Contenders Or Pretenders?

[jn6474]

So, with probably no more big moves left in the sox offseason, barring any trades. Which could happen, but as it stands at the moment are the sox contenders or pretenders?
Heres the projected roster:
Lester Buchholz Dempster Lackey Doubront
Hanrahan Bailey Uehara Tazawa Bard Breslow Miller Mortenson Aceves Morales (may start)
Saltalamacchia
Napoli
Pedroia
Drew
Middlebrooks
Gomes
Ellsbury
Victorino
Ortiz
Bench may include up to 4-5 of these: D.Ross Gomez Ciriaco Holt Kalish Nava Lavarnway(likely AAA)

[bagwell368]

Nicely calibrated to look like it can contend for real, but that's about a 12% shot. More likely we are sellers at the deadline. The worse thing is we are close enough and do nothing at the deadline.

[CeltBruinSoxFan]

I think the injury bug is going to hit the Sox, so I will say pretenders. I think both Napoli and Papi hit the DL this year and a decent sized stint (3-5 weeks). We won't have the power to contend.

But if the team can stay some what healthy . . . we have a chance to surprise for the last wild card spot possibly.

[Nomar]

air benders

[Bo Sox Fan]

You can pretty much book DL stints right now for Ortiz, Napoli, Buchholz and Bailey at some (multiple) points in the season. So saying that, we are pretenders with a shot to play spoiler in September if we don't completely tank again.

[GrkGawdofWalkz]

Pretender. The team was put together so that they at least keep their season ticket holders satisfied. Long term value is limited in guys like Lackey, Dempster and other veterans. By 2014, a lot of these guys could have been moved by the deadline.

[RedSoxtober]

I'll suggest contenders but not for the obvious reasons. I believe that the AL East is so strong that the teams are ultimately going to beat the crap out of each other all season. The Sox will have what amounts to a "bend don't break" team that is able to just keep pace with the teams driving one another towards .500. They'll have enough offense to pick up games against the weaker Central/West teams and probably have a supra-500 split in interleague games. Taken together that's enough to be a "contender" in the sense of being in the hunt for a WC spot. I'm assuming that the Yankees take a hit on age, BAL's BP-centric approach doesn't replicate success. At least the opportunities are there.

[Nomar]

Baltimore had a 8 win bullpen which is probably unrepeatable. Yankees are getting old. Tampa to me looks like a great team built around young players. Toronto has a great team, but injury concerns are a big question for them and my gut won't let me trust Dickey in our division. I don't want to say we have no chance because that's not true, but I'm somewhere between contenders and pretenders.

[Celtic AL]

I think they could contend for the final wild card spot if most the of pieces fall in to place

[ruckus16969]

Hard to tell. The SP has to live up to its potential if that dont happen then this team is gonna suck. This offense is one power bat away from being super balanced. Ya never know maybe they will pull together and suprise us all. Probably not tho

[Nighthawk]

Nicely calibrated to look like it can contend for real, but that's about a 12% shot. More likely we are sellers at the deadline. The worse thing is we are close enough and do nothing at the deadline.

Would you agree that the talent we had last year underachieved?

AND

Do you believe they can bounce back? Guys like Lester, Clay, Ells, Pedey, and even a returning Lackey. (Assuming they stay healthy of course)

Do you believe in the new guys? Nap, Victorino, Hanrahan, Drew, Ross, Uehara, Dempster Gomes etc


You see no shot at the 2nd wild card?

I personally think with a new coach, a coach these players will actually run through a wall for, we will see a difference in attitude. Im not silly enough to think their contenders for the W.S. But is Baltimore here to stay? Will the Yankees remain on top or do we see decline?(they looked bad in the ALCS) Will Toronto put it together on the field or be a paper team? Will Tampa continue to stay atop the AL East with that lineup? We know they have the pitching. I think this season is an interesting one

[Station 13]

Contenders

[BradytoGronkTD]

Well, probably 90% of people outside of baltimore didnt give them any chance to contend, so you never know. Some players could play out of their minds this year.

[postman47]

Last season, the Redsox suffered from many issues which contributed to the very poor season. The Mgr was one issue that has been fixed. Our top starter (Lester) had his a horrible season, but I think he will have a much better year this year. The closers were horrible, but that too should improve. The key will be injuries. Way too many last year, and while this year there will be injuries, it all comes down to the amount. If they can be somewhat limited, the Redsox can contend for a Wild Card spot, then anything can happen in the playoffs.

[todu82]

I can see us being contenders. We're definitely better than last year.