No High Profile Free Agent Signings??? No Big Deal.

What Will Define the Red Sox Season in 2009?

Now with just weeks until pitchers and catchers report to camp, the Red Sox may just be done shopping, putting an end to a rather quiet offseason for Theo Epstein. With the economic downturn even affecting the deep pocketed Red Sox, Theo turned his attention to the “low risk, high reward” players, rather than spending big money on the high profile talent in the market (after their pursuit of Mark Texiera).  Some may criticize for Theo for not spending more money, but I say no big deal...the foundation is already there. 

While many speculated that the Red Sox should focus on bringing a big bat to bolster the line up and protect David Ortiz, Theo Epstein and the Red Sox front office focused their attention on roll players, depth, and pitching. While Theo Epstein didn’t make a big splash in the market like Red Sox fans have become customary of seeing out of him, Theo’s brilliance may shine through after all.

If you ask me it’s not offseason moves that are going to bring another world championship to Boston this year. The foundation was already set, they just have to put all the puzzle pieces together. There are five key factors in Boston’s success this year:

The resurgence of David Ortiz: There is nothing more that a Red Sox fan would like to see this year than a healthy, clutch, consistent David Ortiz. It’s speculated that Ortiz is on the down slope of his career; if Big Papi can have a bounce back season in which he bats over .300, hits 30 long balls, and drives in 100, there’s enough talent around him to make Boston’s offense one of the best in baseball. Big Papi makes everyone in that line up better when he is producing. Mark my words, David Ortiz is the key to the Red Sox offensive success this year.

Home grown. By this I mean, Dustin Pedroia, Jon Lester, Jacoby Ellsbury, and Kevin Youkilus. Let’s start at the beginning of the lineup; Jacoby Ellsbury. After the huge post season he had in his rookie year of 2007, Jacoby followed it up by stealing 50 bags, scoring almost 100 runs, and winning the rookie of the year award. The Red Sox line up needs to see Jacoby progressively get better. He keeps the batting average up, on base percentage up, and keeps stealing bases and scoring runs, he’ll be the dominating lead off hitter the Red Sox haven’t had since Johnny Damon. All Red Sox fans will ask if Pedroia, Youk, and Lester is to pick up where they left off in 2008.

Josh Beckett. See 2007. P.S. He’ll be pitching against CC.

The rotation. These guys have the potential to be the best in baseball. The Red Sox NEED the Cy Young winning Beckett of 2007, followed up by Jon Lester picking up where he left off in 2008. The only thing I have to say about Dice K is…you scare the hell out of me, but as long as you keep being Houdini I’m not going to tell you how to pitch.  Wakefield will be Wakefield. If Penny can stay healthy, and Smoltz is strong come October, it’s going to be tough to beat these guys in a seven-game series. I’ll add Buckholz to the home grown list, and this one; the Red Sox organization needs to see upward progress from him, or he’ll be in Texas for Saltalamchia before the trade deadline.

The bullpen (minus Papelbon; everyone knows what to expect out of him). Here I’m mainly talking about Masterson, Delcarmen, and Okajima. The guys that pitched in the seventh and eighth innings of 2007 were the difference makers; they simply stranded runners.  Okajima needs to get back to form, while Delcarmen and Masterson need to keep developing.  Behind these three arms Boston will live and die.

All of these factors will play a role in how the Red Sox finish in 2009. If you put them all together, there is no doubt in my mind Red Sox fans will be celebrating their third World Championship since 1918. You know how this Boston press is: If they win, Theo is a genius for his masterminding in free agency; if they lose, he will be heavily criticized for not signing the high profile free agents on the market. Remember Sox fans…Theo has left himself plenty of money for when that trade deadline comes along, and you never know who will be available. Theo still has his chance to make a big splash in the market.