The season that was (and wasn't)

The 2003 Boston Red Sox season featured many dramatics and heartbreaks, surprises and disappointments. The Sox roller coaster saw the team lead the American League in victories in its last at-bat (23), one-run games (26), and extra innings (11). The Sox also led the majors in 15 offensive categories, including setting a new major league record for slugging (.491), eclipsing the longstanding .488 mark of the 1927 Yankees.

But despite the team's often-supernatural accomplishments at the plate, the pitching was a continuous thorn in the Boston jersey, with a bullpen as unreliable as Boston's parking for much of the season. The bullpen posted a 4.87 ERA, third-highest in the majors, blowing 21 saves and causing nightly anxiety attacks throughout the Northeast.

This two-part series looks at just some of the key contributions, both good and bad, by the members of the 2003 Red Sox. Today we look at the offense, and tomorrow pitching.

Jason Varitek, C: Was clutch during the regular season, homering eight times and knocking in 65 runs with men in scoring position while being one of the best behind the plate. Tek's ALCS Game 6 solo shot off the Yankees' Andy Pettitte into the third level upper deck in left tied the game and led to a four-run inning. He also beat out a pinch-hit fielder's choice grounder in Game 4 at Fenway to drive in Kevin Millar with the eventual winning run.

Kevin Millar, 1B/DH/OF: Began his Sox career with a blast, launching a 16th-inning game-winner against the Devil Rays in game two of the season, and made just four errors at first base in 101 games. He had a disappointing second half, however, batting just .251. Mr. Springsteen also somehow managed -- all in the space of six months -- to breach copyright, sport a mullet, cornrows, and be bald, be fu manchued, and turn Fenway into a rodeo ring.

Todd Walker, 2B: His three-run, game-tying homer on a full count with two outs in the ninth off of Baltimore's Jorge Julio on September 23 provided one of the most dramatic Fenway moments all season.

Not so hot: Batted .210 in July and August, dropping his average to .273, but responded with a .347 September.

Postseason: Was clutch all postseason (five homers, .349 average, .767 slugging), including the infamous "Ed Hillel: Objective Yankee Fan" Game 1 homer.

"Walker was the most consistent batter in the playoffs, but despite two great plays in Game 7, his defense is shaky," freshman Sox diehard Scott Sporn said. "But his clutch performances should help him be re-signed."

Nomar Garciaparra, SS: Went six-for-six in a 13-inning Philadelphia tragedy, the first Sox player since Rem-Dawg in 1981 with a six-hitter. His four-for-six Father's Day show against Houston included three doubles, a triple and a sacrifice bunt to move Walker into scoring position for Manny Ramirez's game-winner.

"Nomah" also tied the game in both the ninth and tenth innings against the Cardinals on June 12 in an eventual 13-inning Sox loss, and hit a walk-off homer off Toronto's Cliff Politte on April 20.

Ugly: His entire September (.170) and most of October was abysmal.

Bill Mueller, 3B: The first player in Major League history with a grand slam from both sides of the plate in one game, homering three times on July 29 against the Rangers. Mueller also somehow won the American League batting title (.326), despite a career .286 average entering the 2003 campaign. Also flashed some leather at third.

Postseason: Batted .174 with 11 strikeouts...

Manny Ramirez, LF: Had the game-winning hit in the 14th against Houston on Father's Day, and hit a game-tying solo shot leading off the ninth against Oakland's Keith Foulke on Aug. 14. Also showed some agility in the field in the Bronx in September, playing left field like a pro who cared.

The Ugly: 0-7 against the Phillies on Nomar's six-hit night. Not even Jeremy Giambi could manage that. Manny's August Saturday night date with Enrique Wilson and a pack of Strepsils was hard to swallow too.

Johnny Damon, CF: Hit .293 after the All-Star break, and his leaping, scoreboard-banging catch of Angel Adam Kennedy's drive against the Monster on Aug. 6 sweetened Pedro's victory. The Sox were also 53-24 when he scored.

Not so hot: First half -- Johnny, where did you go? Damon was hitting .260 at the All-Star break.

Ugly: The mullet, the (lack of an) outfield arm, and the Damon versus lil' D. Jackson clash, uglier than a Mike Tyson fight.

Trot Nixon, RF: "Dirt Dog's" grand slam against Philly on Sept. 1 sparked the Sox to a 17-9 September, and he was clutch throughout the season, finishing fifth in the AL in slugging (.578). Anyone else care to give up chewin' dip? But Nixon was hampered by a September calf injury.

Postseason: Four key homers, but his Game 3 walk-off shot against Oakland capped them all.

David Ortiz, DH/1B: "Mini-Mo" had a pinch-hit, game-winning single against the Yankees' Armando Benitez with two outs in the ninth off the Monster, and also launched the game-winning blast against Baltimore in the tenth after Walker's equalizer.

Ortiz carried the team with 21 second-half homers, sixth most post-All-Star game, and 55 RBI. He also hit two go-ahead homers against Chicago on Sept. 3, including the tenth inning game-winner.

He should have played all season, but killed the Yankees (.327, 6 HR, 14 RBI during regular season, including 4 homers in two July games).

Postseason: His Game Four two-run double against Oakland was key.

"David Ortiz played as well as any MVP has in the last month of the season," sophomore fan Alex Maloney said.

Doug Mirabelli, C: His homer off Toronto's Roy Halladay on July 8 kept the Sox in the game until Varitek delivered the game-winner in the 11th. Does as good a job as anyone catching the knuckler.

Damian Jackson, IF/OF: Solid off the bench, but three errors versus Baltimore on September 25 behind Lowe were ugly. Roughed up Damon with his polished noggin' too.

Gabe Kapler, OF: First two games for Boston were as unbelievable as his forearms: 7-9, 2 homers, 7 RBI, 1.889 slugging, .778 on-base. Also batted .320 in eight September starts for Trot, but had an affinity for nearly steamrolling every Sox fielder at some point.

Lou Merloni, IF: Just hearing "Louuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu" echo through Fenway again was worth trading for him.

Jeremy Giambi, IF/OF: MIA all season with a .197 average and 42 strikeouts in 127 at-bats--ouch--but his single and first career steal in the ninth versus the Pinstripes set the stage for Ortiz.

Adrian Brown and Dave McCarty: Brief stints, but Brown became the first Sox pinch runner ever to steal two consecutive bases in a game, and McCarty had a two-run pinch-hit double off Mo Rivera at Fenway on Aug. 30.

Shea Hillenbrand, 3B/1B: Left Boston and claimed it lacked veteran presence. Arrived in Arizona amongst the likes of Randy Johnson (40), Mark Grace (39), Steve Finley (38), Curt Schilling (36) and Luis Gonzalez (36), and displaced Matt Williams (37). How veteran could you get, Shea?

Tomorrow, we highlight the Sox pitching staff.