J.D. Drew, shown at Sox’ camp, says, “Last year was tough, but I felt I had a real solid September, a huge hit in the LCS and then a solid World Series.”

The Providence Journal / Bob Breidenbach

VERO BEACH, Fla. — Last October was special for the Red Sox and their fans as the team won its second World Series in four seasons. The party began in Denver after a four-game sweep of the Rockies and continued into the offseason.

The winter was exactly what anyone would expect from a championship team, with the players being pulled in a million directions for different obligations. Set in the background of all the hoopla was Sox right fielder J.D. Drew.

He had just completed his first season with the Red Sox, the team that gave him a five-year deal worth $70 million. He was able to breathe a sigh of relief, knowing he ended the year in a positive manner.

During his struggles early in 2007 he heard the boos, and quickly realized that playing in Boston would be like no other experience he has had as a major-leaguer. He was almost considered a bust, an overpaid mistake by management. Finally, in the last few weeks of the season, Drew showed what type of player he could be. He hopes to continue that success this year.

“The second year is always more comfortable because you know your environment,” he said yesterday after the Red Sox’ 4-0 loss to the Dodgers. “Last year was a tough year, but I felt I had a real solid September and went into the postseason with a huge hit in the LCS and then a solid World Series. You ultimately want to peak when you get to the playoffs, and I felt like, down the stretch, I came through with some big hits in some clutch situations.”

He was vindicated in the postseason, when the boos turned into standing ovations at Fenway Park.

In Game Six of the ALCS against Cleveland, he crushed a grand slam in the first inning that set the tone for the last two games of the series. He finished that contest with three hits and five RBI, giving him the distinction he had been seeking all season.

In the last two months of the 2007 season, Drew hit .342 with four homers and 18 RBI, and it was clear he finally was comfortable in his new surroundings.

“I felt good at the end of the year,” he said. “Now, I’ve just filed those things away and I’m trying to pick up where I left off.”

One of the aspects of Drew’s game that will never appear in a box score is his ability to stay on an even keel during adversity. He proved that last season.

“That’s what people can come to expect from me,” he said. “You’re going to have your ups and downs, and the game is tough enough as it is; you just can’t get so mad where you can’t see straight. So I just always try to stay focused, whether I’m on the highest of highs or the lowest of lows. I try to keep a happy medium because you know you have to come out the next day and play the game again.”

Even before he arrived for spring training in 2007, Drew knew exactly what kind of atmosphere he was heading into, so when things weren’t going as well as he expected, he tried everything he could to dig himself out of the rut.

“As August came to a close and September picked up, I started to find the holes,” he said. “When that stuff begins to happen, you can feel things start to turn your way. That was big for me and it got me on track. I had some big home runs down the stretch and I was able to help our team secure home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. As the season wound down, it definitely became more comfortable.”

What are the Red Sox expecting from Drew in 2008?

“More production,” said Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein. “He seems to be more comfortable and he’s in a better position physically. He knows what to expect and we’ll see how it translates.”

It’s obvious Drew is more relaxed this spring, and the Red Sox are hoping that translates into some big numbers.

jmcdonal@projo.com