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Red Sox History: Ranking every squad of the 21st century

By Daniel Fox

BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 31: The Boston Red Sox 2018 World Series Championship banner hangs outside Fenway Park on October 31, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 31: The Boston Red Sox 2018 World Series Championship banner hangs outside Fenway Park on October 31, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images) /
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BALTIMORE, MD – SEPTEMBER 28: Dustin Pedroia #15 of the Boston Red Sox talks with manager Terry Francona #47 before the game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 28, 2011 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD – SEPTEMBER 28: Dustin Pedroia #15 of the Boston Red Sox talks with manager Terry Francona #47 before the game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 28, 2011 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /

No. 14: 2011 Red Sox (90-72)

Yes, the 2011 Red Sox historic September collapse will make them go down in infamy, but their explosive offense made them an entertaining team to watch from April to August.

Jacoby Ellsbury finished runner-up in the MVP race by batting .321, hitting 32 home runs, and stealing 39 bases, and yet he wasn’t even the best hitter on his own team. Adrian Gonzalez hit .338 and knocked in 117 runs in his only full season with the Red Sox, while Dustin Pedroia hit .307 and hit a career-high 21 home runs. David Ortiz turned back the clock and slashed .309/.398/.553, overcoming poor seasons from fellow veterans Kevin Youkilis and Carl Crawford.

On the pitching side, Josh Beckett and Jon Lester had All-Star seasons, but a disastrous season by John Lackey (6.41 ERA) and an injury to Clay Buchholz that limited him to 14 starts left the Red Sox short-handed come September.

The bullpen also collapsed, with star reliever Daniel Bard (10.64 ERA in September) falling apart in the stretch run and Jonathan Papelbon blowing the final game that knocked the Red Sox out of the playoffs.

The end result was ugly, and it cost manager Terry Francona and general manager Theo Epstein their jobs.

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