Every basball fan knows the moves the Boston Red Sox made this off season. The club signed one of the most dynamic players in baseball in Carl Crawford and traded for one of baseball's elite power hitters in Adrian Gonzalez, but what is still a question mark is the health of Josh Beckett and the consistency of John Lackey and Daisuke Matsuzaka at the back end of the Sox rotation.
The Red Sox will score runs. There is no question about it. They were second in the league last year in runs scored without Ellsbury, Pedroia, Youkilis for a majority of the year. Now add Adrian Gonzalez and Crawford to the mix, are you serious? The Sox also bolstered their inefficient bullpen by signing many new arms that look to contribute in 2011, but we need Beckett, Lackey, and Matsuzaka to step up to their 2007 forms. Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz were dominant last year. Now we need these three guys to earn their money and pitch like the 20 game winners that they are. The Red Sox finished 17th in the league last year in starters E.R.A. which is unacceptable when you had two Cy Yound award candidates in the front of your rotation. Beckett's 5.78 E.R.A. was the highest of his career. One can blame the injuries he suffered, but we need this guy back to his old form as well as Lackey and Daisuke. It is the only way this team can ride the ship because they may have the most feared lineup in baseball, but if the Sox give those runs back, it could be a long season for the Nation.
Look for these guys to adjust, work hard, and compete in the 2011 season. The Texas natives (Lackey & Beckett) are two of the most competitive pitchers in baseball. I know they will bounce back along with Daisuke who not long ago finished with a 19-3 regular season record.
Pray for the American League to win the All-Star game because the Sox are going to the Ship' (what what), they going to the Ship'!
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