The Red Sox still face many questions as the team begins its quest to knock off the Yankees and capture its first World Series title in three years.
How concerned are the Red Sox about Daisuke Matsuzaka's latest injury?
–Oscar, Springfield, Mass.
Not too much. I think they are being cautious with this, and I do not blame them in the least. It is so early in the spring that he can sit for a bit and not really affect his prep for the season. It seems the communication has improved between the Red Sox and Matsuzaka. It has taken a great deal to get to this point, but it is now where it should have been all along. If nothing else, once again, this proves the value of having another starter (Tim Wakefield) ready to go should this get worse. Also, it appears that based on the early schedule with off days, the Red Sox do not need a fifth starter until mid-April, so there is time.
Where will Adrian Beltre hit in the batting order?
–Matt O'Donnell, Sebastopol, Calif.
My guess is sixth or seventh. I think the top four are in stone, but after that, it's sort of up in the air. The moving part that sends this to uncertainty is where David Ortiz hits, and that affects everything else. It will be awhile before we see the full lineup together in a spring game. I think Fenway will be a great thing for Adrian Beltre, and this could be a better power season for him, not 48 home runs but more than the past few years. He is part of a lineup, despite all the talk of lacking power, that is more balanced all the way through than last year's edition.
Will the Red Sox win the AL East?
–Douglas, Albany, N.Y.
Yes. I think the Yankees' losses of Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui are a bigger deal than most are making it. I love Curtis Granderson, and I think he will flourish in New York. I think the Red Sox have better pitching, and in the end, that will make the difference. I think the win totals for both teams will be down this year from where they were last year largely because the division will be better, especially the Orioles. The Red Sox will not win 16 games against Baltimore in 2010.
However, this prediction is based on total overall health and the assumption that both teams stay equally healthy during the regular season.
How many games do you think Jason Varitek will catch this season?
–Andrea, Brea, Calif.
More than the average backup catcher and certainly more than we have seen Doug Mirabelli, George Kottaras or Kevin Cash catch over the past few years. My guess is in the 50- to 60-game range. I think we will see him in the normal backup role in day games after night games, and he could make a start once or twice a week. What we do not know at this stage is whether, like in the past few years, he will be matched up with one particular starter, giving him the opportunity to plan on a regular start. Obviously, that situation was created because of the unusual nature of Wakefield's knuckleball. We also know that Victor Martinez can catch Wakefield, and Varitek has not in a really long time. Whether the 37-year-old will catch another starter on a regular basis remains to be seen.
What's your favorite spring training memory?
–Candace, Champaign, Ill.
For me, it was my first spring training. After spending 10 years in the minors at three different minor league levels, major league spring training was all so surreal. I was in my first big league camp, and with the team I had loved all of my life. I was a bundle of nervous energy and the games we did were meaningless but were the most nerve-wracking games of my life. After 10 years of radio, I was trying to figure out TV and trying not to let the fact that I was doing Red Sox baseball in the majors cloud my transition. It was the first time people were talking to me in my headset while I was talking during a game. It was a comfortable transition, looking back at it now, mainly because of my relationships with all the players and coaches who came through the Pawtucket Red Sox during my five years leading up to my arrival in Boston.
