Predictions '09: Boston Red Sox

I’ve come to hate the Boston Red Sox almost as much as I despise their rival New York Yankees. For the past half-decade, they have continually shut down my Angels in the land of the post-season. But it’s hard to say too many bad things about a team with such depth and experience. This season seems like a year in which two-thirds of the clubs are in a rebuilding state, trying out something new. But the BoSox are doing what they’ve done for the past 5 years. They’ve added a couple new arms in Brad Penny and John Smoltz. They lost the Mark Teixeira party, but still have outstanding hitting. They’re bullpen is led by one of the most exciting players of the game (Papelbon). The reigning MVP/ROY (08/09) is still manning second base. But he’s hardly their best player. All-around, the red sox are going to do what they do best; rival the Yankees and now the Rays. But in a division with such talent, it wont be as easy as one, two, three.

Highlights: Jon Lester is the real deal. Daisuke Matsuzaka, Tim Wakefield, Josh Beckett, and

Brad Penny could all be #1 or #2 starters for almost any team in the Majors. This is definitely a strength of the Red Sox that could be like the dominant pitching we saw in the 2005 White Sox. Remember them rolling through the playoffs.
Question Mark: Mike Lowell and David Ortiz. Will Lowell stay healthy and continue to produce the way he did in 2007 (.324/120 RBIs)? Is Big Papi in a decline? After off years by both key players, its up to them to keep this line-up as solid as it is on paper.

Key to Success: Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis, and Jacoby Ellsbury have to produce like they did last year. All three players are on the fast-track to stardom, but will they continue to climb? If they can, along with Jason bay and the rest of this line-up, the BoSox Bombers will bat through the American L

eague.

Prediction: 2nd Place