When you're in the Top 5 in team salary in Major League Baseball, the questions surrounding your team entering the season are often of lesser significance than most. Such is the case with the Boston Red Sox, one of the richest and most dominating clubs in the sport. The impressive thing about the Sox, though, is that it truly is a very well-run organization that makes smart decision both off and on the field. With that said, though, no team is without question marks. Let's have a look at the biggest mysteries surrounding the Sox as the club prepares to enter the 2009 season in search of another World Series title.
Will Jed Lowrie retain the starting shortstop job when Julio Lugo comes off the disabled list?
The incumbent shortstop was making things interesting early on in spring training by hitting more than .400, but the 24-year-old Lowrie will now take the position everyday until Lugo returns from minor knee surgery. He is aiming for a mid-April return, although that may be wishful thinking (and the Sox may be in no rush to get him back). Last season, Lugo hit .268/.355/.330 with just one home run and 12 stolen bases (261 at-bats). Lowrie, on the other hand, hit .258/.339/.400 with two homers in his first taste of MLB baseball (260 at-bats). Neither player is a great defensive shortstop. Once the veteran returns, he will likely be given the opportunity - at least early on - to prove that he should be playing everyday, with Lowrie going back to the super utility role, which will likely be held by Nick Green on opening day.
What will be Justin Masterson's role in 2009... and just how good can he be?
The starting rotation is expected to feature: Josh Beckett, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Jon Lester, Tim Wakefield, and Brad Penny. That leaves Masterson out in the cold, or more specifically in the bullpen. People don't really understand - yet - just how good Masterson is... and the move to bullpen will probably help make him even better. The right-hander doesn't strike out a ton of guys (6.93 K/9 in 88.1 IP in 2008) but his sinking fastball has been likened to a bowling ball. Opposing batters lifted balls-in-play into the air against Masterson just 27.3% of the time last year (Halladay was 26.9% with a 7.54 K/9). In the bullpen, Masterson will be able to focus on throwing that sinking fastball while also mixing in his solid slider. By the end of the year... he'll be the eighth inning guy.
Can Jacoby Ellsbury build on the second half of his 2008 season?
With Dustin Pedroia having taken his game to the next level (and stratosphere), it is now Ellsbury's turn. He hit .272/.343/.378 with 35 stolen bases in the first half of the 2008 season and then .290/.325/.416 with 15 steals in the second portion. It's not a huge difference, but the outfielder got on base and used his speed pre-All-Star break and then hit for a better average and with more power in the latter half of the season. Ellsbury had a really nice last month: .340/.367/.521. He needs to put it all together now: .285/.340/.400 with 60 steals would be nice (and reasonable). So far this spring, he's hitting just .255 with one steal.
Will Jed Lowrie retain the starting shortstop job when Julio Lugo comes off the disabled list?
The incumbent shortstop was making things interesting early on in spring training by hitting more than .400, but the 24-year-old Lowrie will now take the position everyday until Lugo returns from minor knee surgery. He is aiming for a mid-April return, although that may be wishful thinking (and the Sox may be in no rush to get him back). Last season, Lugo hit .268/.355/.330 with just one home run and 12 stolen bases (261 at-bats). Lowrie, on the other hand, hit .258/.339/.400 with two homers in his first taste of MLB baseball (260 at-bats). Neither player is a great defensive shortstop. Once the veteran returns, he will likely be given the opportunity - at least early on - to prove that he should be playing everyday, with Lowrie going back to the super utility role, which will likely be held by Nick Green on opening day.
What will be Justin Masterson's role in 2009... and just how good can he be?
The starting rotation is expected to feature: Josh Beckett, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Jon Lester, Tim Wakefield, and Brad Penny. That leaves Masterson out in the cold, or more specifically in the bullpen. People don't really understand - yet - just how good Masterson is... and the move to bullpen will probably help make him even better. The right-hander doesn't strike out a ton of guys (6.93 K/9 in 88.1 IP in 2008) but his sinking fastball has been likened to a bowling ball. Opposing batters lifted balls-in-play into the air against Masterson just 27.3% of the time last year (Halladay was 26.9% with a 7.54 K/9). In the bullpen, Masterson will be able to focus on throwing that sinking fastball while also mixing in his solid slider. By the end of the year... he'll be the eighth inning guy.
Can Jacoby Ellsbury build on the second half of his 2008 season?
With Dustin Pedroia having taken his game to the next level (and stratosphere), it is now Ellsbury's turn. He hit .272/.343/.378 with 35 stolen bases in the first half of the 2008 season and then .290/.325/.416 with 15 steals in the second portion. It's not a huge difference, but the outfielder got on base and used his speed pre-All-Star break and then hit for a better average and with more power in the latter half of the season. Ellsbury had a really nice last month: .340/.367/.521. He needs to put it all together now: .285/.340/.400 with 60 steals would be nice (and reasonable). So far this spring, he's hitting just .255 with one steal.
View Full Article
0 comments:
Post a Comment