Sox Set For 2009 Season With High Expectations
Sox Break Camp With Some New Faces For ‘09 Campaign
Filling The Void- The Red Sox will be counting on journeyman infielder Nick Green to take over the backup infielders spot left vacated by injured Julio Lugo. Green earned his job by having a solid camp in which he hit really well against Major League pitching. Green has traveled around the majors for many years and may have finally found a home in Boston. Green can play all four infield positions as well as the outfield if needed. He is a stable player and if Jed Lowrie continues to struggle at the plate look for Francona to call Green’s number.
Rewarding Hard Work- The Red Sox have rewarded slugging first base/outfielder Chris Carter with a spot on the 25 man roster. This is the first time in Carter’s young career (age 26) in which he will break camp at the Major League level. Carter is a solid hitter with a lot of power and pop. He hit .350 this spring with a team high 6 homeruns. Carter will be the Red Sox 5th oufielder behind starters Bay, Ellsbury, and Drew as well as backup Rocco Baldelli. Carter is a solid hitter who works the count and don’t be surprised if he gets his shot to play early this season.
Expectations Are High Once Again in 2009
In the world of Boston sports there is really only one thing that matters and that is Red Sox baseball. The Red Sox are the biggest thing in one of the oldest cities in our country. In Boston fans live and die with the success and failure of this club. After finally getting over the hump and winning 2 World Series in the last 5 seasons, the 2009 Red Sox will go into this season with the same expectations as always, World Series or bust. See the Red Sox are a baseball powerhouse in which they don’t rebuild like small market clubs they reload and once again this team is primed for October baseball. The reason one should feel good about the Red Sox chances of going all the way once again is that they contain the one element that wins championships- PITCHING.
Pitching always wins over hitting. Look at the New York Yankees they have had the best lineup in all of baseball since the turn of the century and they have yet to win a title in this decade. Hitting and power can only take you so far and if you don’t have pitching your ship will eventually sink. The 2009 Red Sox may have the best starting rotation in all of baseball with Josh Beckett and Jon Lester anchoring a supreme staff. Daisuke Matsuzaka fresh off his second World Baseball Classic MVP will be the 3rd guy behind both Lester and Beckett. Matsuzaka won 18 games last year and if he has the same success as he did a year ago the Red Sox will be in the playoffs. Veteran Tim Wakefield will be the 4th starter again this year and like always with Wake you know what you are getting. Wakefield is a streaky pitcher who will probably win as many games as he will lose.
The 5th starter for Boston is very interesting as Brad Penny will begin the season in this role. Penny was the starter for the National League in the 2007 All Star Game. Penny is a horse and if he is healthy this team could be scary come playoff time. The bullpen is once again loaded with Papelbon and Masterson shutting down the back end of games. Pap may be baseball’s best closer and Masterson is a star in the making. Hideki Okajima will be the lefty out of the pen for the 3rd straight season and he is as good as any left handed reliever in baseball. The Sox added John Smoltz this year and although he won’t be ready until early June this move could pay huge dividends, as Smoltz is yet another power arm added to this loaded staff.
The lineup is pretty much similar to that of last years team that came within one game of reaching its second straight World Series. The power bats will be anchored by David Ortiz, Kevin Youkilis, Jason Bay, and a healthy Mike Lowell. Remember Lowell was practically playing on 1 leg at the end of last years season. A healthy Lowell will play a huge part to this teams overall success at the plate. The Sox also have one of the best 1/2 hitters in speedster Jacoby Ellsbury and current AL MVP Dustin Pedroia. Pedroia had a monster season last year in which he almost won his first ever batting title. Pedroia is a stud and a five tool player that is without a doubt the most important player in the entire Red Sox organization. Sox captain Jason Varitek has cut his swing in half from the left side of the plate and so far in spring training it has paid off as Tek has hit 5 HR’s from he left side. If Varitek can turn things around and suddenly regain a power surge this lineup could be the most complete in baseball. Youkilis and Pedroia are the best at their respective positions and many feel that if some one else steps up and has a career year then this teams playoff fate will be a success.
The bats and arms are ready and the city of Boston is locked in for another successful season of Red Sox baseball. Expectations are high and there is no reason why they shouldn’t be. In my eyes the 2009 Red Sox season is simply a World Series or bust.
The Brain-Matthew Giacoppo
Tags: Sox Set For 2009 Season With High Expectations, The Brain-Matthew Giacoppo
April 3rd, 2009 at 6:39 pm
Matt I’d have to agree that pitching leads you to the promise land and the Red Sox have plenty of it. As for the lineup there are questions but they seem to have been answered in spring training. Papi and Lowell look healthy. As for Tek if everyone else contributes at the plate all you need Tek to do is hit .240 with 15 or so HRs. This team is in the toughest division in baseball and that will only help them come playoff time. Should be another fun season in Boston.