The Team of the 21st Century
By Colin Dixon October 29th, 2018
Picture Via @mlb twitter
Late Sunday night, October 28th the Boston Red Sox were crowned the 2018 Major League Baseball Champions.
After beating the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 with a 5-1 victory the Red Sox brought their 9th total World Series title back to Boston. Among those 9 titles, the Red Sox won 4 of them in the 21st Century.
Now, where does the Red Sox postseason success stack up amongst other teams in the 21st century?
Boston Red Sox: 4 World Series Titles 2004, 2007, 2013, 2018
San Fransisco Giants: 3 World Series Titles 2010, 2012, 2014
New York Yankees: 2 World Series Titles 2000, 2009
St. Louis Cardinals: 2 World Series Titles 2006, 2011
All of these teams mentioned made it to the World Series 4 times since the year 2000. The only team to win a ring all four years was the Boston Red Sox.
Before the 2018 World Series, it was up for debate, between the Red Sox and the Giants on who was the better team in this century. Now that debate has been washed away from the champagne that the Red Sox were showering in last night after their World Series Victory.
It is easy to see that the Red Sox are the best baseball team to play the sport since the 2000s began but how did they get to this point?
In 2004, led by coach Terry Francona the Red Sox finished in second place in the AL East behind the New York Yankees. Although they finished in second place they still qualified for the playoffs. After beating the Los Angeles Angels in the ALDS the Red Sox had to face the Yankees in the ALCS. At the time the Red Sox were still trying to break the Curse of the Bambino that had started in 1918.
After starting the series losing the first three games the Red Sox needed to win the next four games to make it to the World Series. Behind the players like Pedro Martinez, David Ortiz, and Manny Ramirez the Red Sox made history by being the first team to ever come back from a 3-0 deficit.
After coming back against the Yankees the Red Sox next test was against the St. Louis Cardinals. Still riding the hot streak from the ALCS the Red Sox beat the Cardinals with a 4-Game sweep to break the Curse of the Bambino.
Just three years later the Red Sox found themselves back in contention for a World Series. In 2007 the Red Sox won the AL East and was set up to play the Los Angeles Angels in the ALCS.
After a quick 4-game sweep of the Angels, the Red Sox faced the Cleveland Indians in the ALCS. After falling down in the series 3-1 the Red Sox needed another miracle to come back and win the series. Just like in 2004 the Red Sox managed to come back and win the ALCS and advance to the World Series.
This time the Red Sox faced off against the Colorado Rockies and ended up sweeping them in four games. This was the Red Sox 2nd championship under Terry Francona in the 4-year span.
Later in 2013, with John Farrell as the new manager for the Red Sox were looking to bring another World Series championship to Boston.
In 2012 the Red Sox finished in last place and it was time for a new manager to step in for the Red Sox. With old Toronto Blue Jay's skipper John Farrell at the helm in Boston, something great was destined to happen.
Farrell led the Red Sox to yet another AL East victory and they were set to face off against the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2013 ALDS.
The Red Sox advanced into the ALCS after a 4-game series against the Rays. The Red Sox faced off with the Detroit Tigers. That series lasted six games and the Red Sox were onto their 3rd World Series in 10 years.
Backed by a stacked pitching staff with Jake Peavy, Jon Lester, and John Lackey the Red Sox were looking ready to compete against the St. Louis Cardinals yet again. But just like in 2004 the Red Sox beat the Cardinals but this time in six games.
Now to present day 2018, the Red Sox won the AL East and had the best record in all of baseball. With new, the new edition of J.D. Martinez the Red Sox was seeking another World Series title.
Mookie Betts, the most likely MVP winner leading the Red Sox lineup they looked unstoppable all playoffs. They played the Yankees in the ALDS and beat them and then handled the Houston Astros easily in the ALCS.
With two great pitching performances from David Price and big at-bats from Steve Pearce, the Red Sox won their 9th total World Series title.
After going without a World Series championship from 1918-2003 the Red Sox have dominated in the 21st century. With 4 World Series titles since 2000, the best team of this current century will look to add onto their World Series resume in the upcoming years.
