2008 Boston Red Sox Predictions & Season Preview


June 6, 2008 | Posted By Larry Cook

The Boston Red Sox used to be looked at in the same way as the Chicago Cubs. Both teams have had championships escape them for nearly 100 years. After winning the World Series for the 2nd time in four seasons last year, the BoSox are now looked at like the New York Yankees used to be viewed. GM Theo Epstein had to say of their 2nd world championship, “It’s nice that we have two now and that no one can say it was an accident.” Now the Red Sox look like a force for years to come. See what Larry Cook thinks about their chances to repeat with his 2008 Boston Red Sox predictions and an overall season preview with their AL East odds as well.

Starting Rotation:

Daisuke Matsuzaka may have got all the hype last year with his multi-million dollar contract, but there is no question which guy is the heart and sole of this staff. Josh Beckett produced the only 20-win season for any starter since 2005 last year during the regular season. Beckett then followed that up with a 4-0 postseason record and a remarkable 1.17 ERA en route to the Red Sox title. There is no better big-game pitcher in the league than this mammoth. The Sox are hoping for bigger things from Matsuzaka this season while continuing to get steady work out of Curt Schilling and Tim Wakefield in the No. 3 and 4 spots in the rotation. Young guns Jon Lester and Clay Bucholz, the 3rd and final pitcher to throw a no-hitter last season, will each see plenty of time in the rotation as well.

Bullpen:

Just as Mariano Rivera was once a dominant closer during the Yankees’ championship years, Jonathan Papelbon has become that exact same weapon for the Boston Red Sox. Papelbon finished last season with 37 saves, a 1.85 ERA and a superb 12.96 strikouts per nine innings pitched. If you thought those numbers were great, then you will really be shocked about his postseason play. In 14.2 innings in the postseason, Papelbon has allowed just 7 hits and no earned runs. Left-hander Hideki Okajima is the best setup man in the league. Mike Timlin is can still get it done with his intimidating presence on the mound. This trio is the best in the biz, and with Manny Delcarmen improving, the Sox should once again have the best bullpen in the league.

Line-Up:

The Boston Red Sox are young up front with 2nd-year men in Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia manning the No. 1 and 2 spots in the batting order. Ellsbury grew up in a hurry with a .364 BA in 132 regular and postseason at-bats. Pedroia is the reigning AL Rookie of the Year with his .822 OPS and made just 6 errors while playing in nearly every game for the Red Sox. In the 3 spot comes the Big Papi again. His “off” year last season resulted in a .352 batting average and a .695 slugging percentage after the All-Star break. This clutch performer will do big things with the line-up that follows. Teams can’t pitch around David Ortiz because then awaits Manny Ramirez in the batter’s box. Although Ramirez failed to reach 30 HR’s and 100 RBI’s for the first time since 1997, he proved to be clutch down the stretch and showed that he still can dominate. Mike Lowell, J.D. Drew and Kevin Youkilis could be 3, 4, and 5 hitters on any other team in the league, but their spots at 5, 6 and 7 on this ball club give the Red Sox a very potent line-up from top to bottom. Jason Varitek takes the 8 hole where his numbers have dropped dramatically, but only 3 catchers in baseball finished with a higher OPS than Varitek last season. Varitek is the team captain and his work behind the plate is priceless. Julio Lugo will bat 9th after being one of the biggest disappointments in this line-up last season despite a great year in the field. Lugo batted .197 in the first half, but his .280 average post-All-Star break looks very promising heading into the 2008 season. Coco Crisp gives this team a solid 4th outfielder, Doug Mirabelli returns to catch Tim Wakefield’s knuckleball and Alex Cora is a great utility player, but the Red Sox are lacking a corner infielder and a potential bat off the bench in case Ortiz goes down with injury in the DH role.

Red Sox 2008 Predictions:

The Red Sox went without a title for 86 years. Since the start of the 2000 season, the Red Sox are now the only team in baseball with two. The Red Sox won their first title in 2004 with the signing of several key free agents. But in 2007, the Sox won their championship with much youth in Pedroia, Ellsbury, Lugo, Crisp and Kevin Youkillis. This ensures that the Red Sox will be in championship contention for years to come. Anything less than another 1st place finish for Boston in the AL East would be a disappointment in our eyes, and even more of a disappointment for GM Theo Epstein and Red Sox fans.

Larry Cook finished with the #5 World Ranking with his baseball picks in 2007 last year. Hard work with research, analysis and starting pitcher breakdowns gives Larry the edge over your sportsbooks and bookies. You won’t believe the kind of profits you can make by signing up for any of Larry’s long-term packages. By doing so, you will get in on all of his winning baseball betting action this season. Larry will guide you to profits you have never seen before once he makes his move up to the #1 spot in 2008.

2008 Boston Red Sox Odds:

Odds to win AL East: 10/11
Odds to win 2008 AL Pennant: 11/5
Odds to win 2008 World Series: 7/2

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