What do you want the 2010 lineup to look like?

[MANNYHOF24]

Now that we can sort of see what the roster is shaping up to be, assuming Lowell is traded sometime during spring training, what do you want the everyday lineup 1-9 to look like?

 

Ellsbury-LF

Pedroia-2B

Youk-1B

Ortiz-DH

V-Mart-C

Drew-RF

Beltre-3B

Cameron-CF

Scuttro-SS

 

If Ellsbury can continue is improvement in OBP, I think this lineup makes the most sense. Like it has been in the past couple years there are really some huge question marks that will determine if this lineup is really good or not. If Ortiz has a big year and Drew has a solid JD year and Beltre bounces back to what he did in his first 4 years in Seattle this lineup should actually be very good. The question marks make me totally nervous though.

[Cocos Disciples]

Ellsbury

Pedroia

Martinez

Youkilis

Ortiz

Cameron

Drew

Beltre

Scutaro

 

I slid Drew in between Cameron and Beltre for matchup purposes, so the lineup is: LRSRLRLRR

[redsoxrules]

Ellsbury

Pedroia

Drew

Youkilis

Martinez

Ortiz

Cameron

Beltre

Scutaro

[rhet]

Ellsbury

Pedroia

Martinez

Youkilis

Ortiz

Cameron

Drew

Beltre

Scutaro

 

I slid Drew in between Cameron and Beltre for matchup purposes, so the lineup is: LRSRLRLRR

 

This.

[Plumpamania]

1). 2B Pedroia R

2). RF Drew L

3). C Martinez S

4). 1B Youkilis R

5). DH Ortiz L

6). 3B Beltre R

7). CF Cameron R

8). SS Scutaro R

9). LF Ellsbury L

[a700hitter]

I've got to say that as much as I hated the prospect of Casey Kotchman in the lineup, I would have preferred if the Sox had signed Holliday instead of Cameron and Beltre. Kotchman could have been in a 1B/3B/C rotation with VMart. Youk, Lowell, and Tek. Tek and Kotchman would play twice a week. Here would have been my ideal lineup:

 

1. Ellsbury

2. Pedroia

3. Youkilis

4. Holliday

5. VMart

6. Ortiz

7. Drew

8. Kotchman/Lowell

9. Scutaro

 

With Lackey to improve the rotation, the Sox Offense and Pitching would have been kick-ass and very competitive with the Yankees. I'm not sure about the short term mentality with Beltre and Cameron. I have heard about all the $ coming off our payroll next year and all the flexibility we will have, but I just don't see what the plan is for 2011. In addition to needing a 3B after Beltre walks, Ortiz will be gone. Beckett is likely to walk unless we pay him FMV. That would leave us needing to get a big hitter to replace Ortiz, another hitter to replace Bay/Manny (which will be a vacant spot in 2010 cause Cameron doesn't come close to replacing them), a third baseman, and a top of the rotation starting pitcher. Will the 2011 FA class be so stocked that they can pick up 2 top hitters, a top pitcher and a third baseman? Forget about Pujols and Mauer. Those are pipe dreams.

[Plumpamania]

I've posted twice the listing of current FA's to be available for 2011. There will be several holes to fill, but those can be started to be filled in with our farm system with the Lars Anderson's, Ryan Kalish's, Ryan Westmoreland's and such. Using FA wisely going on is a good thing while allowing the Jason Varitek's, Dustin Pedroia's, Kevin Youkilis', Jacoby Ellsbury's and such come up for the positional avenues. Worked obviously before.

 

As far as pitching goes for 2011, Lester, Lackey, Matsuzaka, Buccholtz, Bowden is a very formidable group to go against. You don't need a Josh Beckett to be successful with Bowden coming along.

[Dipre]

Ellsbury

Pedroia

Martinez

Youkilis

Ortiz

Cameron

Drew

Beltre

Scutaro

 

I slid Drew in between Cameron and Beltre for matchup purposes, so the lineup is: LRSRLRLRR

 

Perfect lineup.

[Red Foreman]

Ellsbury

Pedroia

Drew

Youkilis

Martinez

Ortiz

Cameron

Beltre

Scutaro

 

 

+1

[bsox0407]

Perfect lineup.

 

I like this one although i would rather have Drew ahead of Cameron but i like it either way.

[Dipre]

I like this one although i would rather have Drew ahead of Cameron but i like it either way.

 

Platoon purposes.

