 Auditing The Boston Red Sox 2008 Season
A great story in Lester, an MVP season from Pedroia, one win away from another World Series appearance and no more 162 per year headaches from Manny.
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 2008 Season Preview: Boston Red Sox
How quickly New England can throwaway 86 seasons of grief-stricken baseball and believe that winning the World Series is now the manifest destiny of the Boston Red Sox.
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 Manny's Own Laid Back Way, Even In October
If the Red Sox get back into the ALCS, it won't be because of Josh Beckett shutting the Indians down again or David Ortiz providing a clutch home run. The true backbone of the Boston team, as it has been for the last seven years, is Manny Ramirez. If Manny starts clicking, Boston will rebound and take the AL crown.
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Red Sox Vs. Angels Series Preview
Even with a healthy Vladimir Guerrero the Angels hitting is significantly weaker than that of the Red Sox. John Lackey’s lack of success in Fenway Park and Kelvim Escobar’s horrible pitching of late will prove to hurt the Angels, as they can’t compete in a slugfest with the Red Sox.
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Crunch Time
Several questions linger, on both sides: Can Manny and Ortiz overcome nagging injuries? Can Dice-K get out of his funk? (1-4 and 9.57 era in last five starts). Does big Schill have enough in the tank for another run? In New York, will the young guns (Hughes, Chamberlain, and Kennedy) have an impact down the stretch? Will A-Rod continue his ridiculous hitting when it counts?
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I Love Baseball
The beginning of baseball signifies all that is right in the world: spring temperatures, heated rivalries, and less clothing for co-eds. Even an opening day for the Red Sox against the Royals can be accepted because baseball is back.
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Less Is More?
Theo Epstein's 'marquee' trade ahead of the deadline was the acquisition of right-hander Bryan Corey from the Rangers for minor leaguer Luis Mendoza. This was hardly the big blockbuster move that some were waiting for, and maybe even wanted (kind of like the people that watch NASCAR only for the crashes). There were plenty of rumors, the biggest of which included sending promising young pitchers Craig Hansen and Jon Lester (along with centerfielder Coco Crisp) to Atlanta for Andruw Jones. So in the end, the Red Sox acquired nothing but nervous fans.
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Has Boston Finally Recovered From 2004?
After the 2004 World Series which saw that wretched so-called curse finally broken and the whole New England region go into a state of euphoria, 2005 was more of a hangover year that ended in a first round sweep by the Chicago White Sox. With that, general manager Theo Epstein went about remaking the attitude of the franchise and now in 2006, has the Red Sox on top of the American League East and poised to make a run at their second championship in three years.
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Manny Ramirez Threatens Homerun Record
If Manny Ramirez stays relatively healthy and continues to uphold his 1.4 grand slams per year average, he should break the Lou Gehrig's record of 23 slams sometime during the 2008 MLB campaign.
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April Whipping Boys Of The 'Faithful' Red Sox Nation
With almost a month gone by in this year’s variation on Abner Doubleday’s motif, Red Sox fans have had plenty of time to wind up their whips and find their victims. Per usual, the faithful have spent the better part of the last four weeks sitting on the couch with their trusty brew of choice, searching for something to call up WEEI sports talk radio to bitch about. And thanks to Josh Bard’s bungling of Tim Wakefield’s knuckleball, Wily Mo Pena’s adventures in right field, and Curt Schilling’s immense pitch counts, the faithful have had plenty of vulnerable parties to attack.
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Don't Waste Papelbon Waiting For The Ninth
Jon Papelbon could be a one man closer by committee. If there is a bases loaded jam in the 7th, Papelbon can handle pitching in that spot. If you've got a one run lead in the 9th, bring the kid in. Put him in the pressure spot. His minor league batting average against got progressively smaller as people got on base.
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Welcoming Wily Mo With No Mo Arroyo
What can you get for a league average pitcher these days? Apparently a young kid with a ton of tools that resembles an NFL linebacker more than a baseball player. At least that's what Theo got when he traded Bronson Arroyo to the Cincinnati Red for OF Wily Mo Pena. Consider this another coup for Theo (welcome back buddy).
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Red Sox Need To Rebound Quickly
After having to scramble to find a general manager in the wake of Theo Epstein’s resignation, the Red Sox promptly traded away prized free-agent pick-up from a year ago in Edgar Renteria. Now, centerfielder Johnny Damon is headed to the hated Yankees and a team that were the darlings of the baseball world in 2004 are now looking for answers in an every improving American League East.
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Red Sox Winter Meetings Preview
Re-Sign Johnny Damon- Why not? Yes, Scott Boras has made it known that they want a small fortune to retain his client’s skills but I’m sure a 4 year, $40 million deal will lure JD back to Boston.
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No Condos In The Green Monster
The A's have plans for a new ballpark that would have condos built into the stadium and the idea of condos in the Green Monster is an intriguing one. In 1999, Sox owners pitched replica version of Fenway, adjacent to the standing stadium, only much larger. This plan was just a few signatures away from completion; but in retrospect, I think most fans are happy this never happened. The renovations that have taken place the past years, and the ones to come, respect the stadium in geography and history. I don’t think any fan wants to see Fenway gone.
This being said, I do enjoy myself a new and improved stadium for some other club.
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And Then There Were Two
Slammin Sammy's demise is one of the many reasons that come this Fall, the American League will be a two-team race.
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What A Difference A Week Makes
With so many trade options available, Bill Mueller to Minnesota for LHP J.C. Romero and prospect(s) marks the first of six possible improvement scenerios.
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The Red Sox Need To Bust A Move
Terry Francona has been in full “Rain Man” mode, and Theo has been working the phones/crunching the numbers with the best of them. Our middle infield just got a nice boost with Tony Graffanino, and as long as Alex Cora sticks to keeping Manny and Ortiz cool with a peacock feather fan, things look productive enough.
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What Have You Done For Me Lately?
The Red Sox now face the team with the best record in baseball, the Chicago White Sox, what Damon and the crew do here will most likely influence what mid-season moves the Red Sox make.
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Red Sox Recipe for a Repeat
Phase one in the Red Sox bid for another title - trade Bill Bulluer to Minnesota for LHP J.C. Romero.
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Pedro Who?
If Clement is going to continue to make Red Sox Nation forget above a certain pitcher that signed with the New York Mets in the off-season, he will need to perform on the big stage in Yankee Stadium.
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Captain Clutch
When the Boston Red Sox finalized the contract with catcher Jason Varitek last December, they knew exactly the type of player that they were keeping in the fold for the next four years. Just a little over one month into the season, the investment is paying immediate dividends.
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