Red Sox ready to defend ’07 crown
After breaking an 86-year drought in 2004, the Boston Red Sox return this season with yet another World Series title under their belts and looking for more as the favorites to win it all again.
Following so many frustrating, oh-so-close seasons, it’s good to be a Red Sox fan these days. The team enters the 2008 season as the defending World Series Champions and quite possibly a better team than they were a year ago when they swept the Rockies in the Fall Classic to win their second title in four seasons.
If there ever was a curse, as some insist, it’s definitely gone by now.
Only three starters among the position players from the 2004 titlists survived to collect another ring in 2007 – Jason Varitek, David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez. And it’s a wonder that Ramirez was around in 2007 following the trade rumors that dogged him since 2004. Curt Schilling, Tim Wakefield and Mike Timlin were the only pitchers to collect a championship ring on both clubs. So the turnover was heavy following the ’04 win.
If Boston does win their second consecutive World Series this season, it will be pretty much the same team that won a year ago. Though the Red Sox dabbled in some of the early trade talks for southpaw sensation Johan Santana, the biggest move they ended up making to date has been signing 1B Sean Casey.
And that suits most of Red Sox Nation just fine. Hey, no doubt they wouldn’t have minded one bit to see Santana in a Boston uni this season. Who wouldn’t? But with a solid mix of veterans and youngsters on their way up, the folks in Beantown are happy with what they’ve got.
Yes, it’s good to be a Red Sox fan these days.
PITCHING
If there’s one area of concern enter the 2008 season for manager Terry Francona and the Boston faithful, not to mention those holding Red Sox futures, it’s on the mound. Granted, it’s not a huge concern, especially with a horse like Josh Beckett anchoring the starting staff and Jonathan Papelbon closing out the ninth inning.
But there are questions behind Beckett. Can 41-year-old Curt Schilling overcome his shoulder woes and contribute? The prognosis right now is Old 38’s shoulder will keep him out of action the first few months, so he obviously won’t contribute starting in April.
Will Tim Wakefield – who, like Schilling, enters this year 41 – be able to rebound from the back trouble that kept him off the World Series roster? All signs are he’s ready to go. Can Daisuke Matsuzaka find some consistency and show what made him one of the most heralded players to find their way to the majors from Japan?
Will Jon Lester’s inspiring return continue after his battle from Lymphoma and a win in Boston’s clinching Game 4 of the World Series? Is Clay Buchholz, who authored a no-hitter in just his second big league start last September, ready to shoulder the load over 28-30 MLB starts? And will Julian Tavarez find any success bouncing once again between the rotation and the bullpen?
Speaking of the bullpen, it should be fine behind Papelbon. Southpaw Hideki Okajima turned into the most valuable Japanese pitcher on the roster last season with a 2.22 ERA over 66 appearances. Javier Lopez, another lefty, might drop down in the pecking order despite signing a nice $840K contract in the winter. Lopez, expected to be the ‘lefty specialist,’ was no mystery to left-handed hitters in 2007.
Veteran right-hander Mike Timlin is back for some 7th-8th inning work, and Manny Delcarmen is expected to get some setup work along with the occasional save opportunity. Kyle Snyder, Devern Hasack and David Aardsma are also around for relief jobs, with Boston inking a pair of veteran Dan’s, Miceli and Kolb, to minor league deals for some depth.
OFFENSE/DEFENSE
While we might see some hiccups in the rotation if both graybeards, Schilling and Wakefield, don’t have it, the offense is very likely going to be stronger than a year ago. The infield-catching quintet that ended the season – Varitek, Kevin Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia, Julio Lugo and Mike Lowell – is back intact, and I expect to see a bounce-back year from Lugo offensively and continued improvement from Pedroia, the AL Rookie of the Year in 2007.
Manny’s back being Manny, and hoping to avoid the terribly slow start he got off to last season. Ramirez was hitting just .188 with 2 HR on April 28 before closing the year at .296, 20 HR. He’ll be in left with Jacoby Ellsbury the likely candidate for center over Coco Crisp.
J.D. Drew is a bit of a concern in right, both with regards to his always-fragile health and the rather lackluster production he provided before breaking out with a .350 average and eight RBI in 11 ALCS/WS games. There isn’t a lot behind the current top four outfielders right now, unless a kid like Brandon Moss emerges out of spring.
Bobby Kielty was re-signed to a minor league deal and should make the club as an outfield reserve, with Jon Van Every another OF possibility. The Sox may also toy with the idea of getting Youkilis into action out in right with Casey manning first base. Alex Cora will play the utility infielder’s role once again.
And, oh yeah, Boston has a guy named Big Papi at DH. Assuming Ellsbury is ready to play full-time and Drew can stay healthy, this offense and defense should be just fine.
Key Player(s): On the mound, there will be pressure on both Dice-K and Buchholz to provide support for Beckett, especially while Schilling is out. Lugo and Drew are critical on offense.
Futures: Boston is drawing heavy chalk, unsurprisingly, with The Greek listing the Sox at -125 to win their division, +285 to win the AL flag and +465 to win their second straight World Series. BetCris’ O/U break on wins is at 94, and the Beantowners topped that mark in two of my five simulation runs. If that number comes down, even by half a win, the over would seem a very safe bet.
