30 Teams in 30 Days

Boston Red Sox: When You're A Game Away From The Series, How Many Changes Do You Really Need To Make?

(Over the next 30 days, BERNing on Sports will be previewing every team in the Majors, yes, even the Royals. Only one a day, every day, so try not to get too hooked)

Keeping It Real

While the Yankees were busy acting like the nerdy kid that had a beach house on prom night, trying to impress all the cool kids, the Red Sox more appropriately played the role of Chris Ostreicher, knowing that they are the s**t, and not feeling a ton of peer pressure to do too much to show it. Sure, they whiffed big time on not getting Marky Mark and that could certainly hurt David Ortiz over the course of a full season. But, they will have a full season of Jason Bay and are aiming to have a healthier season from Mike Lowell. What would scare me if I was a Sox fan is that David Ortiz had (by far, but more on that in a minute) his worst season in Beantown last year and you know that Dustin Pedroia is unlikely to repeat his numbers from last year. And that's no knock on Dusty, but when you nearly double 4 offensive categories, that's tough to follow up. The rotation is four deep, as per usual. Interesting to see if Brad Penny has anything left in that right shoulder of his. Likely...not.

Will The Real Cookie Monster Please Stand Up?

Which is the real David Ortiz? The one that averaged over 40 bombs and over 125 RBIs in his first 5 seasons, or the .264/23/89 guy we saw last year? I can't say for certain. Clearly, losing Manny hurts Ortiz, but Bay isn't a nothing. Then again, Red Sox apologists will point to that fact that Big Papi was injured for most of last year, which is certainly fair. Either way, it's a huge year for Ortiz to prove he doesn't need Manny in the lineup to be a fierce slugger.

Odds and Ends, A Bargain Hunters Winter

It seemed like they got a bunch of quality players without spending more money than they had to. Takashi Saito, Rocco Baldelli, John Smoltz, and even Ramon Ramirez (who?). All guys that have had good seasons, are coming off good seasons, or are coming off injuries. Are, all three. Point is, the Red Sox really could come off like geniuses here. Only one or two of the guys need to pan out for it to actually work. Not sure how much Baldelli will be able to contribute, but if Saito, Ramirez, Penny, or Smoltz (any of them, really) play well, it should go down as a job well done. Thus, the beauty of the bargain.

Julio Lugo Stinks. When Will The Red Sox Realize This?

He does. I'm sorry, injury or not, he's just not a good baseball player. He had one very good full season, and another decent full season. That was three years ago. Since his Tampa days, Lugo's failed to reach .270, and in half a season last year he made 16 errors. Get this guy out of here. I don't care if Jed Lowrie isn't that good, or isn't fully ready. You're the Red Sox, for pete's sake.

Bold Predictions

J.D. Drew will be injured at some point. Sorry, that's not bold at all, is it?

Following his on-again, off-again career path, Josh Beckett will have another big year in 2009.

Ok, real one. Kevin Youkilis will have another big time season (his numbers have been climbing each of the last 3 years), and hopefully people will recognize him for the top notch offensive player he really is.

Up Next...Sunday, Marlins.