Boston Red Sox 2011 Preview, Predictions & Odds

With the MLB Baseball season just around the corner, we are providing season previews for all 30 teams to give you the baseball betting edge. Follow the best MLB Baseball Handicappers as they analyze their teams in this 2011 season preview. Use our comprehensive and insider info to bet successfully on the MLB in our recommend sportsbooks. View the rest of our 2011 MLB Season Previews here.

Red Sox picked up two major game-changers in Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford. Will that be enough to overcome the Yankees and Rays?

Boston Red Sox 2010 MLB Record: 89-73
Boston Red Sox 2010 MLB Home Record: 46-35
Boston Red Sox 2010 MLB Away Record: 43-38

Boston Red Sox 2011 Betting

Boston Red Sox Odds to Win the American League: +180
Boston Red Sox Odds to Win the World Series: +400

Boston Red Sox 2011 Preview & Prediction

The Red Sox offseason registered on the Richter Scale, and the team hopes the aftershocks reverberate through October. The acquisitions ofAdrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford make the Sox instant World Series contenders, if not outright favorites. With a number ofkey players returning from injuries, a couple ofstarting pitchers seeking bounce-back seasons, and the bullpen remade in a manner more befitting a contender, the Red Sox have but one goal: Win their third championship since 2004. If there’s a downside to the high hopes, it’s that expectations will make anything less than a title feel like failure.

Boston Red Sox Manager: Terry Francona – Eighth year Record: 939-843

Francona’s in-game decisions are almost secondary to his in clubhouse leadership, a vital trait to managing a roomful of egos with big salaries in a tough media town.

Boston Red Sox 2011 Projected Batting Order: CF Jacoby Ellsbury (L), 2B Dustin Pedrola (R), LF Carl Crawford (L), 1B Adrian Gonzalez (L), 3B Kevin Youkilis (R), DH David Ortiz (L), RF J.D. Drew (L), C Jarrod Saltalamacchla (S), SS Marco Scutaro (R).

Boston Red Sox 2011 Projected Rotation: LH Jon Lester, RH Clay Buchholz, RH Josh Beckett, RH John Lackey, RH Daisuke Matsuzaka.

Boston Red Sox 2011 Projected Closer: RH Jonathan Papelbon

2011 Boston Red Sox Offense:

The additions of LF Carl Crawford and 1B Adrian Gonzalez increase the fantasy value of the entire lineup. Crawford has hit over .300 with more than 45 steals in five of the past six seasons. Gonzalez has averaged 34 HR, 105 RBI and 95 runs in his past four seasons with San Diego. The top two hitters in the lineup, CF Jacoby Ellsbury and 2B Dustin Pedroia figure to benefit the most from the new additions. Both players are trying to bounce back from injury-riddled 2010 campaigns. 3B Kevin Youkills, who missed the last two months with a thumb injury, should have a ton of RBI chances with these four ahead of him in the order. DH David Ortiz had his sixth career 30-HR, 100-RBI season despite going 8-for-56 in April. RF J.D. Drew is now 35, but he will still produce within this excellent lineup. C Jarrod Saltalamacchia will play most days with C Jason Varitek spelling him once or twice a week.SS Marco Scutaro will likely hold off Jed Lowrie to be the team’s everyday shortstop again, at least to start the season.

2011 Boston Red Sox Rotation:

This unit has a lot of room for improvement after its 4.17 starters’ ERA last year, ranking 17th in the majors. Jon Lester is the ace of the staff, finishing with the second-most wins (19) and third-most strikeouts (225) in the AL. Lester has learned how to get out of jams, holding opponents to a .194 BA with two outs and runners in scoring position last year. Clay Buchholz ranked second in the AL with a2.33 ERA and lowered his WHIP considerably, from 1.38 in 2009 to 1.20 last season. He still has to cut down on his walks to reach his full potential. Josh Beckett was hindered by back problems last year and his 5.78 ERA and 1.54 WHIP were both career-worst marks by a wide margin. At age 30, Boston is hoping he has a few productive years left in his over-used arm. John Lackey went 14-11 with a 4.40 ERA and 1.42 WHIP, numbers hardly worthy of the $18.7 million he earned last year. Daisuke Matsuzaka had another sub-par, injury-laden season, posting a 4.69 ERA and 1.37 WHIP.

2011 Boston Red Sox Bullpen:

After tallying the third-worst bullpen ERA in the American League last year, the Red Sox made some significant upgrades. The biggest was acquiring beefy White Sox closer Bobby Jenks to a 2-year, $12 million deal as insurance for Jonathan Papelbon. Jenks had 27 saves last year, but was shut down after September 4 because of forearm problems. Although Papelbon had his worst major-league season (3.90 ERA, 1.27 WHIP), his closer job is not in jeopardy for the time being. 25-year-old Daniel Bard is the other set-up man in the bullpen, coming off an excellent season (1.93 ERA, 1.00 WHIP). Boston also added Dan Wheeler and Matt Albers for bullpen depth.

