Boston Red Sox 2009 Season Wins Prediction
Boston Red Sox (2008 Record: 95-67, 2 GB in AL East – AL Wild Card Winner)
After coming within 3 measly runs of another AL Pennant in 2008, the BoSox are back with what could be a much stronger team.
While the boys from the Bronx grabbed the East Coast headlines this Winter by spending enough money to purchase a small country, GM Theo Epstein and crew took a somewhat different approach to retooling. By taking fliers on injury risks with tremendous upside and proven track records like John Smoltz, Brad Penny, and Rocco Baldelli, they may wind up getting the most bang for their buck out of all the 30 MLB teams.
Even if the aforementioned players do not pan out, the Sox still boast a very strong roster. The outfield is made up of a formidable group featuring Jason “don’t call me Manny” Bay, Jacoby Elisbury, and JD Drew in right with Baldelli able to fill in at all 3 positions. Being with the team from the start of the season should boost Bay’s numbers, who still put up a respectable showing after having to fill some really big shoes down the stretch in ’08. The right side of the infield is solid with on-base machines Kevin Youkilis and reigning MVP Dustin Pedroia. The left side, on the other hand, is a bit of a question mark with third baseman Mike Lowell recovering from hip surgery and the shortstop position up for grabs in a battle between veteran Julio Lugo and 25-year old Jed Lowrie.
After a lot of uncertainty over contract details, the Sox were finally able to bring back the man with the C on his jersey to man the backstop. Reduced to a mediocre hitter at this point in his career, Jason Varitek is still crucial to the success of a pitching staff which is relying on some young but effective arms like phenom Jon Lester and even some key bullpen pieces such as Boston native Manny Delcarmen.
The starting rotation is as deep as they come, led by post-season hero Josh Beckett, Lester, and Dice-K, and rounded out by knuckleballer Tim Wakefield and newcomer Penny. Smoltz is expected back in May, which should push either Wakefield or Penny to an already solid pen. If injuries should hit, already experienced youngsters Clay Buckhholz and Justin Masterson are waiting in the wings as well as top prospect Michael Bowden. The fiery Johathan Papelbon may be the best 9th inning man in the league next to Mariano Rivera and he now has ex-Dodger Takashi Saito, a closer in his own right, to set him up. If David Ortiz can bounce back to anything close to his 2007 form, Terry Francona’s squad should once again be playing meaningful October baseball. Look for Boston to finish with around 97 wins this season.
Bet Online Under/Over: Under/Over 95 Wins (-115)
Scott’s Prediction: 97 Wins
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7 replies on “Red Sox 2009 MLB Prediction”
I just don’t see Tampa Bay having another year like last season, so the question for the Red Sox is can they win more games than the Yankees. I like Boston’s chances to win the East, I’m just not sold on winning more than 95 games. I’ll take Boston as the AL East champion winning 93 games.
They finished 97-65 last year, that’s not to shabby though, the AL East is a real toss up division this year with how much the Yanks and sox have spent, per usual though.
Thanks for your comment Dave.
I think 97 wins will be too much for a club that lost their best hitter. Without Manny, even though Papelbon called him a cancer, they are not as dangerous offensively. I know they have Ortiz and Bay, but its not the same combo.
I also think with the improved Yankees and Rays being a new team to really contend with, they will eat away at wins in the AL East.
It’s always about the Yankees spending money. If the rest of the league could ever win they would have money to spend to. The Yankees will put Boston back where they belong wishing they were the Yankees. I’m tired of hearing about how the Yankees always buy there teams. Boston spends just as much if not more. Let’s get down to the nitty gritty of it all. The Yanks win it all.
At the end of the day, when it comes to matching up against the rest of the AL East, it’s going to be all about pitching. Boston has enough depth to deal with an injury or two, and can compete during any given 3-game set because of this. The Yankees, the Rays, and this team will have tough inter-divisional matchups but may feast on some of the weaker teams in the league. I can’t see how 93 wins will be enough to take the East this season. I believe that it is going to take between 96 and 98 wins to win the division.
Let’s go Blue Jays!!! LOL
LOL! Ricciardi had the Jays on the right track a few years ago, and then ownership committed even more money to the payroll. I really thought at that point they were going to finally make their push, and I was happy for them. They made smart moves. However, they’ve regressed so badly since then and will be in the basement all year.