Pitchers:
SP-- Josh Beckett
SP-- "Dice K"
SP-- Jon Lester
SP-- Clay Bucholz
SP-- Tim Wakefield/Curt Schilling
SP-- "Dice K"
SP-- Jon Lester
SP-- Clay Bucholz
SP-- Tim Wakefield/Curt Schilling
P-- Bartolo Colon
P-- Julian Tavarez
P-- David Aardsma
P-- Mike Timlin
P-- Manny Declareman
P-- Javier Lopez
P-- Danny Kolb
P-- Kyle Snyder
P-- Hideki Okajima
CL-- Jonothan Papelbon
P-- Julian Tavarez
P-- David Aardsma
P-- Mike Timlin
P-- Manny Declareman
P-- Javier Lopez
P-- Danny Kolb
P-- Kyle Snyder
P-- Hideki Okajima
CL-- Jonothan Papelbon
Position Players:
C-- Jason Varitek
C-- Doug Mirabelli
1B-- Kevin Youklis/Sean Casey
2B-- Dustin Pedroia
3B-- Mike Lowell
SS-- Julio Lugo/Dustin Pedroia
OF-- JD Drew
OF-- Jacoby Ellsbury/Coco Crisp
OF-- Manny Ramirez
DH-- David Ortiz
Ut.-- Dustin Pedroia (SS/2B)
Ut.-- Sean Casey (1B)
Ut.-- Coco Crisp (OF)
Ut.-- Bobby Kielty (OF)
Ut.-- Chris Carter (OF)
C-- Doug Mirabelli
1B-- Kevin Youklis/Sean Casey
2B-- Dustin Pedroia
3B-- Mike Lowell
SS-- Julio Lugo/Dustin Pedroia
OF-- JD Drew
OF-- Jacoby Ellsbury/Coco Crisp
OF-- Manny Ramirez
DH-- David Ortiz
Ut.-- Dustin Pedroia (SS/2B)
Ut.-- Sean Casey (1B)
Ut.-- Coco Crisp (OF)
Ut.-- Bobby Kielty (OF)
Ut.-- Chris Carter (OF)
Outlook Out of Spring:
The Boston Red Sox are the defending World Champs. They will have some fresh faces, new contracts, and team decisions are going to be made by Terry Francona (who has a new 4 year, $3 million a year, contract). However, the core of the Sox team is predominately the same.
The pitching staff is the dominate thing the Red Sox could offer the AL, this year. Josh Beckett (who finished second in the Cy Young race, in '07), "Dice K" (in his second full year of MLB), Jon Lester and Clay Bucholz (both rookies, for all intensive purposes), rounding out the fifth starter spot with Tim Wakefield (until Curt Schilling comes back, in midseason). The starting pitching, for Boston, could be the best five starters in the major leagues. Beckett is a dominate, number one starter, with dazzling stuff, and has just entered into his prime (at age 28). Daisuke Matsuzaka, in his second full season, should be a great compliment to Beckett. Curt Schilling and Tim Wakefield are consummate professionals. They have been in the league for over forty years, between them, and will fill in nicely to the fifth starter role (Wakefield for the first half, and Schilling for the second half of the season, after coming off of injury and rehab). However, where the Red Sox may fall short, in their pitching staff, is in the middle. Clay Bucholz and Jon Lester are not "full season tested," at the major league level. Although, they both have blistering stuff, and "should" have long major league careers, names like Wood, Prior, Ankiel and others come to mind. (As a rule, never bet on young pitching, to win a World Series Ring. Especially, a repeat ring!). Though, Bucholz pitched a no-hitter in his first major league start last year, and has had pure success, in his short MLB career, anything could happen and this spring he has been shaky. Lester is more of an "innings guy," who is not completely relying on a 95 MPH fast ball, to get him by hitters. He does have three major league pitches, and has had no problems with injuries. The Red Sox starters do have a huge advantage, over some other AL teams, and that is their deep and talented bullpen. They have seven pitchers that have achieved large amounts of success, at the MLB level. Mike Timlin, Julian Tavarez, Kyle Snyder, left-handed sensation Hideki Okajima, and closer Jonothan Papelbon. Papelbon could start, if the injury bug, success problems, or if Okajima (who has established a new pitch, in the off season, a dominate split finger fast ball) has the same stuff, as in last years campaign. With the addition of David Aardsma and Kyle Snyder, the bullpen is one of the finest in the American League. The starters will only have to go five to six innings, and then the bull pen alone, should win 75% of their games, overall.
The position side of the equation, for the Sox, is basically the same. They will hit for a high average and score four to six runs a game, pretty easily. However, they do have some changes and decisions in the spring. Jacoby Ellsbury, a rookie centerfielder, who has speed to burn and a high on base percentage. Jacoby should wrangle the centerfield position away from Crisp, but if not the Sox have an adequate back up. Manny Ramirez and JD Drew round out the outfield, with back ups in Bobby Kielty and rookie Chris Carter (who can also fill in at first). On the infield, Lowell at third, Lugo, Cora, Youklis, and the captain, Jason Varitek will hold down the fort. However, Alex Cora is a light hitting middle infielder and Dustin Pedroia did have a stellar rookie campaign last year, so spring training will decide the starter. Boston also has "The Mayor" Sean Casey, Kielty, and David Ortiz (if in a huge pinch), to fill in and spell injuries and give at-bats.
