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Boston Red Sox 2015 season preview and predictions

By Robby Sabo

Aug 22, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia (15) tosses the ball to shortstop Xander Bogaerts (not pictured) during the third inning against the Seattle Mariners at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 22, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia (15) tosses the ball to shortstop Xander Bogaerts (not pictured) during the third inning against the Seattle Mariners at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 19, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Boston Red Sox teammates David Ortiz (34) celebrates with Rusney Castillo (38) after their game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The Red Sox won 5-3 in ten inning. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 19, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Boston Red Sox teammates David Ortiz (34) celebrates with Rusney Castillo (38) after their game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The Red Sox won 5-3 in ten inning. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports /

2015 Predictions

Projected Lineup:

Sep 21, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Boston Red Sox second baseman Mookie Betts (50) is congratulated by teammates after hitting a solo home run in the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 21, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Boston Red Sox second baseman Mookie Betts (50) is congratulated by teammates after hitting a solo home run in the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports /
  1. RF Mookie Betts (R)
  2. 2B Dustin Pedroia (R)
  3. DH David Ortiz (L)
  4. LF Hanley Ramirez (R)
  5. CF Rusney Castillo (R)
  6. 3B Pablo Sandoval (S)
  7. 1B Mike Napoli (R)
  8. SS Xander Bogaerts (R)
  9. C Christian Vasquez (R)

Bench:

  • OF Shane Victorino (S)
  • OF Daniel Nava (S)
  • INF Brock Holt (L)
  • C Ryan Hannigan (R)

Rotation:

Sep 26, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Rick Porcello (21) pitches in the first inning against the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 26, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Rick Porcello (21) pitches in the first inning against the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /
  1. RHP Clay Buchholz
  2. RHP Rick Porcello
  3. RHP Justin Masterson
  4. LHP Wade Miley
  5. RHP Joe Kelly

Bullpen:

  • RHP Koji Uehara (Closer)
  • RHP Edward Mujica (Setup)
  • RHP Junichi Tazawa (Setup)
  • LHP Craig Breslow (Middle)
  • LHP Robbie Ross (Middle)
  • RHP Anthony Varvaro (Middle)
  • RHP Brandon Workman (Long)

Top Prospects:

  • C Blake Swihart
  • LHP Henry Owens
  • LHP Eduardo Rodriguez
  • LHP Brian Johnson
  • 3B Rafael Devers
  • 3B Geran Cecchini

There’s no doubt about it, the 2015 Boston Red Sox are loaded offensively. The projected lineup one through nine is arguably the best in baseball. I even see Castillo and Betts coming into their own very early in the season, making up for some of the falloff possible from Oritz and Mike Napoli.

Sep 27, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox center fielder Rusney Castillo (38) heads to the dugout after scoring a run during the second inning against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 27, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox center fielder Rusney Castillo (38) heads to the dugout after scoring a run during the second inning against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /

Let’s not forget, for how good Sandoval is in October, he sometimes fails to get his bat going during the grueling six months of the regular season.

They project to be a fantastic team.

What a about the postseason though? While Ortiz, Pedroia and Sandoval are as great a trio of clutch hitters as you’ll ever see, can only those clutch performers carry them through?

The Sox will need a magical act from manager John Farrell to form some type of dangerous starting rotation. Farrell used to be a pitching coach for the club and seems to turn projects into gold (see Uehara). If Farrell cannot succeed in transforming either Buchholz, Masterson, Porcello, Miley and/or Kelly into a top of the rotation guy, then Ben Cherington is going to have to unload some young talent early to get his ace.

As of now, they project to be one of the better regular season teams in 2015. Playoff success remains to be seen.

  • Record: 95-67, 1st Place in AL East
  • Playoffs: Will Lose in ALCS

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