Spring Training Preview

[General Lotso]

Spring training preview: Starting pitchers

As the Red Sox prepare for spring training, here is a look at their starting pitchers:

Expected rotation: RHP Clay Buchholz, LHP Jon Lester, RHP Ryan Dempster, LHP Felix Doubront, RHP John Lackey.

In the mix: RHP Alfredo Aceves, LHP Franklin Morales.

Prospects of note: RHP Rubby De La Rosa, RHP Allen Webster, LHP Drake Britton, RHP Steven Wright, RHP Brandon Workman, LHP Chris Hernandez, RHP Anthony Ranaudo, RHP Matt Barnes.

Organizational depth: RHP Graham Godfrey, RHP Terry Doyle.

Breakdown: Barring injury, Buchholz, Lester, Dempster, Doubront, and Lackey will likely be the rotation in some order to start the season. Dempster was signed as a free agent and Lackey missed 2012 after recovering from Tommy John surgery. The Sox also have some promising starters in Pawtucket and Portland for a change. De La Rosa could force himself into the picture.

What's good: Buchholz and Lester should be better with John Farrell as their manager and a pitching coach in Juan Nieves who won't be afraid to actually coach them. ... Dempster has averaged just under 200 innings over the last five years. ... Doubront averaged 9.3 strikeouts per nine innings in his first year as a starter. ... Lackey pitched much of 2011 with an injured elbow. Now healthy, he figures to be an upgrade to the likes of Aaron Cook and Daisuke Matsuzaka.

What's bad: Lester averaged 10.0 strikeouts per nine innings in 2009 That mark has dropped every year since, down to 7.3 last season. ... Doubront was pushed to 161 innings last season, by the far the most of his career. His health bears watching. ... Dempster has been a National League pitcher most of his career. His 5.09 ERA in 12 starts for the Rangers last season isn't a good sign. ... Lackey has a 5.26 ERA in 61 starts since coming to the Sox.

Theme song: "Don't Look Back" by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.

 

[General Lotso]

Spring training preview: Relief pitchers

As the Red Sox prepare for spring training, here is a look at their relief pitchers:

Expected bullpen: RHP Joel Hanrahan (closer); RHP Andrew Bailey, LHP Craig Breslow, RHP Junichi Tazawa, RHP Koji Uehara, LHP Andrew Miller, LHP Franklin Morales or RHP Alfredo Aceves.

In the mix: RHP Daniel Bard, RHP Clayton Mortensen.

Prospects of note: RHP Alex Wilson, RHP Brock Huntzinger, RHP Aaron Kurcz

Organizational depth: RHP Oscar Villarreal, RHP Pedro Beato, RHP Anthony Carter, RHP Jose De La Torre.

Breakdown: The Red Sox have 10 relievers generally deserving of a roster spot and probably only seven openings available in the bullpen. Something has to give. Hanrahan, Breslow and Uehara are sure things if healthy. Tazawa proved he belonged last season with a strong 37 appearances (1.43 ERA, 45 strikeouts in 44 innings). Bailey and Aceves are trade candidates, as are Miller and Morales. Or will the Sox keep three lefties? Bard is a wild card after last season's disaster and Mortensen is out of options. He is a candidate to get dealt, too.

What's good: There's lots of depth and plenty of arms with strikeout stuff. ... Hanrahan has 76 saves the last two seasons along with 128 strikeouts in 128.1 innings. ... The underrated Uehara was signed as a free agent after a terrific 2012 season. ... Breslow shackles lefties but fares well against righties, too. ... Miller and Morales have big-time fastballs. ... Aceves, when focused, can do just about anything required of a pitcher and Bailey is much better than he showed last year.

What's bad: Hanrahan is a career National Leaguer who has yet to pitch for a team with a winning record. Now he's going right in the deep end. ... Bullpens thrive on set roles. So who is the set-up man? There are many candidates. ... How will Bailey handle being demoted from closer? ... Aceves was a troublemaker last season. John Farrell has made it clear he won't stand for that. ... Tazawa, for all his good work last season, was pitching for a team going nowhere last season and the pressure was slight. This season will be more of a true gauge of his potential.

Theme song: "Too Much Of Anything" by The Who.

 

[General Lotso]

Spring training preview: Infielders

As the Red Sox prepare for spring training, here is a look at their infielders:

Expected starters: Mike Napoli (1B), Dustin Pedroia (2B), Stephen Drew (SS), Will Middlebrooks (3B).

In the mix: 2B-SS-3B Pedro Ciriaco, 2B-SS Brock Holt, SS Jose Iglesias, 1B Mauro Gomez.

Prospects of note: SS Xander Bogaerts, 1B Travis Shaw.

Organizational depth: 1B Mauro Gomez, SS-2B-3B Jonathan Diaz, 1B Mark Hamilton, UTIL Drew Sutton.

Breakdown: The starters are locked in unless there's some sort of injury. Given the history of this group, that's a real issue. Napoli arrives as a free agent with a bone-deteriorating hip condition that could eventually end his career. Middlebrooks is coming back from a broken hand. Drew missed large chunks of 2011 and '12 with a broken ankle. Pedroia has dealt with injuries large and small the last two years. Ciriaco and Holt could battle for one bench spot. A backup first baseman is needed. Right now, Hamilton and Gomez are it.

