Every year, the Boston Red Sox find one thing in the way of doing exactly what they want to do. The New York Yankees always seem to be a huge thorn in the side of the Red Sox. With the off-season additions of a few key players, Boston hopes that it can overcome anything that they Yankees bring this season. The Bo Sox have a new first basemen in Adrian Gonzalez, a nice off-season acquisition from the San Diego Padres that takes any pressure off of David Ortiz to play first base, so that Ortiz can focus on being the team's DH. Left-fielder Carl Crawford and Dan Wheeler were both free agents, signed with Boston after their 2010 contracts were up in Tampa Bay. The Red Sox also got some more help in the bullpen by reeling Bobby Jenks in from his duties as Closer for the Chicago White Sox.
New Signings:
1B Adrian Gonzalez (San Diego Padres)
LF Carl Crawford (Tampa Bay Rays)
RHP Dan Wheeler (Tampa Bay Rays)
RHP Bobby Jenks (Chicago White Sox)
With new first baseman Adrian Gonzalez anchoring his corner, that gives Kevin Youkilis a chance to move over to third base where he also has a lot of experience. SS Marco Scutaro enters his 2nd season in Boston and he'll be joined in the middle infield by second baseman Dustin Pedroia, who is coming off foot surgery in the 2010 season that limited him to just 75 games.
The outfield looks to be pretty solid for the Red Sox. They brought in LF Carl Crawford from Tampa Bay to play along with CF Jacoby Ellsbury and RF J.D. Drew and they will patrol the outfield walls of Fenway Park, as well as backup Mike Cameron.
The Red Sox starting rotation looks to be stacked with talent like it normally is.
1- LHP Jon Lester
2- RHP Josh Beckett
3- RHP John Lackey
4- RHP Clay Buchholz
5- RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka
The Bullpen got some help in the off-season by signing a couple veterans that are going to be able to take a little bit of the load off of set-up man Hideki Okajima and Closer Jonathan Papelbon. RHP Dan Wheeler (Tampa Bay) and RHP Bobby Jenks (White Sox) are two valuable arms that Boston needs. Let's not forget that Boston loves using the services of right-handed knuckleballer Tim Wakefield to stymie American League hitters. RHP Daniel Bard and LHP Felix Doubrant will also be a couple of go-to guys in the Red Sox pen.
Manager Terry Francona enters his 11th season as a Major League skipper. From 1997-2000 he was at the help of the Philadelphia Phillies, where he compiled a 285-363 record. He has been in Boston since 2001 to the present time. Francona has a 654-481 record with the Red Sox, including the 2004 and 2007 World Series Championships.
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