Lamenting 2006, but looking forward to 2007

Well this past Saturday the Sox were officially eliminated from playoff contention. Not that I couldn't see it coming, but as a dedicated fan, you never like to think about it. Plus, considering what happened in 2004, I refuse to ever believe that anything is impossible.

So now in the AL we'll have the A's, Tigers, Twins, and Yankees. In the NL we'll have the Mets, Cardinals, and the Dodgers/Phillies/Padres(pick two). I really do not think it'll matter who gets to the World Series from the NL; the AL is going to steamroll over their opponent in the big dance. All I hope is that the Yankees do not win it all; if they do, then my baseball life will be miserable(not that it wouldn't be anyway since we're out of the postseason). So I'm basically going for 7 teams this October, haha.

Even though the Sox aren't going anywhere after September, there are still reasons to keep up with them. David Murphy and Dustin Pedrioa are getting their feet wet in the bigs, and they have shown vast improvements since being call-ups earlier in the month. Dustin will be our future 2nd baseman, and David could be the second coming of Gabe Kapler. David Ortiz is obliterating all kinds of AL homerun records each night, and if he doesn't get a SHIT load of votes for MVP, I'll be disappointed. Even so, I'm pretty sure all the lame-ass AP voters will go with Jeter because he is the most overrated player in MLB history. Everyone is ALWAYS up his ass; it's sickening. If Papelbon had not been shut down for the season as a preventative measure, we'd be witnessing his setting the all-time mark for saves by a rookie. Also, this last week we'll get one more look at Beckett, who has clearly become adjusted to the AL, although it took almost an entire season. It's no longer scary to watch him pitch now; in fact, it's down right exciting. I can't wait to see him next year.

"Next year".wow, it sounds so weird to already be talking about it. But since we were eliminated, we are allowed to look that far ahead. I have some thoughts and predictions for next season, and I'll share some of them now, as I need a forum...

2007 Red Sox Regular Season Predictions

-Despite my objection, Papelbon will be sent to the starting rotation next year. Words really can't describe how awesome Paps was for us this year. With an ERA of 0.92, he was "lights out" in every sense of the word. Papelbon, however, was a starter in AA-Portland, and he was originally bred to be a starter for the Sox, not a closer. Plus, with a spot in the rotation, his appearances will be more predictable, instead of the sporadic nature of relief pitching. This gives him 4-5 days to rest his arm, putting him in a better position for his body to heal.

-Beckett will regain his 2003 postseason form in 2007. You can already tell he has "figured out" the AL with his last 3 starts. He has a blazing 4-seam fastball, a 2-seamer that flies all around the plate, the most wicked curveball of all power pitchers out there, and a split-finger fastball that is being taught to him by the guy with the best split-finger fastball in the bigs: Curt Schilling. Josh Beckett WILL win 20 games next season.

-Curt Schilling, in his final MLB season, will the anchor of our rotation in 2007. He showed great resilience from his injury-riddled 2005 season this year, and there's no reason to believe he will be any different. Schiller will ring up 260 strikeouts next season.

-The starting rotation will(at the season's outset) be Schilling/Beckett/Papelbon/Wakefield/#5. That #5 spot could depend on moves the Sox make. I predict Beckett and Papelbon will the most electrifying combo in the bigs next year, even more so than the Santana/Liriano duo.

-To be honest, I'm not sure if Manny will return next year. Gordan Edes of Boston.com also thinks so. I really can't believe Manny. He's been benched for the past 2-3 weeks due to his knee problems and his not wanting to play for fear of further injuring it. YET, he has the audacity to STILL prompt his agent to ask the Sox to trade him. WTF!? Manny is such a great player that it hurts just to think about his not being with the team. At the very least, he makes Papi a better hitter, protecting him in the lineup with a potent bat behind him. Buster Olney says there will be many buyers looking for power hitters in the offseason, so who knows what can happen. Sox fans, however depressing the thought of a lineup without Manny might be, must realize that what the Sox get in return WILL be rather awesome. Be it a pitcher, batter, or Anti-Yankee spray, it'll be something good(see next note). Granted, you can't truly replace Manny, but the Sox can(and most assuredly, WILL) put someone in that 4-spot that is a winner, a hustler, and NOT someone that's going to quit when his team isn't playing .800 ball.

-So to whom could we deal Manny? Who would pick up that deferred money? Who could we get in return? All of these are great questions, but I have a bold prediction that you may or may not like: The Houston Astros. Yeh, THOSE guys. Everyone and their momma knows that the Astros need offense, and if Papelbon goes to the rotation, we're gonna need a guy closing the door at the end of the game. Solution: Manny for Lidge. Yeh, that seems like a slim deal on our part, but I'm certain other teams would be involved with this trade (a la Nomar 2004), and we'd get even more than just Lidge. Lidge has been un-Lidge like this year, especially after Pujols cranked one off of him from Houston to San Antonio during the 2005 NLCS. But the kid is GOOD, really good. He's got the meanest slider since Randy Johnson circa 1997. Again, like Beckett, the NL-to-AL conversion could be tough for a pitcher, but Lidge is the best option out there for a closer. He's a proven guy, and he's just getting into his prime. Now don't send me hate emails cuz I'm bashing Manny; I'm not. He's a great ballplayer, he's great for the game, and he's great for our team(and our MVP). I just get kinda worn out from all his "Manny episodes" and trade requests. It's almost like an annual event to hear about Manny and trade rumors. I want the guy to stay, but not if he's going to quit on us.

-Sadly, I think the Sox will move Trot in the offseason. We just have a surplus of outfielders wanting more play time, and considering Trot's age and tendency to get injured, the Sox could use him in a trade to bring in some fresh guys.

-David Ortiz will be the unanimous vote for 2007 AL MVP. He'll stroke 60 HRs(6 of which will be walk-offs) and drive in 180 RBI. (*this is all assuming he has someone to protect him in the lineup)

-There have been lots of rumblings regardign Coco Crisp next season. Personally, I think they should give him another year to prove himself. He had a MONSTER spring training, and he was off to a fast start before he broke his finger stealing 3rd in Baltimore early in the season. He just wasn't the same after that, although he got his numbers back to "Coco-esque" figures. He made some of the best plays this season, but he also made some real blunders(the one that comes to mind is the attempt to rob a homer in Seattle over the wall......he was about 7 feet to the left of where the ball actually landed. The result? Inside-the-park homerun. Yikes). I love Coco, though, and although he doesn't have a cannon in the outfield, he can cover serious ground, and when he's healthy, he's a great leadoff man and baserunner. However, should the Sox move him, there have also been whispers of bringing Andruw Jones to Boston. Now how badass would that be? I'd be willing to bet that the Braves could be that "other" team involved in Astros-Red Sox deal.

-The Sox will win 100 games next year

-Now for a prediction that really isn't that far fetched: Come June 21, 2007, the Red Sox will have added one more pitcher to their rotation: Roger Clemens. Roger will do the same half-season deal he did with the Astros this year, except this time he will be going to the right team, and one that will give him plenty of run support. It's no secret that Roger lamented over his decision to go with the Astros this year; he regretted not choosing the Red Sox. There is no better way to end his career than where it started. Can you imagine the atmosphere the first Roger pitches for the Red Sox at Fenway?! Holy crap. What about when he pitches against the Yankees!? It'g going to be awesome: Schilling-Beckett-Clemens-Papelbon-Wakefield. Daaaaaaamn.

-And finally, in 2007 the Red Sox will win their first AL East title in 12 years