What to expect from the Red Sox
How will the Red Sox fare this season after losing some key pieces?
The Sox offense should be fairly consistent even though it’s lost Scutaro and Reddick. Ross should a nice addition and will allow an old fashioned platoon when he faces lefties while Sweeney faces righties. Around the All-Star break, Kalish could take over the right field job. Ellsbury will have a good season but not one as great as the last. I expect 90RBIs, 110Runs, 20HRs, a .300AVG, and 40SBs. I expect Crawford to have a better year than last year. He should have similar stats everywhere except a .40 higher in average and OBP. He could also get thirty more SBs. One can only hope that Youkilis will be healthy enough to play 135 games. Sadly, I think he’ll only play 105 games — not enough time to amount to much. I expect Iglesias to grab the shortstop job . His great glove will make up for his weak bat. I expect him to be at least a contender for a gold glove. At 2nd base, I see more of the best coming from Pedroia. From Gonzalez, I expect regression in his batting average, after having an insane BABIP of .380. He will probably still hit over .300 but only by ten points. He will keep his RBI numbers, thanks to hitting 30+ long bombs. At catcher, I foresee a strong spring training performance by Lavarnway, which will earn him the back-up catcher spot. Meanwhile, I expect Saltalamacchia to have a breakout year in which he establishes himself as one of the game’s premier catchers. He will hit 25HRs and compliment it with a .280 average. Sadly, at the DH, I see major regression from Ortiz. He’ll be lucky to hit .275 and 20HRs.
The Sox’ pitching staff is in bad shape. They have a good top three but a bad four and five. I expect Lester to start opening day and have a Lester-like season of 16W-8L and a 3.10ERA. From Beckett, I expect regression but still a good year (3.80ERA 12Ws). I expect Buchholz to emerge as the Sox’ ace. He will have a year as good as 2010. Maybe 20W-6L, 240Ks, and a 2.50ERA en route to a Cy Young. I expect Bard to fail as a starter, which will put him back in the bullpen around the trading deadline. At that point, the Sox will trade three top prospects for Zack Greinke. He’ll earn a 102 million dollar, six year deal. I expect Padilla to win the 5th rotation spring training battle. He will go on to have a mediocre season. The Sox bullpen should be fairly solid, even without Papelbon. The additions of Bailey and Melancon should make up for Pap leaving.
The Sox will have a great season with a record of 94-68 en route to a play-off berth as a wildcard. They will beat the Yankees in the ALDS but lose to the Tigers in the ALCS.
The Sox offense should be fairly consistent even though it’s lost Scutaro and Reddick. Ross should a nice addition and will allow an old fashioned platoon when he faces lefties while Sweeney faces righties. Around the All-Star break, Kalish could take over the right field job. Ellsbury will have a good season but not one as great as the last. I expect 90RBIs, 110Runs, 20HRs, a .300AVG, and 40SBs. I expect Crawford to have a better year than last year. He should have similar stats everywhere except a .40 higher in average and OBP. He could also get thirty more SBs. One can only hope that Youkilis will be healthy enough to play 135 games. Sadly, I think he’ll only play 105 games — not enough time to amount to much. I expect Iglesias to grab the shortstop job . His great glove will make up for his weak bat. I expect him to be at least a contender for a gold glove. At 2nd base, I see more of the best coming from Pedroia. From Gonzalez, I expect regression in his batting average, after having an insane BABIP of .380. He will probably still hit over .300 but only by ten points. He will keep his RBI numbers, thanks to hitting 30+ long bombs. At catcher, I foresee a strong spring training performance by Lavarnway, which will earn him the back-up catcher spot. Meanwhile, I expect Saltalamacchia to have a breakout year in which he establishes himself as one of the game’s premier catchers. He will hit 25HRs and compliment it with a .280 average. Sadly, at the DH, I see major regression from Ortiz. He’ll be lucky to hit .275 and 20HRs.
The Sox’ pitching staff is in bad shape. They have a good top three but a bad four and five. I expect Lester to start opening day and have a Lester-like season of 16W-8L and a 3.10ERA. From Beckett, I expect regression but still a good year (3.80ERA 12Ws). I expect Buchholz to emerge as the Sox’ ace. He will have a year as good as 2010. Maybe 20W-6L, 240Ks, and a 2.50ERA en route to a Cy Young. I expect Bard to fail as a starter, which will put him back in the bullpen around the trading deadline. At that point, the Sox will trade three top prospects for Zack Greinke. He’ll earn a 102 million dollar, six year deal. I expect Padilla to win the 5th rotation spring training battle. He will go on to have a mediocre season. The Sox bullpen should be fairly solid, even without Papelbon. The additions of Bailey and Melancon should make up for Pap leaving.
The Sox will have a great season with a record of 94-68 en route to a play-off berth as a wildcard. They will beat the Yankees in the ALDS but lose to the Tigers in the ALCS.
