As I am just getting acclimatized with writing the '2007' date and hanging my '07 Sox calendar, I felt it was the right time to take a look at the lineup for this upcoming season. I am looking, and I am liking; this team looks pretty hot.
Unlike past off-seasons where Theo has gone for mainly offense, mainly defense or mainly pitching, this off-season he has managed to combine all three with a Yankee-sized budget at his disposal. On paper, journalists are praising this team.
For offense we still of course have Big Papi with his magnificent bat and better yet, it doesn't look like Manny is leaving. Whether he will show up to spring training is a different matter however. Offense has also been increased with new leadoff man Julio Lugo at SS taking over from A-Gon as well as the signing of a new #5 hitter, JD Drew (after physical complications are sorted out).
Defense is also aided by the return by (hopefully) a healthy Coco Crisp who can make some more of those spectacular catches before his 06 injury. The defense however may experience some more errors this season as Alex Gonzalez has now signed with the Reds and Lugo's defense is not as good, but nobody can really predict how the Boston atmosphere will affect their playing... hopefully for the better. Dustin Pedroia is likely to become a starting 2B-man which is probably the Sox' weakest position as Pedroia lacks a really impactful run in the Majors going between Pawtucket and Boston. Defensive star Mike Lowell is set to return and hopefully bring some of that 06 defensive flair that bailed out the pitching crises often.
Pitching is what is on everybody's mind at the moment however. Curt Schilling is back for probably his last season in the Majors while the Sox have gone to Japan to get a possible future Ace in the form of Daisuke Matsuzaka. Along with two aces, Beckett hopefully will comeback stronger this season, although he had 16 wins last season, he also suffered from giving up the most number of HRs in the league. Old Man Wakefield will start as usual, as a real Dirt Dog should. Also interestingly star rookie closer Jonathan Papelbon will likely come to the starting rotation while the closer spot is still left undecided. Still questionable is the return of Jon Lester after his bout of Lymphoma cancer. On a recent phone call to the press, Lester believes he will ready to start for spring training.(Good News) Pen pitching has also been strengthened with the arrival of Hideki Okajima, Brendan Donnelly and JC Romero.
I'm really pumped for this season, I tend to agree with the journalists on this one, we really have a good chance on paper, but hopefully Theo won't get rid of our starters before the season starts. (Bring back Bronson). Go Sox. This feels like the year... again!
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