Fansided

Opening Day 2015: Top 5 storylines for 2015 MLB season

By FanSided Staff

Apr 5, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; A general shot of Wrigley Field during batting practice prior to a game between the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 5, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; A general shot of Wrigley Field during batting practice prior to a game between the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 13, 2015; Fort Myers, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox center fielder Mookie Betts (50) celebrates with third baseman Pablo Sandoval (48) after scoring in the third inning against the New York Yankees at JetBlue Park. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 13, 2015; Fort Myers, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox center fielder Mookie Betts (50) celebrates with third baseman Pablo Sandoval (48) after scoring in the third inning against the New York Yankees at JetBlue Park. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /

Can the Boston Red Sox Return To The Top?

Could the Boston Red Sox really be making another turnaround for the 2015 season? In 2012 the Red Sox won just 69 games, their worst winning percentage since 1994. The following year they made some major off-season moves as well as an attitude change in the dug-out and won the World Series. This year kind of has the same feel to it. The Red Sox went just 71-91 last season, severely under performing at just about at every position.

Then general manager Ben Cherrington spent a little money and acquired some big bats to go next to David Ortiz and Mike Napoli. Boston brought in Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez. Panda Bear will play third for the BoSox, while Hanley Ramirez will get his first starting role in the outfield. In previous years, Ramirez was known as one of the best offensive short stops in baseball. But as he makes the transition to the Red Sox, and Xander Bogaerts continues playing short stop and Sandoval remains at third base, Ramirez will give the outfield a go.

It shouldn’t be that big of a transition for him. Ramirez is quite an athlete. And he has already started making the move in spring training and it hasn’t made manager John Farrell raise too many eye brows. Either way, Ramirez should be more worried about getting on base than anything. After all, the Red Sox lineup is structured in a way that if Ramirez gets on base like he has in years past (.373 OBP) then the big bats in the middle of the order will be able to gather some pretty impressive RBI stats this year.

I don’t know if there is a scarier lineup in baseball this year that the Red Sox. If Ortiz and Sandoval can remain healthy and hit 25+ home runs and Dustin Pedroria, Shane Victorino, and Ramirez continue hitting above .300, why can’t the Red Sox do a complete 180 from last year’s awful season? I don’t see many reasons why not.

Next: Next year is here, Chicago

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