Kuzul

Spring is almost here. Okay, not really. A good portion of the country is currently covered in snow. But it is just around the corner. And with spring comes the baseball fan’s favorite thing to hear after a long, cold, baseball-less winter: Pitchers and Catchers report.

The truck full of equipment pulled out of Boston on its way to Florida yesterday. It reads, “First Stop Fort Myers, Next Stop The Series.” With those expectations in mind, let’s look at the 2011 team’s chances of reaching that goal.

We’ll go by position numbers, which means we start with No. 1 at pitcher and add a “10” for the DH position.

1. Pitcher
   • Here’s how the rotation should look like come Opening Day:
     1. Jon Lester (19-9, 3.25 ERA, 225 Ks)
        • By far the Red Sox most consistent starter, he pitched 208 innings in 32 games in 2010, and was a legitimate candidate for the Cy Young. Barring injury, this success should continue and he is the absolute ace of this staff.
        • 2011 prediction: 23-6, 2.75 ERA, 250 Ks and the AL Cy Young 

        

     2. Clay Buchholz (17-7, 2.33 ERA, 120 Ks)
        • Last season he continued the pattern of improvement he’s shown since he started getting serious playing time in the majors, look for that trend to continue in 2011.
        • 2011 prediction: 19-7, 2.33 ERA, 220 Ks
     3. Josh Beckett (6-6, 5.78 ERA, 116 Ks)
        • Beckett had a terrible year last year. He spent a good period of time on the DL and had an ERA over five for the second time in his career. Good news for Red Sox fans, the first time was in 2006 and Beckett turned in a 2007 that was arguably his best season ever.
        • 2011 Prediction: 19-8, 3.50 ERA, 215 Ks
     4. John Lackey (14-11, 4.40 ERA, 156 Ks)
        • I’m going to chalk last season’s performance up to being in a hyper-competitive division for the first time in his career. He’s always hovered around 14 wins but the last time he lost 11 games, he went 19-9 with a 3.01 ERA the next season. If he manages another 14 wins next season and cuts the losses down a little, he’ll be the perfect fourth starter for the Red Sox.  
        • 2011 prediction: 16-7, 3.45 ERA, 240 Ks
     5. Daisuke Matsuzaka (9-6, 4.69 ERA, 133 Ks)
        • Dice-K really hasn’t had a good season since 2008 when he went 18-3 with a 2.90 ERA. Every other year he’s been over four with his ERA. Good news is he’s the fifth starter, so the team isn’t leaning on him to win 15+ games this season. He has won an average of 44 percent of his games since joining the Red Sox, and if he can preform just above average and win half his games, no one would complain.
        • 2011 Prediction: 11-11, 4.40 ERA, 145 Ks
     6. Bullpen:
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       • Last season the bullpen was terrible. They finished the season with a 4.24 ERA, and a record of 19-23. Papelbon had an okay year, but not his normal dominance, and the core of relievers was disappointing in general. Look for veterans like Okajima, Ramon Ramirez to bounce back from dismal seasons, Felix Doubront and Daniel Bard to continue to grow, and the additions of Bobby Jenks and Dan Wheeler will help the ‘pen rebound.
       • 2011 Prediction: Papelbon returns to his more dominant form (though his 2010 season wasn’t as dismal as some of the other relievers) and the ‘pen will once again be serviceable (AKA, above .500)
2. Catcher
   • This year should be Jarrod Saltalamacchia’s year to shine. If he can stay healthy and get his bat going, he’ll be an excellent offensive catcher and under the tutelage of Jason Varitek, should be a whiz at handling the pitching staff. And if he doesn’t, Jason Varitek is more than just your average back-up catcher. I think Salty will really start to come into his own and his batting average will go above the Mendoza line.
   • Jason Varitek will start the season as the back-up catcher, but still the Captain. Don’t discount how important this is especially since there’s a new pitching coach this year. He may only bat .230 and he may not be able to throw anyone out at second, but he’s still important. Since Terry Francona took over the team in 2004, they have only missed the playoffs twice: 2006 and 2010. Both years Varitek spent time on the DL. And he’s caught a league record 4 no-hitters. Dice-K’s almost no-hitter last year against the Phillies? Victor Martinez played first base and Jason Varitek was behind the plate. That is not a coincidence.
3. First
   • Adrian Gonzalez is the prize the Red Sox have been trying to get for years. They had to give up a few prospects to get him, but the farm is deep, and the Red Sox are hoping their initial investment will pay off huge. And it should. Adrian Gonzales has been a fantastic hitter, averaging 32 homers and 100 RBIs since joining the Padres in 2006. Imagine what this guy could do in Fenway park, which has ranked 7th since 2006 in runs per game as opposed to Petco Park, which ranked 29th in the same period.