 

L

R

S

R

L

R

L

R

R

[a700hitter]

I've posted twice the listing of current FA's to be available for 2011. There will be several holes to fill, but those can be started to be filled in with our farm system with the Lars Anderson's, Ryan Kalish's, Ryan Westmoreland's and such. Using FA wisely going on is a good thing while allowing the Jason Varitek's, Dustin Pedroia's, Kevin Youkilis', Jacoby Ellsbury's and such come up for the positional avenues. Worked obviously before.

 

As far as pitching goes for 2011, Lester, Lackey, Matsuzaka, Buccholtz, Bowden is a very formidable group to go against. You don't need a Josh Beckett to be successful with Bowden coming along.

On that list is also VMArt, so in addition to replacing Ortiz, Beltre, Bay/Manny, and Beckett we will have to replace or re-sign VMart too. Those are many major pieces even if you disregard the need for our current #1 starter. The 2011 class does not look like a bumper crop. Other than Pujols and Mauer, there aren't a lot of top guys. Pujols and Mauer are pipe dreams for the Sox. The only other big offensive talent that I see on the list is Carl Crawford. There will be lots of significant holes after 2010, and I don't see them getting filled through free agency. If they fill 2 of these 4 holes through Free Agency, how will they fill the other holes? Kalish, Westmoreland or Andersoon will step into the 2011 lineup and replace Ortiz', Manny's or Bay's production? I don't think so. Do you think two or more rookies will step up and be major contributors? When has that happened since Lynn and Rice took the town by storm 35 years ago? In 2007, Ellsbury was a role player who still had rookie status at the end of 2007. Teams that fill 2 or more positions in a single year with full time rookies are usually not Playoff contenders. The Yankees sealed their 2008 fate by starting the season with 2 untested rookies in their starting rotation. It's nice to produce players from the farm, but it takes time, and it is extremely rare that 2 can step in to be major contributors in the same season to replace departed stars.

 

I live in NY, and I know many many Yankee fans, and each and every one with whom I have discussed the upcoming season has expressed what the Yankee fans on TalkSox have expressed. They are not concerned about the Red Sox lineup. Without Manny or Bay, the fear factor is gone. They acknowledge that the acquisition of Lackey was good, but they know that pitchers have a tendency to get injured and they don't think we will have a consistently productive offense. In short, they expect to bury us in 2010. That had not been the case in the last few years. Their cockiness has returned, and it pisses me off, because I can see their point. Lackey and Holliday would have been much better than Lackey, Cameron and Beltre.

[italstallianion]

Since I don't believe that anybody had my idea exactly, this was mine.

 

Ellsbury

Pedroia

Martinez

Youkilis

Drew

Beltre

Ortiz

Cameron

Scutaro

[Emmz]

Ortiz

Youkilis

Pedroia

Ellsbury

Scutaro

Cameron

Beltre

Drew

Martinez

 

In all seriousness

 

Ellsbury

Pedroia

Drew

Youkilis

Ortiz

Martinez

Beltre

Cameron

Scutaro

[Red Foreman]

Ortiz

Youkilis

Pedroia

Ellsbury

Scutaro

Cameron

Beltre

Drew

Martinez

 

In all seriousness

 

Ellsbury

Pedroia

Drew

Youkilis

Ortiz

Martinez

Beltre

Cameron

Scutaro

 

I like this one also.

[jacksonianmarch]

I've posted twice the listing of current FA's to be available for 2011. There will be several holes to fill, but those can be started to be filled in with our farm system with the Lars Anderson's, Ryan Kalish's, Ryan Westmoreland's and such. Using FA wisely going on is a good thing while allowing the Jason Varitek's, Dustin Pedroia's, Kevin Youkilis', Jacoby Ellsbury's and such come up for the positional avenues. Worked obviously before.

 

As far as pitching goes for 2011, Lester, Lackey, Matsuzaka, Buccholtz, Bowden is a very formidable group to go against. You don't need a Josh Beckett to be successful with Bowden coming along.

 

Wow, someone is drinking the Kool-Aid.

 

First of all, before you pencil Anderson in, I'd see if he can hit AA pitching this yr

Second off, Bowden showed nothing this past yr and is prime for a trade or being buried with the way Casey Kelly is shooting up the ranks

Third, Westmoreland hasnt proven he can stay healthy and hasnt taken one swing in a long season league yet.

 

These guys are solid prospects, but they all have a long way to go before you pencil them in as replacements for players like Beckett, Ortiz, Bay, etc.

[redsoxrules]

Wow, someone is drinking the Kool-Aid.

