No. They haven't won a World Series. So, maybe they aren't the best Red Sox team ever...yet.
But are they the best regular season Red Sox team of all time?
Or, let's just discuss regular season. Is this the best regular season Red Sox team of all time?
The question is flexible. Discuss this teams legacy factor.
But are they the best regular season Red Sox team of all time?
The best team in Red Sox history, however, is the 2004 club, in part for sentimental, curse-breaking reasons, which obviously are a key component of that team's legacy, but also because it was a legitimately great team, finishing 98-64. They finished second to the Yankees in the division, but they outscored their opponents by 181 runs compared to just 89 for the Yankees. One reason the Red Sox were able to come back from a 3-0 deficit in the American League Championship Series is because they were the better team.
The 2018 Red Sox are an even more dominant team. They've already outscored their opponents by 184 runs. They've scored the most runs in the American League and allowed the second fewest. They have a Triple Crown candidate in J.D. Martinez, and he's not even the best player on the team. That's Mookie Betts, the do-everything supernova in right field. Then there's Chris Sale, who started his third straight All-Star Game and was having his best season until he landed on the disabled list with shoulder inflammation. That's expected to be a short stint, and Sale should still factor into the Cy Young voting.
Let's pretend this team wins the World Series. Are they the best Red Sox team of all time?The '04 Red Sox had the 1-2 punch of David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez to anchor the lineup. The 2018 Red Sox have Martinez and Betts. Ortiz and Manny combined for 84 home runs and 269 RBIs, but Martinez and Betts compare favorably:
Ortiz: .301/.380/.603, .408 wOBA, 147 wRC+ (5th in AL)
Ramirez: .308/.397/.613, .417 wOBA, 153 wRC+ (4th in AL)
Martinez: .322/.388/.637, .426 wOBA, 171 RC+ (4th in AL)
Betts: .339/.423/.649, .446 wOBA, 184 wRC+ (2nd in AL)
Indeed, once you adjust for eras, Martinez and Betts actually fare better in wRC+ (weighted runs created). Understand that in 2004, the AL average runs per game was 5.01; in 2018, it's 4.49. Martinez and Betts are beating Ortiz's and Ramirez's production in a lower-scoring environment. Incredible.
Or, let's just discuss regular season. Is this the best regular season Red Sox team of all time?
The question is flexible. Discuss this teams legacy factor.