The Sleeping Giant: Red Sox Build For A 2009 Championship
Everyone has been discussing how the Red Sox got screwed by the Yankees for Burnett and Teixeira. How hey were asleep at the wheel, while the Yankees spent $423 million on three players.
As a dedicated Red Sox fan I laughed at this notion. The Red Sox came to within 1 game of the World Series last year and they are returning with nearly the entire team intact. Granted improvements are always needed, but if you have a good team why cut it to pieces just because the Yankees do that every year. It has always been my thought that it is the little guys you sign that make the big difference, while the big signings simply keep the team competitive, as in the Yankees case. Here is my analysis of the Red Sox for 2009.
Needs: If there are needs, 4th outfielder, utility infielder, shortstop, catcher, bullpen, starting pitching.
Signings and Trades:
Ramon Ramirez: The Red Sox picked up Ramon Ramirez from the Royals in exchange for Coco Crisp R. Ramirez is great late inning pitcher with tremendous movement on all of his pitches. At 27, he is in the prime of his career and gives the Red Sox a right hand option for the 8th inning. He also averaged nearly 1 So per 9 innings.
Junichi Tazawa - Allot isn't know about this pitcher, but the Red Sox have been scouting him for over a year and they love him. I'm not sure what his role would be, but he could have a big impact in 2009 if he develops fast enough. The great thing is, he's only 21.
Brad Penny: Penny is coming off a disaster year, but at 29 still have plenty of great pitching ahead of him. A fresh new outlook and am is exactly what the doctor ordered. This All-Star pitcher give the Red Sox a fantastic 4 starter.
John Smoltz: Smoltz worries me at 41 and with so many injuries, but he still has great stuff and pressure will not be on him if he is the Red Sox 5th starter. Great veteran presence of the pitching staff for the Red Sox.
Rocco Baldelli: This Massachusetts native and form Ray is now a Red Sox. I always figured he would be and now he's here. When healthy he is a fantastic player with stellar defense and solid offense. He brings to the Red Sox the replacement for Crips and the fourth outfielder.
Josh Bard: He has been signed as the catcher. Currently he is the only catcher on the Red Sox roster, but the Red Sox do have prospect George Kottaras who they feel is the heir apparent to Jason Varitek.
So what's left. We suspect that Red Sox will sign Jason Varitek to a 2 year deal before spring training and allow Bard to back him up. Bard had problems with Wakefield in the past, but if everything works out well, Wakefield will be in the bullpen.
2009 Team Analysis:
Lineup
Jacoby Ellsbury - Jacoby Ellsbury will start in centerfield and is not only a defensive gem, but his is a tremendous offensive threat with his speed and occasional power.
Dustin Pedrioa - Last years MVP will only get better and help set the table for the big guys.
David Ortiz: Coming off of injuries, Ortiz feels healthy and will rebound with a breakout 2009.
Kevin Youkilis - Deserved MVP consideration as well with his breakout 2008 season. At first base he will provide excellent defense and huge offensive production.
Jason Bay - comes back for his first full season with the Red Sox. He bring s30 home run capability and also hits well for average. His defense is only average, but overall a great player.
J.D. Drew - Can you believe he bats 6th in this lineup. All that the Red Sox want is what he produced last season.
Mike Lowell - Hopefully Mike will be back from his hip injury and return to play outstanding defense and provide the Red Sox with late lineup offensive power.
Jed Lowerie - Jed had a solid rookie season coming in for the injured Lugo and there is no way he is losing the job to Lugo. Like all rookies he struggled, but he has the skills to be a .300 batter in the majors.
Josh Bard/Jason Varitek - The catcher.
Starting Rotation: The starters for Boston are well balanced with youth and experience.
