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POSTGAME: Finally, they have this World Series thing down pat »
October 29, 2007
By JOE McDONALD
Journal Sports Writer
DENVER -- The stamp the young players for the Boston Red Sox put on this World Series season will never be forgotten.
Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jonathan Papelbon, Kevin Youkilis, Jon Lester and Manny Delcarmen all played significant roles for the Red Sox this season, especially in the playoffs. The home-grown talent showcased their abilities and helped Boston win its second championship in four seasons.
They’re not done.
This postseason was only a glimpse of what’s to come.
''That’s a great part of this year,'' said Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein. ''It was a true organization triumph with a lot of kids who were scouted here and developed here. They did a lot of hard work coming up through the system, and we had great veteran leadership, too. It was a great mix and we’re proud of the whole organization. All the scouts and all the field people bust their tails to find players like that and develop them. So, we couldn’t be happier about that.''
Even though Papelbon, Youkilis, Delcarmen and Lester have more major-league time than Pedroia and Ellsbury, it’s a pretty special group of players.
''The organization did a great job with all of us, preparing us at each level,'' said Pedroia. ''It helps out when you all get called up together because we've been through a lot of things. We played Double-A together, Triple-A and now here. So I think everybody is comfortable with each other, and it makes it that much more special.''
While Pedroia’s old-school style of play quickly messed on and off the field with the Red Sox, Ellsbury was the late-season sparkplug the club needed. Because of that, his teammates were dousing him in the clubhouse with libations after the victory at Coors Field Sunday night.
''I’ve only been in the big leagues for a couple of months, but when you’re that little kid in the back yard you always put yourself in that situation,'' said Ellsbury. ''Getting that big hit or whatever it is. I still can’t believe this.''
When will this sink in?
''I don’t know,'' he said. ''I still can’t believe this. Everyone is celebrating and I can’t believe this.''
Get used to it.
The impact the young guys had on this club did not go unnoticed with the veteran players, including captain Jason Varitek.
“We’ve have some extremely young players, and some extremely old players,” said Varitek. “We thrive on communication and coaching. You can never be older enough to be coached or young enough to be coached.”
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