2005 Record: 95-67, 2nd in AL East (tied with NYY in ALE, seeded as AL Wildcard)
Considering they were coming off a storybook postseason run in 2004 that culminated with their first World Series title since Woodrow Wilson was tossing out ceremonial first pitches, it was easy to predict Boston’s 2005 campaign wouldn’t be as grand. And the Beantown Nine lived up to the lesser expectations when they exited the postseason in round one at the hands of the eventual champion White Sox.
It’s also easy to predict the Red Sox will be in the thick of the postseason race in ‘06. But with several AL teams upgrading this winter, the notion of just finishing second to the Yankees in the AL East being enough for the wildcard may not be as sound.
Boston’s loudest off season noise was wunderkind Theo Epstein briefly leaving and centerfielder Johnny Damon doing the unthinkable by bolting for the Bronx. Epstein and team prez Larry Lucchino apparently patched things up and that turned out to be just front office monkey business in the end. Damon’s departure still has Sox Nation seething even after Boston acquired talented Coco Crisp to replace the Caveman.
Almost lost amid those two media bursts was the rest of the roster overhaul. Boston took part in the latest Marlins sell off by adding Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell through a trade and signing Alex Gonzalez. More on Beckett later. Lowell and Gonzalez are just part of a brand new infield that Boston will trot out in 2006. It’s doubtful Lowell will live up to his huge contract, but he should rebound from a horrible 2005 that saw him slug just .360 in 150 games. Gonzalez was signed to replace disappointing Edgar Renteria and provide defense that was lacking at short last season. Mark Loretta came over in a trade from San Diego to play second for the Sox, with JT Snow signed for his glove at first where he will likely share time with Kevin ‘Greek God of Walks’ Youkilis. Tony Graffanino and Alex Cora have inside tracks on infield reserve roles.
The outfield has Manny Ramirez and Trot Nixon on the flanks and Crisp in center. Offensively, that’s a nice trio. Of course, adding Manny’s stick to just about any twosome makes for a nice trio. You never really know what you’re going to get from Manny out in left, or in the media as well. WEEI Radio, who apparently took the same Silly Rumors 101 class that much of the New York media aced, is still trying to advance a Ramirez-to-Mets deal that I’m just not buying. A couple of non-roster invitees, Dustin Mohr and Gabe Kapler, could come away with backup jobs.
Team captain Jason Varitek is back behind the plate where he should see action 99.9% of the time that knuckler Tim Wakefield isn’t on the mound. Josh Bard and John Flaherty will compete for Big Mitt Backup.
Speaking of Wakefield, the starting rotation looks nice on paper. Curt Schilling, David Wells, Matt Clement and Wakefield are joined by Beckett with Bronson Arroyo in reserve and likely to start the season in the pen. Keeping Schilling and Beckett healthy for the 162-game grind is crucial; expecting them to both be healthy for the duration is iffy at best based on their track records. The Red Sox have a pair of solid aces on the horizon in Jon Paplebon and Jon Lester. If the injury bug does bite, it’s not a stretch to imagine one or even both in the mix before season’s end.
Health is also a concern with Keith Foulke. Did he or didn’t he have knee surgery last year? Only his surgeon knows for sure. Foulke is sure he’s ready to climb back aboard the closing stallion and ride it all season with increased velocity. He’ll have Mike Timlin back in a setup role, and Boston also picked up Julian Tavarez via free agency and David Riske in the Crisp trade from Cleveland to add 7th-8th inning depth. Hard-throwing Craig Hansen, the team’s top pick out of St. John’s in 2005, has closer’s stuff and probably will have that role in the near future. For now he’s in setup-middle relief. Aside from Foulke regaining form, the biggest question is who mans the lefty relief role. Odds are that Lenny DiNardo grabs the slot.
Unlike last season when they returned the bulk of their 2004, the Red Sox went out and made wholesale changes this winter. They’re obviously not content with the one World Series after nearly a century of heartbreak and disappointments. It’s doubtful they will wait another 86 years for their next set of rings. But a lot of new guys have to come together this season if they are only to wait two years between titles.
Key Performer(s): The top of the rotation and Foulke.
Camp Question(s): Settling trade rumors surrounding Ramirez and Wells, getting a brand new infield in synch and finding someone to catch Wakefield’s knuckler.
My Play: The toughest call for me to make since my projection is 91 and that has it right at the o/u futures at most sites. Expected improvement from ALE foes Toronto has me shifting both the BoSox and the Yanks down a little this time, so that lends to betting under at the sites offering the 91½ mark or higher.
