But if a team wants to make the playoffs and ultimately play for the World Series title, it takes more than the stars — it takes a team. That team must include role players, guys who don't get nearly enough credit for the jobs they do. It also must include guys who perform better than even they could have imagined. It must include guys who are unaffected by a down year and motivated to prove doubters wrong.
This year's Red Sox team isn't short on any of those types of players, but who is most worthy of the Chevy 10th Player Award?
Let's run through a few of the options, listed alphabetically.
Alfredo Aceves
A right-handed reliever who was acquired without much fanfare, Aceves has been the most versatile player that Terry Francona's had at his disposal all season long. Need a spot start? Call Aceves. Starter leave early with injury? Enter Aceves. Closer needs a day off? Aceves can do it.
Being ready and willing to step into any situation is one thing, but being able to excel is another. Aceves has been able to do that. His record is 9-2, his ERA is 2.87, he has eight holds and two saves and he's closing in on the 100-inning mark. His appearances have been anywhere from 1/3 of an inning to five full innings, and he's as big a reason as any that the Red Sox appear destined for October.
John Lackey
If salary is the only measurement here, then obviously Lackey would not be up for this award. But if you're talking about someone who's exceeded expectations, then look no further.
Lackey started the year in dreadful fashion, going 5-8 with a 7.47 ERA. It culminated with a 2 1/3-inning performance on July 4 that ended with the home crowd sending boos at the big right-hander. Since then, though, he's been a valuable member of the rotation, going 7-3 with a 4.70 ERA. He won't be a Cy Young candidate, but his ability to save his season in early July and turn things around has been extremely valuable for the Sox, particularly with the ongoing absence of Clay Buchholz.
Jonathan Papelbon
The soon-to-be free agent has been great before, but his 2011 campaign may be his best ever. After what most considered to be a down year in 2010, when he posted by far his highest ERA (3.90) and blew eight saves.
This year, he's taken dominance to a new level.
He is 29-for-30 in save opportunities, has a 0.934 WHIP, has 75 strikeouts to just 10 walks and he's been arguably better than any of his four straight All-Star seasons from 2006-09.
Heading into the year, many (or even most) fans and media members believed Papelbon would finish 2011 with the Red Sox before Daniel Bard assumed the role. Now, everyone's thinking it wouldn't be the worst thing for Papelbon to stick around.
Josh Reddick
If you knew ahead of time that the starting, veteran right fielder for the Red Sox would miss most of the season and that the top prospect to fill his spot would also be injured for most of the year, you probably would have been worried. But you'd probably be overlooking Josh Reddick.
Reddick entered 2011 as just a .182 major league hitter and he wasn't expected to get much of a chance, not with Ryan Kalish ahead of him on the organizational depth chart. But things have a funny way of working out, and after 73 games in the majors this year, Reddick is nearly a .300 hitter, and he's posted a more-than-respectable .839 OPS. He's been solid out in right, getting to most balls and making just one error.
Right field was a black hole for the Sox early in the season, but Reddick's been the sole reason it's no longer a great concern.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia
After joining the Red Sox last year, Jarrod Saltalamacchia didn't impress much. He didn't really have the chance.
He hit just .158 with a .316 slugging percentage in 10 games, as he was limited by a lower leg infection that kept him off the field for weeks. Heading into 2011, many wondered if he'd be able to handle the workload that would be asked of him, but five months into the season, it's clear that it's no problem.
He's hitting a steady .247, and he's fourth in OPS among AL catchers with a minimum of 300 plate appearances with a .775 mark. He's been solid defensively, too, gunning down 31 percent of would-be base stealers.
Heading into the year, there were many question marks about the catching position, but now, the future looks bright.
If I had to make a choice, it'd be Aceves. I think his season is exactly what awards like this are for — quiet contributors whose value is hard to measure with any one statistical category.
However, there are, of course, no strict guidelines for the award, and it's up to your interpretation. If you think All-Stars like Jacoby Ellsbury, Adrian Gonzalez and David Ortiz are worthy of the honor, then you can certainly vote for them. So let your voice be heard and vote every day until Sept. 15 by clicking this link. By voting, you'll become eligible to win a brand new 2011 Chevy Silverado 1500 Extended Cab 4X4 All Star Edition, courtesy of your New England Chevy Dealers.
