Introducing Your 2009 Red Sox

By Brendon Rosenau
Love of Sports Correspondent

Well, here we are.

The 2008 World Series, and it’s the Rays and Phillies.

The experts say no one will tune in, because there’s no Torre, Manny or Papi. If that’s the case, then shame on them. The Rays are the story of the season, the Phillies will be the underdog in the hearts of many and we all know how Philadelphia loves their underdog.

Both teams deserve their trip to the Fall Classic, and this article is by no mean a slight to them. However, when Jed Lowrie bounced to second to end Sunday night’s seventh game, a collective sigh was let out by millions of baseball fans.

Count me as one of the few who don’t understand the hostility towards Boston. Sure, no one likes the team on the top of the mountain, but were the Sox the best team in baseball this year? Not really.

Everyone had them losing to that Angels. The Rays were clearly the superior team. Which leads me to this thought: what’s in store for the BoSox in 2009?

Here are the five biggest questions as fans in Boston reluctantly looks towards April.

What’s at the Bottom of the Pile

Let’s all agree on one thing … the Sox have one of the best cache of arms at the top of their rotation. Scary thought of the day for the rest of the A.L. East … they’re all in their prime or reaching their peak.
Josh Beckett and Dice-K will be 29 and Jon Lester will be 25. If Beckett recovers adequately from his injury (which he should) and Dice-K continues to improve, is there any doubt they can both win 20 games?

Add in Lester, who was widely considered one of the best pitchers in baseball during the final two months of the season, and there’s a real chance the Sox could have three 20-game winners. That’s unheard of in today’s game.

The problem is the final two pieces of the puzzle. Curt Schilling and Paul Byrd will be gone, and I’d be shocked if Tim Wakefield’s back. Clay Buchholz will get a shot to crack the rotation, as will Michael Bowdon. There’s also the possibility Justin Masterson could be brought back as a starter. That’s three young lively arms.

Of course, there’s the free agent route, but I don’t think the team goes long term with any pitcher, which rules out CC Sabathia and probably A.J. Burnett. However, a big money, incentive laden deal to the injury prone Ben Sheets may be in the works. Again, that’s a stretch, because someone will pony up the dough for him.

Other names that may be in discussion: Derek Lowe, Oliver Perez, Jon Garland and possibly John Lackey. Finally, don’t rule out a trade for Jake Peavy, who’s due $52 million over the next three years, plus a club option - and he’s only 28. The Sox have the young pieces to move and will really consider this. Imagine Beckett, Peavy, Lester and Dice-K in the same rotation? I think Hank Steinbrenner just threw up in his mouth.

Put Me In Coach, I’m Ready to Play, I Could Be … Center Field

This was a question last year, and it was never answered. Who is the team’s starting CF?

Jacoby Ellsbury has the potential card in his sleeve, and he did steal 50 bases. He finished the year with a .280 average, but that was only after he hit .340 in September. He’s a streaky hitter and finished the playoffs hitless in his last 20 at-bats.

Coco Crisp was supposed to be traded last winter and then during the season. It didn’t happen, which worked out in the Sox favor. Crisp isn’t a great hitter, but had nine hits in the ALCS and actually had a higher average than Ellsbury.

Crisp is the better fielder, which isn’t a discredit to Ellsbury, but isn’t going to thrown anyone out. If the Sox are looking to make a major trade, they could be willing to part with Ellsbury. Crisp’s in the final year of his contract (the Sox hold the option for 2010), which might make him a little more attractive on the market. Of course, with the injury history of J.D. Drew, neither is a bad fourth outfielder. Ellsbury will likely be penciled in on Opening Day, but if he starts off slow, Crisp could take over.

Has the Captain’s Ship Sailed?

Jason Varitek’s the heart and soul of the Red Sox. Fans outside of Boston might not see what the big deal is, but ask anyone in that clubhouse and they’ll say - to a man - the captain’s their leader. The problem is he had a terrible year. Across the board, his offensive production was a career worst. A .220 average, 37 runs, 122 Ks. Defensively, he threw out just 16 of 56 base stealers. The decline can be chalked up to age, as well as personal issues in the form of divorce. Tek is a free agent, and the Sox have nothing in the form on an up and coming catcher (Kevin Cash, David Ross??).

So, what do they do?

This one lies on Varitek, who’s 36 years old. The Sox will likely offer him a two-year deal for decent money. They highly value the impact he has had on their pitching staff, especially the young guns. Someone’s bound to offer big money for his name and he does roll with Scott Boras. If he wants to end his career in Beantown, he can. If he wants a big payday then he’ll have to turn in his “C.”

Doctor, Doctor!

All teams have injuries. The Red Sox won’t say injuries cost them the ALCS, but an injured Beckett, no Mike Lowell and David Ortiz possibly still hurting from his wrist makes a difference. Lowell had surgery on Monday, and time will only tell if Beckett or Ortiz (or anyone else) go under the knife. I expect Beckett to be fine, but Lowell will be 35 when the team reconvenes in Florida. He’s played gold glove defense and has been a productive hitter in his time with Boston, and there’s no reason why he shouldn’t continue down that road. If he shows no ill-effects from hip surgery, the Sox have no worries.

Ortiz spent time on the D.L. for the first time in Boston and never really looked like the Big Papi fans were used to seeing. He hit just .264, 23 points lower than he’s ever raked in Boston, and had just 23 home runs. In the playoffs, he looked old and slow and very beatable at the plate. Is this a by-product of a wrist injury, or is Big Papi slowing down? This is something the team will give a serious look at in ‘09. Of course, if he hit 35 bombs and drives in 100 runs then it doesn’t matter.

Moving and Shaking

Theo Epstein made it sound like he had no intentions of making a major move. Last year, the team’s biggest hot corner dish was Sean Casey. The team does have several free agents, but only Varitek and Mark Kotsay were in the starting lineup. Kotsay wouldn’t have been there if Lowell were healthy.

If anything, the Sox will look to dump Julio Lugo, but in doing so will have to eat most of the $18 million he’s owed over the next two years. By the way, if that didn’t make you cringe you’re not human.

The Sox are loaded with young talent and don’t seem to have any major holes. The only other question is at shortstop. Jed Lowrie’s shown he has a major league glove, but not a major league stick. The Peavy trade is intriguing, although I’m not sure if he’d come to Boston. The Sox may also have to acquire Khalil Greene, which may not be an upgrade at short. They’ll throw their hat in the ring for other big names, even Mark Teixiera. But they don’t need to land the big fish.

The bottom line is the Sox are in good shape to contend for the foreseeable future. It’s entirely possible the only difference between the lineup in September and next April is at catcher, and that’s 50-50 at best. Fear not, Red Sox Nation, your 2009 Boston Red Sox will be a playoff caliber team. With a small tweak here and there, they may be a championship one.