OK, It’s Really Done Now
What you see is what you’re gonna get now with the Red Sox…something like this.
Lineup:
Coco Crisp, CF
Mark Loretta, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Manny Ramirez, LF
Trot Nixon, RF
Jason Varitek, C
Mike Lowell, 3B
Kevin Youkilis, 1B
Alex Gonzalez, SS
Bench:
Dustin Mohr, OF
Willie Harris, IF.OF
Alex Cora / Tony Graffanino, IF
J.T. Snow, 1B
Josh Bard, C
Rotation:
Curt Schilling
Josh Beckett
Tim Wakefield
Matt Clement
Jonathan Papelbon
Bullpen:
Rudy Seanez
Keith Foulke
Julian Tavarez
Mike Timlin
David Riske
Bronson Arroyo
That’s the likeliest 25-man as I see it, and a pretty good one at that. I think David Wells will be gone before Opening Day, and so too will one of Alex Cora or Tony Graffanino (probably Graf). The Red Sox will have plenty of depth to turn to in Pawtucket. Hurlers Lenny DiNardo, Craig Hansen, Manny Delcarmen, Cla Meredith, Jermaine Van Buren and Jon Lester will all just be a call away. So will position players Roberto Petagine, Dustin Pedroia, Adam Stern and Alejandro Machado.
Time to turn our attention now to the 2006 season and away from the long-term well-being of the Sox or the front-office drama. It will be upon us before you know it.
January 28th, 2006 at 8:41 pm
That’s a solid team. Capable of winning it all.
If Foulke is more like the 2004 version than 2005, the bullpen could be one of the best, if not THE best, in the majors.
January 29th, 2006 at 6:23 am
I like the bullpen, particularly the addition of Riske and that WHIP of his. Foulke is the key though.
The starting pitching has tremendous potential as well as lots of question marks - Schilling’s health and ability to regain his old form at age 39, Papelbon and the sophmore curse, Clement and his tendency to fade in the second half, Beckett and his history of past injuries. Not trying to cast doubt, but there are plenty of question m arks there. Only time will tell. If it all falls into place though, this will staff will be a force to reckon with.
The lineup. Right now, you have to pencil Cora in for Gonzalez. There are no guarantees. Defensively, the Sox will be considerably improved. Offensively, its really hard to say. If Crisp continues to improve (and he might coming to a hitter’s ballpark), if Lowell regains his form at the plate, if Loretta continues to hit the way he can - well then, this team could be pretty strong at the plate. Also Youks. If he has a breakout year - that’s a wildcard - because he finally gets sufficient at bats to show what he can do.
Lots of question marks here. It could all pan out and if it does, I see this team going very far. But that rarely happens.
January 29th, 2006 at 10:52 am
I think the Sox could win anywhere from 85 to 100 games. The upside is there but injury potential and age regression are probably part of the equation as well.