| Lineup |
| 2003 |
| C - Jason Varitek (31) BA: .273 HR: 25 R: 63 RBI: 85 SB: 3 BB: 51 OPS: .863 1B - Jeff Bagwell (35) BA: .278 HR: 39 R: 109 RBI: 100 SB: 11 BB: 88 OPS: .897 2B - Marcus Giles (25) BA: .316 HR: 21 R: 101 RBI: 69 SB: 14 BB: 59 OPS: .916 SS - Alex Cintron (24) BA: .317 HR: 13 R: 70 RBI: 51 SB: 2 BB: 29 OPS: .848 3B - Eric Chavez (25) BA: .282 HR: 29 R: 94 RBI: 101 SB: 8 BB: 62 OPS: .864 OF - Juan Pierre (25) BA: .305 HR: 1 R: 100 RBI: 41 SB: 65 BB: 55 OPS: .734 OF - Carlos Lee (27) BA: .291 HR: 31 R: 100 RBI: 113 SB: 18 BB: 37 OPS: .830 OF - Trot Nixon (29) BA: .306 HR: 28 R: 81 RBI: 87 SB: 4 BB: 65 OPS: .974 DH - Frank Thomas (35) BA: .267 HR: 42 R: 87 RBI: 105 SB: 0 BB: 100 OPS: .952 Analysis: The only difference between the 2002 and 2003 versions of Boston's lineup was the middle infield and DH. While Frank Thomas was a definite improvement over Jacque Jones the middle infield spots really Varitek had a much better year in 2003 and overall showed the most power that he has ever shown in his career. Bagwell had as good a year as he did in 2002, and what would turn out to be his last really great year. (assuming he doesn't have a huge rebound in 2006). At the beginning of the year 2B was considered a position of weakness, but fortunately Giles had his break out year and posted numbers that he hasn't surpassed since. SS was thought to be in the capable hands of Cristian Guzman... unfortunately his bat wasn't too capable as his numbers regressed even further from his career year of 2001. However luck intervened and Cintron amazed me with a very respectable season. His only real fault was his low total of walks. Chavez put up a typical Chavez season, but honestly I was expecting him to improve some this year... this and the fact he was supposed to be a FA after 2004 is why I decided to trade him during the following offseason. In the OF Pierre had a great season especially by adding 65 stolen bases to my team. Lee had a similar season (except he walked a lot less from 2002) and he finally took over full time versus lefties. Also rather fortunately his stolen bases rebounded from his dreadful amount of one in 2002, as he had a career high in 2003. Trot Nixon set career numbers in 2003. Although Frank Thomas's average wasn't as great as it was in the mid-90's (and the year 2000) he put up his last spectacular season in a White Sox uniform. All in all, the offense had no player who underperformed. Grade: A SP: Roy Oswalt (25) W: 10 ERA: 2.97 K: 108 WHIP: 1.14 Barry Zito (25) W: 14 ERA: 3.30 K: 146 WHIP: 1.18 Jeff Weaver (26) W: 7 ERA: 5.99 K: 93 WHIP: 1.62 Derek Lowe (30) W: 17 ERA: 4.47 K: 110 WHIP: 1.42 Sidney Ponson (26) W: 17 ERA: 3.75 K: 134 WHIP: 1.25 Jon Garland (23) W: 12 ERA: 4.51 K: 108 WHIP: 1.37 Brian Lawrence (27) W: 10 ERA: 4.19 K: 116 WHIP: 1.25 Ismael Valdez (29) W: 9 ERA: 6.10 K: 47 WHIP: 1.54 John Thomson (29) W: 13 ERA: 4.85 K: 136 WHIP: 1.30 Kenny Rogers (38) W: 13 ERA: 4.57 K: 116 WHIP: 1.42 Jason Davis (23) W: 8 ERA: 4.68 K: 85 WHIP: 1.32 As much as the offense overperformed, the pitching staff underperformed. Oswalt had a fantastic year... except he got hurt. Coming off a Cy Young season Zito performed well but his amount of wins plummited. Lowe was the exact opposite of Zito, a high amount of wins but poor other statistics. Weaver and Valdez sucked all year. Thomson, Garland, Lawrence, Davis, and Rogers all posted distinctly average years. The only player who had performed above expectations all season long was Sidney Ponson. Grade: C+ RP: Ugueth Urbina (29) Saves: 32 ERA: 2.81 K: 78 WHIP: 1.13 Holds: 11 Braden Looper (28) Saves: 28 ERA: 3.68 K: 56 WHIP: 1.38 Holds: 0 Troy Percival (33) Saves: 33 ERA: 3.47 K: 48 WHIP: 1.14 Holds: 0 Luis Ayala (25) Saves: 5 ERA: 2.92 K: 46 WHIP: 1.10 Holds: 19 Wins: 10 Travis Harper (27) Saves: 1 ERA: 3.77 K: 64 WHIP: 1.26 Holds: 15 Scot Strickland (27) Saves: 0 ERA: 2.25 K: 10 WHIP: 1.30 Holds: 4 - only 20 innings Rod Beck (34) Saves: 30 ERA: 1.78 K: 32 WHIP: 1.02 Holds: ? Scot Stewart (27) Saves: 0 ERA: 3.98 K: 29 WHIP: 1.51 Holds: 14 Analysis: Percival despite only saving 33 games was the only player who kept the closing role throughout the whole year, but altogether two or three pitchers were closers all throughout the year. Urbina was having a decent season until a midseason trade put him back in a setup role to Looper. However when Urbina proved to be better then Looper that just exchanged closer and setup men for Boston rather then adding another closer. Beck was a complete surprise who really gave a huge push to the Red Sox in the 2nd half of the season. Unfortunately middle relief wise nearly all of the great relievers in the previous season (Nunez, Stewart, Strickland, Acevedo) fell apart. So holds were a small problem. Grade: B Overall Grade: B/B+ 3rd in regular season. 5th in postseason |