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We begin our 2008 Major League Baseball team-by-team previews
with the reigning World Series champion Boston Red Sox.
The biggest story for Boston is who is not in its camp: Johan
Santana. After dueling with the Yankees for much of the offseason
to acquire Santana from the Twins, the Red Sox pulled back
and decided to stay with what they had (and were just as thrilled
that the Yankees didn't get him, either).
And the Red Sox already do have an ace most teams would envy
in Josh Beckett, but Curt Schilling's potential season-ending
shoulder injury puts a few questions in the starting rotation.
After all, the new No. 2 is Daisuke Matsuzaka, who was 2-4
with a 7.14 ERA in his final eight regular- season starts
last year. Schilling's injury (he hopes to return in July)
also places a greater burden on Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz
at the bottom of the rotation. And that means the club needs
to count on Tim Wakefield's health (although Boston did sign
Bartolo Colon to a minor-league deal).
Still, the Red Sox are the team to beat in baseball and on
WagerWeb.com because of Beckett, closer Jonathan Papelbon
and their deep lineup.
Beckett had his best year in 2007 with a career-high 20 wins
and a 3.27 ERA. He struck out 194 hitters in 200 2/3 innings
and finished as the runner-up to Cleveland's C.C. Sabathia
in the AL Cy Young voting. And Beckett was unhittable in the
postseason.
In helping the Red Sox win their first American League East
title since '95, Papelbon converted 37 of his 40 save opportunities
while posting a 1.85 ERA. The flame-throwing right-hander
had 12.96 strikeouts per nine innings while holding opponents
to a meager .146 average.
Hitting-wise, Boston will get a full season of Jacoby Ellsbury.
Ellsbury hit .438 in the World Series and was a major contributor
in helping the Red Sox to sweep the Colorado Rockies. In 33
games during the regular season, Ellsbury hit.353 with three
home runs and 18 RBIs. He also had nine stolen bases.
He replaces last year's starter for most of the season in
Coco Crisp, who may be traded for pitching.
David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez showed they were still one
of the majors' better power combinations - hen healthy, especially
in the playoffs.
Last season, Ortiz only hit 35 home runs after hitting 54
in 2006. His RBIs also dropped (from 137 in 2006 to 117 last
season), but his batting average jumped from .287 in 2006
to a career-high .332 in 2007.
Ramirez is worth watching, as he will be 36 in May and he
only had 20 home runs last season. It was his lowest total
since he hit 17 home runs in 1994. He missed a chunk of the
late season with injury and could pout if he doesn't get a
contract extension.
And the Sox wouldn't have won the World Series without unsung
heroes like Mike Lowell (the Series MVP), Dustin Pedroia and
Kevin Youkilis. Lowell was re-signed in the offseason and
is an important player in the clubhouse but it's unlikely
he will match his 2007 numbers (.321, 21 HRs, 120 RBIs). Outfielder
J.D. Drew (Drew .270, 11 HRs, 64 RBIs), meanwhile, should
bounce back from a down year.
Repeating is never easy but the Red Sox open the spring as
baseball's best team and have plenty of reinforcements in
a deep farm system.
Projected Batting Order
Second base: Dustin Pedroia
First base: Kevin Youkilis
Designated hitter: David Ortiz
Left field: Manny Ramirez
Third base: Mike Lowell
Right field: J.D. Drew
Catcher: Jason Varitek
Center field: Jacoby Ellsbury
Shortstop: Julio Lugo
Projected Rotation
Starting pitcher (1): Josh Beckett
Starting pitcher (2): Daisuke Matsuzaka
Starting pitcher (3): Jon Lester
Starting pitcher (4): Tim Wakefield
Starting pitcher (5): Clay Buchholz
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