Can you believe it?

There is so much to process. So much to write about, so much to say and do over the next few days. Tonight, however, just the simple facts about this team that have been read out over the airwaves or otherwise come up in the wake of the World Series win will do:

• Josh Beckett can lay claim to the title of best postseason pitcher in history. He went 4-0 this season with a 1.20 ERA. No pitcher has ever won five postseason games in a single year. Beckett is probably also the AL Cy Young award winner.
• The Red Sox can at least lay arguable claim to several league regular-season titles: Cy Young, Rookie of the Year, and the gold glove at first base.
• Clay Buchholz became the first Red Sox rookie ever to pitch a no-hitter at Fenway Park in just his second major league appearance, at the age of 23. 
• Curt Schilling's no slouch, either. He's gone 11-2 in his career in the postseason, with three different teams.
• Daisuke Matsuzaka is the first Red Sox rookie to win a World Series game. He is the first Red Sox rookie pitcher to get a World Series hit and RBI.
• Jonathan Papelbon was 3 for 3 in World Series save opportunities. He was unscored-upon in the postseason.
• Hideki Okajima in the postseason: 11 innings pitched, 9 hits, 3 runs, 3 walks, WHIP 1.09, BAA .214, ERA 2.45, strikeouts: 11. Per Surviving Grady: The first and last pitches Hideki Okajima threw in 2007 were hit for home runs.
• Manny Ramirez in the postseason: 11 runs, 16 hits, four home runs, 16 RBI in 46 at-bats.
• Kevin Youkilis in the postseason: 16 runs, 19 hits, four home runs, 10 RBI in 49 at-bats.
• JD Drew in the postseason: 7 runs, 16 hits, 11 RBI, and one very, very huge home run--the sixth grand slam in ALCS history, the third in Red Sox postseason history, and the first for a man hitting a career .183 with the bases loaded.
• Mike Lowell, your World Series MVP, in the postseason: 10 runs, 18 hits, 2 home runs and 15 RBI in 51 at-bats.
• Jon Lester, a rookie last year, battled back from a rare form of cancer to win the clinching game of the 2007 World Series.
• Terry Francona is 8-0 in the World Series with the Red Sox. He is 22-9 lifetime in the postseason. He is the first Boston Red Sox manager of the modern era to win two World Series championships.
• The Red Sox as a team have won their last 7 straight games in the ALCS and World Series. It is their longest team winning streak of the year, including the regular season. They have swept both of their last two World Series.
• The 2007 squad was the first Red Sox team since 1995 to win the division. They were the first team in the last eight consecutive seasons to hold the division lead on May 29 or later and not surrender it to the Yankees.
• In their six years of ownership, the management group of John W. Henry, Tom Werner, Larry Lucchino, and Theo Epstein has brought Boston four playoff appearances, two pennants, two world championships and one division win.
• The Boston Red Sox are the first major league baseball team in the 21st century to win two titles.

This is by no means a comprehensive list...you know where you can let me know what I've left out.

BOSTON RED SOX. 2007 WORLD CHAMPIONS.

Comments

[kln]

We Are The Champions!

Yep, I can believe it. Different than 2004, but every bit as sweet, maybe a tad less angst-ridden.

[Dan]

These are the days....

[Caroline]

Those are very, very, very pretty numbers.

[exsubmariner]

No pitcher has ever won five postseason games in a single year. Beckett is probably also the AL Cy Young award winner.

Not to seem quibbleish (is that a word?) but

Randy Johnson 2001-
5-0 in post season. 4-0 as a starter and won Game 7 of WS in relief.

K-Rod 2002 -
5-0 in relief.

[beth]

hmm. i think the correct thing would be no pitcher has ever won five *starts* in the postseason then. thanks for pointing that out.

[exsubmariner]

one that you should add 41 doubles in the post season 10 more than the nearest the MFY's. Any time you can hold a record over the MFY's you should celebrate.

Also Pedroia tied Jeter (captain intangible) for most runs scored by a rookie in the post season.