Breaking down: Adrian Beltre

Adrian Beltre: 30 year old 3B

Adrian Beltre is the wild card of the Red Sox's season.  He could end up a nine million bust or nine million bargain, and I'd say the latter. This is a player with some stellar moves at his end of the diamond, and i've seen Gold Glover Mike Lowell down there.  I expect Beltre to rebound from his injury and become a force for the Red Sox.  I predict:

Adrian Beltre Projected Stats 2010

AVG: .282
OBP:  .374
SLG:  .485
Doubles:  28
Hits:  161
HR:  28

FLD:  .980
ERR:  5
I'd personally say that Adrian Beltre will MORE than make up for Cameron's replacement of J-Bay (Cameron is underrated, look at his power numbers).  On the other hand, there is the scenario that he busts something up, so don't start betting money on him just yet. 


To put my predictions into perspective, Fangraphs is much more conservative.  On the other hand, they aren't Red Sox fans.

Mark McGwire

Wait, so this idiot thinks that steroids has nothing to do w/his 70 homeruns?  Jeez.  Somebody's conceited.

Pujols Factor

The Pujols Factor is my theory that Pujols+good hitter (Holliday) = a playoff appearance.  Basically, it means that Pujols is the best player in the MLB.

MLB Power Rankings Top Five JANUARY

1.  Yankees.
I'm a diehard Red Sox fan, but Granderson, Teixera, and A-Rod is pretty scary.
2.  Red Sox.
Yeah, yeah, i know I'm biased, but with Lester, Becket (who's in a contract year), Lackey, Bucholz and Dice, that's pretty terrifying.  Not to mention the huge upgrade at short.  Okay, not huge.
3.  Phillies.
They've been great the last two years.  Jason Bay won't be able to ruin that.
4.  Mariners.
VERY underrated team.  You gotta love the Figgins signing, plus the Cliff Lee trade.  You're looking at two Cy Young candidates on the same team. 
5.  Cardinals.
With the resigning of Holliday behind them, suddenly the Cardinals have two of the best players and two of the best pitchers on the same team.  Plus the Pujols Factor.

2010 Red Sox

Let me get this straight: i am a HUGE fan of Adrian Gonzalez.  He is a fantastic player, and i would bet that in any other park, especially one with a short left porch (Adrian Gonzalez is a straight push hitter), he would put up Pujolsian numbers.
But the Red Sox should not trade for him.
For one, it would involve the good-bye of Ryan Westmoreland, or even Casey Kelly.  These are the cornerstones of our future, the future Youks and Pedeys.  These guys have drawn comparisons to Grady Sizemore and Kevin Brown. The latter seems a little conservative, because scouts say that Kelly has the makings of an ace.  But anyway, then after 2011 the Red Sox become free agent/mercenary hirers, a la Yankees.  Not what i want to see.  So, why don't we forget about A-Gon and be happy with a possibly Major League BEST pitching rotation????
That's right, i said it. BEST. B-E-S-T.  Best.  Get over it.

Mark McGwire

That is precisely why steroids should have a lifetime ban.  Seriously?  It's tantamount to lying about using drugs like cocaine.  McGwire, good job for fessing up.  But if you had done it when the rumors had started, you might, no, probably, be in the Hall of Fame.  Congratulations to you, and others (*coughA-ROD!coughcough*) should follow his lead by coming completely clean, not by "misremembering". 

...and...

Just wanna put this out there:
Jimmy Rollins is the coolest (but not best, that would go to the likes of Hanley Ramirez, who was a former Sock) shortstop. Seriously. I mean, he has his own rap track!!!