| As the 2009 major league baseball playoffs | | | | effective enough to match-up with the other AL |
| approach, the number one question for the Red | | | | teams back-half playoff rotations? |
| Sox Nation is simply this: Does this team, with it's | | | | The bullpen is also a question mark. While the club |
| current roster, have a legitimate chance at | | | | still has the best bullpen ERA in the American |
| winning the 2009 World Series? | | | | League, it has seen recent declines in production |
| Offense | | | | from many of their key contributors. Will the |
| Statistically near the top of the MLB runs scored | | | | bullpen, once considered the teams greatest |
| category, the Red Sox upgraded their offense | | | | strength, be the Red Sox post-season undoing? |
| considerably at the trade deadline by adding | | | | First Round |
| former all-star catcher/first-baseman Victor | | | | In the opening round Boston will face the Los |
| Martinez and .300+ hitter Casey Kotchman. The | | | | Angeles Angels (LAA). LAA will have home field |
| resurgence of David Oritz (.827 post all-star OPS) | | | | advantage in this five game series. For the season |
| makes the lineup a legitimate threat from batters | | | | Boston is only 4 - 5 against the Angels. A point of |
| 1 - 8, with the only let up being the SS position. | | | | concern is the home/road split. LAA won four of |
| (assuming Victor Martinez starts behind the plate). | | | | six games at home. For the entire 2009 season |
| No, scoring runs won't be a problem for Boston. | | | | Boston is under .500 on the road. |
| But can they keep opponents from doing the | | | | Obviously the Red Sox need to defeat the Angels |
| same? | | | | for any hope at the World Series title. From there |
| Pitching | | | | they would need to win the ALCS and then |
| The one-two rotational punch of Beckett and | | | | defeat the National League champions. Can they |
| Lester matches up well with any other team in | | | | win their third title in six seasons? We'll find out |
| the majors. After that things get dicey. Will | | | | soon enough. The MLB Playoffs are set to begin |
| Wakefield be the third starter or will it be | | | | in early October. |
| emerging rookie Clay Buchholz? And will either be | | | | |