YankeesRedSox.com

Well, despite the Red Sox being 6722, or so, miles away from Boston, they are set to open the 2008 MLB season in about 9 hours.

What does the season hold for Boston?  While we need to wait until the 31st of March before Peter posts his predictions, most are thinking Boston has a good shot in 2008.  The concerns?

1.) The loss of Curt Schilling for some or all of the season

2.)  The health of Josh Beckett

3.)  The age of Tim Wakefield

4.)  Whether Jacoby Ellsbury is for real

5.)  The loss of Dr. Charles Steinberg

6.)  No replacement for Jason Varitek in sight

The positives?

1.)  The Red Sox kept Jacoby Ellsbury and Clay Buchholz (and Masterson and Lowrie)

2.)  J.D. Drew, Julio Lugo and Daisuke Matsuzaka have a year of experience under their belts in Boston

3.)  A year of maturation for Manny Delcarmen, Jonathan Papelbon, Dustin Pedroia and Ellsbury

4.)  The minor league machine has been largely left to build for the past 3 seasons (save someone named Hanley something or other)

Line-up for tomorrow (my guess):

2b - Pedroia

1b - Youkilis

dh - Ortiz

lf - Ramirez

3b - Lowell

rf - Drew

c - Varitek

ss - Lugo

cf - Ellsbury

sp - Matsuzaka

For those looking for a more expert pediction than mine, Sunday's Globe had a baseball preview.  Notice Nick Cafardo picking Toronto finishing 1st in the AL East (Nick, really?).

Anyway, you should be asleep right now if you want to catch tomorrow morning's game.