2010 Boston Red Sox Lineup

In the 2010 offseason, the Boston Red Sox have upgraded their starting pitching, shortstop position, and defense.  However, compared to 2009, they have a weaker offense on paper with the departure of Jason Bay.  Boston’s pitching staff is strong enough to carry them, but their offense will be the x-factor deciding just how far they go in 2010.

Jacoby Ellsbury, Left Field:

The American League’s top base-stealer, Jacoby Ellsbury has adapted nicely to being an everyday leadoff hitter in the Major Leagues.  Ellsbury finished 2009 with 70 stolen bases, 10 more than his closest follower.  He hit .301 and notched a .355 on-base percentage, earning the permanent job as the first hitter in Boston’s batting order.

Dustin Pedroia, Second Base:

Already an MVP winner in his second season, Dustin Pedroia regressed a bit in 2009, but still put up All-Star numbers.  Pedroia hit .296 with a .371 on-base percentage, .447 slugging, 48 doubles, and 15 home runs for the Red Sox in 2009.  He is a feisty second hitter who rarely strikes out and can steal the occasional base as well.  Pedroia gives the Red Sox a great offensive piece at an often defense-first position.

Victor Martinez, Catcher:

Acquired in mid-2009 to take over for the fading Jason Varitek, Victor Martinez is one of the main cogs in the Red Sox offense.  Martinez immediately slipped into the number three spot in Boston’s batting order, where he hit .336 with a .405 on-base percentage and 8 home runs in 211 ABs.  The continued leadership of Victor Martinez is critical to the success of the 2010 Boston Red Sox offense.

Kevin Youkilis, First Base:

Kevin Youkilis has served as Boston’s cleanup hitter since moving Manny Ramirez and he has delivered as one of the best hitters in the league and a regular MVP candidate.  Youkilis finished second in the AL with a .961 OPS in 2009, as he hit 27 home runs, 36 doubles, and got on base at a .413 clip.  Kevin Youkilis is the most important player for the 2010 Boston Red Sox offense.

J.D. Drew, Right Field:

After a slow first season in Boston, J.D. Drew has put up back-to-back .900-plus OPS seasons for the Red Sox in 2008 and 2009.  Last year, Drew hit .279 and reached base at a .392 clip, adding 24 home runs for a .522 slugging percentage.  Drew has quietly become a mainstay in Boston’s batting order, making opponents use a lot of pitches, reaching base at an elite rate, and rarely relinquishing an easy out.

David Ortiz, Designated Hitter:

David Ortiz is a question mark for the Red Sox in 2010.  While he finished the season with totals of 28 home runs and 35 doubles, he had a roller coaster ride getting to those numbers.  Ortiz hit .238 overall, mainly due to an awful first half of 2009 in which he hit .222 with a .733 OPS.  His second half numbers included a .258 average, .866 OPS, and 16 home runs, but his inconsistency is a concern for Boston.  The Red Sox will hope for Ortiz to serve as a middle-of-the-order run producer, but if Mike Lowell sticks around, Ortiz may not have the same everyday role as he has become used to in Boston.

Adrian Beltre, Third Base:

Adrian Beltre has been playing half of his games at the pitcher-friendly Safeco Field for the last few seasons; Fenway Park has a chance to give him new life as a hitter.  Beltre finished 2009 with a sub-.700 OPS and his lowest home run total since his rookie year.  During his other four seasons in Seattle, he averaged more than 20 home runs per year and an OPS over .770.  What gives him hope in Boston is the difference between his home and road performance in Seattle: over the last three years, he had a .252 average and .703 OPS at Safeco, but a .287 average and .819 OPS everywhere else.  Beltre will likely to hit seventh for the Red Sox, potentially serving as a run producer and a decent power hitter.

Mike Cameron, Center Field:

Mike Cameron is the same player today as he was at the beginning of the decade.  Cameron can be relied upon to play great defense in center field while hitting 20 or so home runs and putting up an OPS around .800.  The Red Sox will hope that his and Beltre’s defense can make up for the drop-off in offense from Jason Bay to Cameron.

Marco Scutaro, Shortstop:

Coming off of a career year in Toronto, Marco Scutaro has signed on as the new Red Sox shortstop.  In 2009, Scutaro had career highs in average (.282), on-base percentage (.379), OPS (.789), home runs (12), doubles (35), stolen bases (14), and runs scored (100).  Whether his improvement is genuine or a fluke will determine the strength of the bottom of the 2010 Boston Red Sox offense.

Bench:

The Red Sox bench is not fully settled, though longtime team captain Jason Varitek will serve as backup catcher.  Jeremy Hermida, acquired from the Marlins during the offseason, will