The Red Sox, who spent the playoffs at home 75 times in 85 seasons between 1918 and 2004, have become postseason stalwarts. But they remain unjaded, appreciative. They doused one another as if it were their first playoff trip, 50 Cent bumping on the clubhouse speakers.
"You never, ever, ever take it for granted," said general manager Theo Epstein, taking a pull from a Bud Light. "One of our organizational goals is we wanted to transform the franchise into the kind of franchise that can be counted to be in just about every October. And that's not easy.
"We wanted to be like the Braves or like the Yankees, a team when you think of October baseball you think of the Red Sox. Now it's five out of six years and we're starting to get there. And starting to feel pretty good about it."
"It's not easy," said chairman Tom Werner. "It's remarkable to be here. We never take it for granted."
The bash carried from the field to the dugout. There was John Henry, the owner, smoking a cigar by manager Terry Francona's office. He overheard a reporter joke to Epstein that the GM deserved a raise. Henry poked his head toward the group of reporters and said with a smile, "He'll get one."
There was Jason Bay, soaked with champagne for the first time, the left fielder who replaced Manny RamÃrez at the trade deadline. There was Jed Lowrie, swim goggles strapped to his forehead, the rookie shortstop fill-in who began the season in Pawtucket. There was David Ortiz, sipping a bottle of beer, the historically clutch slugger who missed 55 games this year.
Those three, perhaps more than any others, symbolized how arduous this season's achievement was. Between constant injuries, new additions, and one blockbuster trade, "it was more about survival this year," Epstein said. Survive they did, thanks largely to the farm system that produced MVP candidates Kevin Youkilis and Dustin Pedroia, and the maneuvering of Epstein that added secondary but integral pieces like Paul Byrd and Mark Kotsay.
