MLB Baseball Betting - Boston Red Sox

Manager: Terry Francona (fifth season).

2007: 96-66, First Place AL East

Training: City of Palms Park, Fort Myers, Fla.

Home Park: Fenway Park, Boston Mass., Cap. 38,805, Grass, Opened April 20, 1912

World Series Titles: (6) 1903, 1912, 1915, 1916, 1918, 2004, 2007

Acquisitions: RHP Dave Aardsman, RHP Scott Atchison, 1B Sean Casey, RHP Bartolo Colon, RHP Lee Gronkiewicz, RHP Dan Kolb, RHP Dan Miceli

Departures: RHP Matt Clement, RHP Brendan Donnelly, RHP Eric Gagne, 1B Eric Hinske, LHP Jay Marshall

Outlook: Despite their hectic opening schedule that literally takes them all over the glob, the 2008 Boston Red Sox look almost exactly like last year’s squad and enters the 2008 season expecting the same results – a World Series Championship.

Every key player is back from last year's World Series winners, plus blossoming center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury looks like he is ready to hit full bloom.

David ‘Big Papi’ Ortiz should be in better shape following offseason knee surgery and fellow outfielder Manny Ramirez, who usually asks to be traded around this time each season, is apparently quiet and happy.

Staff ace Josh Beckett opened the regular season on the DL with an aching back, but will be ready to go just after the start of the regular season.

Though the Red Sox will be without veteran starter Curt Schilling indefinitely because of lingering shoulder problems, Boston can turn to several quality pitchers to replace one of the game’s greatest postseason pitchers ever in Japanese import Daisuke Matsuzaka, Tim Wakefield, Jon Lester and recently acquired Bartolo Colon.

The Red Sox are hoping Dice-K can improve on last year’s 15-12 record and 4.40 ERA while getting more comfortable with the American game. More importantly, to the Red Sox’ pitching plans is the growth of pitcher Jon Lester, who is rapidly developing into a top-notch starter after overcoming with lymphoma in 2006.

Lester went 4-0 last season in 11 starts covering 63 innings and has looked phenomenal this spring.

The Red Sox have absolutely no question marks with its batting order except the fact that they are hoping for improved production from right fielder J.D. Drew and shortstop Julio Lugo.

Drew batted just .270 last season with 11 home runs in 140 games last season while Lugo is trying to bounce back from the mediocre .237 batting average he posted last year after dealing with back problems all season long.

However, barring any major injury to one of the team’s best players and the Red Sox look like they are in prime position to possibly win the American League Pennant in 2008.

The Boston Red Sox start the season listed at + 450 to win the 2008 World Series in the BetUS Sportsbook.

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Official Website: www.bostonredsox.com