DENVER - In retrospect, after a stunning 86 years without a world title, the 2004 baseball season did not signify an end for the Boston Red Sox. Rather, it was a beginning.

And so as the Red Sox completed a four-game sweep of the Colorado Rockies in the 2007 World Series on Sunday night, the prevailing theme was obvious. The Red Sox are young, rich and handsome, and, going forward, the baseball world is their proverbial oyster.

“I don't know that (the alleged curse) was ever a big deal to us — maybe a long time ago,'' Red Sox manager Terry Francona said after his team dispatched the Colorado Rockies with a 4-3 victory that left the aggregate series score at 29-10. “When our organization started adding pitching, the curse kind of went away.''

And based on how much the Red Sox possess going forward — from pitching to positional players — don't expect the misfortune to return anytime soon.

Make no mistake: These Red Sox are different from their ‘04 predecessors. The Red Sox of three years ago had a slew of big-name free agents, from Pedro Martinez to Derek Lowe to even catcher Jason Varitek — and the team almost immediately underwent a massive overhaul. Martinez and Lowe did not return after the ‘04 season; a year later, Johnny Damon was gone, too. From 2004-06, the Red Sox went from world champions to first-round failures to a relatively mediocre 86-76 team that actually had a losing record in the American League. (The 2006 Sox went 16-2 in interleague play.)

Now the Red Sox are world champions again, becoming the first team to win two world titles since the start of the 2000 season. Overnight, it seems, the Red Sox have gone from 21st century failures to Team of the Millennium, which speaks volumes for their long-term plan.

A year ago, after all, young general manager Theo Epstein was being vilified for what was perceived a failed season.

In fact, the Red Sox were merely reloading.

“There's always luck involved, but this shows we've started to build a great organization,'' Epstein said. “It's nice that we have two (championships) now and that no one can say (the first) was an accident.''

After all, the second clearly was not.

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In this World Series, the Red Sox got contributions from all corners of the clubhouse, be they occupied by Sox young or old. Rookie center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury, who did not join the team in earnest until September, hit .438 in the series and, along with American League Rookie of the Year hopeful Dustin Pedroia, proved to be a pest. Young left-handed starter Jon Lester won the decisive game. Second-year closer Jonathan Papelbon saved three Series games and did not allow a run in 10.2 innings during the postseason.

So, while the Red Sox third baseman (and Series MVP) Mike Lowell faces free agency — as does right-hander Curt Schilling — know this: Ellsbury, Pedroia, Papelbon, Lester, Josh Beckett, Manny Delcarmen, Daisuke Matsuzaka and Kevin Youkilis all are under the age of 28.

In Boston, even the general manager is young — Epstein turns 33 in December — and the last four years of his life have produced three sizable rings. (Two championship, one wedding.)

On top of it all, the veteran nucleus of the Red Sox, too, generally will remain intact. Nos. 3 and 4 hitters David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez are under team control through 2010, and right fielder J.D. Drew is signed through 2011. Shortstop Julio Lugo has three more years on his deal. Set-up man Hideki Okajima is not eligible for free agency until after the 2012 season and the Sox have additional prospects on the way in Clay Buccholz (he of the no-hitter), Justin Masterson and Jed Lowrie.

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As for catcher and captain Jason Varitek, he is eligible for free agency after the 2008 season and remains the team's heart and soul.

“There's no comparison. Different battles, different things to go through,'' Varitek said when asked to compare the Red Sox of 2007 with those of 2004. “This team didn't hit quite as well as the other one, but we hit well late. It doesn't compare.''

Under the circumstances, that should hardly a surprise.

If the 2004 Red Sox were trying to erase the past, after, the 2007 Sox were far more focused on building a bright future.

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