A new season, new questions arise for Red Sox and Yankees

By Taylor Locke
Sophomore at Southern Aroostook Community School
    As the Red Sox, Yankees and other teams report to spring training in Florida, a number of issues are up in the air for both teams. The Red Sox and Yankees have very solid ball clubs, a number of core players are returning to both teams. However, each of these teams have key issues, which need to be decided before opening day, on April 4th.
    The Red Sox pitching staff is very solid. They potentially could go with a six-man rotation that would consist of Josh Beckett, John Lester, John Lackey, Clay Buchholtz, Tim Wakefield and Daisuke Matsuzaka.
    There is, however, one problem. Matsuzaka has sustained an injury which means he could miss the start of the season. The team is calling it a “stiff neck.” Even without Matsuzaka, the combination of Beckett, Lester and Lackey will be a dangerous one. The trio, since 2006, has won 162 games and posted a 3.77 ERA.
    The Red Sox, however, have many questions with their lineup. With the loss of Jason Bay and the injury to Mike Lowell, the rest of the team will have a lot of work to do if they want to outperform the ‘09 Red Sox in run production. The team did sign outfielders Mike Cameron and Jeremy Hermida, third basemen Adrian Beltre, shortstop Marco Scutaro, and infielder Bill Hall. The Sox should get decent production out of Cameron, who was average last year and Scutaro, who had a breakout year for Toronto in 2009. But, with Drew and Ortiz on the decline, will it be enough? The Red Sox lineup in 2010 will look something like this: Jacoby Ellsbury, Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkillis, Victor Martinez, David Ortiz, Adrian Beltre, J.D. Drew, Marco Scutaro and Mike Cameron.
    Players one-four, on the above list are as solid as anyone. But, five-nine, have a lot of potential problems. Will Ortiz and Drew continue to produce? Can Beltre and Scutaro live up to expectations? Also, can everyone stay healthy?
    My prediction for the season: the staff will be one of the best in the league, with Beckett and Lester leading the way. The top of the order will be productive but, the bottom of the order will struggle.
    Scutaro will not play like he did in Toronto due to expectations and pressure from the media. Beltre will be exceptional with the glove, but he will lack offensive production. The Red Sox will easily outperform the Rays and they will clinch a wild card berth.
    Coming off an excellent season with another World Series Championship under their belts, the Yankees are poised to make another playoff push. However, they also have a number of questions going into spring training.
    The first question is, who is going to be the fifth starter? Joba Chamberlain, Phil Huges, Alfredo Aceves and Sergio Mitre are the front-runners for this job. Chamberlain has looked awful during his first appearances this spring, which means he could be more suited for the bullpen. Mitre, Aceves and Hughes, on the other hand, are performing quite well. The rest of the pitching staff which includes C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, Andy Pettitte and Javier Vazquez appear ready to defend the Yankee’s World Series title.
    The main issue facing the Yankees offense is where to bat newly acquired Nick Johnson and Curtis Granderson. Johnson, when healthy, is a great guy to have batting in front of Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeria, because his on-base percentage was second in the National League last year.
    An alternative to Johnson would be Curtis Granderson. He has a lot of pop in his bat and he could take advantage of the short porch in right field. The only problem with Granderson batting second is that he struggles against lefties, which could be a major issue.
    As long as Johnson stays healthy it would make sense to bat him second so he can present Rodriguez and Teixeria with RBI opportunities. Granderson would fit well in the number sixth or seventh hole. The Yankees 2010 lineup will look something like this: Derek Jeter, Nick Johnson (if he stays healthy), Mark Teixeria, Alex Rodriguez, Jorge Posada, Curtis Granderson, Robinson Cano, Nick Swisher and Brett Gardner.
    The Yankees offense will be as productive as ever this year. It will be critical however, for older players such as Jorge Posada and Derek Jeter to stay healthy. The Yankees will also miss the clutch performances of Hideki Matsui and Johnny Damon. Other players such as Cano, will need to step up and play bigger roles.
    My prediction for the season: Phil Hughes will claim the fifth spot in the rotation, which will send Chamberlain to the pen, and Nick Johnson will bat second. It is very possible that Johnson will sustain an injury during the season, which may force the Yankees to make a trade during the summer. The Yankees will once again win the American League East and make a deep playoff run.