It's January. As the world didn't end this past New Year's Day, it's time for us to look forward to the potential of the last baseball season in the millennium. The important question is, of course: What are the chances for the Sox this year?
If Jimy Williams were asked to offer his opinion on the upcoming season, he would probably make an oblique comment about his gardening or his marble collection or otherwise offer a non-answer. It's almost worth asking Jimy's opinion of the matter just to see which way he'll redirect the question. However amusing that may be, though, it does not offer anything concrete on which to base the speculations towards the next season.
The major difference between this upcoming year's lineup and last year's is, of course, the addition of Carl Everett (formerly of the Houston Astros) in center field, which followed the trade of Damon Buford to the Chicago Cubs.
A comparison of Everett and Buford shows that, while somewhat less effective in the field, Everett is an incredible offensive improvement. Buford did see fewer games because of the Sox's platooned outfield; however, based on at-bats rather than raw numbers, Everett hits more frequently, with more power, walks more, and strikes out less. Since the Sox have been desperately needing more power output from the outfield, this is a vast improvement.
One of the concerns with the Everett move has been social as opposed to gameplay; will some of the concerns about his history surface in the Boston media? Jimy's ability to focus the newsmongers on himself and his maddeningly oblique answers can only go so far towards protecting his players; it has also been an admirable tendency of the offices for the Sox to want to retain players who are good human beings as well as good ballplayers. There has been a good deal of handwaving about this issue on all sides; Everett lost custody of one of his children after an abuse case involving his wife's treatment of the child. It is the general consensus that he was not responsible, but it is entirely possible that this piece of history could be pulled out in search of story.
There has been very little heard from Everett about what he thinks of the trade. While this is completely reasonable, granted the recent birth of a new child, there is some justified worry that he may be concerned over the potential assaults of the Boston news. If he is, and therefore is interested in filing for free agency after this year instead of signing longer-term with the Sox, his presence is a temporary solution at best.
Continuing on through the outfield, one of the continuing question marks is Trot Nixon. He showed dramatic improvement in the second half of the year, managing well against the right-handed pitching, but still facing a difficulty against left-handers. It's been demonstrated in the past that Trot is capable of taking help and internalizing it, both in his jump to the Majors and the correction of his batting stance, so it's certainly possible that he could start contending against southpaws after a little study in the spring. If he manages that and sustains that, his prospects for the year are still better; if not, it seems that Michael Coleman will be platooning with him and taking the starting job against lefthanders.
The infield has its own sets of questions. Since Butch Huskey was released, there is some question about who makes up the DH platoon; Mike Stanley and Brian Daubach are the obvious choices, but if there is going to be any significant platooning in place, that still leaves the Sox short a first baseman. There is also the question of whether the slumping Daubach or the hitting Daubach will be showing up next season. "Who's on First?" is going to remain a viable question at least until spring training.
John Valentin's knees are the most significant remaining question where the position players are concerned; how much of his recent years' slippage is related to injury, and how much to a decline in skills? While it seems unlikely that Wilton Veras will be coming out of the minors to take third at the beginning of the season, Val's performance is a sticking point in some eyes. There's no denying his guts and will to play; there is, however, a groundswell of people who would rather see Veras on the bag if Val's slump continues. Valentin, however, does say that coming off the surgery he's feeling better than he has in years. Here's hoping.
The starting rotation will of course see Pedro Martinez in the #1 slot; it seems that Ramon Martinez has recovered from his surgery and will be taking #2. Bret Saberhagen will be out until the All-Star break because of his own surgery. Will Jeff Fassero show enough of a recovery through his reunion with Joe Kerrigan to take another starting spot, as the southpaw starter? Will John Wasdin overcome the burden of his nickname and wind up either in the rotation or the bullpen on a regular basis? Will Tim Wakefield take a starting spot with his knuckleball? There are also the pitchers known in some circles as 'the kids': Brian Rose, Juan Pena, Tomokazu Ohka, and Jin-Ho Cho. It seems likely that Rose will start out the season with a place as a starter; one of the others might well wind up in the bullpen for relief.
Sang-Hoon Lee, the recently-signed Korean closer, is a long shot for winding up in the rotation, but is certainly a good complement to Rheal Cormier as a southpaw in the otherwise righthanded bullpen. According to some reports, Lee has been somewhat overworked in the Japanese Leagues, and has suffered sufficient arm strain that he will be unable to take a starting job.
It looks like a good team heading into the season, aside from the full and probably expected quota of questionmarks. There is no Curse.
Go Sox.