Hot Stove Talk : Boston Red Sox 2012 Outlook

    The outlook for the 2012 Boston Red Sox remains cloudy at this moment and it doesn’t look like the forecast is getting any sunnier any time soon. Many questions remained to be answered here are but a few on a fairly long and complicated list.                                                                                                                         

1.)    Who will be the next manager of the Boston Red Sox  ?

     The Boston Red Sox are about to hire Bobby Valentine as their next manager. This decision and by all   accounts  a  done deal ,is an interesting one and bit of a head scratcher. Bobby Valentine has had an interesting career from the Texas Rangers, New York Mets and a stint over in Japan  he definitely  left his mark where ever he has been. Bobby “V” ‘s on and off the field antic’s have made many a highlight reel but will that be accepted by the diehard fans of “Red Sox Nation” who suffered through a historical collapse in September. The situation he is coming into and it starts immediately is a hot bed of  questions  , expectations and blame. From the first day of spring training he and the team will be under a microscope will he help or hinder the process of getting past what happened in  September  ? Only time will tell if this was the best choice.                                               

                   2.)Who be the closer for the team?       

        The Boston Red Sox enter the 2012 season without a closer   with the departure of Jonathan  Papelbon   and a bullpen that under performed to say the least, the closer position becomes a major hole that’s need to be filled. Daniel Bard the heir apparent to the role has had moments of brilliance and then disaster. Whether bard has the intestinal fortitude to handle this job will certainly be interesting to see. There are a number of free agents available to fill this role which way they go will be interesting to see.

                  3.)Who will be the end of the rotation starters ?

          With the injury to John Lackey and Matsuzaka not expected to return until mid-season at the earliest the Red Sox are in need of a fourth and fifth starters to round out their rotation. According to recent reports the club is considering putting Alfredo Aceves into the rotation and adding a free agent pitcher to round out the rotation this is not a wise decision I believe  . Aceves was their most consistent pitcher out of the bullpen and was the bridge to Bard and Papelbon. Over his career starting has not always been his best friend he was worth his weight in gold out of the bullpen don’t mess up a good thing .

                  4.)Will they resign David Ortiz?

          Most people would agree that David Ortiz is a valuable member of the Boston Red Sox  but at what cost . Recently the Red Sox offered “Big  Papi” arbirtration at 14 million for next year. Ortiz is looking for a three year deal at min. 12 million per. This is way too much for a one dimensional player. What Ortiz brings to the team cannot always be counted in money but eventually you have to look at the big picture.

          There are many more questions that need to be answered over the next two to three months   and these are just the tip of the iceberg. All members of “Red Sox Nation” will be watching and waiting for the tams response to the debacle that was September .Let’s hope they want to prove that that was an aberration and they are the team we all thought and hoped they were.