Is it that time of year already??The snow may be flying outside your window right now, but the 2004 darlings of Major League Baseball, the Boston Red Sox, are gearing up to defend their first world championship in 86 years.?Following the most improbable comeback in the sport’s history, baseball took a beating this winter in the media.?The primary focus for this past winter’s baseball stories were steroid allegations, rumors and finally the institution of a far more rigid policy on performance enhancing drugs.?In more disturbing news, the New York Yankees were finally able to acquire 41 year-old future Hall of Famer Randy Johnson.
When steroids were not the focus this winter, the Yankees again stole the spotlight.?Their weakest link from 2004, their staring pitching, became their strength.?Aside from acquiring Johnson, arguably the best left handed starter in the game’s history, George
Steinbrenner outbid the Sox for Carl Pavano, the former Red Sox and Florida Marlin right-hander, who went 18-8 with a 3.00 ERA in Florida last year.?To round out the rotation the Yankees acquired Jaret Wright, he will be their fifth starter this year,
following a career high fifteen win 2004 in Atlanta.
Yes, this sounds bad for the Sox and the rest of the majors, but please Sox fans take my advice: DO NOT PANIC!!?The Red Sox pitching staff has been drastically overhauled, gone are playoff hero Derek Lowe and fan favorite Pedro Martinez. The ironic acquisition of former Yankee David Wells received the most attention, but the other pitchers GM Theo Epstein signed could be the real difference makers on this year’s roster.
Former Cub Matt Clement’s 9-13 record last season is less than impressive.?However his ERA was nearly one-quarter of a run lower than that of former ace Pedro Martinez and Clement is three years younger. Many scouts have questioned Pedro’s arm and his ability to fulfill his four year contract with the Mets. On the other hand Clement is expected to have a breakout year as a strikeout pitcher in the swing-for-the-fences American League. The production of Wells and Clement combined will far exceed the contributions Pedro would have made for the defending champs, and their two contracts combined would pay Pedro with only one million to spare.
Perhaps the most unheralded and underrated pitcher in Sox camp is former Astro Wade Miller.?Miller went on the disabled list in July 2004 with a frayed rotator cuff in his throwing arm, and elected not to have surgery. He is throwing in spring training, and
expected to be ready to pitch for the Sox in May. Miller’s numbers over the last four seasons compare favorably to those of former Sox number three starter Derek Lowe. Miller is 52-32 in 106 starts compared to Lowe’s 47-37 in 101 starts.?Miller’s ERA is nearly a half run lower at 3.57 compared to Lowe’s 4.00. A healthy return by Miller will force the team to make a decision on which starter, Bronson Arroyo or Tim Wakefield, will be delegated to come out of the bullpen.?Having too many starters on the staff is a problem many teams would like to have, considering the dearth of starting pitching depth on many contenders.
Of course the Sox still have living legend Curt Schilling, but it is unsure if he will be available for the opener in Yankee Stadium against his former teammate Randy Johnson. While this seems to be a concern for many fans, again I advise you, DO NOT PANIC.?It is more important that Schilling is available to pitch against the Yankees in October than it is in April. In the unlikely event that Clement and Miller do not perform, we know Epstein has a back-up plan in place. He and the rest of the organization are prepared to do whatever it takes to ensure that this team makes the playoffs. Getting to the post-season is the first objective, because as we have seen, once you get to the playoffs, anything can happen. ?