Red Sox in strong position in '08

The Boston Red Sox open spring training as world champions for the second time in four years but, as Yankee fans might say, for the third time in 90 years. But New York, which opens camp as also-rans for the seventh straight year, does not quite have the sunny prospects for the coming season that Boston brings to the Sunshine State.

   The Red Sox are loaded. Despite the problems some have had with GM Theo Epstein consistently lopping popular players since he took over, Epstein’s overall strategies have produced a team that could repeat in 2008, a team that has a bright future and a team that has the prospects to greatly improve at the trading deadline. There aren’t many clubs out there that can make that claim.

    It’s amazing what smart management can do. I whined last year about picking up Julio Lugo and J.D. Drew, and even the Hanley Ramirez for Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell trade, but there are reasons why I sit at my humble computer and write this and Theo runs the Red Sox.

    A little noticed pickup over the winter by the Sox, signing Sean Casey as a backup, was the type of move that just keeps improving a team. Casey is a proven hitter who can man first when Kevin Youkilis moves to third to give Lowell a day off or give Youkilis pine time. What an excellent three-headed situation to have at the corners.

    The middle of the infield is solid. Can Dustin Pedroia repeat his performance from his Rookie of the Year season? Watching that kid in the post-season and reading about his grit and, yes, talent, leads me to believe he can at least continue to be a positive member of the lineup and defense. Lugo really improved in field as 2007 progressed, aided by the dedicated footwork coaching of Luis Alicea, and proved at least proficient at short. Lugo’s hitting was down last year, but he came up with plenty of important hits. His speed in the No. 9 spot, when Pedroia and Youkilis are due, gives manager Terry Francona a chance to do some things that Red Sox teams usually can’t.

   The Red Sox have two center fielders. The incumbent, as Francona calls him, Coco Crisp, has had two tough seasons with the bat in Boston. He has hit .264 and .268, but is better than that with his high stolen-base percentage and base-running skills. But Crisp was a much bigger contributor with his defense. Last year he played some of the finest center field I have witnessed in 46 years of watching baseball. Crisp’s play was stunning, inspiring and often game-altering.

   The other center fielder is rookie Johnny Damon, oops, I mean Jacoby Ellsbury. He had a Fred Lynn-type debut (see September 1974) and, to me, looks like a smart, game-changing type of player. Ellsbury can hit, run and play defense, witnessed by his nice catch in Game 4 at Coors in October. As much as I admire and get a big kick out of Manny Ramirez, if Ellsbury’s not there for that play in left, the Rockies are in business.

    If the Sox keep both outfielders, what a late-game defense in the pasture the team has with Ellsbury, Crisp and Drew. It’s a long way from Kevin Mitchell and other lummoxes of old the Sox have employed in the outfield.

    Ramirez could have great year. Mercurial Manalito is reportedly in great shape, in camp and now says he wants to stay in Boston when the team holds his option for $20 million next year. Ramirez has declined over the past couple years, due to injury and age. Not everyone juices and gets better in their mid-30s. Ramirez, a future first-ballot Hall-of-Famer who drove in 16 runs in 14 post-season games last year and who is first in post-season homers and second in RBI, can extend his stay in Beantown with a season like his late-90s work with the Indians or his production through 2005.

    Ramirez teams with DH David Ortiz to give the Red Sox punch. But Ortiz, like Ramirez, has declined a bit recently. If Ortiz can stay healthy, he remains the dominant designated hitter (what a pathetic rule) in the American League.

    Drew should improve, and if the move to sign him for five years and $35 million proves correct, well, it’s just another instance of Theo being Theo and the rest of us just being wrong.

     Catcher Jason Varitek remains the team’s heart. But he’s 36 and catching is not exactly as easy as being a situational left-hander. The club is talking about an extension, but it would be foolish – wouldn’t it? – to sign him to a deal as dumb as the Yankees pact with Jorge Posada. Doug Mirabelli, who should have a shrine in his home to knuckleballer Tim Wakefield, remains the backup.

    About keeping Varitek and Ramirez, Epstein has shown, by the shrewd deductions of Nomar Garciaparra (do not underestimate Nomar’s admiration by New Englanders), Pedro Martinez, Damon and others, that he will do what is best for the club in the matters of popular players.

    Pitching, of course, wins. That fact was revealed to Red Sox fans when Epstein came. Curses and worse were caused by bad front offices and even less-bright field management.

   The Red Sox, even with the possible end of Curt Schilling’s entertaining run in Boston, have good, deep pitching. Start with Beckett, add Dakisue Matzanaka, Wakefield and two kids who should be good in John Lester and Clay Buchholtz (he reminds me or Orel Hershiser), and the Sox have a staff that will keep their relentless offense in most every game. And that’s what you want these days from a staff, day-in, day-out, during the regular season.

   The bullpen, with good pitchers like Julian Taveras, Manny Delcarmen, Mike Timlin and Hideki Okajima, lead the game into the hands of baseball’s best closer and biggest goofball, Jonathan Papelbon. Perhaps Papelbon is the most valuable Red Sox.

    Boston’s minor league system is ranked No. 2 by Baseball America.

    And then there is Francona. I know some Sox fans call him “Francoma” (or, actually, “Francomer”), but the guy handles the pitching well and the clubhouse even better. Is there a manager this side of Joe Torre who handles the media better? And that’s important in Boston, because the Red Sox are No. 1 there.

    Just as they are in baseball. And could continue to be.