Post by #1 Jays Fan on Mar 20, 2008 21:07:56 GMT -5
Last season: 96-66, 1st in A.L. East
Won World Series over Colorado 4-0
Manager: Terry Francona, 5th season, 660-636 (.509) career record
New faces: RHP David Aardsma (CWS), RHP Scott Atchison (SF), 1B Sean Casey (DET), RHP Bartolo Colon (LAA), RHP Dan Kolb (PIT)
Left town: RHP Matt Clement (STL), RHP Brendan Donnelly (CLE), RHP Eric Gagne (MIL), IF/OF Eric Hinske (TB)
Overview: These are heady times for the Red Sox Nation. A pair of World Series championships in four years, after waiting 86 years before that, tends to do that to the common fan. And it looks like they are going to stay on top for a while thanks to a farm system that is sending ready talent to Boston at a regular clip. Make no mistake, the middle of the order - David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez and Mike Lowell - still runs the engine of their high-octane offence but the addition of youngsters Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia has made them even more lethal. And their rotation and bullpen is as good and deep as any, allowing them to plug in solid prospects when the veterans get nicked by injuries. It doesn't hurt that level-headed manager Terry Francona is the one driving the bus.
Stat to ponder: Since becoming teammates in 2003, David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez have combined to drive in 1,210 runs, making them the most potent duo in the majors and making the other hitters around them that much better. Top prospect: RHP Clay Buchholz: As if a no-hitter in his second career major league start wasn't enough, this 23-year-old will now be expected to fill Curt Schilling's bloody socks with the veterans status this season up in the air due to a sore pitching shoulder that will likely need surgery to correct.
Hitting
'07 AVG (RANK): .279 (6th), RUNS/GAME: 5.35 (4th), HR: 166 (18th)
A funny thing happened on their way to the championship. The Red Sox hit 56 fewer home runs than in 2004 yet still scored more than enough runs to steamroll the opposition. With youngsters Ellsbury and Pedroia atop the line-up, the middle of the order had ample RBI opportunities and rarely failed. This offence still has room to grow, believe it or not, if J.D. Drew could ever live up to the massive salary that he commands. How deep is the everyday line-up? Ninth place hitter Julio Lugo drove in 73 runs last season while stealing 33 bases. Watch for big contributions from first baseman Sean Casey who'll share some time with Kevin Youkilis and will be a nice addition to the Red Sox fun clubhouse.
Pitching
'07 ERA (RANK): 3.87 (2nd), OPP AVG: .247 (2nd)
As good as the offense is their pitching is even better. Ace right-hander Josh Beckett won 20 games for the first time in his career and at 27 is entering the prime of his career. Beckett has been slowed the spring by back spasms but this team is deep enough for him to return when he's ready. That will put some early pressure on 'Dice-K' Matsuzaka, who won 15 games in his first season in North America. After that they'll try and squeeze one more year out of Tim Wakefield and hope that Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz are as good everyone thinks they are. Closer Jonathan Papelbon is as good as it gets and he heads up a deep and diverse bullpen.
Statsman's non-binding prediction: First-place. The defending World Champions are still the class of baseball with a solid 25-man roster and a plethora of prospects waiting a phone call away.
Won World Series over Colorado 4-0
Manager: Terry Francona, 5th season, 660-636 (.509) career record
New faces: RHP David Aardsma (CWS), RHP Scott Atchison (SF), 1B Sean Casey (DET), RHP Bartolo Colon (LAA), RHP Dan Kolb (PIT)
Left town: RHP Matt Clement (STL), RHP Brendan Donnelly (CLE), RHP Eric Gagne (MIL), IF/OF Eric Hinske (TB)
Overview: These are heady times for the Red Sox Nation. A pair of World Series championships in four years, after waiting 86 years before that, tends to do that to the common fan. And it looks like they are going to stay on top for a while thanks to a farm system that is sending ready talent to Boston at a regular clip. Make no mistake, the middle of the order - David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez and Mike Lowell - still runs the engine of their high-octane offence but the addition of youngsters Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia has made them even more lethal. And their rotation and bullpen is as good and deep as any, allowing them to plug in solid prospects when the veterans get nicked by injuries. It doesn't hurt that level-headed manager Terry Francona is the one driving the bus.
Stat to ponder: Since becoming teammates in 2003, David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez have combined to drive in 1,210 runs, making them the most potent duo in the majors and making the other hitters around them that much better. Top prospect: RHP Clay Buchholz: As if a no-hitter in his second career major league start wasn't enough, this 23-year-old will now be expected to fill Curt Schilling's bloody socks with the veterans status this season up in the air due to a sore pitching shoulder that will likely need surgery to correct.
Hitting
'07 AVG (RANK): .279 (6th), RUNS/GAME: 5.35 (4th), HR: 166 (18th)
A funny thing happened on their way to the championship. The Red Sox hit 56 fewer home runs than in 2004 yet still scored more than enough runs to steamroll the opposition. With youngsters Ellsbury and Pedroia atop the line-up, the middle of the order had ample RBI opportunities and rarely failed. This offence still has room to grow, believe it or not, if J.D. Drew could ever live up to the massive salary that he commands. How deep is the everyday line-up? Ninth place hitter Julio Lugo drove in 73 runs last season while stealing 33 bases. Watch for big contributions from first baseman Sean Casey who'll share some time with Kevin Youkilis and will be a nice addition to the Red Sox fun clubhouse.
Pitching
'07 ERA (RANK): 3.87 (2nd), OPP AVG: .247 (2nd)
As good as the offense is their pitching is even better. Ace right-hander Josh Beckett won 20 games for the first time in his career and at 27 is entering the prime of his career. Beckett has been slowed the spring by back spasms but this team is deep enough for him to return when he's ready. That will put some early pressure on 'Dice-K' Matsuzaka, who won 15 games in his first season in North America. After that they'll try and squeeze one more year out of Tim Wakefield and hope that Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz are as good everyone thinks they are. Closer Jonathan Papelbon is as good as it gets and he heads up a deep and diverse bullpen.
Statsman's non-binding prediction: First-place. The defending World Champions are still the class of baseball with a solid 25-man roster and a plethora of prospects waiting a phone call away.
