BRADENTON, Fla. — The blueprint that provides the winning formula for postseason success is being called “The Red Sox Way.”

It’s not like the Red Sox have some secret handbook with the answers for perennial stability. They are simply following their goals, and have been fortunate enough to have won two World Series in a four-year span. Many believe Boston is the odds-on favorite in 2008.

General manager Theo Epstein and manager Terry Francona are continually asked how hard it is to repeat as World Champions. Francona probably gives the best answer, saying it’s hard to win once. Still, the Red Sox have created a winning atmosphere.

“I don’t think there’s a magic trick to it,” said Epstein. “We just try to build an organization that can sustain success through scouting and player development.”

When new ownership took over prior to the 2002 season, one of the main goals for the baseball operations department was to rebuild the minor-league system to a point where most of the drafted players would, at some point, make an impact at the major-league level.

It’s been successful so far.

Selecting future impact players in the June draft isn’t always an easy task, and making mistakes could have long-term consequences, says Epstein. The Red Sox have had success in recent years with Jacoby Ellsbury and Clay Buchholz (2005), Dustin Pedroia (2004), Jonathan Papelbon (2003), Jon Lester and Brandon Moss (2002).

When Epstein looks back he can point to the ’05 draft as the point when the organization’s philosophy had finally reached fruition. That philosophy, however, isn’t something that is etched in stone, according to Epstein. They tweak, make changes and learn from their mistakes.

There is a sense of satisfaction.

“We’re all very pleased because there are so many people involved,” said Epstein. “Every area scout, cross checker, every member of the field staff and player development played some kind of role in last year’s championship, and that’s really rewarding. That can reinforce the morale in the whole organization when that happens. We would be in a difficult situation right now had we not developed some of these young guys.”

The Red Sox are not a short-term thinking organization, proving that patience really is a virtue.

“We’ve made progress and we’re headed in the right direction,” said Epstein. “But there’s still a ways to go before we get to where we want to be, and that is to a point where we can be totally relying on our scouting and player development system and independent of free-agent market forces. That’s a great goal to aspire to, but we’re not quite there yet.”

The Red Sox will always look to improve their team any way possible, but Epstein said it was a good feeling last winter not having to worry about the need for outside help.

“That’s how you stay a successful franchise,” added Epstein, “by thinking a couple of years ahead and not cornered into a difficult place in the market. That’s what we’re hoping for and it does start and end, really, with scouting, player development and a little bit of forethought.”

The Red Sox are not perfect, though.

In 2003, and in desperate need of pitching help for the stretch run, the club traded one of the organization’s top prospects, Freddy Sanchez, to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for pitcher Jeff Suppan. That deal fizzled for Boston as Suppan failed to produce, while Sanchez would eventually become an everyday player for the Pirates. The two-time N.L. All-Star won the N.L. batting title in 2006.

Sanchez, 30, came along at a time when the Red Sox began to seriously rebuild the minor-league system, becoming the poster child for what ended up becoming a special development program.

“I can’t compare it to anything else, but I’ll tell you what, every level I was at with the Red Sox was unbelievable,” recalls Sanchez. “I couldn’t have asked for anything better to start out in Lowell, Trenton and Pawtucket. Your family is part of the game and (Red Sox) knew how to treat our family. I had the best experience through the minor leagues with the Red Sox. It was unbelievable.”

Each organization treats prospects and the minor-league systems differently, but the Red Sox have proved over the last few years that they’re not afraid to give a young player an opportunity if he has earned it. Other teams may hold players back and not rush them.

“With me, I did well and they moved me up,” said Sanchez. “That gives you confidence and gets everything going, so I couldn’t have asked for anything more. It was a great place to start and a great place to come up with. When I got traded it was tough to swallow, but it couldn’t have worked out any better. I think it worked out for both sides. It was a great system. The moved us along, taught us a lot and treated us the way you want to be treated.”

Sanchez is not surprised — he’s impressed — by the success the Red Sox have enjoyed the last few years, especially with players such as Papelbon, Lester, Kevin Youkilis, Pedroia, Ellsbury and Manny Delcarmen.

“They have obviously put together some great drafts and probably developed players better than you can develop them,” Sanchez said. “They’ve done a great job and the success speaks for itself.”

Sanchez said he rarely thinks “What if?” because there’s no way to tell if he would have been stuck in the minors or used as a utility player in Boston. In Pittsburgh he’s been an everyday player and enjoyed success.

“It’s very encouraging and the (Red Sox) are going in the right direction,” he said. “They’ve already been in the right direction for years now, but it’s awesome to see those young players contributing right away.”

Of course there are these players fans already know and enjoy watching, but there are many more in the Red Sox system who could come along in the near future and also have an impact in Boston.

“We’re pleased,” said Epstein. “But anytime you pause in this game, even for a split second to pat yourself on the back, that’s when two or three organizations zoom right by you.”

jmcdonal@projo.com