Red Sox Preview: Part II, The Bats

by Ben Barker

Editorial. Photos by AP News

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: 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 Glover, and Silver Slugger all in his first three seasons. Pedroia is the new face of the Boston Red Sox, taking over the role that Nomar Garciaparra held for so long. After sliding a bit from his 2008 campaign, Pedroia should come out firing in 2010. Since the Sox have moved away from the power game, it will be up to Pedroia to get on base and score some runs.

Prediction: (AVG) - .310 (HR) – 13 (RBI) – 79

3B – Adrian Beltre: Red Sox fans may miss Mike Lowell at third base every day, but Beltre’s glove should help them get over it. Arguably the best defensive third baseman in all of baseball, Beltre will lock down the hot corner and steal his fair share of hits from opposing batters. From an offensive standpoint, don’t expect too much. Beltre will never come close to the season that he had in 2004 with the Dodgers, but he does still have some pop. After playing in Seattle for the last five seasons, Fenway’s Green Monster should help Beltre out in the power department.

Prediction: (AVG) - .259 (HR) – 22 (RBI) – 89

SS – Marco Scutaro: If Scutaro can put up numbers similar to those of last season, Boston will be overjoyed. Marco’s primary job in 2010 will be to give the Sox some solid defense at shortstop. Pedroia and Scutaro together should give the Sox one of the better double play combinations out there. While Theo did bring Scutaro in mainly for his defense, his bat could go a long way at the bottom of the lineup. A career .265 hitter, Scutaro broke out last season batting .282.

Prediction: (AVG) - .268 (HR) – 10 (RBI) – 72

LF – Jacoby Ellsbury: Moving Jacoby out to left field could prove to be a very smart move for the Red Sox. Ellsbury’s speed will allow him to play a very shallow left field, and as a result, steal a ton of singles. From an offensive standpoint, Jacoby will find himself at the top of Boston’s lineup once again. After stealing 70 bases last season, pitchers will be forced to give Ellsbury some pitches to hit, and his average should go up because of it.

Prediction: (AVG - .321 (HR) – 6 (RBI) – 52

CF – Mike Cameron: Much like Beltre, Cameron was brought into Boston for his glove. Moving Jacoby to left field shows just how highly the Red Sox regard Cameron’s defense. A seasoned veteran, Cameron should be a great leader for the Red Sox and help Ellsbury develop as a defender. Although his average has dropped off dramatically over the past few seasons, he does still have some power.

Prediction: (AVG) - .247 (HR) – 23 (RBI) – 75

RF – JD Drew: Since coming to Boston, Drew has been a pretty big disappointment. Frequent injuries and a mediocre bat have put Drew at the bottom of the pile when it comes to fan favorites. In the past, the presence of Boston’s sluggers has taken some of the pressure off of Drew, allowing him to under perform without it having a terrible result. 2010 will be different. With Ortiz’s productivity up in the air and Jason Bay signing with the Mets, it is Drew’s chance to step up and provide the Sox with some much over due offensive prowess.

Prediction: (AVG) - .274 (HR) – 22 (RBI) – 74

C – Victor Martinez: The 2009 trade for Victor Martinez may turn out to be one of Theo Epstein’s smarter moves as a GM. The difference that Martinez makes in the middle of Boston’s lineup is remarkable. Since joining the Red Sox, Victor has done nothing but produce, batting .336 in 56 games. While his defense isn’t the greatest, having that bat in the middle of Boston’s lineup should make up for it.

Prediction: (AVG) -.301 (HR) – 26 (RBI) – 96

DH – David Ortiz: The way that David Ortiz performs during the first half of 2010 will determine many things. Much of the buzz surrounding this off-season was whether or not Boston would make a push for San Diego’s Adrian Gonzalez. Theo Epstein decided not to pull the trigger on that deal, and instead gave Ortiz another chance to prove that he is still the offensive powerhouse that Boston has come to know so well. However, if Ortiz struggles out of the gates, Theo could re-spark trade talks with the Padres, or give a position-less Mike Lowell the vacant DH spot.

Prediction: (AVG) - .258 (HR) – 31 (RBI) – 101

The Bench: Along with pitching and defense, the Red Sox should have one of the deepest benches in baseball. The re-signing of Jason Varitek will do wonders for the younger players on the roster, especially the pitchers. Adding Adrian Beltre has moved Mike Lowell to the bench, and while he may be traded before the season begins, one injury or lack of production could change those plans.

Bill Hall, Jed Lowrie, and Jeremy Hermida also give Boston some much needed depth, and all provide some decent offense off the bench. Overall, Boston’s bench hosts multiple players who could be starting on other teams. With Drew’s knack for injury, and Ortiz’s effectiveness up in the air, the Boston bench could become a very important component for the 2010