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ST. LOUIS -- The champagne wasn't even dry yet in the Boston Red Sox clubhouse Wednesday night before team officials started thinking ahead to the 2005 season.
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| When the celebrating ends, Theo Epstein must decide what to do with Derek Lowe and 13 other Red Sox free agents. (Getty Images) |
But it's OK. Really. This isn't Short Attention Span Theatre. You can bet that the Red Sox will bask in their first World Series title since 1918 for a long, long time, starting with the parade later this week, from principal owners John Henry, Larry Lucchino and Tom Werner to general manager Theo Epstein on down to manager Terry Francona and the players.
"The planning for '05 really started a couple of years ago," Epstein said during a wide-ranging conversation in the Boston dugout before the Red Sox clinched Game 4. "The implementation of our plan and the execution of it will probably start a couple of days after we stop playing."
| Red Sox Free Agents | |
| Player | Position |
| Terry Adams | RHP |
| Pedro Astacio | RHP |
| Mark Bellhorn | 2B |
| Ellis Burks | DH |
| Orlando Cabrera | SS |
| Ricky Gutierrez | INF |
| Gabe Kapler | OF |
| Curt Leskanic | RHP |
| Derek Lowe | RHP |
| Pedro Martinez | RHP |
| Dave McCarty | 1B/OF |
| Ramiro Mendoza | RHP |
| Doug Mirabelli | C |
| Billy Mueller | 3B |
| Mike Myers | LHP |
| Pokey Reese | INF |
| Jason Varitek | C |
| Scott Williamson | RHP |
The thinking: We can do better than, uh, one World Series win every 86 years or so.
Imagine that. Boston!
And by the time the Red Sox were celebrating several hours later, they were threatening to actually become greedy about it.
For all those aging New Englanders who have been saying that they'll be able to die happy just as soon as the Red Sox win a World Series, there was former infielder Johnny Pesky, 85, there in the middle of the clubhouse with an answer.
"Let me tell you something," Pesky said. "I hope the old guys take that attitude, but I hope they live to see three or four more World Series."
That's where Epstein and the front office come in this winter. They scored big last winter when they traded for Curt Schilling and signed free-agent closer Keith Foulke.
This winter's task might be even more daunting: A total of 14 current Red Sox are eligible for free agency, including ace pitcher Pedro Martinez, catcher Jason Varitek, pitcher Derek Lowe and shortstop Orlando Cabrera.
Nomar Garciaparra is, too, but the Red Sox took care of that question by dealing him to the Chicago Cubs in July.
