Last season, the Boston Red Sox began the year with expectations of once again contending for a World Series Championship. While they were competitive with the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays for the National League East, injuries caused them to fall short of their goals. With a major trade and several key free agent signings, the Red Sox are heavily favored to land in the 2011 Fall Classic and seemingly only injuries could derail their lofty expectations.
Manager Terry Francona leads a team that was beset by injuries in 2010. Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury, Mike Cameron, Josh Beckett, and Kevin Youkilis all missed significant time due to a myriad of injuries. They are all recovered though heading into 2011 and Francona also has new pieces that have been added to the puzzle as well.
Youkilis enters the new season with his thumb seemingly 100 percent, and Becketts velocity is back where he needs it to be as well. The team thought they had enough depth last year, but they have even better depth going into the 2011 season.
The two moves that made the biggest splash was the trade for first baseman Adrian Gonzalez and the free agent signing of outfielder Carl Crawford. For years, Gonzalez has quietly been a premier left handed slugger for the San Diego Padres. Now in a bigger market in the Boston spotlight, Gonzalez should thrive with a lineup of better hitters around him than he had in San Diego. His signing also moves Youkilis back to his original position at third base after the departure of Adrian Beltre who signed with Texas.
Crawford comes over from the Rays and he adds another all star hitter to the Boston line up. He adds a blend of power and speed and could be a perfect third place hitter in the lineup following Ellsbury and Pedroia. Those three should be on base quite a bit for clean-up hitter Gonzalez to knock in.
In the bullpen, the Red Sox have added Dan Wheeler, Bobby Jenks, Denys Reyes, as well as several other left-handers vying for roster spots in spring training. Wheeler signed as a free agent from the Tampa Bay Rays and is a top middle reliever. Jenks is the former closer for the Chicago White Sox and Reyes was a key member of the St. Louis Cardinals for the last few years.
While the trade for Gonzalez and the signing of Crawford grabbed the headlines, and rightfully so, there were a few other key signings as well. The team signed reliever Dan Wheeler, formerly of the Rays. The defection of Wheeler and Crawford from the division rival Rays depletes that team while also helping the Red Sox. Wheeler has been a solid middle reliever, averaging 57 innings with a 3.13 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP in the past three seasons, meaning he does not walk many batters or give up too many hits while coming into tough situations in the late innings. Wheeler should give Boston solid innings, bridging the gap between the starters and closer Jonathan Papelbon.
Also signed as a free agent after he was let go by the White Sox is their former closer Bobby Jenks. Jenks saved 27 games in 2010, though his ERA was a bit high at 4.44. He throws hard though and pairs with Daniel Bard to form a solid set up tandem, getting games to closer Papelbon. Along with the additions to the lineup, these key bullpen additions should help Bostons chances over the long haul of the regular season and post season.
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Bobbie Barton is a fitness trainer She likes SportsFanTreasures.com and recommends you check out their info on Washington Nationals Watch , San Francisco Giants Watch and Atlanta Braves Bedding
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