Predictions: Red Sox 2011

Alright, I know I disappeared (again). There has been so much going on lately that I’ve been unable to blog. As much as I would like to, I have to take care of things first. Priorities are a b***h.

If you don’t know (why in the world wouldn’t you?), the Red Sox’ season begins THIS FRIDAY. WOOOOOOP DEEEEEE DOOOOOOO! At (long) last. They’re starting on the road against the defending A.L. champions Texas Rangers.

I’m going to throw a curveball and give some of my anticipations on what to expect (or come out of) during Boston’s 2011 season.

10 (ANTICIPATING) Thoughts

1)       

This is what I thought the lineup would look like. But, this was months ago when the Red Sox acquired Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford.

This is probably more likely of what their projected lineup is going to be. I think you could switch Crawford/Gonzalez around.

2)     In a perfect world, I expect AT LEAST 4/5 of the starting pitchers to win 15 games or more.

Jon Lester has been pretty consistent the past three years with 16/15/19 wins. He’s a strikeout machine. It’s a lock that he should continue that success.

Hopefully, John Lackey rebounds from last year and show that his first year in the A.L. East was an adjustment. If he can duplicate his success in 2007 where he had 19 wins, the Red Sox should be sitting high.

Clay Buchholz showed everyone last year the kind of potential and promise they were expecting of him. All he needed was a chance and a full season under his belt and look what happened. 17-7 with a 2.33 ERA.

Josh Beckett is probably the biggest story (as far as pitchers go) within the rotation. Everyone projects him as a dominating pitcher and an “ace.” Putting him as the fourth starter will hopefully motivate him into pitching well and proving that he deserves to be higher within the rotation. Getting beaned in the head and inconsistent pitching during Spring Training isn’t helping him going into the season. Hopefully that changes.

And finally, we have Daisuke Matsuzaka. He’s the wildcard in all this. If he can even remotely duplicate his 2008 season where he somehow went 18-3 (despite always loading the bases and somehow getting away with no runs), then this will fully round the rotation.

Realistically, I think only 3/5 will get it done (Lester, Buchholz, and Beckett). I hope I’m wrong, though.

3)     Over or under? Adrian Gonzalez will finish the season with a .300 AVG/ 38 HR/ 132 RBI. Carl Crawford will have 61 stolen bases (one more than his ’09 season where he had 60).

I will dominate

4)     Jed Lowrie will have better statistics over Marco Scutaro despite being on the BENCH.

5)     Hideki Okajima will find a way back into the team. They need some lefty relievers.

6)     Red Sox WILL win 100 games this year and the A.L. East title.

7)     Kevin Youkilis will be a serious contender to win the A.L. MVP award.

8)     Tim Wakefield will find a way back into the rotation. He always does. Can’t put that 68 MPH fastball in the dumps!

9)     This will be Daniel Bard’s year to shine to show he’s the future closer which means bye bye Jonathan Papelbon.

10)   ’04 + ’07 = ’11 World Series Champs. Destiny? I think so. But you, you already KNOW that!






LET THE FUN BEGIN!