Post by 4th and Maine on Mar 30, 2009 16:07:02 GMT -5
I smell baseball...
Opening day is just one week away. That's right the Boston Red Sox will kick off their 2009 campaign in just one week against the 2008 American League Champion, the Tampa Bay Rays. That's right we will have a rematch of last years ALCS for Opening Day. On April 6th, in Fenway the season will begin.
As all of the snow starts to melt here in New England, we are left with rain and waiting. Those days between the final meaningless spring training games, or the World Baseball Classic (whichever you prefer), seemingly take forever. Not until we see those nine guys run fom the dugout in those home whites and storm the fresh green grass of friendly Fenway for the first time, spring is not offically here.
That leaves us a few more days before we can start to sit in front of the television and be comforted by the familiar sounds of Don Orsillo and Jerry Remy. Ah, I can't wait. However there are still a few burning questions with this team: like who will be the fifth starter?
This past week Red Sox manager Terry Fancona announced the top four to a very deep rotation. For the first time since he joined the Red Sox, Josh Beckett will be the teams opening day starter. He will be followed in the rotation by stud young lefty: Jon Lester, who trew a no hitter last year and won 16 games in 08. The third slot will be filled by Dice-K, who is coming off another strong World Baseball Classic, although he did throw a ton of pitches. The forth spot has also already been named, and suprising to some, it is going to long time Boston vetern Tim Wakefield. The knuckleballer is coming off of a 10 win, 11 loss season last year, one that saw him post a 4.13 era.
Terry Fancona also announced that stud young arm Justin Masterson, will start the year in the bullpen. This is a spot that Masterson really succeeded with last year down the stretch and I think it will be a good move. Masterson will be able to eat up middle innings when needed and also come in and get the team through some tough situations in a potential 7th or 8th inning. If Masterson does assume long relief duty, it would also keep is arm strong in case of any potential injuries to the staff causing them to need his services.
However, the way it looks now that will not be necessary. The Red Sox have three front of the staff type of guys all battling for the last spot in their five man rotation. The battle is being faught primarily between young phenominon Clay Buckholtz, who presently has a 0.46 era in what likely will be all of the action he will see the spring. Buckholtz has argueably been Boston's best pitcher this spring. He is being opposed by long time Major League vetern and first year Red Sox, Brad Penny. Penny, who has sat out much of the spring resting his shoulder, threw three strong innings on Monday.
The Wild Card in all of this is John Smoltz. Smoltz, a sure fire Hall of Famer whenever he laces up the boots, is also a first year Red Sox and is looking to crack the rotation sometime in the first few months of the season. Smoltz is coming off of off-season shoulder work and the Red Sox brass has been bringing him along slowly. He will most likely not be a candidate for the fifth spot the first few go arounds, but he certainly will have something to say about it by mid-May or early June.
So the main question is Buckholtz or Penny? With Francona already solidifying Wakefield's spot, thats not really up for arguement, I think he would be a valuable tool right there next to Paps, Okie, Kuroda, Masterson, and the other arms in the pen. Wake has been there and done that. But he is in the rotation or the arguement goes else where.
For the sake of the way things have been shaking out I would give Clay Buckholtz the nod for the initial few starts. I think Brad Penny should be treated a little bit with kid gloves and kind of lead down the same path as Smoltz. The Sox invested a little bit of money in both men, and should of eyes on having them throw meaningful innings in August and September. Clay has shown his arm is feeling good and he has been throwing extremely well. I think they should allow him to make a few starts while bringing Penny along in an extended Spring Trainging or in a few simulated games. If Penny progresses well, then you can bring him in a few weeks into the season and then Buckholtz and be sent down to AAA or if Wakefield faulters at all, perhaps they look at the bullpen as an option for him.
Either way, I think Buckholtz has at least earned the opportunity to have a shot. He has thrown extremely well and it seems he would love to have the opportunity to make up for a dissapointing 2008 campaign.
