Boston Red Sox 2010 Primer

For the third straight year in 2009, the Red Sox won at least 95 games and qualified for the playoffs. But a disheartening sweep at the hands of the Angels -- Boston's usual postseason whipping boy -- in the ALDS was enough for general manager Theo Epstein to undertake a significant retooling of his roster.

Big bopping is out and run prevention is in, or at least that's what it seems like after the signings of frontline pitcher John Lackey, center fielder Mike Cameron and third baseman Adrian Beltre.

There's little question that the Red Sox will have a very different look in 2010, but it's fair to wonder if they are significantly better overall -- if they've bridged the eight-win gap between them and the hated Yankees at the top of the AL East standings last season.

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Coming and Going

In: Scott Atchison, RHP (free agency); Boof Bonser, RHP (trade); Adrian Beltre, 3B (free agency); Kevin Frandsen, IF (trade); Bill Hall, IF (trade); Tug Hulett, IF (trade); Marco Scutaro, SS (free agency); Mike Cameron, CF (free agency); Jeremy Hermida, OF (trade); Alan Embree, LHP (free agency); Scott Schoeneweis, LHP (free agency)
Out: Nick Green, IF (free agency); Jason Bay, LF (free agency); Rocco Baldelli, OF (free agency/retirement); Alex Gonzalez, SS (free agency); Casey Kotchman, 1B (trade); Brian Anderson, OF (free agency); Takashi Saito, RHP (free agency); Billy Wagner, LHP (free agency);

Around the Horn

Love of Glove ...
Run prevention was the theme of the winter, and marquee signing John Lackey should go a long way toward improving that in Boston's rotation, but with new regulars at shortstop (Marco Scutaro), third base (Beltre) and in the outfield (Cameron), it's clear the Red Sox thought it was their defense that needed a major overhaul. They must catch the ball with the best of them, because the offense isn't going to be nearly as potent as it once was.

Getting Dice-y ...
Boston's rotation depth is unrivaled, so much so that reliable veteran Tim Wakefield isn't sure exactly where he fits in a week from his club's first regular season game. Josh Beckett, Jon Lester and John Lackey are assured spots, but it's murky after that, mostly because of Daisuke Matsuzaka. The Japanese sensation missed much of last season with injury and has hardly pitched this spring for the same reason, but because of the club's massive investment in him (he's under contract through 2012), the Red Sox are likely to give him every chance to pitch his way out of the health and command issues that have plagued him. If Matsuzaka makes the rotation, that means Wakefield or the promising Clay Buchholz will be left out, an awkward prospect for sure.

Shrinking Papi ...
It was a tale of two seasons for designated hitter David Ortiz in 2009. Before June, he hit .185 with one home run. From then on, he hit .264 with 27 home runs and a .904 OPS. Mixed in was a report that he was on the list of 104 players who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs during MLB's trial period in 2003. It was a trying season for the genial slugger, and at 34, it's fair to wonder if we've seen his best. The Red Sox sure hope not, because with Jason Bay gone, they'll need a renaissance of sorts from their DH to boost an offense that looks weaker on paper. As for Ortiz, he could be a free agent as soon as this winter, giving him all for which to play.

Here's the Score ...
Speaking of the offense, just how much worse is Boston's lineup going to be this season? Yes, it's more suspect than in the past, but that's more a tribute to just how historically remarkable the duo of Ortiz and Manny Ramirez was over the past decade than it is a knock on the talent at Fenway Park now. Scutaro should be an offensive upgrade at short, and a full season of Victor Martinez should help as well. The Red Sox aren't what they once were, but they feel the criticism of their offense is overblown, and it's easy to see why. There's no reason this group can't score 800 runs, and with the improvements on the other side of the ball, that should be more than enough to win 90-plus games.

Projected Opening Day Roster



2010 Outlook

Much is always expected of the Red Sox -- it's been that way ever since owner John Henry took over -- but you get the feeling that there is some suspicion of this particular group in New England. Maybe it's the uncertainty of a new emphasis by the organization. Maybe it's just restlessness after watching the Yankees climb back on to their lofty pedestal after years of being a step behind. Either way, it's foolish to underestimate these Sox. They might be composed differently, but they're in a familiar position entering 2010: on the shortlist of World Series favorites.