   • And if Adrian gets a day off, it’s not a big deal to shift Kevin Youkilis back over to first and stick Jed Lowrie at third.
   • 2011 Prediction: Adrian will be Going-Going-Gonzo! Look for an increase in home runs and RBIs around May/June. It will take him a few weeks to really get adjusted to playing in the AL East. Projected stats: 40 HR, 135 RBI, .348 batting average.
4. Second
   • Second base was an issue in 2010 because Dustin Pedroia was hurt. He’s the little spark plug of the Red Sox, the angry, hyper-competitive, boastful little team leader. He gives 100 percent every game, no matter what. And as long as he can bounce back from foot surgery in 2011, there’s no reason to think he’ll be anything other than the person he was before a bizarre foul ball broke his foot. He’s going to do anything he can to help his team win. Remember last year, him taking grounders on his knees? I think Pedroia is in for a great season. And if he starts off slow, Jed Lowrie can always back him up.
   • 2011 Prediction: another All-Star season, starting off slow but finishing with .320 batting average, 20 HR, 65 RBIs and plenty of runs scored.
5. Third
   • Kevin Youkilis left the Red Sox in August with a bizarre hand injury. He was healed by October, but the Sox were done by then, so I don’t think his injury is going to play a big part in 2011. I think we are really going to see Youkilis’ power come out in 2011. And we already know he’s fantastic at third, and if he needs a day off, Jed Lowrie can step in (do we see a running theme here? Lowrie is going to be busy even if he’s not starting).
   • 2011 Prediction: 30 HR, .308 batting average, and 95 RBI.
6. Short
   • Shortstop is the only position this season where there’s really any controversy. Marco Scutaro is coming into camp as the Red Sox shortstop and barring injuries or a truly dismal Spring Training, he should remain there. But he’s got Jed Lowrie riding his tail, because if he can’t do it, Jed can, and then Scutaro will be the back-up for when any of the rest of the infield needs a day off. Not a bad problem to have, really.
   • 2011 Prediction: Marco Scutaro, recovered from the nagging injuries of 2010, will hit .285 with 15 homers and 60 RBIs.
7. Left
   • 2011 starts with another new face in left field, and it’s a much safer place now that Adrian Beltre isn’t at third to break any more left fielder’s ribs. Carl Crawford is certainly an upgrade from the Hermida-Nava-Reddick-whoever-is-healthy 2010 version of left field. Between him in left and Jacoby Ellsbury in center, the Red Sox might get to 100 stolen bases in 2011, isn’t that a wild idea? Plus we don’t have to worry about trying to pick him off, a huge relief for the catchers. Crawford will also enjoy being supported by the Fenway Faithful instead of booed, and join the legendary ranks of Red Sox left fielders. It’s not everyday you get to stand in the same spot as Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski, and Jim Rice, and play their same position.
   • 2011 Prediction: 15 HR, 90 RBI, 55 stolen bases, and hits .302.
8. Center
   • Jacoby Ellsbury returns to the field after a very disappointing 2010 season where he played only 18 games. His backup was also hurt and played in only 48 games. Hopefully both Jacoby Ellsbury and backup outfielder Mike Cameron will be back 100 percent in 2011. If they are, Ellsbury should continue to develop as a hitter, maybe even hit for power, and Cameron will continue to be the steady, quality backup the Red Sox need for the long season. Ellsbury is young so rebounding from his rib injury shouldn’t be a problem, and he should be back to stealing bases in April.
   • 2011 Prediction: hits .307 with 15 HR and 50 RBI with 75 stolen bases
9. Right
   • Old Faithful J.D. Drew maintains his spot in right field. J.D. is always good for a few bouts of vertigo, a hammy, and a back injury during the season but he is also one of the best right fielders fielding percentage wise in the league and when he gets hot his bat is a beast. This might also be his last season, and I think Drew is one of those guys who will want to go out with a ring and a bang. And there’s a slew of minor league guys and Mike Cameron to take care of the times Drew is hurt or needs rest.
   • 2011 prediction: .250-.285 (depending on how many hot streaks he has and how long they last), 27 HR, 65 RBI. Nice, solid season.
10. DH
    • When the Red Sox signed Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford, Big Papi was celebrating. For the last two years the offense has been on his shoulders, and when he struggled in April it was all anyone seemed to talk about. Now the talk will be on the new players, especially since Papi will likely be batting 5th or 6th, all the pressure will be off. I love Papi and I think he has another two or three decent years left in him and without the pressure his bat should be fierce.
    • 2011 Prediction: Papi will hit .289 with 35 HR and 116 RBI.