 

First of all, before you pencil Anderson in, I'd see if he can hit AA pitching this yr

Second off, Bowden showed nothing this past yr and is prime for a trade or being buried with the way Casey Kelly is shooting up the ranks

Third, Westmoreland hasnt proven he can stay healthy and hasnt taken one swing in a long season league yet.

 

These guys are solid prospects, but they all have a long way to go before you pencil them in as replacements for players like Beckett, Ortiz, Bay, etc.

 

wow I cant beleive I'm saying this but I agree here

[diony]

As far as pitching goes for 2011, Lester, Lackey, Matsuzaka, Buccholtz, Bowden is a very formidable group to go against. You don't need a Josh Beckett to be successful with Bowden coming along.

 

Sure, keep reading soxprospects.com

[Dipre]

Sure' date=' keep reading soxprospects.com [/quote']

 

Maybe he mistook Bowden for Kelly?

[TheMino007]

There are some things that I don't buy into this propoganda the Sox have been spreading about run prevention and that is in regard to the bullpen. Based on the way this team is built, they are going to win a lot of 3-1, 4-2 ball games. But, based on the what the pen showed at the end of last year, we are going to blow many of these games b/c we have arms that can't last the whole season. Lackey, Lester, Beckett aren't going to go 7 inninngs, 2 earned every start. And when what about when Dice-K is pitching? Guys like Delcarmen and Rameriz (to an extent) will come in a blow the game. You wanna rely on Papelbon to suck again this year? Is he trending downward or was last year just a fluke? We better who he bounces back, throws less pitches and allows less runners to reach base. In addition, this team has been babying Paps his entire career, so since we are a low scoring team, he is gonna get a lot of save opps., but he won't appear in all those save opps. So then who do we turn to, the unproven Bard? Oki? The lack of a cleanup hitter will be the demise of this team

[a700hitter]

There are some things that I don't buy into this propoganda the Sox have been spreading about run prevention and that is in regard to the bullpen. Based on the way this team is built' date=' they are going to win a lot of 3-1, 4-2 ball games. But, based on the what the pen showed at the end of last year, we are going to blow many of these games b/c we have arms that can't last the whole season. Lackey, Lester, Beckett aren't going to go 7 inninngs, 2 earned every start. And when what about when Dice-K is pitching? Guys like Delcarmen and Rameriz (to an extent) will come in a blow the game. You wanna rely on Papelbon to suck again this year? Is he trending downward or was last year just a fluke? We better who he bounces back, throws less pitches and allows less runners to reach base. In addition, this team has been babying Paps his entire career, so since we are a low scoring team, he is gonna get a lot of save opps., but he won't appear in all those save opps. So then who do we turn to, the unproven Bard? Oki? The lack of a cleanup hitter will be the demise of this team[/quote']We will not know if this shift in philosophy pays off until we see how many less runs they give up in 2010 than in 2009 and if this decrease exceeds the reduction in run production. I am not confident that this will turn out to be the case.

[SoxSport]

My prediction: Ellsbury-Pedroia-VMart-Youk-Drew-Cameron-Ortiz-Beltre-Scutaro

 

More or less like last year. Ortiz should bat 6th again. He hits best there at this point. Tito likes to alternate Lhd and Rhd hitters. You want your best on-base guys batting highest in the lineup.

[Keeper]

You wanna rely on Papelbon to suck again this year? Is he trending downward or was last year just a fluke? We better who he bounces back' date=' throws less pitches and allows less runners to reach base.[/quote']

 

1.85 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 38 saves, 3 blown saves. Every team would take that from a closer.

[jacksonianmarch]

The sox are selling this team as a team built on run prevention. It is, in reality, a team built with flexibility in mind. Theo hated having Manny around. Not just because of his antics, but because he was locked in at primo price through 2008. The sox might not be as good as they were last yr, but the current theme allows for them to fill a hole next yr with a bigger fish. Cashman did the same thing prior to 2009. He knew 3 prime targets were coming available and instead of locking up players prior to 2008 or making deals that would cost massive money AND prospects, he bided his time, filled holes with short term fixes and waited until he could craft the team he wanted at the price he was willing to pay. Theo is doing the same thing IMO. He has his eye on Adrian Gonzalez. Gonzo will cost 20 mil per season once his current contract runs out and might ask for that in negotiations should the sox deal for him. Beckett is going to be asking for Lackey money at the very least and CC money at the very most. Hell, Cliff Lee is coming available too. A lot of players that the sox would be interested in are coming available and after 2010, the team is completely and totally rebuilt.

