen 40000000.0000
J. D. Drew 109368791032341964.2804
Jacoby Ellsbury 14555498155227947.28050*
Craig Hansen 40000000.0000
Mark Kotsay 228461981012.2260
George Kottaras 35111000.2000
Jon Lester 25000000.0000
Javier Lopez 31000000.0000
Mike Lowell 113419581152701773.2742
Jed Lowrie 812603467253246.2581
Julio Lugo 822612770130122.2681
Justin Masterson 25000000.0000
Daisuke Matsuzaka 12000000.0000
Brandon Moss 347872351211.2951
Hideki Okajima 50000000.0000
David Ortiz 109416741103012389.2641
Jonathan Papelbon 40000000.0000
Dustin Pedroia 157653118*213**54**21783.32620
Manny Ramirez 100365661092212068.2991
David Ross 88110000.1250
Joe Thurston 48000000.0000
Mike Timlin 20000000.0000
Jonathan Van Every 1117040105.2350
Jason Varitek 13142337932001343.2200
Gil Velazquez 38010001.1250
Tim Wakefield 13000000.0000
Kevin Youkilis 1455389116843429115.3123
Team Totals1625596845156535333173807.280120

Pitchers

Note: W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; SV = Saves; IP = Innings pitched; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts

PlayerWLERAGGSSVIPRERBBK
David Aardsma 425.55470048.232303549
Josh Beckett 12104.0327270174.1807834 f 172
Michael Bowden 103.601105.02213
Clay Buchholz 296.751615076.063574172
Paul Byrd 424.7888049.026261026
Bartolo Colón 423.9277039.023171027
Bryan Corey 0010.507006.07734
Manny Delcarmen 123.27730274.128272872
Devern Hansack 104.054006.25315
Craig Hansen 135.58320230.223192325
Jon Lester 1663.2133330210.1787566152
Javier López 202.43700059.118162738
Justin Masterson 653.16369088.131314068
Daisuke Matsuzaka 1832.90 a 29290167.258 c 5494154
Hideki Okajima 322.61640162.018 d 182360
Jonathan Papelbon 542.346704169.124188 e 77
David Pauley 0111.6862012.11716511
Chris Smith 107.85120018.11616713
Kyle Snyder 0021.602001.24421
Julián Tavárez 016.3990012.212996
Mike Timlin 445.66470149.132312032
Tim Wakefield 10114.1330300181.0898360117
Charlie Zink 0016.621104.18811
Team Totals95674.01162162471446.16946455481185

* indicates player led their respectable league in that certain category ** indicates player led all of baseball in that certain category

^a Led team in starters ERA ^b Led in team ERA ^c Allowed fewest runs as a starter for the Red Sox ^d Led team in runs allowed. ^e Led team in walks allowed. ^f Led starters in walks allowed.

Awards and honors

All-star Kevin Youkilis KevinYouklis.jpg
All-star Kevin Youkilis
All-Star Game [11]
Starters
Reserves

Farm system

LevelTeamLeagueManager
AAA Pawtucket Red Sox International League Ron Johnson
AA Portland Sea Dogs Eastern League Arnie Beyeler
A-Advanced Lancaster JetHawks California League Chad Epperson
A Greenville Drive South Atlantic League Kevin Boles
A-Short Season Lowell Spinners New York–Penn League Gary DiSarcina
Rookie GCL Red Sox Gulf Coast League Dave Tomlin
Rookie DSL Red Sox Dominican Summer League José Zapata

Source: [12] [13]

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References

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  2. "Julián Tavárez Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  3. "Bobby Kielty Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  4. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bayja.shtml Jason Bay Statistics - Baseball Reference.com
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  6. "Paul Byrd Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  7. "David Ross Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
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  9. "Hutch Award". Baseball-almanac.com. Retrieved September 5, 2010.
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  11. "2008 All-Star Game". MLB.com. Archived from the original on August 15, 2010. Retrieved September 5, 2010.
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