The Boston Red Sox

When I look at a team’s chances, I usually start with the pitchers and then work my way out. Not so with this edition of the Boston Red Sox. Without taking anything away from the pitching staff, which looks good, I’m going to kick things off with the outfield, and work my way in.

The outfield is that good. From the moment I saw Mookie Betts in the 2013 Arizona Fall League, I knew he was going to be a star. He was playing second base back then, but with former American League MVP Dustin Pedroia manning second for the big club, Betts figured to be moved to the outfield. He looked like he was a good enough athlete to play anywhere the Red Sox needed him, and that has proven to be the case. Last season he was awarded the Gold Glove for his stellar play in right field. But that doesn’t begin to reveal his full impact to the club. In 2016, Mookie Betts blossomed into a superstar, placing second in the voting for the American League’s Most Valuable Player Award, hitting .318, with 42 doubles, 31 home runs and 113 runs batted in. He stole 26 bases and led the league with 359 total bases. But this isn’t a one-man show. Jackie Bradley Jr. (26 home runs, 87 RBI) is a very competent center fielder. Rookie Andrew Benintendi, a catcher by trade, figures to see plenty of playing time in left field.

And while on the subject of catching, Christian Vazquez and Sandy Leon are both very good, and Benintendi can serve behind the dish if needed. Blake Swihart is waiting at Triple-A Pawtucket and is ready to fill in at any time.

The infield looks solid, too. Veteran Mitch Moreland was brought in to play first base, where he earned a Gold Glove last year with the Texas Rangers. He can play in the outfield if needed. Four-time All Star Dustin Pedroia is at second base, and at age 32 appears to have plenty of play left in the tank. He was resurgent last season with 201 hits and a .318/.376/.449 slash line. Two-time Silver Slugger Xander Bogaerts was an All Star last season and will play shortstop. A noticeably thinner Pablo Sandoval will play third base. I hope he just relaxes and plays his game. With his quick feet, soft hands and pure-hitting approach, it’s usually above average.

The pitching is another plus. During the off season the Red Sox landed lefty Chris Sale. He’ll bring a gritty attitude, which will fit right in, and a nasty slider that has baffled American League batters for years. Right hander Rick Porcello went 22-4 with a 3.15 ERA last season while winning the American League’s Cy Young Award. David Price, the American League’s 2012 Cy Young Award winner, brings a few questions to mind. Right now he’s recovering from an elbow strain and is building arm strength before he returns to the mound, so the first question is when will he return? The second and perhaps more compelling question is, just how effective will he be once he gets there? Most of us don’t quibble with a record of 17-9, but the 3.99 ERA he fashioned in 2016 is not the David Price the Red Sox thought they were getting when they signed him to a 7-year, $217 million contract. In time, we’ll get our answers. Steven Wright is the team’s #4 starter, and he turned in a 13-6, 3.33 ERA performance last season. How would you like that from your team’s fourth man in the rotation?

The stopper in the bullpen is Craig Kimbrel, but I’m beginning to wonder about him. I see a guy who over the past four seasons has seen his number of appearances, saves, innings pitched and strikeouts all decrease and his ERA steadily increase. A bounce back year would be nice.

I’m a blank when it comes to the rest of the Red Sox bullpen so I asked my friend, fellow baseball card trader and card collector Mike Augusto to fill me in. As a huge Red Sox fan, he gave me a broad overview. Mike told me it’s a nice mix of hurlers with the common thread of heat, ranging from 94 to 100 mph. But like most bullpens it’s got some challenges. Newly acquired righty Tyler Thornbury looks like he’ll be the team’s set up man. He is very effective in tight games… as he proved in Milwaukee, especially last season with a 2.15 ERA and .0940 WHIP, and he’ll look great in his new Red Sox uniform once he gets off the disabled list. Joe Kelly may see eighth inning set-up action until Thornbury returns. Other options from which Manager John Farrell will mix and match include right handers Matt Barnes and Heath Hembree and southpaws Robbie Scott and Fernando Abad. Puzzling Robbie Ross, who had a bad spring, and Carson Smith, who is still recovering from Tommy John, will be in the mix as well. The bullpen is a work in progress and may take a while to come together.

All of this bullpen ambiguity, however, won’t matter if the Red Sox score a lot of runs. If it’s possible to have too much talent on offense, then this is the club. If I were Red Sox Manager John Farrell I would be positively giddy contemplating the lineup construction possibilities and player position maneuverability. The Red Sox are the baseball equivalent of an accordion, ready to expand or contract depending on the need. Get David Price back on track, piece the bullpen’s puzzle together, stay healthy and get the Duck Boats ready for another parade. The Boston Red Sox are a very, very good team.