4th and Maine's Projected Red Sox Opening Day Rotation:
Josh Beckett
Jon Lester
Dice-K
Tim Wakefield
Clay Buckholtz
Projected End of the Year Rotation:
Josh Beckett
Jon Lester
John Smoltz
Dice-K
Clay Buckholtz
As far as the lineup goes, Terry Fancona has been pretty tight lipped. The biggest questions in the order are between the five and seven holes primamriliy. The three men that are being suffled around by all the local papers and television shows are J.D. Drew, Jason Bay, and Mike Lowell. It looks as though the most likely order would go in the order previously so the opening day lineup should look a little like this:
1. Jacoby Ellsbury CF
2. Dustin Pedroia 2B
3. Kevin Youkilis 1B
4. David Ortiz DH
5. J.D. Drew RF
6. Jason Bay LF
7. Mike Lowell 3B
8. Jason Varitek C
9. Jed Lowerie SS
The 5 and 6 holes will probably be a constant work in progress as J.D. Drew seems to be J.D. Who until we get to October. Whatever, I'll take the constant days off in the summer months for clutch home runs in the American League Championship. I feel fine with Jason Bay in the five hole as I feel he will put up big numbers in his first full year in Boston. I also fully expect Kevin Youkilis to have a career year home run wise and possibly belt 35-40 dingers.
Like I said before, bullpen looks strong with Delcarmen, Okajima, Saito, Papelbon, and Masterson. Javy Lopez is a little bit of a question but the pen would only get stronger with the additions of any of Wakefield, Buckholtz, Penny, or Smoltz.
The bench is a little light but the strong points are Rocco Baldelli and Julio Lugo. I feel both of these guys will strive with sub-roles and coming off the bench. The is if Julio Lugo can accept that.
Overall not too much of a turn over from last year, feel the team if overall a little stronger and just stacked with arms. There are a couple waiting in the wings in the minors as well. I have no reason to believe the sox will not contend and should make the playoffs, and you shouldn't either.
Prediction: 96-66
Opening day is just one week away. That's right the Boston Red Sox will kick off their 2009 campaign in just one week against the 2008 American League Champion, the Tampa Bay Rays. That's right we will have a rematch of last years ALCS for Opening Day. On April 6th, in Fenway the season will begin.
As all of the snow starts to melt here in New England, we are left with rain and waiting. Those days between the final meaningless spring training games, or the World Baseball Classic (whichever you prefer), seemingly take forever. Not until we see those nine guys run fom the dugout in those home whites and storm the fresh green grass of friendly Fenway for the first time, spring is not offically here.
That leaves us a few more days before we can start to sit in front of the television and be comforted by the familiar sounds of Don Orsillo and Jerry Remy. Ah, I can't wait. However there are still a few burning questions with this team: like who will be the fifth starter?
This past week Red Sox manager Terry Fancona announced the top four to a very deep rotation. For the first time since he joined the Red Sox, Josh Beckett will be the teams opening day starter. He will be followed in the rotation by stud young lefty: Jon Lester, who trew a no hitter last year and won 16 games in 08. The third slot will be filled by Dice-K, who is coming off another strong World Baseball Classic, although he did throw a ton of pitches. The forth spot has also already been named, and suprising to some, it is going to long time Boston vetern Tim Wakefield. The knuckleballer is coming off of a 10 win, 11 loss season last year, one that saw him post a 4.13 era.
Terry Fancona also announced that stud young arm Justin Masterson, will start the year in the bullpen. This is a spot that Masterson really succeeded with last year down the stretch and I think it will be a good move. Masterson will be able to eat up middle innings when needed and also come in and get the team through some tough situations in a potential 7th or 8th inning. If Masterson does assume long relief duty, it would also keep is arm strong in case of any potential injuries to the staff causing them to need his services.
