2009 MLB season in review: Boston Red Sox
Sure the Boston Red Sox made the post season, but in a town who has won two recent World Titles that simply is not good enough, and their exit at the hands of the Los Angeles Angels is one that is going to leave a sour taste in the mouth of Red Sox nation. Getting swept out of the first round of the playoffs tends to make a fan base sick, but this loss is one that seemed avoidable. Not once, not twice, but three times their, All Star Closer Jonathan Papplebon had two outs and two strikes on Angels’ hitters and yet they all reached a base, and the Red Sox season came to an end. However at the very lest 2009 was a successful campaign for the Red Sox.
Their final record was 95-67, and they finished 8 games back of their hated rival New York Yankees. While they got off to a hot start, spending 55 days in first place and built a five game lead in the American League East, However a late august side of six games lead many to think that not only would the Rd Sox lose their division, but choke away the AL Wild Card to the Texas Rangers.
The Red Sox offense led by David Ortiz, Jason Bay, and Dustin Pedoria was able to score 872 runs. As a unit they hit .270 for the year, which was the fourth best team batting average in the A.L. They hit 212 home runs, had 1,495 hits, but stuck out 1,120 times. That was the fourth most strike outs of any A.L. team. Their starting five pitchers featured three pitchers who had double digit victories. Their staff ERA was 4.35 and the struck out 1,230 batters while issuing 530 walks.
In all 3,062,699 fans came to Fenway Park to see Boston Red Sox games. For their 81 home games they averaged 37,811 fans good enough for 8th of the 30 MLB teams. The really good new is the Red Sox sold more than 100% of their 2009 ticket inventory so their season was a very lucrative one.