In the off season, the Sox have added a good assortment of possible talent and key need skills. Bobby Kielty can play all outfield positions, has some speed and pop in his bat. Sean Casey can play first, spell Ortiz on a day off, or fill in if injuries take over. With the addition of Ellsbury, in the outfield (assuming he wins out, in the spring), that will allow Coco Crisp to pinch run and also spell Jacoby, in double headers and/or night, day turn around games. The pitching pickups are where the Red Sox made the most improvements, not just in the pen, but in the form (no pun intended) of Bartolo Colon. Colon was signed to a minor league deal, in order to assess whether he has the arm strength, still. Colon, once an all-star pitcher, has had arm troubles, over the last two years. However, if he does regain his form, then he could be the pick up of the off season. Overall, Terry Francona has very little to worry about, at present. He has an overall line up that most managers would die for and a pitching staff, possibly for the ages. Barring any injuries, the Red Sox will be battling the Yankees for the East Title, will make the playoffs, and could be back in the World Series.
Sphere: Related Content
The pitching staff is the dominate thing the Red Sox could offer the AL, this year. Josh Beckett (who finished second in the Cy Young race, in '07), "Dice K" (in his second full year of MLB), Jon Lester and Clay Bucholz (both rookies, for all intensive purposes), rounding out the fifth starter spot with Tim Wakefield (until Curt Schilling comes back, in midseason). The starting pitching, for Boston, could be the best five starters in the major leagues. Beckett is a dominate, number one starter, with dazzling stuff, and has just entered into his prime (at age 28). Daisuke Matsuzaka, in his second full season, should be a great compliment to Beckett. Curt Schilling and Tim Wakefield are consummate professionals. They have been in the league for over forty years, between them, and will fill in nicely to the fifth starter role (Wakefield for the first half, and Schilling for the second half of the season, after coming off of injury and rehab). However, where the Red Sox may fall short, in their pitching staff, is in the middle. Clay Bucholz and Jon Lester are not "full season tested," at the major league level. Although, they both have blistering stuff, and "should" have long major league careers, names like Wood, Prior, Ankiel and others come to mind. (As a rule, never bet on young pitching, to win a World Series Ring. Especially, a repeat ring!). Though, Bucholz pitched a no-hitter in his first major league start last year, and has had pure success, in his short MLB career, anything could happen and this spring he has been shaky. Lester is more of an "innings guy," who is not completely relying on a 95 MPH fast ball, to get him by hitters. He does have three major league pitches, and has had no problems with injuries. The Red Sox starters do have a huge advantage, over some other AL teams, and that is their deep and talented bullpen. They have seven pitchers that have achieved large amounts of success, at the MLB level. Mike Timlin, Julian Tavarez, Kyle Snyder, left-handed sensation Hideki Okajima, and closer Jonothan Papelbon. Papelbon could start, if the injury bug, success problems, or if Okajima (who has established a new pitch, in the off season, a dominate split finger fast ball) has the same stuff, as in last years campaign. With the addition of David Aardsma and Kyle Snyder, the bullpen is one of the finest in the American League. The starters will only have to go five to six innings, and then the bull pen alone, should win 75% of their games, overall.
The position side of the equation, for the Sox, is basically the same. They will hit for a high average and score four to six runs a game, pretty easily. However, they do have some changes and decisions in the spring. Jacoby Ellsbury, a rookie centerfielder, who has speed to burn and a high on base percentage. Jacoby should wrangle the centerfield position away from Crisp, but if not the Sox have an adequate back up. Manny Ramirez and JD Drew round out the outfield, with back ups in Bobby Kielty and rookie Chris Carter (who can also fill in at first). On the infield, Lowell at third, Lugo, Cora, Youklis, and the captain, Jason Varitek will hold down the fort. However, Alex Cora is a light hitting middle infielder and Dustin Pedroia did have a stellar rookie campaign last year, so spring training will decide the starter. Boston also has "The Mayor" Sean Casey, Kielty, and David Ortiz (if in a huge pinch), to fill in and spell injuries and give at-bats.
In the off season, the Sox have added a good assortment of possible talent and key need skills. Bobby Kielty can play all outfield positions, has some speed and pop in his bat. Sean Casey can play first, spell Ortiz on a day off, or fill in if injuries take over. With the addition of Ellsbury, in the outfield (assuming he wins out, in the spring), that will allow Coco Crisp to pinch run and also spell Jacoby, in double headers and/or night, day turn around games. The pitching pickups are where the Red Sox made the most improvements, not just in the pen, but in the form (no pun intended) of Bartolo Colon. Colon was signed to a minor league deal, in order to assess whether he has the arm strength, still. Colon, once an all-star pitcher, has had arm troubles, over the last two years. However, if he does regain his form, then he could be the pick up of the off season. Overall, Terry Francona has very little to worry about, at present. He has an overall line up that most managers would die for and a pitching staff, possibly for the ages. Barring any injuries, the Red Sox will be battling the Yankees for the East Title, will make the playoffs, and could be back in the World Series.
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