The equipment van left today for the Red Sox training facility in Fort Myers, Florida. As of this moment that means in 4 days 13 hours and 23 minutes, pitchers and catchers will report for spring training.
It is an annual event that a Red Sox fan in New England looks forward to with great anticipation. In this case, like many in years gone by, it means that the 20 inches of snow that we got yesterday is just a brief set back to what we know is the annual return of good weather and baseball.
It is a welcome break from cabin fever, snow shoveling and freezing one's behind off getting from the car to some shelter somewhere. It is also a welcome mental respite in the middle of the winter doldrums that stretch from the end of Christmas until March 31st. It is this period of time that makes me wonder why I live here. Since I have never lived anywhere else I always arrive at the conclusion that I don't know any better.
Why dwell on the weather when we can think baseball!. The olde town team has reloaded for the upcoming assault on the evil empire and hopefully a return to the World Series. It has been an off season full of surprises beginning with Theo's rather strange departure and return. In between the club actually seems to have improved.
Gone is Billy Mueller at third replaced by gold glover Mike Lowell. Lowell is coming off a dismal year at the plate but if he returns to anywhere near his norm the club will have added defense and power at the hot corner.
Shortstop is bound to improve defensively with the subtraction of Edgar Renteria and the addition of Alex Gonzalez. John Olerude has retired at first and Kevin Millar has moved to the Orioles but the tandem of J.T. Snow and Kevin Youkilis will provide an upgrade in defense and offensive production over last year's numbers.
Second base looks solid with the addition of an ideal number 2 hitter at second base in Mark Loretta with both Alex Cora and possibly Dustin Pedroia as back ups. Tony Graffanino is also in the mix as an infield back up.
Jason Varitek is the catcher, that is all that needs to be said on that subject.
The outfield has had quite a change with Johnny Damon headed off to the empire for the big money. Johnny earned his money here and his chance to cash in so I hold no animosity in his leaving. The kind of money the Yankees were willing to pay would simply have been foolish money for the Sox. Steinbrenner can afford to waste that kind of dough but the Sox can't and shouldn't. CoCo Crisp is quite a bit younger than Damon and has almost identical numbers in average and on base percentage and actually surpasses him in power numbers. He will be an ideal fit in Boston and has more potential upside than Damon at the moment.
What ever happens with Damon he will be forever etched in Sox lore for his grand slam against the Yanks in the stadium. I can still remember the looks on the fans when that ball landed in the right field stands. It was a forlorn look, a realization that the Yanks were about to complete the greatest choke in baseball history. How delicious!!
The rest of the outfield looks like Trot Nixon and Manny Ramirez. Manny's numbers will be Manny like and Nixon is in a contract year. In between all of these good hitters will be the DH, Big Papi, David Ortiz. David is maturing and still has his biggest production ahead of him. I look for a monster year from him.
In all likelihood this team will lead the majors in run production but like very other year in major league baseball it will be the pitching that wins. The Sox have an abundance of pitching this year. The starters look like Schilling, Beckett, Papelbon, Clement and Wakefield. Should any of them falter there is additional help on the bench with Bronson Arroyo and David Wells if he hasn't been dealt by then.
The real question mark is in the bull pen where it has yet to be determined if Keith Foulke is fully healthy after an injury plagued year last year. Should the sSx come up with a reliable closer look for them to be facing off against the world champion Chicago White Sox in the American League finals.
