Submitted by TotalAccess on Fri, 01/08/2010 - 16:00
Is this really for real?
John Lackey?
Mike Cameron?
Marco Scutaro?
Adrian Beltre?
It's almost a dream for Boston Red Sox fans, and if Adrian Gonzalez was in the picture, we'd be on Cloud Nine.
Theo Epstein responded well after the New York Yankees won their 27th World Championship, and instead of nickel and diming like last offseason, he signed big-gun Lackey and bolstered the defensive unit in Cameron, Beltre, and Scutaro.
The Red Sox want to be that team in 2010.
Even though they lost their power guy in Jason Bay, it may not be the end of the world. Someone will step up to the plate. There's always that one surprise guy that no one expects, but who will he be?
That's really the only troubling question mark going into the 2010 season. Will the Sox have enough power in their lineup? Will David Ortiz still have enough left in his tank? If not, could Mike Lowell be the answer in the designated hitter role?
Epstein could still try to trade off Lowell after his thumb surgery, but in reality, shouldn't Boston keep him just in case Ortiz doesn't turn it around?
Here's a quick glance at what we might see on Opening Day, Easter Sunday, at Fenway Park against the Yankees.
Potential starting lineup
1. Jacoby Ellsbury LF
2. Dustin Pedroia 2B
3. Victor Martinez C
4. Kevin Youkilis 1B
5. David Ortiz/Mike Lowell DH
6. J.D. Drew RF
7. Adrian Beltre 3B
8. Mike Cameron CF
9. Marco Scutaro SS
Potential starting pitching rotation
1. Josh Beckett/Jon Lester
2. Jon Lester/Beckett
3. John Lackey
4. Dice-K Matsuzaka
5. Clay Buchholz/Tim Wakefield
To be honest, I'm more excited about the pitching rotation. Beckett, Lester, and Lackey in any order, may very well be the strongest 1-2-3 combo in the league.
But is this team better than the Yankees?
Yankees position breakdown:
Mark Teixeira 1B
Robinson Cano 2B
Derek Jeter SS
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Jorge Posada C
Brett Gardner LF
Curtis Granderson CF
Nick Swisher RF
Nick Johnson DH
Yankees starting rotation breakdown
1. CC Sabathia
2. AJ Burnett
3. Andy Pettitte
4. Javier Vazquez
5. Phil Hughes/Joba Chamberlain
Chamberlain may be moved back to the bullpen, which wouldn't be surprising especially with Vazquez coming back for his second stint.
It'll boil down to the bullpens and bench depth since anything can happen throughout the season.
If no other moves are made, this should be a very interesting season in the American League East. April can't get here soon enough.
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