Boston Red Sox: AL East Preview

David Ortiz is looking to bounce back from a horrible 2009 season for the Boston Red Sox, a team equipped for a title run.

The New York Yankees look to repeat as World Champions in 2010, but the Boston Red Sox, as always, will just be one talented obstacle among a handful of other teams in the American League that are capable of thwarting their quest for back-to-back titles.

Boston Red Sox

The Red Sox could have re-signed outfielder Jason Bay or targeted fellow power-hitter Matt Holliday . They chose to go in a different route, signing 36-year old Mike Cameron , a defensive stalwart and a solid hitter. He has lost a step or two, but he is still very athletic and in tip-top shape. Signing Cameron, who had only four errors last season, started a trend for the off-season.

Boston then signed shortstop Marco Scutaro , an excellent defensive player formerly of the Blue Jays. Like Cameron, he’s not the best of hitters, but he can handle the bat enough to produce efficiently. A career .260 hitter entering this past season, the now 34-year old Scutaro had his best offensive year in 2009, batting .280 with 12 homers, 60 RBI’s, and an impressive .379 on-base percentage. To compliment his offense, he only committed eight errors.

The Red Sox weren’t done stocking up defensively, signing third baseman Adrian Beltre , who was awful 2009 offensively. Though his power numbers have drastically dropped, his reputation as a slick fielder made him enticing to Boston. And, as with Cameron and Scutaro, Boston’s front office is confident his offensive production will pick up with the Green Monster in left and the open space in center and right.

Though Fenway Park is hitter friendly, the Red Sox have the pitching staff to survive at home. They signed a fourth veteran, agreeing to a five-year contract with starting pitcher John Lackey , who had been a very dependable ace for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He joins a rotation that was already formidable: Josh Beckett is their ace, with Jon Lester , Daisuke Matsuzaka , Clay Buchholz , and Tim Wakefield rounding out the staff.

Lackey, Beckett, and Lester will all win more than 14 games and post ERA’s under four. Matsuzaka has been battling a couple of injuries and is coming off a forgettable season.

Dice-K is participating in conditioning drills with the rest of the pitching staff and is confident he will bounce back and succeed this season. He has the repertoire to join Lackey, Beckett, and Lester in the 14-wins-and-above-club, but though he has shown flashes of brilliance throughout his Red Sox career, he relies on pinpoint control, which has resulted in predictability and a high walk-rate. Yet, if he can return to his 2008 form, when he won 18 games and posted a 2.90 ERA, Boston’s pitching staff will be dominant.

Buchholz, who pitched very well this past season, will get his fair share of starts. 43-year old Wakefield, who is considered to be the odd-man out in the rotation, recently said, “I’ll be one of the five starters,”. This may not be the best move for Boston, considering the emergence of Buchholz, but there is nothing wrong with Wakefield’s confidence.

The rest of the team is equally as confident. And with their team full of dependable veterans, this confidence should translate into success. Success that could strike fear in the Yankees hearts.

Team Predictions:

95-67, first in the American League East

Hitters (in projected batting order):

LF Jacoby Ellsbury : .310 BA, 13 homers, 65 rbi’s, 185 hits, and 64 steals

2B Dustin Pedroia : ..297 BA, 15 homers, 70 rbi’s, 190 hits, and 20 steals

C Victor Martinez : .300 BA, 24 homers, 100 rbi’s, 175 hits, and 35 doubles

1B Kevin Youkilis : .312 BA, 30 homers, 95 rbi’s, 175 hits, and 44 doubles

DH David Ortiz : .275 BA, 25 homers, 80 rbi’s, 160 hits, and 28 doubles

RF J.D. Drew : .280 BA, 22 homers, 70 rbi’s, 145 hits, and 33 doubles

3B Adrian Beltre: .265 BA, 24 homers, 75 rbi’s, 155 hits, and 25 doubles

CF Mike Cameron: .260 BA, 20 homers, 65 rbi’s, 140 hits, and 27 doubles

SS Marco Scutaro: .270 BA, 13 homers, 55 rbi’s, 160 hits, and 33 doubles

Starting Pitchers:

Josh Beckett: 17-7, 3.55 ERA, and 203 strikeouts

Jon Lester: 16-6, 3.40 ERA, and 220 strikeouts

John Lackey: 17-9, 3.60 ERA, and 145 strikeouts

Daisuke Matsuzaka: 14-9, 4.05 ERA, and 170 strikeouts

Tim Wakefield: 9-7, 3.90 ERA, and 130 strikeouts

Clay Buchholz: 12-6, 3.60 ERA, and 80 strikeouts

Closer:

Jonathan Papelbon : 43 saves and a 2.30 ERA