After breaking an 86-year drought in 2004, the Boston Red Sox return this season with yet another World Series title under their belts and looking for more as the favorites to win it all again.
Following so many frustrating, oh-so-close seasons, it’s good to be a Red Sox fan these days. The team enters the 2008 season as the defending World Series Champions and quite possibly a better team than they were a year ago when they swept the Rockies in the Fall Classic to win their second title in four seasons.
If there ever was a curse, as some insist, it’s definitely gone by now.
Only three starters among the position players from the 2004 titlists survived to collect another ring in 2007 – Jason Varitek, David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez. And it’s a wonder that Ramirez was around in 2007 following the trade rumors that dogged him since 2004. Curt Schilling, Tim Wakefield and Mike Timlin were the only pitchers to collect a championship ring on both clubs. So the turnover was heavy following the ’04 win.
If Boston does win their second consecutive World Series this season, it will be pretty much the same team that won a year ago. Though the Red Sox dabbled in some of the early trade talks for southpaw sensation Johan Santana, the biggest move they ended up making to date has been signing 1B Sean Casey.
And that suits most of Red Sox Nation just fine. Hey, no doubt they wouldn’t have minded one bit to see Santana in a Boston uni this season. Who wouldn’t? But with a solid mix of veterans and youngsters on their way up, the folks in Beantown are happy with what they’ve got.
Yes, it’s good to be a Red Sox fan these days.
PITCHING
If there’s one area of concern enter the 2008 season for manager Terry Francona and the Boston faithful, not to mention those holding Red Sox futures, it’s on the mound. Granted, it’s not a huge concern, especially with a horse like Josh Beckett anchoring the starting staff and Jonathan Papelbon closing out the ninth inning.
But there are questions behind Beckett. Can 41-year-old Curt Schilling overcome his shoulder woes and contribute? The prognosis right now is Old 38’s shoulder will keep him out of action the first few months, so he obviously won’t contribute starting in April.
Will Tim Wakefield – who, like Schilling, enters this year 41 – be able to rebound from the back trouble that kept him off the World Series roster? All signs are he’s ready to go. Can Daisuke Matsuzaka find some consistency and show what made him one of the most heralded players to find their way to the majors from Japan?
Will Jon Lester’s inspiring return continue after his battle from Lymphoma and a win in Boston’s clinching Game 4 of the World Series? Is Clay Buchholz, who authored a no-hitter in just his second big league start last September, ready to shoulder the load over 28-30 MLB starts? And will Julian Tavarez find any success bouncing once again between the rotation and the bullpen?
Speaking of the bullpen, it should be fine behind Papelbon. Southpaw Hideki Okajima turned into the most valuable Japanese pitcher on the roster last season with a 2.22 ERA over 66 appearances. Javier Lopez, another lefty, might drop down in the pecking order despite signing a nice $840K contract in the winter. Lopez, expected to be the ‘lefty specialist,’ was no mystery to left-handed hitters in 2007.
Veteran right-hander Mike Timlin is back for some 7th-8th inning work, and Manny Delcarmen is expected to get some setup work along with the occasional save opportunity. Kyle Snyder, Devern Hasack and David Aardsma are also around for relief jobs, with Boston inking a pair of veteran Dan’s, Miceli and Kolb, to minor league deals for some depth.
OFFENSE/DEFENSE
While we might see some hiccups in the rotation if both graybeards, Schilling and Wakefield, don’t have it, the offense is very likely going to be stronger than a year ago. The infield-catching quintet that ended the season – Varitek, Kevin Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia, Julio Lugo and Mike Lowell – is back intact, and I expect to see a bounce-back year from Lugo offensively and continued improvement from Pedroia, the AL Rookie of the Year in 2007.
Manny’s back being Manny, and hoping to avoid the terribly slow start he got off to last season. Ramirez was hitting just .188 with 2 HR on April 28 before closing the year at .296, 20 HR. He’ll be in left with Jacoby Ellsbury the likely candidate for center over Coco Crisp.
J.D. Drew is a bit of a concern in right, both with regards to his always-fragile health and the rather lackluster production he provided before breaking out with a .350 average and eight RBI in 11 ALCS/WS games. There isn’t a lot behind the current top four outfielders right now, unless a kid like Brandon Moss emerges out of spring.
Bobby Kielty was re-signed to a minor league deal and should make the club as an outfield reserve, with Jon Van Every another OF possibility. The Sox may also toy with the idea of getting Youkilis into action out in right with Casey manning first base. Alex Cora will play the utility infielder’s role once again.
And, oh yeah, Boston has a guy named Big Papi at DH. Assuming Ellsbury is ready to play full-time and Drew can stay healthy, this offense and defense should be just fine.
Key Player(s): On the mound, there will be pressure on both Dice-K and Buchholz to provide support for Beckett, especially while Schilling is out. Lugo and Drew are critical on offense.
Futures: Boston is drawing heavy chalk, unsurprisingly, with The Greek listing the Sox at -125 to win their division, +285 to win the AL flag and +465 to win their second straight World Series. BetCris’ O/U break on wins is at 94, and the Beantowners topped that mark in two of my five simulation runs. If that number comes down, even by half a win, the over would seem a very safe bet.