 

This is what I think the sox are doing. They are filling their team with stopgap measures and one long term fit in Lackey with the hopes that they can stay competitive until Theo can put the best team he can field out there.

[a700hitter]

Adrian Gonzalez doesn't hit the FA market in 2011. How many years is Theo going to wait for "his" team. In two more years, there will be even more holes to fill. Drew, Ortiz, Beltre, Beckett, Scutaro, Cameron, VMart will all be gone by then. We still haven't replaced Manny/Bay. How many guys can Gonzalez replace? When are the contracts up for Youk and Pedroia?

[TheMino007]

1.85 ERA' date=' 1.15 WHIP, 38 saves, 3 blown saves. Every team would take that from a closer.[/quote']

 

That was the highest WHIP of his career, he threw way to many pitches, and walked way to many guys. He had a career high in walks last year. Paps all but gave up on his slider and rarely used the splitter. He would just pump fastball after fastball down the middle and he was lucky his ERA wasn't higher. Did you even watch him at all last year?

[Red Foreman]

The sox are selling this team as a team built on run prevention. It is, in reality, a team built with flexibility in mind. Theo hated having Manny around. Not just because of his antics, but because he was locked in at primo price through 2008. The sox might not be as good as they were last yr, but the current theme allows for them to fill a hole next yr with a bigger fish. Cashman did the same thing prior to 2009. He knew 3 prime targets were coming available and instead of locking up players prior to 2008 or making deals that would cost massive money AND prospects, he bided his time, filled holes with short term fixes and waited until he could craft the team he wanted at the price he was willing to pay. Theo is doing the same thing IMO. He has his eye on Adrian Gonzalez. Gonzo will cost 20 mil per season once his current contract runs out and might ask for that in negotiations should the sox deal for him. Beckett is going to be asking for Lackey money at the very least and CC money at the very most. Hell, Cliff Lee is coming available too. A lot of players that the sox would be interested in are coming available and after 2010, the team is completely and totally rebuilt.

 

This is what I think the sox are doing. They are filling their team with stopgap measures and one long term fit in Lackey with the hopes that they can stay competitive until Theo can put the best team he can field out there.

 

Not a bad post but really, on what planet do you think Gonzalez can ask $20M before he's dealt?

[Emmz]

The sox are selling this team as a team built on run prevention. It is, in reality, a team built with flexibility in mind. Theo hated having Manny around. Not just because of his antics, but because he was locked in at primo price through 2008. The sox might not be as good as they were last yr, but the current theme allows for them to fill a hole next yr with a bigger fish. Cashman did the same thing prior to 2009. He knew 3 prime targets were coming available and instead of locking up players prior to 2008 or making deals that would cost massive money AND prospects, he bided his time, filled holes with short term fixes and waited until he could craft the team he wanted at the price he was willing to pay. Theo is doing the same thing IMO. He has his eye on Adrian Gonzalez. Gonzo will cost 20 mil per season once his current contract runs out and might ask for that in negotiations should the sox deal for him. Beckett is going to be asking for Lackey money at the very least and CC money at the very most. Hell, Cliff Lee is coming available too. A lot of players that the sox would be interested in are coming available and after 2010, the team is completely and totally rebuilt.

 

This is what I think the sox are doing. They are filling their team with stopgap measures and one long term fit in Lackey with the hopes that they can stay competitive until Theo can put the best team he can field out there.

 

Lol, Beckett isn't going to be making CC Sabathia money. He's going to make Lackey money. And not as good? How are we not far superior to last year's team?

 

Honestly, we've upgraded the defensive massively, as well as the rotation, the the point of being the best in baseball in both aspects. Also, we've upgraded two positions, while upgrading defensively, and not taking a massive hit offensively in LF.

 

Our lineup is now more consistent all the way through, and our rotation is now the best in baseball, regardless of what your homering tells you.

 

Allow yourself to be unbiased for one second, and admit that the Red Sox have upgraded the team, while yours has probably taken a step back.

[diony]

Allow yourself to be unbiased for one second, and admit that the Red Sox have upgraded the team, while yours has probably taken a step back.

 

Ha ha.

[jacksonianmarch]

Allow yourself to be unbiased for one second' date=' and admit that the Red Sox have upgraded the team, while yours has probably taken a step back.[/quote']

 

Wait, so I should be unbiased then you finish it with a biased statement. I don't agree with that at all. We got younger and IMO a lot better this offseason.