The 2007 Red Sox boasts a lineup that’s extremely hard to dislike, no matter your taste. Yet as excited as the collective Red Sox Nation was last April Fools Day, the general uneasy feeling about this year’s squad is overwhelming, but why the joint nervousness, O Faithful Nation? Have we honestly lost that “Faith” that propelled us to curse-breaking status only two and a half years ago? All I know is that I am extremely excited this year and so should everyone else, because everyone can have something to watch for.

As for the recreational fan, we have the offense to light up your eyes. Manny and Papi are the obvious stars here, but the additions of JD Drew (keep your fingers crossed for health), Eric Hinske and Julio Lugo should bulk up the stats even more. Even with average seasons, Drew and Hinske add a combined 162 RBI’s and Lugo contributes 165 hits in the leadoff spot, a good upgrade from the struggling Crisp last season. Fans of high scores can be sure to enjoy their Sox this year.

If it’s classic defensive baseball that tickles your fancy you’ll be able to find it in this year’s Sox as well. As we all remember, last year’s team was one of the best defensive units Boston has ever seen. Carried over from last year are glove-handy Mike Lowell and speedy Coco Crisp, as well as Fenway favorite Kevin Youkilis at the corners of the infield. Rookie Dustin Pedroia at second also adds some new defensive bulk to the infield. For the hardnosed defensive fan 2007 won’t be a letdown.

The most attractive part of this year’s squad is the great pitching staff. Some may remember the 2004 pitching corps is what brought another ring to the united finger in Boston and after Pedro, D-Low and Arroyo left; the team’s postseason success did too. Well, this year the pitching group is back with vengeance, featuring classic favorites in Curt Schilling and Tim Wakefield, joined by Josh Beckett, young-gun Jon Lester and the 100-plus million dollar Dice-K. The offense is there, as it always has been, and the new pitching is great enough to return us to the glory our nation yearns for.

This season’s Sox have all the ingredients for an awesome year of both entertainment and winning. It’s no wonder the great Red Sox Nation spans across the entire nation and keeps heading west, now into Japan with the Dice-K signing. Those fine fans half a world away will love what they see when they tune in to watch their hero but see a team - and so will we right here on that dirty water.

Written by Derek Bennett