Rolling The Dice

This team came in third last year. Yes, the Blue Jays did finish ahead of them. Surprised? On paper, you should be. But, if you saw this team at all last year, it shouldn't have come as much of a Wichita State type shocker. Either way, they've reloaded (as only they and the Yankees can so grandly do) and are looking to prove last year was an abherration.

Let's Be Honest:
The Sox are still a loaded baseball team. Manny and Ortiz are the best 3-4 combo in the game. Beckett, though he looked like weak batting practice for the duration of the season, and Schilling, who has shown signs of age, could easily turn things around. That right there should be enough, and we're not even talking about the additions of Mr. Matsuzaka or Mr. Drew. I'm a Yankees, fan, and I'll admit, I'm a bit nervous.

Andrew Daisuke Matsuzaka:

The 103 million dollar man better get used to living in a pressure cooker. I'm not saying he won't be great, but he damn well better be. Over 100 million for a guy that no one's really ever seen about. Hell, he exists more in fantasy columns about gyroballs and other mythological pitches than anywhere else. Barring injury, look at starts 11-20 for him. I have a strong feeling that his first 6-10 starts will be strong, since no one will have seen him. That second time around will prove how worth his yen this man is.

Papel-back:

Well, the Joel Piniero experiement finally ended. Some may say it never got started. Obviously, this is the best short term move. Any sort of competing club can't have Piniero as a closer. The man couldn't be a starting pitcher and never has proven to anyone he'd be anything other than a generally middling reliever. Add on to that the fact that Mike Timlin is now legally deceased in 35 of the 50 states, and J.C. Romero's era was near 7 last season. Sure, Papelbon's arm is going to fall off sooner rather than later. But, do we really care about these players' well being? Apparently not.

Silly Mo, Right Field Is For J.D. Drew:

Unfortunately for all of you Wily Mo Pena/Eddy Curry enthusiasts out there, the Sily Mo moments for the Red Sox will have to go on hiatus. Or, at least until J.D. Drew spends his typical stint on the DL. So, by, at the latest, Pena will be back in RF by mid June. This idea that Drew is such a good player really is mind boggling though. He's only played 145 games or more 2 times, and only topped 75 RBI's twice. Injury prone and inconsistent, seems like a guy Red Sox fans will absolutely love.

I Love It When You Call Me Big Papi:

This year, David Ortiz will play first base. Maybe the Greek God will get hurt, maybe not. I have no real reason to think he'll ever be out there, but, why not?

Bold Statement (s):

D. Matsuzaka will ultimately go by D.K. Matsuzaka, following in the line of fellow foreign pitching product B.K. Kim, whose first name should be abbreviated, if in English, with several more points of reference.

Dustin Pedroia's BA will go up, to at least a respectable .245 this season.