Repeat offenders

Sox hope the same crew can bring another title

MLB. Meet the new Sox; pretty much the same as the old Sox.

In a stunning departure from the partial dismantling that took place after the Red Sox captured World Series glory in 2004, the Olde Towne Team that is set to open Major League Baseball’s 2008 season is nearly identical to last season’s championship squad.

“You know that you’re familiar with everybody else in the clubhouse, and we’re all out for the same goal, which is to do what we did last year,” said Dustin Pedroia, whose Sox open this season against the Athletics today in Japan. “We all know it’s going to be tough, but we’re all going to work as hard as we can to do what we did last year.”

Following the 2004 season, Derek Lowe, Pedro Martinez and Orlando Cabrera all memorably walked away from the Boston baseball scene, and the following year Johnny Damon and Kevin Millar followed suit — a completely 180-degree turn from this season.

First baseman Sean Casey was brought in as a left-handed bat off the bench, and David Aardsma may crack the bullpen, but last season’s nucleus remains intact for another run.

The familiar-looking Sox could be the first team to repeat since the Yankees won three in a row from 1998-2000. The Sox return Jason Varitek, David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, Kevin Youkilis, Curt Schilling, Tim Wakefield and Mike Timlin from the famed crew of “idiots.”

Those clubhouse leaders, along with some important additions, have Boston favored to win both the AL East and World Series.

“The new guys that have come into this clubhouse have really fit in and made this more of a family clubhouse,” Timlin said. “We’ve had some quality people come together on this team over the last few years, and we know that we play together as a team.”

Can the Sox repeat?

“I’ve been in this situation [to possibly repeat] a few times before, and all I can say is that we’ll tell you six months from now,” Timlin said. “People will play you as hard or harder because you’re winners and you’ve gone down to the end of the road. Other teams want to beat you and have made adjustments. We’ll see what happens at the end.”