You can be sure when Eric Gagne is shown in a Red Sox uniform on this site, it is not for good reasons...

What Went Wrong?

On this Red Sox team it is a lot easier to pick out this group of players from the previous one and though one bullpen arm seems to be the obvious choice to lead this list, let’s start with those players who were there all season.

J.D. Drew and agent Scott Boras got the Red Sox to cough up $15 million over the next five years, a move Boston is already regretting (Game Six grand slam or not). Drew managed to play in 140 games (only the third time in nine seasons he has reached this plateau), but his power numbers look more of what we would expect from a No. 8 hitter. J.D. hit 11 home runs, the lowest total of his career, and drove in 64 after driving in 100 in 2006 in only 146 games. He was able to get his average up to .270 before the end of the season, but if not for even poorer play from Coco Crisp in the playoffs, Drew would have been the one losing his spot to Jacoby Ellsbury.

Julio Lugo hit .237 in the 2007 Boston Red Sox lineup and I think that sums up his season. After seeing solid pitches hitting in front of David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez and sometimes in front of Pedroia and Youkilis, Lugo put together a .089 average fro the month of June and did not get a hit from June 15th until July 3rd. He did pass Drew in RBI with 73 and stole 33 bases in 39 attempts, but Boston fans are stuck with this man at shortstop through the 2010 season.

Sure, they just won the World Series without Johnny Damon, but it would have been a lot easier with him than it was with Coco Crisp. Coco hit only six home runs, his lowest amount since he hit three in 2003, though he only played in 99 games that season. After hitting .235 in April to open the season, he backed that up with a .224 showing in May, ending any bid he had at the magical .300. His stolen bases were fine as he was successful for 28 of 34, but for Coco to be successful in 2008, he better get off to a good start, though that most likely won’t be in Boston.

Saving the best for last, you just cannot make up numbers like Eric Gagne gave the Red Sox after the July 31st trade line. Is it worse to say you were traded from Boston during as season in which they won the World Series? Or is it worse to say you were traded for Eric Gagne? Gagne had a 2-0 record and 2.16 ERA before landing in a Red Sox uniform, and the day he came to the AL East every baseball analyst handed over the World Series trophy to the Red Sox. Obviously they won the Series, but with no help, I mean zero help from Mr. Gagne. Gagne went 2-2 with a 6.75 in 20 games for the Red Sox converting zero saves in three opportunities. He allowed earned runs in seven of his 20 appearances with Boston, surrendering three earned runs or more on three different occasions. After filing for free agency this past week, it is safe to say the Eric Gagne era in Boston is over.