The Red Sox in April 2000

By Cormac Eklof

24 Febuary 2000

The Red Sox go into April 2000 in the unusual position of being ranked possible challengers for the AL East crown with the New York Yankees. The last four or five years the Sox have been perennially written off as fourth of even fifth placed finishers, but this year the scribes, journalists and indeed AL managers are all pointing to the Sox as the team to watch. What has brought about this change of attitude? It's not one single thing but a collection of good moves by Dan Duquette and the aura of invincibility a certain Mr. Martinez brings to the mound every fifth day. Add to this the addition of dangerous power hitter Carl Everett and the Sox have a pretty intimidating line up one through nine.

The Rotation

Know this Red Sox opponents. Pedro Martinez is reportedly in the best shape he has been as a professional this off-season. He is enjoying his time off at home in the Dominican Republic and will be fresh, eager and rearing to go when he toes the rubber against Seattle on April fourth. Pedro is set to start 5 games in April, against Seattle, Anaheim, Oakland, Detroit and Texas. Another reason to fear Pedro is the extra lift and jolt of confidence pitching in front of his brother Ramon gives him. These guys just love watching each other pitch and they feed off each other's knowledge and support. Ramon looks to pitch in the number two spot and looks to take up where he left off in the ALCS, regaining his old 20 win form. The Red Sox want new boy Jeff Fassero to pitch third, hoping the veteran lefty will get back to his old form and prove a good foil in between Ramon and knuckle ball artist Tim Wakefield. Tim has given everything to the Red Sox the last few years and thoroughly deserves his fourth spot, and the chance Duquette and Jimy Williams are giving him to put up another 15/16 win season for the Olde Towne Team. I can't help thinking he would be a great starter to have behind Pedro, throwing his 60mph flutter balls the day after batters have had to face Pedro's 90mph heaters. The Pedro and Ramon show, however, is more than satisfactory.

The fifth spot in the rotation is going to be won is Spring Training. Juan Pena and Brian Rose have a jump on the other possibilities after the impressive performances they put up in 1999. Pena might need a half a season at AAA but Rose should be rested and ready to go again. Rose wilted somewhat near the end of 1999 but nobody should forget his stunning 3 start flurry in May when he beat the Indians (Twice!) and the Yankees, a trio of wins any veteran pitcher would be very, very proud of. One downside to the April rotation could be Pedro missing all 6 of the Cleveland games. The Tribe will be delirious about this, Pedro is basically the difference between the Red Sox and Cleveland, as he showed in the 1999 ALCS.

The Lineup

It's hard to see Jimy Williams going with anything but the following. Jose Offerman will lead off and cement his growing reputation as one of the AL's premier lead off hitters. John Valentin is the prime candidate for the second spot, John is a great bet to put wood on the ball and can also bring Offie around with one swing of the bat. Where else do you put Nomar Garciaparra except at number three? Here he will have the protection of Carl Everett batting fourth behind him. If that's not enough try pitching to Troy O'Leary behind him in fifth. Cleveland tried it. The sixth and seventh spot will probably go to the first base/DH platoon of Mike Stanley, Brian Daubach, new kid on the block Marty Cordova or even Scott Hatteberg. Jason Varitek will be one of the AL's better 8th spot hitters and the ninth spot will go to the Red Sox right field platoon of either Darren Lewis or Christopher Trotman Nixon. Both have speed and are certainly excellent number nine hitters.

The Opposition

The Sox have an interesting mix to face in April. The most intimidating part of the early schedule is undoubtedly the six games against the Indians. Fast becoming one of the AL's great matchups it should be interesting to see if the two teams can generate some of the excitement from the ALCS so early in the season. These six games will be a very good indication of how the Sox will match up with the league's elite in 2000. The Sox have a tough enough schedule over all in April, only 2 days off, 15 games on the road as opposed to only 10 in 'Friendly' Fenway. Offsetting that, the team the Sox face as the season begins will be struggling to come to terms with the loss of it's brightest star, one Kenneth Griffey Junior. Seattle will turn to Alex Rodriguez in the hope he can keep the team in playoff contention. Meanwhile the Red Sox are licking their lips at the prospect of facing old chum Aaron Sele, who was his own worst enemy when he left Boston saying he looked forward to pitching in front of a 'real' defense, in Texas. Nommie, Val, Stano and the boys need no more incentive to send Sele's offerings over the left field wall.

Historically

The 1999 Sox actually went 11-11 last year after a 5-0 start. They beat up Kansas early on with ESPN gleefully reminding us that Jose Offerman was an anagram of 'major offense'. They beat the Tribe 2-1 and looked good in patches but struggled against the 'minnows' such as the Twins and Devil Rays.

Outlook

It's very hard to see the Sox going 11-11 in April 2000. Barring any Spring Training disasters the Sox should take 2 of three from Seattle in Safeco. Aneheim are a team in transition but they are facing the lower part of the Sox rotation so the Sox will take that series 2-1. The Sox then have ten in a row against the Twins, the A's and the Tigers. The Twins will not cause the Sox the same problems they did in 1999 and the A's will have to really play above themselves to replicate their own fantastic '99. The Tigers could be tough enough in their new ground with their new star Gonzalez terrorizing visiting pitching. Red sox 7-3 on that 9 game stretch. Then comes the tough part of the April schedule. The Sox face nine in a row against the Cleveland Indians and Texas Rangers. Only three of that set are at home. The Rangers have lost a few key players and perhaps won't be as tough as the Tribe but they are traditionally a tough team against the Sox. Rangers 2-1. The six games against the Tribe will come down to whoever wants them the most in April. The teams match up more evenly with the Sox addition of Everett and Cordova and the Sox still have a big edge in moral and team unity. Red Sox 4-2. That leaves an April record of 16-9. Nothing left now except to cross the fingers everyone comes through the Spring schedule okay.