How long has it been?  I don't even want to look becuase I'm obviously embarassed.  How am I going to get a link off of Deadspin and befriend Seth Mnookin if I don't stay consistent with this?   Heck, I  am still 10 games away from completing a full season of MLB for PS2, which I started at the beginning of LAST season.  Uggh that whole parenting thing just kills you.  I don't know how Bill Simmons does it.  Well I do and it's called money, but I bet he sympathizes.  I need to monetize this thing too.  C'Mon besides my dear friend Motoki who else reads this?  How do I monetize a blog with one loyal reader?  I'll figure it out.  Mahhhk my words.

So this weekend begins MLB 07.  So much has happened since MLB 06 ended and my beloved Red Sox (and Patriots) decided that they would outspend the entire South American continent on free agent signings this winter.   So what can we expect from all of this?  The pros are that there are some seriously talented players on this team.  The negatives are that there are a lot of guys on this team who weren't on last year's opening day roster which means it will take a while to get some chemistry going.  Dice-K, Romero, Okajima, Pineiro, Donnelly, Lopez, Snyder, Hinske, Pedroia, Mirabelli (although he doesn't count in this argument) and Lugo make 10 new guys if you don't count Mirabelli.  That's about 40% of the roster.  Seven of them are pitchers.  That's amazing.

Like last year I'm going to have one post for the Sox, because that's all Jimmy cares about and then I'll break down the rest of MLB for Monday.  Let's look at each of the 25 players plus some of the kids who will be up here sooner or later.

Infield

Jason Varitek:  I don't care what anybody says about his offense.  He could hit .167 this season and it wouldn't matter as long as he's healthy and the pitching staff is one cohesive unit under his guidance and control.  There is still no better catcher in baseball than Tek.  Heck, it mattered a lot to Dice-K that he was going to pitch to Tek.  Admiration from halfway around the globe says a lot.  However, I think once he gets comfortable with 7 new pitchers his offensive game will return with a vengeance. 

Doug Mirabelli:  Although his importance lies in the fact that he is a good defensive catcher who can handle the knuckleball I feel like a guy who plays every fifth day needs to make the most out of his offense.  Until last season Mirabelli did that.  Let's hope Douggie gets his Green Monster swing back.  If not bring in George Kotteras and release Wakefield too. 

Kevin Youkilis:  I try not to give too much weight to Spring Training performance, but there are certain players who you watch and say "I think he's turning a corner" which I said about Coco last year, who had a monster Spring and first week of the regular season.  I see that in Youk.  He tore the crap out of the ball and looks like a right handed Wade Boggs as far as roping double after double is concerned.  He'll be the surprise of the season.

Eric Hinske:  It's amazing how he went from future All-Star to role player in a few short years.  I mean if it wasn't for Eric Chavez he'd be the starting 3B for Oakland right now.  He had one good season in Toronto and then fell off the wagon.  The good thing is that he's power off the bench for pinch hitting situations, plays multiple positions and has a nice swing.  We haven't had anybody with his tools on the bench in years so it's a plus.

Dustin Pedroia:  So many people are down on him.  Every Sunday in the Globe you see a quote from some anonymous scout or GM who says he has no talent.  By the way that surprises me.  I don't buy that crap for one second.  If you believed a player stunk then you would put your name next to it.  If you want to be a trusted evaluator than stand behind your words.  Also, if I were Gordon Edes I would never take an anonymous quote from a professional evaluator seriously.  These guys don't want egg on their face, but give me a break.  What a joke.  Pedrois screams of the next David Eckstein.  I'll take that.

Alex Cora:  Another awesome role player.  This is such a big deal over the course of a season.  When the talent level doesn't drop off too far and you have guys who know how to play the game you're in a good situation.

Julio Lugo:  The good thing for him is that most of the attention will be on Dice-K so there won't be so much pressure, which means he'll be able to relax and have fun.  Also, he's got Big Papi to hang with so he won't be lost in this town.  On top of it how many Dominican's don't do well in baseball crazed towns?  To me they thrive on our insanity.  Crowd favorite by May.

Mike Lowell:  As long as he plays stellar defense and avoids the Kevin Millar curse, which symptoms include starting your first half with the team (last year) hot and then slumping the rest of the way, we'll be fine.   I like Lowell however, I'm shocked he and I are the same age.  He looks like he's 43.  Somebody check his birth certificate or get him some anti-aging cream...just not the brand Barry Bonds buys.

Outfield

JD Drew:  Another guy who will benefit from Dice-Kmania, but definitely a target if he struggles or goes on the 15-day DL twice before July.  I've seen him in a couple of games this Spring and he looks good.  For me it's a wait and see, but from what I've seen the command he has at the plate is very fluid and I'm sure he knows he's sitting pretty in the 5 hole.

