Red Sox: A revisit to the core of the 2004 bullpen

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A Boston Red Sox team that won the World Series in 2004 had a bullpen that delivered when needed most – especially Keith Foulke.

There are certain things in life you tend to attempt to diminish since they may be emotionally painful or bring back memories of physical pain. As a Red Sox fan the older you are, the more of these memories you have buried with the most recent being game seven of the ALCS against the New York Yankees in 2003. That game alone could provide a lifetime of baseball angst.

In the offseason, the Red Sox reloaded as they attempted to close the gap between themselves and the Yankees. In 2003 the Red Sox won 95 games, but New York shattered the 100 barriers with 101 wins. Both Pokey Reese and Mark Bellhorn were brought in to give infield help, but the two blue plate signings revolved around pitching – Curt Schilling and Keith Foulke.

The Boston staff of 2003 was 4th in the American League in fWAR at 21.5. The Yankees (yawn) were first with an fWAR of 28.6. Just possible that Schilling would add that missing piece of another top of the line starter. The bullpen in 2003 had 36 saves and 21 blown saves so the addition of Foulke was a stabilization of that key pitching component.

The Red Sox staff in 2004 improved their collective fWAR to 20.6 which put them in second place. The starters finished first with an 18.2 fWAR. The bullpen register 36 saves, but only 13 blown saves so there was an incremental improvement. The team finished in second place but improved by three wins.

One thing consistently surfaced as a positive and that was Foulke, Mike Timlin, and Alan Embree out of the bullpen. The three became increasingly important and that was especially evident in the playoffs. That was the core of the bullpen.

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Mike Timlin was 38-years-old in 2004 and the durable right-hander had already earned two World Series rings while working out of the Toronto bullpen in 1992 and 1993. For Boston Timlin did what he had always done in his career and that is be ready to pitch and do it efficiently.

In 2003, Timlin’s first season with the Red Sox after being signed as a free agent, saw him appear in 72 games. In 2004 Timlin came into 76 games for 76.1 innings. The following season Timlin led the league with 81 appearances before injuries started to impact his career. When Timlin retired after the 2008 season he had accumulated over 1,000 appearances.

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The 2004 playoffs presented a mixed performance by Timlin. In the sweep over the Angels, Timlin appeared in all three games, but after two clean performances game up three runs in 0.2 innings in a game the Red Sox closed out in ten innings.

Against the Yankees in the ALCS Timlin entered the first game in the eighth and promptly gave up two runs in 0.2 innings to give New York a far more comfortable 10-7 lead. In the memorable Game, four Timlin came in for Derek Lowe and gave up the lead. Timlin redeemed himself in the remaining games including 1.2 innings of one-hit ball in-game seven.

In game one of the World Series Timlin pitched a clean seventh inning, but was replaced in the eighth with one out after giving up a hit. That run eventually scored. Timlin allowed another run in the series for two runs allowed in his three innings pitched.

Timlin picked up a fourth ring with the 2007 Red Sox, but for me, the memories are of a gritty professional who always answered the pitching bell.

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In the longevity parade, Alan Embree was near the front line with 16 seasons and 882 game appearances. Embree played for ten different teams in his MLB career and his only ring was with the 2004 Red Sox. Embree was picked up via trade from the San Diego Padres in June of 2002 so he – like Timlin – had a first-hand acquaintance with the disappointment of 2003.

In 2004 Embree appeared in 71 games and tossed 52.1 innings – primarily as a lefty specialist, but the hard-throwing Embree was almost equally effective against right-handed hitters with a fastball in the mid-90s and an impressive slider.

Embree will go down in Red Sox history for recording the final out in the Red Sox 10-3 blowout of the Yankees in game seven of the ALCS. Embree appeared in six games in that series with his only negative contribution allowing, two runs in only 0.1 innings in the 19-8 game three disaster. In the previous series against the Angels Embree was unscathed.

In the World Series Embree tossed in three games allowing no earned runs in 1.2 innings while striking out four. In career postseason competition Embree appeared in 31 games, allowing just four earned runs in 21.2 innings. Embree also never gave up a postseason home run.

In 2005 Embree crashed and burned when in 43 games his earned run average soared to 7.65 resulting in his release. That did not end Embree’s Boston career. In 2010 Embree was invited to spring training and was eventually called up to Boston, but never pitched. The Red Sox once again released Embree, but his contributions to that remarkable season remain.

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Keith Foulke is in my memories for two things and one is certainly good and the other bad. Foulke made the underhanded toss that finally ended 86 years of various miseries. The second incident was one that will live with a certain level of infamy within Red Sox Nation. Foulke – frustrated over incessant booing after another meltdown in 2005 – retorted with his famous or infamous “Johnny from Burger King” comment.

Foulke was a big free agent ticket that was signed for the 2004 season to a three-year deal. The previous season with the Oakland Athletics Foulke had led the American League pitchers in appearances (67) and saves (43).

A Boston Red Sox team that won the World Series in 2004 had a bullpen that delivered when needed most – especially Keith Foulke.

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