Reply #27: Misconception about career years

[Caution]

Bill mueller, varitek and nixon had career years. That said varitek and nixon were not surprising, nixon's was predicted by most of the media and baseball in general and varitek had a simliar year going before he broke his arm a couple of years ago. Those two were cases more of reaching potential rather than have a "career year" and Varitek is now playing for a contract

Nomar, manny, kevin millar, johnny damon, all had sub-par years

david ortiz and walker both had average years (ortiz looked better than average but only becasue he got more playing time).

I think it is safe to say that manny, nomar, damon will have better seasons this time around, vartiek may do better (contract year) but will at least equal this past season, nixon will equal last season. The only potential falloff i see is bill mueller. I hope millar has a better season but i'll be hapy with equal. We probably won't resign walker and his bat wont be easy to replace at second, but with the offense we have, one player who hits for about 30 points lower wont be a problem.

Boston vs NYY
Lineup:
1.) Damon/Soriano
2.) Meuller/Jeter
3.) Garciaparra/Giambi
4.) Ramirez/Williams
5.) Ortiz/Posada
6.) Millar/Matsui
7.) Mueller/Johnson
8.) 2B/Boone
9.) Varitek/?

Rotation:

1.) Martinez/Mussina
2.) Schilling/Pettite?
3.) Lowe/Contreras
4.) Wakefield/Weaver
5.) Kim/Lieber

Bullpen:

Embree/Hammond
Timlin/Karsay
Mendoza/?
Arroyo/?
Sauerbeck/?
Williamson/Rivera

(I've included Pettite but there is no guarantee he signs with the Yankees). No other rumored deals are included though rumors are (arod to boston/ny, pettite to ny/boston/houston, foulke to boston, gordon to boston, sheffield to ny, colon to ny, vazquez to ny, graffanino to boston, guardardo to boston, walker to boston).

The balance of power in the AL East has shifted. As of this moment, Boston has the better lineup, the better rotation and the better bullpen. NYY have an edge at manager (boston hasnt got one yet :), All of a sudden it looks like Boston has the better front office as well.

Oh and by the way, I was one of the people who chatted online with Mr Schilling yesterday (friday) and he is truly excited to be coming to boston. His first act as a boston red sox player was to donate $500,000 to a local charity (the jimmy fund, a charity combatting cancer in children). This man is going to be beloved in boston. He takes pressure off both martinez and lowe as well and the bullpen as an enormous innings eater. Steinbrenner must be having a fit right about now.