Countdown to Opening Day: #10 Boston Red Sox

By Andrew Marcus

Sportswriter for Montgomery Media

Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515

To help pass the time between now and the start of the 2011 Major League Baseball season I am going to be examining a different team every day. Starting with the Pirates, working toward the Phillies. I will give you my projected starters, breakout and bust players, biggest spring training question and top prospect

PROJECTED LINEUP

CF Jacoby Ellsbury

2B Dustin Pedroia

LF Carl Crawford

1B Adrian Gonzalez

3B Kevin Youkilis

DH David Ortiz

RF JD Drew

C Jarrod Saltalamacchia

SS Marco Scutaro

PROJECTED ROTATION

Jon Lester

Josh Beckett

Clay Buchholz

John Lackey

Daisuke Matuszaka

PROJECTED BULLPEN
Closer - Jonathan Papelbon
Set-up - Daniel Bard

Top Prospect - Jose Inglesias (SS)

Breakout

Jed Lowrie - If Marco Scutaro were to get hurt or struggling the Red Sox do have other options. Inglesias waits his turn in AAA and Lowrie, who had success two years before an injury has shown his bat does play at the major league level. Look for Lowrie to be the everyday short stop come October.

Bust

Cameron, Kalish, Varitek - Last year injuries did the Sox in and it could happen again. Luckily in the A.L. you do not need to pinch hit often, becuase I do not think the Red Sox have any reliable depth. Varitek is basically a coach that will strap the gear on once a week and go 0-for-4, Mike Cameron is no longer Mike Cameron and Ryan Kalish, Daniel Nava and Darnell McDonald are barley major leaguers.

Biggest Spring Training Question

Gonzo's shoulder - If you thought Red Sox nation was excited for the season, just wait until Adrian actually steps on the field. Everything is suppose to be OK after off-season shoulder surgery and they are just taking it slow. Soon as Gonzo hits his first moon shot the line will double at the Fenway Box Office. Only thing is I'm not sure if you are allowed to sit at a window for 162 games waiting for playoff tickets.

LAST YEAR'S RECORD: 89-73

Is Gonzo an MVP in Boston?

PROJECTED FINISH: 1st in the American League East

***THANKS FOR READING MY TEAM BY TEAM OUTLOOKS TO HELP PASS THE TIME
 

Check back tomorrow for the San Diego Padres