The 2008 Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox come into 2008 with almost the identical team that ended 2007 with a World Series victory. Though favored by many to return to the World Series, this year, like any other, has its share of questions:
Offense:
- Was last year a blip in the career of Manny Ramirez or has he begun a slow, gradual decline?
- Did off-season knee surgery fix Big Papi’s knee?
- Will Dustin Pedroia fall victim to a sophomore slump?
- Few believe Mike Lowell will match last year’s numbers. But how far will they drop?
- It’s assumed that J.D. Drew and Julio Lugo, now accustomed to Boston, will bounce back from disappointing years at the plate. What if they bring more of the same?
- Will Jason Varitek become a black hole in the lineup?
- Is Jacoby Ellsbury ready for an entire season in the spotlight? Can he live up to such high expectations?
Pitching:
- Have we seen the last of Curt Schilling? If he comes back will he be effective?
- With a year under his belt will Dice-K become a legitimate number 2? Will he continue to be his own worse enemy?
- Is Jon Lester ready to realize his potential? Or is he a great story but over-hyped?
- Can Wakefield, now 41, be depended on or will he continue to break down?
- Is Clay Buchholz ready for prime-time or is he still a year away?
- Can the previously thought to be washed up Colon contribute?
- How much does MikeTimlin have left?
- Can Hideki Okajima come close to matching last years numbers now that he’s no longer the hero in the dark?
I’m not too worried about the offense. Some players will have better years, some worse. In the end I expect similar numbers. In a worse case scenario picking up offense at the trading deadline is a viable option.
Pitching, however, has me worried. If Schilling doesn’t return, Wakefield breaks down, Buchholz isn’t ready, and Dice-K and Lester continue to elevate their pitch counts leaving Kyle Snyder to pitch the 6th in tight games it won’t be pretty. And quality pitching is tougher to pickup midseason (and getting more difficult) than offensive pop.
But if the pieces fall into place the Red Sox will be very difficult to beat. Should be a great ride.
Go Sox.
