| 25 February 2010
NESN's Evan Brunell recently asked a few questions of Red Sox bloggers from across the country. Click here to read all the answers.
Below are my answers... go ahead and tell us what you think in the comments section!
Who do you think will end up being the MVP of the Red Sox team by season’s end?
Jon Lester. This team is built on pitching and defense. I'm not sure there is a single offensive player that will win more game with his bat that Lester will with his arm. If Lester can avoid the slow start he had in 2009, he could win 20 games this year.
The rotation saga is the storyline to watch during spring training. Assuming everyone is healthy, who should go to the bullpen?
Tim Wakefield. Wake has experience as a reliever and is better equipped to be an RP or a long man than Buchholz is. This is the year Buchholz proves why Theo Epstein has refused to trade him, but he can't do that from the bullpen or Pawtucket. Assuming everyone is healthy, Wake is the obvious choice.
Where in the order should Drew, Beltre and Cameron hit?
My line up looks like this: Ellsbury, Pedroia, Martinez, Youkilis, Ortiz, Drew, Cameron, Beltre, Scutaro.
Having back-to-back lefties in the heart of the lineup isn't ideal, but I think we need to keep our best OBP guys together. This lineup also gives the Sox three "leadoff" hitters evenly distributed throughout the order. After the first inning, Drew or Scutaro could leadoff any given inning and both work the count very well.
What player currently projected to start in the minors will end up having the most impact in the majors?
Dustin Richardson. The 6' 5" lefty dominated in the minors last year fanning 96 batters in 74 innings between AA Portland and AAA Pawtucket. He could give Brian Shouse a run for the "lefty-specialist" role in Spring Training, but the Sox probably want him to develop a a little more. If he pitches like he did in 2009, he'll be called up sooner rather than later and could be a key member of the pen down the stretch - ala Daniel Bard in 2009.
Do the Red Sox have what it takes to overtake the Yankees and hold off the Rays?
The Yankee offense will be powerful, but I think their pitching staff is suspect. The Rays will be better than they were in 2009, but they will fall a game or two short in the end. Yankees win the East, Sox take the Wild Card spot.
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