On this web site and in general, I have been labeled as a pessimist. I think of myself as a realist. Since the Red Sox are more than three games out of the Wild Card, they are highly unlikely to make the playoffs this season. But the Olde Towne Team has a very strong foundation for a run in 2011.
First and foremost, the Red Sox have two young contractually controlled front of the rotation starters in Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz. The club’s best starter in 2010 built on his solid second half last year to become a Cy Young contender. The duo gives the team the scarcest assets in baseball.
Second, a former MVP young under contract second baseman should be ready to go in March. Up-the-middle players – centerfielders, shortstops, second baseman, catchers – that can hit like Dustin Pedroia are rare. As are versatile corner infielders that can put up a 300/400/550 line as Kevin Youkilis has done the last few seasons. These two are the cornerstones of the Red Sox offense and infield defense.
The Olde Towne Team also has a dynamic pair from the pen at the end of the game. Nearly any other club would love to have Jonathan Papelbon and Daniel Bard with six outs needed for the win.
Yawkey Way has solid players under contract in the outfield and at shortstop thereby making the winter to-do list shorter than Ken Rosenthal or this blogger. In order of importance, here is the Sox winter objectives:
1) Acquire a catcher or give the job to Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who the Red Sox have lusted over for sometime.
2) Obtain a third baseman or first baseman or hand a full-time gig to Jed Lowrie, who when healthy all he does is hit.
3) Find another arm at the end of the game or hand it over to Felix Dourbant, who in his short audition has pitched well in the middle innings.
Due to the promise of younger players and over $50 million coming off the books, the Red Sox have flexibility this winter. They can make a large move in the free agent market, trade prospects to fill a need, or give a chance to an experienced players. Yawkey Way has the resources to put together a club that should be in the postseason hunt. And if John Lackey and Josh Beckett can pitch like it says on the back of their bubble gum cards or baseball reference pages, the Red Sox could be the favorites to win it all next year.
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evanbrunell: 
alexconvery: 
CharlieSaponara: 
Would that be the same Felix Dourbant who I watched give up two home runs in the bottom of the 8th at Camden Yards on Tuesday, ending any chance the Red Sox might have had to mount a 9th inning comeback, in putting both myself and my girlfriend in such a funk that there was no sexy time to be had that night? I say let’s fire that bum.
Alan, your comment is hilarious!
Lester/Buchholz is a solid 1-2 but I don't think they're as solid as Carpenter/Wainwright or Sabathia/Lee who will sign with the Yankees next year.
Lester's legit but Buchholz isn't as good as Lester whereas in all the other duo's I've mentioned, both are equal. In the Red Sox case it isn't.
Alan,
I assume that you must be kidding, right? Doubront has shown that he should be able to a be a nice piece in the pen, moving forward. One bad outing should not change that. I don't know if he is capable of being a quality 8th inning guy, but he should be capable of giving the club quality innings.
Alan,
Don't they have pills to bring back sexy time? ;)