2011 Boston Red Sox Middle Infield:

If there’s a more spirited player in the big leagues than Dustin Pedroia, he probably bleeds Red Bull. Pedroia is a breed unto himself, whether it’s challenging chiseled NFL quarterback Brady Quinn to a game of ping pong at their workout facility and guaranteeing that, “I’ll drill this ball off your throat,” or telling opponents to wear their sunglasses during BP, “for the laser show.” Pedroia is recovering from a broken foot and expects to be ready for the start of the season, though the healing process was slow. If healthy, he could bat anywhere from second to fifth. Shortstop is a bit of a tossup, with incumbent Marco Scutaro returning from a painful shoulder injury that left him barely able to throw across the diamond. He’ll be pushed by Jed Lowrie, who pummeled the ball in the second half from both sides and is developing surprising power.

2011 Boston Red Sox Corners:

Here’s where the fun starts. Kevin Youkilis had a shot at his first 30-100 season until tearing a thumb ligament in a freak August injury that cost him the final two months of the season. Now fully healed, he’s ready to pick up where he left off as an MVP candidate and one of the toughest outs in the game. He’ll be sliding across the diamond to make room for the aptly nicknamed A-Gone, who should feel like a sailor on shore leave after escaping Petco Park. Gonzalez has what the Red Sox consider the ideal left-handed swing for Fenway Park, and his career highs of 40 homers and 119 RBIs could fall by the end of August. Sound like hyperbole? Just watch what Gonzalez does in a hitter’s park with a real supporting cast.

2011 Boston Red Sox Outfield:

The pairing of Crawford and Jacoby Ellsbury could be the most exciting in the game. The two cover an insane amount of ground, and Crawford has already declared that balls in the left-center gap, “I’ll catch.” The two are equally disruptive at the plate, and it will be interesting to see which one hits leadoff, since some in the organization believe the team’s best lineup is with Ellsbury ninth and Crawford first, even though the latter has never made a secret about his distaste for the top of the order. In right, J.D. Drew is contemplating retirement following the season, but first he wants to prove 2010 was a fluke. Drew admits he let a wider strike zone and inconsistent umpiring get in his head. He hopes to hit with a clear mind and return to his customary .900 OPS.

2011 Boston Red Sox Catching:

If there’s a question mark anywhere, it’s behind the plate. Epstein has long lusted after catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, and last July he finally got his man in a deadline deal with the Rangers. The switch-hitter they call “Salty” has yet to approach the potential expected of him since he was acquired by the Rangers as part of the Mark Teixeira trade in 2007. The Sox have steadfastly backed Saltalamacchia as a full-time starter, even though he’s caught more than 55 games in a season only once. Privately, they admit the big expenditures of the offseason required them to take a low-cost risk somewhere. If Saltalamacchia falters, the team at least boasts an experienced backup in Jason Varitek, who was actually off to a whale of a start last year before breaking his foot. This is one position worth monitoring, however, as the Sox may be forced to look outside the organization for a solution if Saltalamacchia doesn’t pan out.

2011 Boston Red Sox Bench:

David Ortiz really wanted a long-term extension. The Red Sox instead exercised his $12.5 million option. As Ortiz enters what could be his final season in a Red Sox uniform, the DH appears poised for another strong season. The key will be avoiding the brutal Aprils that have plagued him the last two seasons. With a deep lineup around him, Ortiz should see plenty of pitches to hit. The Sox may rest him against tougher lefties, since he hit southpaws at only a .222 clip last year, but he’ll get his RBI opportunities. With the Sox potentially carrying 12 pitchers, the bench will be relatively thin. Lowrie can play anywhere in the infield, while the right-handed Mike Cameron will play some outfield and maybe even spell Ortiz at DH. Varitek and possibly someone like outfielder Darnell McDonald round out the reserves. The fact that Varitek and Lowrie switch hit lessens the need for a lefty here.

Boston Red Sox 2011 Season Predictions

While their rivals from the Bronx failed to make a big move, the Red Sox swooped in and acquired two difference-makers in Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford. The resulting lineup is now among the best in the game. As long as Josh Beckett returns to form and contributes, Boston is in prime position to reclaim its place atop the AL East. – We predict that the Boston Red Sox will finish 95-67 & 1st in the AL East Division.

Boston Red Sox 5-Year Win Trend

2006: 3rd AL East 86
2007: 1st AL East 96
2008: 2nd AL East 95
2009: 2nd AL East 95
2010: 3rd AL East 89

Will the Boston Red Sox will go all the way to the World Series? Or, will their season be lackluster? Either way, you can still enjoy Boston Red Sox betting at our feature sportsbooks. Boston Red Sox Betting is serious business; where you can make a ton of money placing informed, smart Boston Red Sox bets. Check out these highly reliable, trustworthy, online sportsbooks.

Join BetUs.com Today and Bet on the Boston Red Sox and receive up to 140% in CASH BONUSES!