I look for the 2011 batting order to shape out like this:

Ellsbury, Pedroia, Crawford, Gonzalez, Youkilis, Ortiz, Drew, Saltalamacchia, Scutaro.

As for the Red Sox lofty World Series goals? They are extremely viable. Two of the scarier pitchers in baseball, Cliff Lee and Doc Halladay, are with the Phillies in the National League.

Yankees ace C.C. Sabathia is recovering from knee surgery and lost 30 pounds over the offseason, that will certainly help his knees but changing your body that much is going to affect your pitching. Pettitte retired, and their rotation after Sabathia isn’t exactly frightening. Plus, the Yankees are getting a little older.

They are still a good lineup but age will eventually start to catch up with them. New York will definitely be competition, but if the Boston lineup holds up and the pitching staff rebounds a little, the Red Sox can take them.

The Rays are another matter. They are reloading this year, dumping most of their expensive players in trades or with free-agency, but it would be foolish to overlook them. Joe Madden has a talent for getting quite a bit out of young, inexperienced players. I look for the Rays, Jays and Orioles to put up more of a fight this year than most people think.

I am superstitious and don’t like to make predictions of the World Series in February, so I’m just going to end by saying the Red Sox have a good chance of getting there and winning. They have the talent, the rotation, and Epstein has plugged some of the holes in the bullpen to keep them from losing games late. It’s certainly not a pipe dream, and with a little bit of luck, it could be a reality.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Over the next two weeks, I’ll examine the relative strengths and weaknesses of the teams in the AL East, on a position-by-position basis.

The players at each position will be ranked in relation to their peers within the division, with each team being assigned points based on where their player ranks in comparison to the other players.

Today, the series continues with a look at the first basemen.

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The MLB off-season can set up a player for success or disaster. Some teams made a big splash, while others are still looking for a solution. Each team has the potential of making 2011 a season to remember, but which players are looking to take the fantasy scene by storm?

Postion changes or calling a new town home can be just the spark a player needed to become an elite fantasy option. Understanding exactly which off-season moves impacted which players is the key to a successful 2011 fantasy baseball campaign.

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If anybody has got it made in the game of baseball today, it’s Albert Pujols.  He is currently the hot topic of debate in the newspapers, on websites, on television, and even in conversation.  He’s currently entering the final year of his current contra – as if you all didn’t already know that – and he’s contemplating on taking his unmatched skill elsewhere.

Pujols has declared that he will not negotiate a contract extension with the Cardinals after the onset of Spring Training, and has said that he will use his no-trade clause to veto any potential trades that may be executed midseason.

Even if the Cardinals don’t entice Pujols with what he feels is a respectable offer prior to the season, they are far from out of the hunt.  Frequent big money spenders like the Yankees and Red Sox are currently not in the market for a heavy hitting first basemen, as they have Mark Teixeira and Adrian Gonzalez, respectively.

Although Gonzalez is not currently under contract for more than this 2011 season, it is assumed around the league that the Sox will retain him for most of the near future.

The Cardinals would most likely have to compete with the Cubs (Carlos Pena is only under contract for this season), Blue Jays (you never know with Alex Anthopolous), Dodgers (if they part with James Loney), and Angels (if Kendry Morales shifts to the DH position). 

Pure speculation on my part, as other teams will surely be in the mix.  From the teams mentioned above, I see the Angels with the most legitimate shot at Pujols, but again, pure speculation.

If Pujols was smart, though, he’d stay right where he is in St. Louis. 

He has that city in the palm of his hand.  Albert Pujols is a baseball god to Cardinals fans, fans who are very educated about their past baseball heroes.  If he continues his career in St. Louis, he could realistically lead the franchise in just about every career offensive category.

That’s saying something.  There have been tons of great players in Cardinals history, and to be considered amongst them is a true honor.

Even though they may be expecting somewhat of a home town discount, the Cardinals will stay pay Pujols a large chunk of change.  Although he’s never had a reason to be hated, accepting a smaller contract to play for his current team would only boost his popularity.

Baseball needs another one-team superstar, and being one of them would enhance his popularity even more.  Players today just don’t stay with one team anymore, as they are always interested in “testing the market.”  Money speaks in today’s game and hopefully Pujols chooses not to listen.

As good as Pujols is, and he’s really good, there is always an adjustment period when playing for a new club.  Optimistically, he’d love for those new team jitters to get played out in Spring Training, but you never know what could happen. 

Realistically, it won’t lead to that much of a drop in his production because, well, he’s Albert Pujols, but fans love to see newly acquired players produce.  If he stumbles out of the gate, he may be in for one heck of a tenure with his new team.