What's good: There's power in this group. Napoli could hit 25 homers with his made-for-Fenway swing. Middlebrooks connected 15 times in 267 at-bats last season. Pedroia has 36 homers the last two seasons and Drew hit 48 from 2008-10 ... Middlebrooks is a better defender than he showed last season ... Drew and Napoli have the incentives of one-year contracts ... Pedroia will be much happier playing for John Farrell than he was Bobby Valentine.

What's bad: Napoli is not a particularly good first baseman but should be adequate ... Drew initially will be compared to his brother J.D., who wasn't popular with a segment of the Red Sox fan base ... Middlebrooks had a .325 OBP last season and struck out 70 times in those 267 at-bats. He needs more plate discipline. ... Has the window closed on the defensively gifted Iglesias? With Bogaerts on the way, he needs to have a big season at the plate.

Theme song: "Don't Let Us Get Sick" by Warren Zevon.

 

[General Lotso]

Spring training preview: Outfielders

As the Red Sox prepare for spring training, here is a look at their outfielders:

Expected starters: Jacoby Ellsbury (CF), Shane Victorino (RF), Jonny Gomes (LF).

In the mix: Ryan Sweeney, Daniel Nava, Alex Hassan.

Prospects of note: Jackie Bradley Jr., Bryce Brentz, Juan Carlos Linares, Jeremy Hazelbaker.

Organizational depth: Mitch Maier, Drew Sutton.

Out injured: Ryan Kalish (recovering from shoulder surgery).

Breakdown: The Sox remade their outfield, signing Gomes (two years, $10 million) and Victorino (three years, $39 million) to deals that seemed a little steep. But at least they're major leaguers after the tryout camp that went on for much of last season. Gomes is a poor defender who does not hit righthanders well. The Sox need a solid backup who can hit lefthanded. That could be Sweeney or perhaps the switch-hitting Nava, who is much better from the left side.

What's good: Victorino brings center field-quality defense to right field, a plus at Fenway Park. He also plays with energy, something the lifeless Sox could use ... Ellsbury missed much of 2010 with an injury, was a superstar in 2011, then missed much of 2012 with an injury. In his free agent walk year, the motivation should be there ... Bradley will be in his first major league camp. He could work his way into the mix ... Gomes has power from the right side and is an excellent clubhouse presence.

What's bad: Victorino has gone .267/.337/.434 the last two seasons, and the Sox will be his third team in less than a year ... Ellsbury has played only 250 of a possible 486 games (51 percent) the last three years ... Gomes has a career UZR of minus-25.8 in left field ... The starting outfielders hit 33 home runs last season.

Theme song: "Chemistry Class" by Elvis Costello and the Attractions.

 

[General Lotso]

Spring training preview: Catchers and DHs

As the Red Sox prepare for spring training, here is a look at their catchers and designated hitters:

CATCHERS

Expected starter: Jarrod Saltalamacchia.

In the mix: David Ross, Ryan Lavarnway.

Prospects of note: Christian Vazquez.

Organizational depth: Dan Butler.

Break glass in case of emergency: Mike Napoli.

Breakdown: Is Salty the starter or could he get traded? All we know for sure is that the Sox signed Ross with the intent of using him more than an average backup. They value his defense and leadership. Lavarnway, who made great strides defensively last season, is an organizational favorite. But the Sox could maintain their depth by sending him to Pawtucket. With Saltalamacchia a free agent after the season, that would be a prudent move. Butler and Vazquez were added to the 40-man roster in November. It's unusual for a team to have five catchers on the 40-man, but that's the situation for the moment.

What's good: Salty belted 25 homers last season and drove in 59 runs. That made him one of the more productive catchers in the game ... Ross threw out 15 of 34 runners last season, and the Braves were 54-35 in games he started the last two seasons ... Lavarnway was voted the best defensive catcher in the International League last season. He hit .295/.376/.439 for the PawSox.

What's bad: Saltalamacchia hit .222 with a .288 OBP last season. He struck out 139 times in 448 plate appearances ... Lavarnway struggled offensively (.157/.211/.248) in 166 major league plate appearances ... Napoli was initially expected to catch a few games, but the diagnosis of avascular necrosis in his hips could limit him to first base.

Theme song: "Supply And Demand" by The Hives.

DESIGNATED HITTERS

Expected starter: David Ortiz.

In the mix: Mauro Gomez.

Prospects of note: Juan Carlos Linares.

Organizational depth: Ryan Lavarnway.

Breakdown: Ortiz was given a lifetime achievement contract of two years and $26 million. But at 37, he remains the best DH in the game. Many teams are using the DH as a way to give position players time off from the field. But the Red Sox are sticking with a traditional slugger. Gomez, who profiles as a DH, could fill in if needed. The same is true of Lavarnway.

What's good: After struggling in 2008-09 (.250/.348/.482), Ortiz went .296/.391/.558 over the last three seasons with 84 home runs. He has hit .325 with 17 home runs against lefthanders the last two seasons. Amidst all the chaos of the last two seasons, he has become the face of the franchise.

What's bad: Ortiz strained his right Achilles' tendon last July 16 and played only one game the rest of the season. He is expected to be at full speed for spring training. But Ortiz has to be cognizant of doing the proper stretching and getting enough treatment to avoid further injury.

Theme song: "A Legend In My Time" by Johnny Cash.

 

[SLY]

I didn't pay much attention to baseball at all last season. It is time for me to get back into it.

 

[General Lotso]

I didn't pay much attention to baseball at all last season. It is time for me to get back into it.

There was really no need to pay any attention to last year.

 

[SLY]

There was really no need to pay any attention to last year.

Agreed.