Here’s his 15th installment.
I have been a Red Sox fan for 62 years. I go back to Teddy Ballgame and before. My question is this: This year’s team is based primarily on defense. Don’t you think that there were a few other free agents who could have added to our offense? I don’t believe totally on defense. You have to have some offense as well. I can name several excellent players who were available. I watch every game and I am the Red Sox’ biggest fan. Good luck!
–Jim Bowley, Melbourne, Fla.
I understand your question, but I am not sure I quite agree. I am very hopeful that our ballclub will not just be based on defense, but overall balance: pitching, defense and offense. Over the course of 162 games, if your team is short in a certain area, it will undoubtedly be exposed. In saying that, I am very excited just to see how good our pitching staff can be, especially with our upgrades in the field.
Do you think it will take two more years for that hotshot shortstop (Jose Iglesias) to make it to the bigs? I understand he’s there now with the glove.
–Winning Queensberry, Farmville, Va.
We will get our first glimpse of Iglesias this spring. And we are all looking forward to watching his progress. As always, I need to caution against putting too much into spring training. It will be a great opportunity for Jose to see how we do things at the major league level. And it will give our staff a chance to get to know him a little bit. Watching him play in a few games will be a bonus. The timetable for his development I am sure will be closely watched by a lot of people.
How do you think Adrian Beltre will fare with the Red Sox? Do you think he can hit 20-25 home runs? Do the Red Sox set specific goals for players?
–J.D., Holden, Mass.
I think Adrian will be a great fit. We try to never sit with a player and put specific goals in front of them (at least as far as numbers are concerned). I think we all feel that if the players go out and work hard and play the game correctly, if we have the talent we think we have, our team will be fine.
Do you plan to hit Victor Martinez and Kevin Youkilis 3-4 again this season? When do you start filling out possible lineup combinations for the year? What do you envision your toughest decision to be?
–Patrick, Limerick, Maine
Who hits where and why are always interesting questions for not only me, but for the fans. As we approach the early part of games in spring training, we try and focus more on our guys getting their at-bats. We usually hit our catchers fairly high in the batting order so we can get them an extra at-bat without catching a ton of innings. As we get deeper into spring training, the batting order usually starts to take form. Regardless of who hits where, we will always strive to have a batting order that has balance and depth.
How often do you talk to players during the offseason? From the conversations you’ve had this winter and the reports you’ve gotten, what do you think about the club heading into spring training? Is it business as usual, or do you notice a different — perhaps hungrier — attitude after the way the last two seasons ended?
–Brad S., North Andover, Mass.
The communication is different with different players. Some players like to be left alone during the offseason, but that doesn’t mean we don’t know what is going on with them. Our trainers and coaches all have responsibilities on checking in with players. The way the season ended definitely left a bitter taste in our mouths. I think everyone is very excited about getting going again.
