2 of 10

Write now Article Tools

Set to defend their second World Series victory in the last four years, the Boston Red Sox return the vast majority of their 2007 Championship roster. With a strong core of elite veterans and an increasingly young and talented supporting cast, the Red Sox are set to remain among the best in baseball for the foreseeable future.

Boston's pitching staff is what carried them to their 2007 World Series victory and it is where their greatest strength still lies.

Their pitching staff had the best ERA and WHIP in the American League in 2007. While they can go in a number of different directions, all of those options will put them in excellent position. The front of their starting staff is composed of a young ace who has already established himself as one of the best pitchers in baseball - Josh Beckett, and a younger ace in the making who got his feet wet in his rookie season by finishing sixth in the league in strikeouts - Daisuke Matsuzaka.

In his second campaign with the Red Sox, Beckett finished second in the AL Cy Young voting to C.C. Sabathia. He struck out 194 batters against 40 walks in 200.2 innings, holding opponents to a 3.27 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and .245 average. Matsuzaka, like most other first-year pitchers, had an inconsistent first season. Still, he struck out nearly a batter per inning and he held up for 200-plus innings. With his large selection of above-average pitches and a full year of Major League experience under his belt, Matsuzaka is poised for a breakout year in 2008.

The rest of Boston's starting staff is somewhat up in the air as they have four potential starters for three rotation spots. Returning for a fifth season with the Red Sox, Curt Schilling starts the season on the disabled list and is expected to miss at least the first half of 2008. As insurance for Schilling, the Red Sox have signed Bartolo Colon to a minor league contract. Colon was the 2005 Cy Young Award winner, but he has struggled with arm injuries since. He will serve as a sixth starter barring any serious pitching injuries.

Tim Wakefield had his perpetual team option picked up and he will likely extend his impressive longevity as a member of Boston's pitching staff. The 41-year old knuckleballer will have his ups and downs over the course of a season, but always ends up with an ERA in the 4's and around 180 to 200 innings of league average pitching.

Clay Buchholz, considered one of the best prospects in baseball, has already dominated every level of the minor

• 1
• 2
• 3
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about MLB predictions: 2008 Boston Red Sox?
We want to hear your view. Write now!