Coco Crisp:  This guy has a lot to prove, but I think he can do it.  I love his game.  I love his attitude and I am in LUUUUV with his speed.  I watched part of the Twins game the other night.  Coco did two things that made me say "This is why I love him".  One, he jumped on the first fastball from Johan Santana.  I can't tell you how important that is.  Santana is most vulnerable when he leads with the fastball and is facing a hitter willing to swing at it.  His next at bat Santana led with the change up.  Coco knew it and hit it into the shallow gap in left center.  Single right?  He stretched it into a double and scored on a single.  That kind of aggressive play is HUGE for a team that treats aggressive baserunning like a venarial disease. 

Manny:  The only thing I can say here is I wish he would hit 50 home runs, because we know what the rest of the story will look like.

Wily Mo Pena:  I'm dying for him to get consistent at the plate.  A freak of nature like that does not deserve a .250 average combined with an uncanny inability to hit an off-speed pitch.  You should see him on the PS2.  He can't even make contact with anything off-speed which means EA Sports got it right.  However, let's get 20 home runs and a couple of outfield assists and New England will put him in the cult museum next to Sam Horn, Pokey Reese and Phil Plantier.

Pitchers

Curt Schilling:  In a contract year which means he's going to pitch his ass off.  Watch him get 20 wins the easy way.  I'm just jacked for his in-season blog posts.  That and his battle with the Curly Haired Boyfriend.

Josh Beckett:  Between Schilling and Dice-K he's going to have a lot of comptetion for the alpha dog role and I have a hunch he's going to turn the corner with an understanding of AL line-ups.  He'll cut back on the homeruns allowed and be far more consitent nearing dominant.

Dice-K:  Will tear up the league the first time around.  New England will ordain him the greatest pitcher they have ever seen.  They'll then tear into Theo and the owners once he hits his mid-season slump.  Will finish strong and be part of the "best 3 man rotation" come playoff time and everyone will say "Nobody can beat the Sox!".  Oh and I'm sure I'll be eating sushi on a stick at some point in section 6 this season.

Tim Wakefield:  What can you say about him at this point?  I guess he can just show up although I think he's hitting that "I'm playing 5 years too long" stage that Charlie Hough and Phil Neikro experienced in their careers.  He had 7 wins last year!  7!!!!!!!!!!!!  I'm sorry, but Kyle Snyder would get more than 7 wins in the 4 slot.  Keep him on a short leash.

Julian Tavarez:  Section 8 in the 5 slot.  I love it.  I'm intrigued.  He's a personal fav.  Man pitched in the rotation for a month and a half and got half the wins of Wakefield last year.  It says he'll at least win 10.

Kyle Snyder:  I like him.  Adds depth to the line-up.  If he can be consistent with mixing his fastball and devastating curveball then he'll have some success plus I think it's good to have a pithcer who stands over 6'8" tall.

Pineiro/Okajima/Romero:  Kind of an incomplete wait and see scenario.  They all looked good/decent in the Spring.  Let's see how it translates to the regular season.

Javier Lopez:  Could have been bunched up with the others BUT if he walks any lefties in critical situations this season, like last, please show him the door.  When you're a specialist and you walk guys you become useless. 

Brendan Donnelly:  I have always loved this guy.  One of those "I wish we could get him" players.  Totally crazy wind-up.  Tough as nails.  Wears glasses.  In my best Ron Burgandy voice "I fricken love you!".  Totally improves the bullpen 100 fold over last season.

Mike Timlin:  Thought he was going to retire.  Love the guy but nervous as hell about him falling apart.

Big Jon Stud:  Seriously, he is ridiculously good.  I'm psyched he's back in the bullpen.  He and Donnelly could be a wrestling tag-team.  They are going to be so scary come the 8th and 9th innings with those stares and intimidating pitches.   Stay healthy JP and you will be picking out a new color scheme on Mariano's throne soon.  Crowd is going to ERUPT the first time he comes out of the bullpen this season.

The Kids

Lester:  Talent plus cancer plus new outlook on life means this kid is going to be good. Damn good.  We have hadn't a lefty with this much talent since Bruce Hurst.  I can't wait until he's ready.

Hansen:  He needs a Hanson Brothers attitude adjustment.  Needs a screw you killer mentality.  Needs to get that fastball and slider back.  So much potential and he's so young that hope is definitely not lost.  Get some confidence in Pawtucket. It's less than an hour from Fenway.

Delcarmen:  He got bumped for numbers and confidence.  The team has tons of options with him.  They don't with Pineiro, Romers, Snyder, etc.  If any of those guys faulter he'll be up quickly although it would be nice to see him dominate the minors for a bit.

David Murphy:  I'm using his first name because you may not know the name yet.  Has that Mr. Baseball look and feel to him.  Plays the game right.  Has an Irish last name.  Boston is going to love him.

Jacoby Ellsbury:  Droooooooooool.  He, in my eyes, has that Grady Sizemore vibe right down to the ridiculous good looks that will drive the girls crazy.  Pay attention to what he does in the minors.  With him in the fold I don't want to spend a fortune on an Andrew Jones or Tori Hunter this offseason and if I had to guess, neither does Theo.

 

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