5 Most Important Red Sox In 2015
BOSTON (CBS) - The seemingly endless winter weather in Boston appears to finally resemble spring (this isn't an April Fools joke) just in time for America's pastime to take center stage.
The Boston Red Sox are gearing up to head back north from spring training in sunny Florida, as the 2015 campaign begins on April 6 in Philadelphia. After a disappointing 2014 and a hectic off-season spending spree, the Red Sox are revamped, reloaded, and ready to go.
Here are the 5 most important Red Sox players heading into this season:
1. Outfielder Hanley Ramirez
The former Los Angeles Dodger has returned to where he began his career, but this time he will be playing a new position at Fenway. Ramirez, a former shortstop, will be playing left field this season in front the Green Monster. The play of Ramirez will be important because the outfield remains a question mark among able bodies, with a young Mookie Betts playing center field and Shane Victorino in right -- with Rusney Castillo fighting for a starting spot as well. Ramirez needs to prove his ability as an outfielder but also produce on a stacked offense.
Hopefully Han-Ram can show Sox Nation he is worth the four-year, $88 million deal he signed in November.
2. Pitcher Rick Porcello
Another new player to Boston, another case of high anticipation. Porcello was acquired by Boston from the trade that sent outfielder Yoenis Cespedes to Detroit, ending his short tenure with the Red Sox. Losing Cespedes inevitably raises the bar for Porcello's expectations, which are to be a durable starter in the midst of a questionable starting rotation.
Last year, Porcello posted a 3.43 ERA and averaged only 1.9 walks per nine innings en route to a 15-13 record as a starter for the Detroit Tigers. Maybe, just maybe, he could be an ace-in-the-making that Boston needs.
3. Pitcher Clay Buchholz
The Red Sox enter this season with no bonafide "ace" among the pitching staff. They do, however, have veteran Clay Buchholz, who is looking for a bounce-back year after a forgettable 5.34 ERA last season.
The Red Sox will rely on Buchholz to produce from April through the fall, and hopefully he can pitch over 200 innings this season--something he has not done in his seven-year career. Buchholz will take the mound on opening day, so the No. 1 pitching spot certainly puts pressure on the Red Sox vet to perform.
4. Designated Hitter David Ortiz
We all know what Big Papi can do with a bat, but we also know how much of a leader he is to this team. His leadership will be as important as anything else for the Sox this year as they weave through the obstacles of a revamped roster and an increased pressure to live up to lucrative contracts.
Ortiz is the longest tenured member of the Sox, which commands respect, and he is undeniably clutch when it matters. Both on-field and off-field attributes will be needed from Ortiz to keep this ball club together and successful.
5. Closer Koji Uehara
The Red Sox will heavily depend on their bullpen to finish games due to uncertainty in the starting rotation. Uehara is a huge part of the relief effort as Boston's go-to closer (though he'll start the season on the DL with a hamstring issue). He led the team in saves last season with 26, and another big year will be needed out of Uehara if the Sox want to compete for the AL East Pennant and beyond.
The offensive lineup full of big bats will only take the Red Sox so far--they need an ample pitching effort from top-to-bottom to prevent runs at all costs.