Josh Beckett
Jon Lester
Daisuke Matsuzaka
Brad Penny
John Smoltz
Tim Wakefield
Bullpen: The Red Sox come into 2009 on paper with one of the better assembled bullpens in the league:
Jonathan Papelbon
Manny Delcarmen
Justin Masterson
Hideki Okajima
Ramon Ramirez
David Aardsma/Javier Lopez/Junichi Tazawa/Tim Wakefield
As a dedicated Red Sox fan I laughed at this notion. The Red Sox came to within 1 game of the World Series last year and they are returning with nearly the entire team intact. Granted improvements are always needed, but if you have a good team why cut it to pieces just because the Yankees do that every year. It has always been my thought that it is the little guys you sign that make the big difference, while the big signings simply keep the team competitive, as in the Yankees case. Here is my analysis of the Red Sox for 2009.
Needs: If there are needs, 4th outfielder, utility infielder, shortstop, catcher, bullpen, starting pitching.
Signings and Trades:
Ramon Ramirez: The Red Sox picked up Ramon Ramirez from the Royals in exchange for Coco Crisp R. Ramirez is great late inning pitcher with tremendous movement on all of his pitches. At 27, he is in the prime of his career and gives the Red Sox a right hand option for the 8th inning. He also averaged nearly 1 So per 9 innings.
Junichi Tazawa - Allot isn't know about this pitcher, but the Red Sox have been scouting him for over a year and they love him. I'm not sure what his role would be, but he could have a big impact in 2009 if he develops fast enough. The great thing is, he's only 21.
Brad Penny: Penny is coming off a disaster year, but at 29 still have plenty of great pitching ahead of him. A fresh new outlook and am is exactly what the doctor ordered. This All-Star pitcher give the Red Sox a fantastic 4 starter.
John Smoltz: Smoltz worries me at 41 and with so many injuries, but he still has great stuff and pressure will not be on him if he is the Red Sox 5th starter. Great veteran presence of the pitching staff for the Red Sox.
Rocco Baldelli: This Massachusetts native and form Ray is now a Red Sox. I always figured he would be and now he's here. When healthy he is a fantastic player with stellar defense and solid offense. He brings to the Red Sox the replacement for Crips and the fourth outfielder.
Josh Bard: He has been signed as the catcher. Currently he is the only catcher on the Red Sox roster, but the Red Sox do have prospect George Kottaras who they feel is the heir apparent to Jason Varitek.
So what's left. We suspect that Red Sox will sign Jason Varitek to a 2 year deal before spring training and allow Bard to back him up. Bard had problems with Wakefield in the past, but if everything works out well, Wakefield will be in the bullpen.
2009 Team Analysis:
Lineup
Jacoby Ellsbury - Jacoby Ellsbury will start in centerfield and is not only a defensive gem, but his is a tremendous offensive threat with his speed and occasional power.
Dustin Pedrioa - Last years MVP will only get better and help set the table for the big guys.
David Ortiz: Coming off of injuries, Ortiz feels healthy and will rebound with a breakout 2009.
Kevin Youkilis - Deserved MVP consideration as well with his breakout 2008 season. At first base he will provide excellent defense and huge offensive production.
Jason Bay - comes back for his first full season with the Red Sox. He bring s30 home run capability and also hits well for average. His defense is only average, but overall a great player.
J.D. Drew - Can you believe he bats 6th in this lineup. All that the Red Sox want is what he produced last season.
Mike Lowell - Hopefully Mike will be back from his hip injury and return to play outstanding defense and provide the Red Sox with late lineup offensive power.
Jed Lowerie - Jed had a solid rookie season coming in for the injured Lugo and there is no way he is losing the job to Lugo. Like all rookies he struggled, but he has the skills to be a .300 batter in the majors.
Josh Bard/Jason Varitek - The catcher.
Starting Rotation: The starters for Boston are well balanced with youth and experience.
Josh Beckett
Jon Lester
Daisuke Matsuzaka
Brad Penny
John Smoltz
Tim Wakefield
Bullpen: The Red Sox come into 2009 on paper with one of the better assembled bullpens in the league:
Jonathan Papelbon
Manny Delcarmen
Justin Masterson
Hideki Okajima
Ramon Ramirez
David Aardsma/Javier Lopez/Junichi Tazawa/Tim Wakefield
posted by The True GURU at
Friday, January 09, 2009
1 Comments:
Add Takashi Saito to the mix now. It seems that the Red Sox are making all the right moves and may have the team to win.
Jim McCay
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