Red Sox Continued

Looking at the roster there are some changes that will be made.

At catcher the Red Sox this year had Jarrod Saltamachia and Jason Varitek. Late in the year Ryan Lavernaway caught several games and showed promise. His numbers in the minors were strong indicating potential power. Late in the season Lavernaway swatted two homeruns in a critical game for the Red Sox. It seems likely that Varitek will not return though this will be a potential problem for pitchers like Josh Beckett who have grown reliant on him.

Adrian Gonzales had a great season. While only hitting 27 homeruns, his average was strong and an OBP of over 400. Still after last nights game Gonzales gave some odd answers blaming, at least partially, the Red Sox demise on ESPN Sunday night games and God not having it in his plan for the Sox to make the playoffs. Myself personally I do not think God determines baseball victors for the most part. Gonzales played wonderfully and he is new to major market baseball so we can give him a pass.

Dustin Pedroia is a star and with twenty five players like him you would excel.

At shortstop Marco Scutaro had a good year batting almost .300 with a strong OBP. Still his range is limited and the Sox have a strong desire to see Julio Igliseas who has a wonder glove become thier shortstop. He has, however, struggled to hit on a consistent level. Still with the Red Sox having an offense as strong as theirs one can think that even batting.250 he could be an asset if his fielding is as advertised. The Sox also have Jed Lowrie who has shown a good bat, especially from the right side but the question of his durability is a valid one. Still it seems likely that Scutaro will not return.

Kevin Youkilis had a rough season. He has been injury prone with foot, hit and now hip injuries. Third base was hard on him and he was clearly not the fielder he used to be. One wonders if perhaps he could move to left field. The Sox do have a great prospect on the way by the name of Will Middlebrooks. If Youk had not been hurt at the end of the season the chance of him being traded was potentially high but now it appears they will have to hold him.

Ellsbury was fantastic and Crawford cannot be this bad again but it is clear that the outfield is a problem. J D Drew will be gone. Could Crawford be traded. One wonders.

Will David Ortiz be back. My gut says yes as offense is at a premium.

Pitching should have been a strong suit. Clay Bucholz should return from his injury but who knows. Dice K is gone, Wake is insurance. Suddenly Lester looks like his mental toughness could be questioned and Josh Beckett will always be a number 2 at best. He who cannot be named John Lackey has to be better but that does not mean he will be good.

Based on the fact that many relievers, especially closers, are availalble it seems that Papelbon might be brought back, if nothing else he is a standup player who does not shirk responsibility. Bard needs a third pitch. It is a symbol of how hard this game is that throwing 98 miles an hour is not enough to bring success.

The Sox have some limitations due to bad contracts but this team needs a shakeup with a few more hard nosed players. Who those will be and who will be running the team we will have to wait and see.