Red Sox reliever Brandon Workman has been a workhorse out of the Boston bullpen this October. Credit: Getty Images
Although it seems like an eternity, the Red Sox were in the World Series six years ago when they swept the Rockies to claim their seventh World Series title. There are five players from that 2007 team that are on the roster now, with the majority of those players not being the same players then as they are now.
“The remarks that they made were that this feels much more whole to them,” manager John Farrell said. “That they are more of a mainstay in getting to this World Series than in 2007. My response was maybe Brandon Workman feels like you did back in 2007. So, I think it is just a matter of the number of years that guys have put in here and to be able to go back in time and reflect on what it felt like as a rookie versus now.”
Jacoby Ellsbury started the 2007 season in Double-A before he was called up briefly, for seven games, and then was a part of the roster in September of that year. In 33 regular season games in ’07, he hit .353 with three home runs and 18 RBIs.
Once the postseason came around, with Coco Crisp then manning center field, Ellsbury came off the bench for five games before starting Games 6 and 7 of the ALCS and then the entire World Series. In the postseason he went 9-for-25 (.360) with four doubles and four RBIs and was a major piece to the puzzle as the Red Sox won title.
Workman is currently in a similar position to what Ellsbury was in 2007 as he started this year in Double-A and eventually worked his way to the majors in July. Workman finished the regular season going 6-3 with a 4.97 ERA in 20 appearances, including three starts.
In the postseason he has become one of Farrell’s key relievers, pitching in high leverage situations in front of closer Koji Uehara. He hasn’t allowed a run in 5 1/3 innings over four outings.
“It’s been a great year,” Workman said. “I set a goal for myself to try and get up here before the season was over and to be able to achieve that is great, but then for the team to be in the World Series and me being able to play a little bit a part in that is has been everything I could have hoped for going into the season.”
Even though there may be significant differences in experience at this time of the year, it doesn’t matter if you’re a rookie or a veteran. It’s about winning a World Championship.
Follow Metro Red Sox beat writer Ryan Hannable on Twitter @Hannable84
