2009 Major League Baseball Playoff Preview: The Boston Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox finished the year 95-67, eight games behind their arch rivals, the New York Yankees. However, 95-67 was a good enough record to win the American League Wild Card playoff birth and tied for the fourth best record in baseball. Boston went to the American League Championship Series last year where they fell to the Tampa Bay Rays. The Red Sox goal this year is to make it to the World Series.

Starting Pitchers:

Jon Lester is a solid pitcher going 15-8 this season with a 3.41 earned run average. Jon pitched over 200 innings in 32 starts for Boston. Lester stuck out 225 batters and only walked 64 for the Red Sox.

Josh Beckett is the other work horse in Boston's rotation. Josh went 17-6 with a 3.86 earned run average pitching over 212 innings in 32 starts for the Red Sox. Beckett struck out 199 batters and only allowed 55 walks.

Youngster Clay Buchholz will be the Red Sox third starter. Clay went 7-4 with a 4.21 earned run average for the Red Sox. Buchholz only started 16 games and pitched 92 innings. The Red Sox also could give a start to Daisuke Matsuzaka (4-6 5.76 earned run average) or Paul Byrd (1-3 5.82 earned run average).

The Red Sox rotation will miss Tim Wakefield (11-5 4.58 earned run average). Boson will be relying on their top two pitchers.

The Bullpen:

Jonathon Papelbon anchors the Red Sox bullpen. Jonathon pitched in 66 games for the Red Sox. Papelbon finished the season 1-1 with 38 saves and a 1.85 earned run average.

Ramon Ramirez led the Boston Red Sox pitchers in games appearing in 70 games. Ramon went 7-4 for the Red Sox with a 2.84 earned run average. Hideki Okajima pitched in 68 games going 6-0 with a 3.39 earned run average. Manny Delcarman pitched in 64 games going 5-2 with a 4.53 earned run average for the Red Sox. Takashi Saito appeared in 56 games going 3-3 with 2 saves and a 2.43 earned run average for the Red Sox.

The infield:

First base is anchored by Kevin Youkillis who hit .305 with 27 homers and 95 runs batted in during 136 games for the Red Sox. Casey Kotchman will back him up. Kotchman batted .268 with 7 dingers and 48 runs batted in during 126 games.

Dustin Pedroia is the Red Sox second baseman. Dustin hit .296 with 15 homers driving in 72 while scoring 115 runs in 154 games. Pedroia only committed 6 errors for the Red Sox.

The Red Sox shortstop is Alex Gonzalez (.238 8 homers and 41 runs batted in playing in 112 games). Nick Green (.236 6 homers and 35 runs batted in during 104 games) is probably out due to injury.

Mike Lowell is the Red Sox third baseman batting .290 with 17 home runs and driving in 75 runs in 119 games.

Jason Varitek is the Red Sox catcher. Varitek only hit .209 but had 14 homers and drove in 51 playing in 109 games.

The Designated Hitter:

David Ortiz drove in 99 runs and slugged 28 home runs for the Boston Red Sox in 150 games. Ortiz hit .238 for the season.

The Outfield:

Jacoby Ellsbury batted .301 with 8 homers , 60 runs batted in and 94 runs. Ellsbury played 153 games for Boston and is the Red Sox centerfielder.

J.D Drew patrols right field for the Red Sox. Drew batted .279 with 24 homers and 68 runs batted in and scored 84 runs. Drew played 137 games for Boston.

Jason Bay is Boston's left fielder batting .267 in 151 games. Bay also slammed 36 home runs and drovein 119 runs while scoring 103 runs.

The Bench:

Brian Anderson, center field, hit .243 with 4 homers and 18 runs batted in during 86 games. Rocco Baldeli, right field, .253 batting average 7 homers 23 runs batted in during 62 games. George Kottaras is the Red Sox back up catcher. George hit .237 with 1 homer and 10 runs driven in 45 games this year.

The Red Sox would be helped by short series. Boston needs their top 2 starting pitchers to hold up and hope for contributions fromm their other starters. The lineup needs to score runs and their bullpen is capable of finishing the game.

Source for stats:
fox sports