Red Sox Finalize 2010 Roster

Just 3 days before the Red Sox and Yankees square off to begin the 2010 regular season, the Sox made one final roster move. In the battle for the last bullpen spot, Scott Schoeneweis beat out Joe Nelson as the lefty specialist. With the roster set, Francona now has a set of chess pieces with which to manage the regular season. It is time to push past the split-squad and minor league games and on to games that count.

The Sox have a great mix of young and old on their roster and have many veteran leaders in the clubhouse. The chemistry of a team is one of the most crucial factors in success deep in the postseason, but is also one of the most ignored. Regardless of how much talent is on a roster, there needs to be a team personality and bond that allows the players to push through bad times and celebrate together in the good moments. The balance needs to be struck between all types of personalities and backgrounds.

Obviously, Theo and Tito feel they have struck the balance for success entering the long regular season. Not only are their important pieces in place right now, but there are players waiting in the wings at the AAA level to jump in and fill a hole if needed. One never knows how a team will bond, but given the management’s history of 2 championship victories in the past several years, I have the utmost confidence in their choices.

Red Sox Opening Day Roster – (Roster courtesy of Boston.com)

Lineup
Jacoby Ellsbury LF
Dustin Pedroia 2B
Victor Martinez C
Kevin Youkilis 1B
David Ortis DH
J.D. Drew RF
Adrian Beltre 3B
Mike Cameron CF
Marco Scutaro, SS

Bench
Jason Varitek C
Jeremy Hermida LF, RF
Bill Hall 3B, 2B, SS, RF, LF
Mike Lowell 3B, 1B

Starting Rotation
RHP Josh Beckett
LHP Jon Lester
RHP John Lackey
RHP Tim Wakefield
RHP Clay Buchholz

Bullpen
RHP Jonathan Papelbon
RHP Daniel Bard
LHP Hideki Okajima
RHP Ramon Ramirez
RHP Manny Delcarmen
RHP Scott Atchison
LHP Scott Schoeneweis

Disabled List
RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka (back)
RHP Boof Bonser (groin)
INF Jed Lowie (illness)
RHP Junichi Tazawa (elbow)

For anyone who wants to ask me questions or hear my reactions as the season begins, I will be hosting my first ever LIVE CHAT, right here on this blog, beginning at 7:30pm on Sunday, April 4th. This is a first for BoSox Injection, so I am hoping we can spread the word as much as possible and get a bunch of people involved. I am open to answer any questions during that time and will share my feelings as the evening/night unfolds.