By: Ian Tasso, YawkeyTalkies Staff Writer
With opening day just one week away, we’ve reached the top 5 Red Sox questions for the 2010 season in our top 20 countdown.
5. Do the Red Sox have enough in then middle of the order to win this season? (Eric; Amherst, Mass.)
Yes. They lose a lot of shots over the monster going from Bay to Cameron, and they lose plenty of rockets into left going from Lowell to Beltre. I’ll even go on a limb to say they lose a litte pop with Scutaro in the nine-hole rather than Gonzalez.
But even so, a lot of people forget who really is in this lineup: an MVP, one of the most potent bats in the AL in Kevin Youkilis, the second best hitting catcher in all of baseball (who’s finally here for a full season), and the MLB’s leading base stealer. Not to mention David Ortiz – who, even with last year’s struggles still slammed the American League’s 4th most home runs post-All Star Break with 16.
After all, with the pitching they feature, it’s not like they need a Yankee-style batting order. The days of 10-8, 15-9 wins are most likely behind us. But does this [...]

By: Jordan Liebhaber, with contributions from Jess Lander, YawkeyTalkies Staff Writers
Spring Training is under way, so you know what that means…  It’s time to get your Fantasy Baseball Leagues set up!  The 2010 Boston Red Sox have a number of players who you should consider for your team, and maybe some who you shouldn’t.
Note: Last year I (Jess) stacked my team with many Red Sox players (Pedroia, Dice-K, Papi, Becket,  and Ellsbury to name a few. My team placed second–so building your team around your fan base is okay.
Bats:
Kevin Youkilis is proving to be a reliable power hitter in the post-steroid era, and with the Sox going for defense this year, one of the best bats, if not the best, on the Sox roster. Last season he hit for a .305 average, drove in 94 runs, and hit 27 home runs. Youk is a valuable commodity since he can play first or third base for your team, so look for him to be scooped up by the 3rd round. Rank: 38
Dustin Pedroia disappointed fantasy owners last year, not living up to his 2008 MVP season.  He ended the season with a  .296 average, 72 RBI’s, 115 runs, and 20 [...]

By: Ian Tasso, YawkeyTalkies Staff Writer
Spring is a time of new beginnings: the temperatures are on the rise, the sun is back out and the flowers are in bloom.
But most importantly, the cleats are back on.
Yes, for many, the most important thing about the calendar flipping to March is the dawning of baseball, the smearing of pine tar and the popping sound of twine colliding with maple.
Each new baseball season brings in tow plenty of new storylines; some more impressive than others. Whether it be a highly-touted free-agent making his debut in fresh colors, a young gun cracking the lineup or even a returning veteran trying to shed some cobwebs, Spring Training always arrives in March with its fair share of headlines.
And for the 2010 Boston Red Sox, this season is no exception. Josh Beckett’s contract situation and the questionable Boston offense headline a Spring Training that brings plenty of concerns to the table.
But none are more impeding than the suspense surrounding David Ortiz and his mysterious decline of 2009. Will the slugger bounce back to 2004 form? Will he continue to slide?
Only time will tell. But until then, let’s take a look at some of the most anticipated Spring [...]

By: Dave Cheng, YawkeyTalkies Staff Writer
It’s the most wonderful time of the year.  Spring is just around the corner, and those who live and die with the Red Sox are ready for baseball season, especially with the Celtics struggling to find any momentum heading into the playoffs.
The games against Northeastern and Boston College on Wednesday meant little in the grand scheme of spring training.  The Sox simply beat two inferior college teams, and if they had struggled to do so there might have been some concern around the clubhouse and the city of Boston.
That was not the case today, as the Sox beat the Northeastern Huskies 15-0 in Fort Myers in their first game this preseason.  The main story here wasn’t the game itself but the perfect inning that included two strikeouts top prospect Casey Kelly threw in his debut.
The organizations minor league pitcher of the year last year was nothing short on praise from his teammates, including his catcher who caught two Cy Young award winners in Cleveland.
“He has some great stuff,” said Victor Martinez, who caught CC Sabathia and Cliff Lee with the Indians..  ”He was throwing his fastball in and out, mixing it with his curveball, changeup. [...]

By Ian Tasso, and contributions made by Jess Lander, YawkeyTalkies Staff Writers
Endings are supposed to be climactic.
Raised with movies such as “Scarface” and books like the “Lord of the Rings,” we were taught that an ending is supposed to be glorious. Guns blazing, horns blaring — a finale is supposed to be this.
Same thing goes for the closing of a sports career. By right, it should be a culmination of a years of work, complete with standing ovations, confetti, horns — the works.
But the truth is, it rarely works out like that.
Just ask Allen Iverson, who on Tuesday was released by the 76ers, a move that figured by most to be a long time coming. Iverson was in the midst of attempting to revitalize his 13-year career, 10 seasons of which were spent annihilating defenses in Philadelphia. But after a failed stint in Denver, a mishap in Detroit and a misstep with the Grizzlies, Iverson appears to be done — finally.
Even Michael Jordan, Mr. Basketball himself, ended one of the greatest careers in NBA history with a finale that was far from epic. Jordan left Chicago with every intention of leaving the game, only to return with the Washington Wizards, a sequel that [...]

By: Ben Barker, YawkeyTalkies Correspondent
While the pitching seems to be set in place for a strong 2010, the arms have really not been the concern. The biggest question mark for the Sox all off-season has been their offense.
There is no doubt that the number of home-runs will suffer with the loss of Jason Bay, but many people give that more weight than it deserves. The real question is whether or not the Red Sox newcomers will be able to fill that hole enough to put the Red Sox on the scoreboard.
Realistically, if everyone in the batting order can have an offensive year that matches their career average, the Red Sox will be fine. Will this happen? We can only wait and see.

1B – Kevin Youkilis: Youuuuuuuk! The ultimate dirt dog. Kevin Youkilis has been one of the most consistent players in all of baseball over the last three seasons, and he is only getting better. His flawless glove at first base will add to a very solid defensive infield, and with Bay leaving town, Youk should supply most of the power for Boston in 2010.
Prediction: (AVG) – .320 (HR) – 28 (RBI) – 115
2B – Dustin Pedroia: A Rookie of the Year, MVP, Gold [...]

By Jordan Liebhaber, YawkeyTalkies Staff Writer
You know spring is in the air when Red Sox talk hits the air waves.  Too bad the weather outside won’t cooperate.  Fenway Park is still frost bitten and covered by tarps, but the infamous truck left for Fort Myers last week and Sox fans are ready for some baseball.
So how about those Sox?  The last two seasons have been somewhat of a disappointment compared to what we were used to seeing.  After two World Series championships in three years, we are hardly satisfied with just a mere playoff entry.  No, we want it all.  So what chance does this edition of the Boston Red Sox have against the rest of the American League and the (I really hate saying this) defending champion New York Yankees?
As the old adage says, pitching and defense wins championships.  The 2010 Red Sox will feature one of the best rotations in baseball, led by “J cubed” (Jon Lester, Josh Beckett and John Lackey).  Dice-K will come into the season with a rested and healthy right arm, and groin (that injury he lied about all season).  Budding star Clay Buchholz will pitch in the number 5 slot.  As always, the [...]