2:49 p.m. April 15, 2013: Two bombs explode on Bolyston street in Boston, near the finish line of the famed Boston Marathon. The blasts killed three people and injured over 200 others.
It’s been a long, heartbreaking year in New England.
Within a year of the Marathon bombings Superstorm Sandy caused millions in damages and a mentally disturbed shooter killed 20 first graders and six adults at a Connecticut elementary school.
For all of its vices, sports have a unique way of bringing together a community following a tragedy. The New Yorker summed it up pretty well with a cartoon of a daughter and her father, both wearing matching Yankee hats and Red Sox shirts.
“Yes we like the Yankees, but today we’re all rooting for Boston.”
The celebration stretched from sea to shining sea when the Red Sox beat Detroit at Fenway to seal their trip to the World Series two weeks ago. The city, the region that has seen so much hardship over the past year finally has a reason to smile.
Champagne showers in the Fenway clubhouse must taste all the sweeter for the Red Sox considering the path they’ve taken to get to this point.
The 2012 Red Sox, who were firmly planted at the bottom of the American League East at the conclusion of the season, posted their worst record in almost 50 years. It wasn’t pretty.
The wheels of the 2013 MLB season were already turning when the first of the two bombs exploded near the finish line on that fateful day. The Red Sox were 8-4, the product of some savvy offseason planning and a firm dose of organizational disappointment.
While the events at the Marathon obviously brought the community of Boston together and motivated the players beyond normal means, the groundwork for a Billy Beane-esque turnaround was being laid months in advance.
The first changes came when manager Bobby Valentine was promptly fired after the last game of the 2012 season, making way for the relatively green former Toronto manager John Farrell to take over.
The Red Sox also signed deals with what would be five regular starters over the offseason, including shortstop Stephen Drew, outfielders Shane Victorino and Johnny Gomes, designated hitter and Boston legend David Ortiz as well as first baseman Mike Napoli.
Napoli has been arguably the biggest surprise, after hip problems caused the team to abandon its three-year, $39 million offer in lieu of a shorter “trial period.” Boston intended to make the former catcher a first baseman, which would take at least some of the pressure off his hips. This worked out wonderfully for the Red Sox, who desperately needed Napoli’s power in their lineup.
While it might not have showed up in the most tangible of ways, one of the most important signings this offseason was veteran backup catcher David Ross, who provides a worthy substitute to Jarrod Saltalamacchia.
Relief pitcher and offseason signee Koji Uehara also had the season of a lifetime, adding extra validity to the front office’s offseason moves.
These deals were, by and large, short-term and therefore less risky ventures, a strategy that may come back to bite Boston next year. Victorino’s three-year deal was the longest out of all offseason signees, while Napoli and Drew will more than likely be gone after their one-year deals expire. They are, at best, short-term solutions to long-term problems.
Big Papi is the lone exception, having found a home in Boston already. I can’t believe that they’d let a .312 batting average with 25 home runs in 2013 walk out the door after his latest two-year contract runs out.
Boston’s opening day payroll was, surprisingly, about $21 million less than 2012’s, a fact that many overlook when analyzing the offseason moves made by Boston. The Red Sox were able to cut player costs while still putting forth a championship caliber team.
Now that’s value.
What’s your take on the historic turnaround in Boston? Was it inspired play or just sheer dumb luck? Email brett.bachman@dailycardinal.com if you’d like to discuss it. If you’re a Cardinals fan, however, just go home.
