2013 MLB Team Preview: Boston Red Sox
My how the mighty have fallen! Two years ago people were talking about a dynasty in Boston. Now fans are just hoping for a .500 season and a competitive club.
Odds to Win AL East: +500
Odds to Win World Series: 28/1
Gone are the days of the big pay rolls and enormous expectations and gone is Bobby Valentine as Manager. In is a totally new philosophy – John Farrell was hired as manager and names like Mike Napoli, Shane Victorino and Jonny Gomes were brought in to fill the void left by Carl Crawford, Adrian Gonzalez and the others given away to the Los Angeles Dodgers last year.
The Red Sox are certainly a different team heading into 2013. The question remains – are they better than last year’s last place team – a team that looked awful at times and appeared like they simply didn’t care?
Probable lineup
1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Mike Napoli, 1B
5. Shane Victorino, RF
6. Will Middlebrooks, 3B
7. Stephen Drew, SS
8. Jonny Gomes, LF
9. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
There is still some talent especially at the top of the order for this team but what is lacking is the familiar pop down the lineup. The Sox did manage to put some runs on the board last year and should continue to do so. They have a decent mix of youth and experience but they are a far cry from the perennial powerhouse of a few years ago.
Probable rotation
1. Jon Lester
2. Ryan Dempster
3. Clay Buchholz
4. Felix Doubront
5. John Lackey
The rotation was the weakness of this team last year surprisingly and most including myself are looking for a major bounce back from many of the experienced starters in the rotation. Jon Lester (9-14 record and 4.82 ERA), Clay Bucholz and John Lackey (who returns from Tommy John surgery) are far too talented to repeat their miserable 2012. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
John Farrell, Boston’s pitching coach during their glory years returns to manage this team and should be able to get the best out of some players that he knows very well. The Sox may not have quite the elite rotation they had a few years ago but we should expect these consummate pros to have chips on their shoulders and to better what was a brutal 2012. Ryan Dempster was added to solidify a unit that somehow finished bottom five in the AL last year as well.
Bullpen
Closer: Joel Hanrahan
Righties: Andrew Bailey, Koji Uehara, Junichi Tazawa, Daniel Bard, Alfredo Aceves
Lefties: Andrew Miller, Craig Breslow
The Sox pen could be very good this year depending on the health of Andrew Bailey and Daniel Bard. Boston acquired former two-time All-Star Joel Hanrahan to fulfill their closer role and also signed Koji Uehara to add to names like Junichi Tazawa who was superb last year. Boston has an abundance of arms in the pen – most of which are certainly above average. There is no reason that the Sox aren’t top third in the AL this year but if the offense doesn’t score any runs and if the starters can’t minimize damage it won’t matter how good the pen looks.
Notable bench players
C David Ross, 1B/LF Mike Carp, IF Pedro Ciriaco, OF Daniel Nava
The Red Sox lost a lot of their depth – the new regime apparently has gone in a completely different direction. Gone is the depth that used to characterize this team and in is a streamlined cheaper version of the Sox.
Betting Prediction:
It appears that the Sox are headed for another tough season. The rotation is in decline and the batting order appears average at best. The Sox are a shadow of the team they used to be – this is definitely a transition year for management and the players. Talent really isn’t an issue for the Red Sox; it’s getting that talent to live up to its potential. They now have some financial freedom and they are rid of the toxic atmosphere that came with Bobby Valentine. But those two things don’t win games by themselves.
Bottom Line: The Sox will likely battle the Orioles for last in the AL East – not a whole lot of optimism in New England. With an aging lineup the writing is on the wall for the majority of the veterans on this team. Patience is not a strong suit of Red Sox nation!
