The Boston Red Sox have achieved one of the greatest seasons in the history of baseball after winning their fourth World Series since 2004. Many times you have heard me refer to the MLB season as a marathon, not a sprint. When you play 162 games and start training camp in February, there is plenty of room for overcoming slumps.
In case you missed what the Red Sox achieved in 2018, I’ll review it for you. They were 108-54, winning the American League East by eight games over the New York Yankees, who were 100-62. They were led by rookie manager Alex Cora.
Center fielder Mookie Betts led the Majors in hitting with a .346 average, stole 30 bases and hit 30 home runs. He could be the American League MVP.
His teammate J.D. Martinez is in the running for that honor after hitting .330 with 43 home runs, second to Kris Davis of Oakland with 47. Martinez led the Majors with 130 RBIs. Starter Rick Porcello led Boston with 17 wins, and closer Craig Kimrel had 42 saves.
The World Series, won by Boston in five games, was consistent with what they have done all year. They beat New York in the Divisional playoff series three games to one. In the American League Championship series, Boston took out the defending World Series Champion Houston Astros (103) in five games. Both the Yankees and Houston had won over 100 games.
Los Angeles was in the World Series for the second year in a row, managed by Dave Roberts. Roberts is Black and Cora is a native of Puerto Rico. It was the first time in over 100 years of baseball that both managers in the World Series were minorities.
Roberts is the first minority manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Cora is the first minority manager of the Red Sox. Boston started the season 17-2 and finished the playoffs and World Series by going 11-3.
The 1927 Yankees are regarded as the greatest team ever, but those teams had all White players. MLB banned Black players from playing in the big leagues until 1947. So I will say that the Red Sox, who won their franchise’s ninth World Series, tying the Athletics, are now third to New York (27) and St. Louis (11) for most World Series won.
And, because of the times, I think they have a strong case for being considered among the best teams in MLB history.
Larry Fitzgerald can be heard weekday mornings on KMOJ Radio 89.9 FM at 8:25 am, on WDGY-AM 740 Monday and Friday at 9:10 am, and at www.Gamedaygold.com. He also commentates on sports 7-8 pm on Almanac (TPT channel 2). Follow him on Twitter at FitzBeatSr. Larry welcomes reader responses to info@larry-fitzgerald.com, or visit www.Larry-Fitzgerald.com.