Once Every Fifth

This being my first topic here at Sox nest I would like to talk about one of the most overrated or underrated starting five in recent memory; it just depends on how you see it.

I’d like to mention the fact that the Red Sox have made a few off-season acquisitions that has added to an already stellar offense, which has shown that the rich have gotten richer. Not to mention that Pitcher Matt Clement is expected back in the second half of the 2007 season.

If Boston can just throw Tim Wakefield in as their fifth starter as a change of pace, they will be fine, with the veteran knuckle-baller throwing behind newly appointed starter, also known as the Red Sox shutdown closer of last season. Manager Terry Francona has said and I quote “I won’t rule out a return to the bullpen, but that is not happening. A lot has to go wrong for that to happen” in regards to Papelbon.

The starting five, right now is the strong point of this team. The bullpen has been weakened by losing the top closer in major league baseball. They will have to rely on starters going deep into games this year. They do have some veteran arms in the bullpen with Piniero, Tavarez and Timlin. So they may be okay in the end. Francona has been quoted by saying “we won’t skip a guy; we may stick with five starters” which will be different than in Francona’s previous years.

At this point looking at their current roster they seem to be willing to give up a little defense to get more offense. They still continue to want the big bats of Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz. Ramirez will have to continue to play the outfield and Francona has mentioned that Wily Mo Pena and Eric Hinske will be the fourth and fifth outfielders. Francona has said that in conversations he has had with Pena, about backing up all three outfielders and in turn receives around four-hundred at bats in the upcoming year. Pena has made it known to his bench boss that he is excited at the opportunity in the manager’s mind.

So look for the Boston Red Sox to steal quite a few games they shouldn’t win this year and get some solid starting pitching with the top five guys being Curt Schilling, Josh Beckett, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Jonathan Papelbon and Tim Wakefield. It will definitely be an entertaining dog fight in the east this year. Play ball!

Written by Contributing Editor Scott Penny