Boston comes into the 2010 season with a slightly different look than the Red Sox teams that we have become used to. Gone are the devastating power bats of old, making room for an influx of pitching and defense.
Offense
There is no denying the skills and work ethic of Dustin Pedroia. The second baseman does two things extremely well: He has an unbelievable ability to get the bat on the ball, and he always gives his team 100 percent.
His numbers are by no means intimidating. His 15 home runs, 76 RBIs, and .296 average are strong, but not numbers one would assume came from the previous season’s MVP. But, like the Yankees’ Derek Jeter, Pedroia has the god-given ability to rise to the occasion presented to him, something that cannot be taught in baseball.
Victor Martinez, the catcher brought in from the Cleveland Indians at last season’s trade deadline, had one of the best seasons of his career in 2009 after being reinvigorated by a change of scenery. Martinez hit .336 in 56 games for Boston, finishing the season with 23 home runs and 108 RBIs.
Solidifying himself as Boston’s cleanup man should improve his numbers yet again.
The most interesting player in the Red Sox lineup is none other than David Ortiz.
After the worst season he has experienced since arriving in Boston (due to both poor performance and a steroids claim), Red Sox Nation is questioning whether ‘Big Papi’ still has what it takes to anchor this lineup. Ortiz has started the season 0-for-7, so look for a change to be made if things do not start to turn around.
Kevin Youkilis has become Boston’s most consistent player over the past two seasons.
Since the beginning of 2008, he has averaged 28 home runs and about 100 RBIs, while hitting over .300. His consistency and ability to get the bat on the ball make him a threat to shake up a game every time he is at the plate. In two games this season, he has three RBIs, so look for at least a strong first half from Youkilis.
While this Red Sox team does not have the fearful duo that was Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz, the lineup is deep from top to bottom. Mike Cameron and Adrian Beltre were both brought in not because of their bats, but because of their defensive abilities (even though as former offensive studs they always have to potential to produce).
Jacoby Ellsbury, who stole an unbelievable 70 bases last year, will start in center, and Marco Scutaro will man shortstop to begin the season.
Pitching
After letting Jason Bay leave for the Mets, the Red Sox spent their off-season money on John Lackey, the established ace from the Angels.
Since coming into the league, Lackey has been the perfect example of consistency, a guaranteed 11-game winner who will give his team a heap of innings pitched. He has always had an ERA in the 3.00 range, controlling the game while never dominating it.
Combined with Josh Beckett and Jon Lester, the rotation will be very strong this season.
Beckett, coming off of a 17-win, 199-strike out season, will continue as the Red Sox’s ace. While he was not available for the postseason last year, Beckett is healthy to begin 2010, and should be just as strong of a pitcher as he has been in recent history.
That four-year extension he just signed shouldn’t hurt either.
Pitching in the second spot for the Red Sox will be Jon Lester, who won 15 games last summer and struck out 225 batters. Over the past two seasons, Lester has established himself as a stud, and this season he should continue to improve. Look for him in the All-Star Game, and potentially becoming Boston’s ace in the postseason.
The real X-factor for the Red Sox will be Daisuke Matsuzaka.
If he can return from injury and pitch as he did two seasons ago, then the Red Sox will have the best rotation in baseball, going six deep when combined with Beckett, Lester, Lackey, Tim Wakefield, and Clay Buchholz. He has the ability to win 17 or 18 games this season. Whether his body will allow him to, we will have to wait and see.
Plus, Jonathan Papelbon will continue as Boston’s closer, solidifying the back end of the Red Sox bullpen.
Prediction
Boston is a very strong team this season, and the Red Sox just happen to play in the most competitive division in baseball. I have little doubt that they will make the playoffs, but such a run will most likely come from winning the Wild Card, not the AL East.
The Yankees are simply too good, having a perfect combination of offense and pitching.
The Red Sox are lacking that go-to-guy in the lineup, which will hurt them come October. Look for the Red Sox to take the AL Wild Card, make it to the ALCS, and lose to the Yankees in yet another classic AL East showdown.