However, the way it looks now that will not be necessary. The Red Sox have three front of the staff type of guys all battling for the last spot in their five man rotation. The battle is being faught primarily between young phenominon Clay Buckholtz, who presently has a 0.46 era in what likely will be all of the action he will see the spring. Buckholtz has argueably been Boston's best pitcher this spring. He is being opposed by long time Major League vetern and first year Red Sox, Brad Penny. Penny, who has sat out much of the spring resting his shoulder, threw three strong innings on Monday.
The Wild Card in all of this is John Smoltz. Smoltz, a sure fire Hall of Famer whenever he laces up the boots, is also a first year Red Sox and is looking to crack the rotation sometime in the first few months of the season. Smoltz is coming off of off-season shoulder work and the Red Sox brass has been bringing him along slowly. He will most likely not be a candidate for the fifth spot the first few go arounds, but he certainly will have something to say about it by mid-May or early June.
So the main question is Buckholtz or Penny? With Francona already solidifying Wakefield's spot, thats not really up for arguement, I think he would be a valuable tool right there next to Paps, Okie, Kuroda, Masterson, and the other arms in the pen. Wake has been there and done that. But he is in the rotation or the arguement goes else where.
For the sake of the way things have been shaking out I would give Clay Buckholtz the nod for the initial few starts. I think Brad Penny should be treated a little bit with kid gloves and kind of lead down the same path as Smoltz. The Sox invested a little bit of money in both men, and should of eyes on having them throw meaningful innings in August and September. Clay has shown his arm is feeling good and he has been throwing extremely well. I think they should allow him to make a few starts while bringing Penny along in an extended Spring Trainging or in a few simulated games. If Penny progresses well, then you can bring him in a few weeks into the season and then Buckholtz and be sent down to AAA or if Wakefield faulters at all, perhaps they look at the bullpen as an option for him.
Either way, I think Buckholtz has at least earned the opportunity to have a shot. He has thrown extremely well and it seems he would love to have the opportunity to make up for a dissapointing 2008 campaign.
4th and Maine's Projected Red Sox Opening Day Rotation:
Josh Beckett
Jon Lester
Dice-K
Tim Wakefield
Clay Buckholtz
Projected End of the Year Rotation:
Josh Beckett
Jon Lester
John Smoltz
Dice-K
Clay Buckholtz
As far as the lineup goes, Terry Fancona has been pretty tight lipped. The biggest questions in the order are between the five and seven holes primamriliy. The three men that are being suffled around by all the local papers and television shows are J.D. Drew, Jason Bay, and Mike Lowell. It looks as though the most likely order would go in the order previously so the opening day lineup should look a little like this:
1. Jacoby Ellsbury CF
2. Dustin Pedroia 2B
3. Kevin Youkilis 1B
4. David Ortiz DH
5. J.D. Drew RF
6. Jason Bay LF
7. Mike Lowell 3B
8. Jason Varitek C
9. Jed Lowerie SS
The 5 and 6 holes will probably be a constant work in progress as J.D. Drew seems to be J.D. Who until we get to October. Whatever, I'll take the constant days off in the summer months for clutch home runs in the American League Championship. I feel fine with Jason Bay in the five hole as I feel he will put up big numbers in his first full year in Boston. I also fully expect Kevin Youkilis to have a career year home run wise and possibly belt 35-40 dingers.
Like I said before, bullpen looks strong with Delcarmen, Okajima, Saito, Papelbon, and Masterson. Javy Lopez is a little bit of a question but the pen would only get stronger with the additions of any of Wakefield, Buckholtz, Penny, or Smoltz.
The bench is a little light but the strong points are Rocco Baldelli and Julio Lugo. I feel both of these guys will strive with sub-roles and coming off the bench. The is if Julio Lugo can accept that.
Overall not too much of a turn over from last year, feel the team if overall a little stronger and just stacked with arms. There are a couple waiting in the wings in the minors as well. I have no reason to believe the sox will not contend and should make the playoffs, and you shouldn't either.
Prediction: 96-66