Considering they were coming off a storybook postseason run in 2004 that culminated with their first World Series title since Woodrow Wilson was tossing out ceremonial first pitches, it was easy to predict Boston’s 2005 campaign wouldn’t be as grand. And the Beantown Nine lived up to the lesser expectations when they exited the postseason in round one at the hands of the eventual champion White Sox.
It’s also easy to predict the Red Sox will be in the thick of the postseason race in ‘06. But with several AL teams upgrading this winter, the notion of just finishing second to the Yankees in the AL East being enough for the wildcard may not be as sound.
Boston’s loudest off season noise was wunderkind Theo Epstein briefly leaving and centerfielder Johnny Damon doing the unthinkable by bolting for the Bronx. Epstein and team prez Larry Lucchino apparently patched things up and that turned out to be just front office monkey business in the end. Damon’s departure still has Sox Nation seething even after Boston acquired talented Coco Crisp to replace the Caveman.
Almost lost amid those two media bursts was the rest of the roster overhaul. Boston took part in the latest Marlins sell off by adding Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell through a trade and signing Alex Gonzalez. More on Beckett later. Lowell and Gonzalez are just part of a brand new infield that Boston will trot out in 2006. It’s doubtful Lowell will live up to his huge contract, but he should rebound from a horrible 2005 that saw him slug just .360 in 150 games. Gonzalez was signed to replace disappointing Edgar Renteria and provide defense that was lacking at short last season. Mark Loretta came over in a trade from San Diego to play second for the Sox, with JT Snow signed for his glove at first where he will likely share time with Kevin ‘Greek God of Walks’ Youkilis. Tony Graffanino and Alex Cora have inside tracks on infield reserve roles.
The outfield has Manny Ramirez and Trot Nixon on the flanks and Crisp in center. Offensively, that’s a nice trio. Of course, adding Manny’s stick to just about any twosome makes for a nice trio. You never really know what you’re going to get from Manny out in left, or in the media as well. WEEI Radio, who apparently took the same Silly Rumors 101 class that much of the New York media aced, is still trying to advance a Ramirez-to-Mets deal that I’m just not buying. A couple of non-roster invitees, Dustin Mohr and Gabe Kapler, could come away with backup jobs.
Team captain Jason Varitek is back behind the plate where he should see action 99.9% of the time that knuckler Tim Wakefield isn’t on the mound. Josh Bard and John Flaherty will compete for Big Mitt Backup.
Speaking of Wakefield, the starting rotation looks nice on paper. Curt Schilling, David Wells, Matt Clement and Wakefield are joined by Beckett with Bronson Arroyo in reserve and likely to start the season in the pen. Keeping Schilling and Beckett healthy for the 162-game grind is crucial; expecting them to both be healthy for the duration is iffy at best based on their track records. The Red Sox have a pair of solid aces on the horizon in Jon Paplebon and Jon Lester. If the injury bug does bite, it’s not a stretch to imagine one or even both in the mix before season’s end.
Health is also a concern with Keith Foulke. Did he or didn’t he have knee surgery last year? Only his surgeon knows for sure. Foulke is sure he’s ready to climb back aboard the closing stallion and ride it all season with increased velocity. He’ll have Mike Timlin back in a setup role, and Boston also picked up Julian Tavarez via free agency and David Riske in the Crisp trade from Cleveland to add 7th-8th inning depth. Hard-throwing Craig Hansen, the team’s top pick out of St. John’s in 2005, has closer’s stuff and probably will have that role in the near future. For now he’s in setup-middle relief. Aside from Foulke regaining form, the biggest question is who mans the lefty relief role. Odds are that Lenny DiNardo grabs the slot.
Unlike last season when they returned the bulk of their 2004, the Red Sox went out and made wholesale changes this winter. They’re obviously not content with the one World Series after nearly a century of heartbreak and disappointments. It’s doubtful they will wait another 86 years for their next set of rings. But a lot of new guys have to come together this season if they are only to wait two years between titles.
Key Performer(s): The top of the rotation and Foulke.
Camp Question(s): Settling trade rumors surrounding Ramirez and Wells, getting a brand new infield in synch and finding someone to catch Wakefield’s knuckler.
My Play: The toughest call for me to make since my projection is 91 and that has it right at the o/u futures at most sites. Expected improvement from ALE foes Toronto has me shifting both the BoSox and the Yanks down a little this time, so that lends to betting under at the sites offering the 91½ mark or higher.