Picture Via @mlb twitter
Late Sunday night, October 28th the Boston Red Sox were crowned the 2018 Major League Baseball Champions.
After beating the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 with a 5-1 victory the Red Sox brought their 9th total World Series title back to Boston. Among those 9 titles, the Red Sox won 4 of them in the 21st Century.
Now, where does the Red Sox postseason success stack up amongst other teams in the 21st century?
Boston Red Sox: 4 World Series Titles 2004, 2007, 2013, 2018
San Fransisco Giants: 3 World Series Titles 2010, 2012, 2014
New York Yankees: 2 World Series Titles 2000, 2009
St. Louis Cardinals: 2 World Series Titles 2006, 2011
All of these teams mentioned made it to the World Series 4 times since the year 2000. The only team to win a ring all four years was the Boston Red Sox.
Before the 2018 World Series, it was up for debate, between the Red Sox and the Giants on who was the better team in this century. Now that debate has been washed away from the champagne that the Red Sox were showering in last night after their World Series Victory.
It is easy to see that the Red Sox are the best baseball team to play the sport since the 2000s began but how did they get to this point?
In 2004, led by coach Terry Francona the Red Sox finished in second place in the AL East behind the New York Yankees. Although they finished in second place they still qualified for the playoffs. After beating the Los Angeles Angels in the ALDS the Red Sox had to face the Yankees in the ALCS. At the time the Red Sox were still trying to break the Curse of the Bambino that had started in 1918.
After starting the series losing the first three games the Red Sox needed to win the next four games to make it to the World Series. Behind the players like Pedro Martinez, David Ortiz, and Manny Ramirez the Red Sox made history by being the first team to ever come back from a 3-0 deficit.
After coming back against the Yankees the Red Sox next test was against the St. Louis Cardinals. Still riding the hot streak from the ALCS the Red Sox beat the Cardinals with a 4-Game sweep to break the Curse of the Bambino.
Just three years later the Red Sox found themselves back in contention for a World Series. In 2007 the Red Sox won the AL East and was set up to play the Los Angeles Angels in the ALCS.
After a quick 4-game sweep of the Angels, the Red Sox faced the Cleveland Indians in the ALCS. After falling down in the series 3-1 the Red Sox needed another miracle to come back and win the series. Just like in 2004 the Red Sox managed to come back and win the ALCS and advance to the World Series.
This time the Red Sox faced off against the Colorado Rockies and ended up sweeping them in four games. This was the Red Sox 2nd championship under Terry Francona in the 4-year span.
Later in 2013, with John Farrell as the new manager for the Red Sox were looking to bring another World Series championship to Boston.
In 2012 the Red Sox finished in last place and it was time for a new manager to step in for the Red Sox. With old Toronto Blue Jay's skipper John Farrell at the helm in Boston, something great was destined to happen.
Farrell led the Red Sox to yet another AL East victory and they were set to face off against the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2013 ALDS.
The Red Sox advanced into the ALCS after a 4-game series against the Rays. The Red Sox faced off with the Detroit Tigers. That series lasted six games and the Red Sox were onto their 3rd World Series in 10 years.
Backed by a stacked pitching staff with Jake Peavy, Jon Lester, and John Lackey the Red Sox were looking ready to compete against the St. Louis Cardinals yet again. But just like in 2004 the Red Sox beat the Cardinals but this time in six games.
Now to present day 2018, the Red Sox won the AL East and had the best record in all of baseball. With new, the new edition of J.D. Martinez the Red Sox was seeking another World Series title.
Mookie Betts, the most likely MVP winner leading the Red Sox lineup they looked unstoppable all playoffs. They played the Yankees in the ALDS and beat them and then handled the Houston Astros easily in the ALCS.
With two great pitching performances from David Price and big at-bats from Steve Pearce, the Red Sox won their 9th total World Series title.
After going without a World Series championship from 1918-2003 the Red Sox have dominated in the 21st century. With 4 World Series titles since 2000, the best team of this current century will look to add onto their World Series resume in the upcoming years.
