Sox Offenders

The baseball season is just a distant memory. The cold winds of November have moved in to New England and it's time to huddle around the stove and see whatt the team is going to look like next season. And if you want to throw back a beer or ten while we figure it out, feel free.

The most glaring need for the Red Sox is to address the situation behind the plate. Most of Red Sox Nation would be content to watch another few years of Varitek swinging at the high heater like a blindfolded Grade-schooler trying to bust a pinata. All in return for his ability to "call a great game." I have to disagree. Shit, I could call a great game if I had Pedro or Beckett on the hill. Why is it that when a pitcher struggles, it isn't Tek calling a crappy game. I am placing my vote for a new catcher.

The starting rotation is looking solid. Beckett, Lester and Dice-K are as good a top three as you'll find. Wakefield, Masterson or Buchholz filling in the bottom ain't too bad either. Imagine being a Yankee fan, building a honking new stadium to watch Wang as your ace. Think about it: Mussina retired, Pettitte a free agent, and the so-called young guns of Kennedy, Chamberlain and Hughes all sucking ass last season (when they weren't hurt). Yeak, I'll take our starters.

The bullpen is already addition by subtraction, now that the "Timlin factor" has been removed. I love what the guy did for us in his career, but you gotta know when to say when. Delcarmen, Okajima and of course Papelbon are a pretty good foundation to build a bullpen - and a bullpen band - around.

Moving to the outfield, the makeover is complete from the 2004 team. Manny, Damon and Trot Nixon's parts will be played by Jason Bay, Jacoby Ellsbury and JD Drew. Definitely a decrease in production, and the dismissal of Coco as an insurance policy for Ellsbury might prove to be a mistake. If the real Ellsbury isn't the guy we all think he is, and turns out to be the Ellsbury that was benched during the ALCS, we have a problem.

With the annual exception of shortstop, the infield is filthy. The AL MVP and Gold Glove winner at second, another MVP candidate at first who sports facial hair that scares children, and a healthy Mikey Lowell at third - pretty formidable. Lugo at short...not so much. Perhaps Lowrie will take the next step. Another glaring question is the production of Big Papi. Has he not really recovered from the wrist injury? Did he run out of spinach? Was he on the juice? We need the guy that dominated everyone from 2003-2006. Because without Manny's bat already, the lack of Papiness would really water down the offense.

By the time we wake up from the holiday hangover in January, all of this will be decided and we'll be counting down the days until pitchers and catchers report. Until then, drink up.