Do I want Pujols to stay? Yes, I most certainly do.

Do I think he will?  It’s very tough to gauge it at this point.

He seems very serious at this point, and a serious player is a dangerous player.  Look out for Albert this season, as he’s motivated and playing for that next contract.

As if pitchers needed to worry any more about him.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Albert Pujols is the best player in the game of baseball, so it’s no surprise he headlines the list of first basemen in 2011.

But, first base is such a deep position that, even in a 12-team league, if you aren’t getting strong production from that slot, there’s something wrong with you.

I mean, Justin Morneau and Billy Butler barely made the top 10 and Kendry Morales didn’t make the cut at all.

Yet, if you can get any of those three guys, you’ll be in good shape for your season.

Of course, if you can get Pujols, by all means, do it! But there won’t be much of a drop off with any of the other nine guys on this list.

Here are the top 10 first basemen for the 2011 fantasy baseball season.

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Can you feel that?  Is that the feeling of democracy?  Is that freedom?  No, it’s spring training. As the calendar turns to February and the football season climaxes finally, all eyes turn to Arizona and Florida, anticipating baseball’s long-awaited return.

Think, for just a beautiful second, and you can see it all unfolding—the sprinklers are pattering across the outfield, the Beemers are pulling into the parking lot, the first mitts are popping in poofs of dust.  Lanky pitchers with too-high jersey numbers are loping along the warning track and overweight coaches are stretching into breathable mesh.  The L-screen is being pulled out from the storage shed and somebody spills a bucket of balls onto the infield for the first time.

After months of looking back on the Giants’ improbable Series win, it’s finally time to thaw out from the winter doldrums and spin it forward, to the essential things to watch in spring training 2011…

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As Spring Training nears closer, baseball fever is beginning to run rampant. With only one week left in the NFL season, it’s only a matter of time before people start looking south to Florida for hints at what’s to come in the new season.

Over the next couple of months, I’ll be breaking down a division each week before making my final predictions for how the season is going to turn out.

First up, the loaded AL East.

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The 2011 Boston Red Sox are begging for us to examine who will be the better offseason addition—Carl Crawford or Adrian Gonzalez? Which player will have a bigger impact in the Fens?

With the acquisitions of Gonzalez and Crawford the Boston Red Sox added quite a bit of talent to their starting squad.

Adrian Beltre and Mike Cameron will no longer be starting and instead are replaced by Kevin Youkilis and Jacoby Ellsbury. Oddly enough both Youk and Ells will be moving back to the positions where they originally started, third base and center field respectively.

Youkilis and Ellsbury are an upgrade over Beltre and Cameron, two guys who were brought in as short-term fillers and while Cameron is no longer starting it is good to have him as added depth in an outfield that is certainly not immune to injury.

The shift in positions leaves first base and left field to be patrolled by Gonzalez and Crawford.

I guess what I am trying to say is that the Red Sox are now fielding the starters that were meant to be starting. One exception to this statement would be Marco Scutaro, however Jed Lowrie might very well take over starting duties at shortstop and if so the Fenway faithful will field nine with no temporary replacement plug-ins.

While both acquisitions are huge for Boston, Adrian Gonzalez was the bigger move and here are a few reasons why.

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With football season coming to a close, many sports fans now turn their attention to the sunny beacon of hope that is spring training.

Even at this early stage of the season, it is always fun to pick who will win the major awards and which teams will be playing in October, but the following goes one further, not only picking those things, but also making some more player-specific predictions for all 30 teams.

So here are my 50 bold predictions for the 2011 season, because when you predict 50 things, you’re bound to be correct on at least a few of them, right?

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The 2010 season for the Boston Red Sox was riddled with injuries and inconsistency. The club struggled to an 89-73 record and a third place finish in the competitive American League East. 

The Sox front office looked to revamp their rosters, and create a buzz around Boston, with an offseason spending spree. With the additions of Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford the Red Sox will enter 2011 with the highest payroll in all of Major League Baseball.

It is only natural that a payroll of that magnitude comes with serious expectations. By many peoples count the Sox are the pre-season favorite to with the American League pennant. But pennants aren’t won on paper and they certainly arent won in the off-season.

If the Red Sox expect to make a run at a World Series in 2011 then they will need a lot of production and even more luck. However, if they are able to mesh everything together then they could stand to be the most dangerous team in the entire league.

This list is not to say these players are the best players on the Red Sox. Rather it is a realization that if the Sox are to win the World Series then these players are going to have to play a prominent role.

Without further delay here are the ten most important Boston Red Sox for the 2011 World Championship run.

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