Time Out for Sports Talk: Getting Ready For Baseball Season
Todd: Welcome back, loyal reader! Now that spring is here, it's time to look ahead to the Red Sox!
2015 RED SOX SEASON PREVIEW
Todd: I’ve never been a big fan of roller coasters, so I hope the crazy ride the Sox have taken us on the last three years starts to level off. From last to the ultimate first and back to last again, what can we honestly expect from John Farrell’s squad in 2015?
Unlike my football prognostications, my success rate has not been so great on the baseball diamond. Two years ago I thought the Sox would win 85 games and they wound up winning 97 and a championship. Last year I predicted a 91-71 record, which would have been pure prescience on my part if I had listed the losses first, akin to reading calendar dates or soccer scores in the UK.
Coming off a season where too much youth was integrated into the starting nine, the offense struggled. Hopefully the growing pains experienced by Xander Bogaerts in his first full major league season will be reduced this year knowing that he is the starting shortstop and will be hitting lower in the batting order. Between Bogaerts and Mookie Betts (who’s been tearing it up this spring), the Sox have a pair of dynamic 22-year-olds that should only get better if both fans and Sox management show some patience.
This year’s Sox should have more punch in their lineup with the addition of veterans Pablo Sandoval and old friend Hanley Ramirez. Biggest question here is whether Hanley can adjust to left field and whether he can stay healthy. Given his willingness to return to the organization that drafted him and to switch positions makes me think any of the attitude issues that have dogged him throughout his career are now behind him.
Not sure what to expect from the starting pitching, but the whole ‘ace’ conversation is overblown. Would it be great if they had one at the top of the rotation the way they did with Jon Lester (sigh, I am going to miss him) in October 2013? Absolutely. But they have to get to October first. Barring injuries, I see no reason why the group of Buchholz, Porcello, Miley, Masterson and Kelly couldn’t win around 60-65 games.
The bullpen is a different story, as I’m not overly confident 40-year Koji Uehara will return to his lights-out closer status from two seasons ago. That potentially leaves it up to Mujica, Tazawa and Ogando to be capable of stepping up and saving some games. But don’t forget that none of us envisioned Koji saving any games for the Sox at the start of the 2013 season.
So I’m predicting 86 wins for this year’s Red Sox, which might even be enough to contend for the division title in what looks like a flawed AL East. In fact, no American League team this year appears to be a juggernaut. Ultimately someone will emerge and have a magical season. While I don’t believe the Red Sox will be that team this year, I’m hopeful the 2015 ride will be a little less crazy.
Mike: I am so ready for baseball to start!
As always, I am hopeful about the Red Sox this time of year. Sure, they just took a big blow with the news that their presumed starting catcher Christian Vazquez is going to be out for the season with Tommy John surgery, but they have time to replace him.I just feel it's better to lose him in the preseason than in the middle of the season where there are less options open.
The other thing is, I don't think the team that takes the field in Philadelphia on April 6 will be the same one that you see in June. There are always surprises, with some players not meeting expectations, and others in the minors demanding to take their place.
The fact that Rusney Castillo was sent to the minors when everyone expected him to make the big club out of spring training is a prime example of that. It looks like the Sox think he needs just a little bit of seasoning at Pawtucket before he comes up, and they have enough outfielders to fill the slots for now. But I think he's going to play a big role in Boston in the future, and that will start at some point this season.
They also have some trade chips, so don't think changes won't come there. Jackie Bradley Jr. has also been sent down to the minors due to his offensive struggles. He is a top-notch defensive outfielder, but he is having trouble hitting, and with the glut of outfielders on the team, he could be a candidate to be packaged for a starting pitcher to help round out this staff.
I do have some questions going into this season. First, is how Hanley Ramirez is going to handle the transition to left field. He's played infield for most of his career, and this is a big switch. I just hope he can bring his fielding up the level of his batting. The other concern I have is with the team's other acquisition, Pablo Sandoval. Sure, he was the best third baseman on the free agent market, but how will he do making the switch to the American League? He seemed to be focused on trash talking his former club, the San Francisco Giants this spring. I'm hoping he can actually focus on helping his new team rather than trashing the old one.
I'll say the Sox win 87 games and what the heck, they'll win the AL East. I'm not going to make any further predictions right now, I want to see how they look in the first week.
But for now, it's enough that baseball is back.
Go Sox!
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