Theo and the Sox

So Theo Epstein is back as the Red Sox GM, three months after leaving Fenway in a gorilla suit. I do think this changes the fact that the Sox are in trouble going into this season. They have a new centerfielder in Coco Crisp, who should be good, no Johnny Damon, but good. They still need a shortstop. They still have a platoon at 1st base. They still have an unhappy Manny Ramirez. And they still have a tenuous pitching staff. I think Schilling is done. Same with Foulke. I'd love for Foulke to come back and have a great year. I'm hoping Schilling flames out, though. Probably because of his right-wing politics.

I don't know how much credit you can give Theo for winning the 2004 World Series. He was popular with the team, and that certainly helps, and he made some fortuitous moves, but so much of baseball is chance. Several players had key moments and unusually strong years... They wouldn't have gotten there without a clutch homerun from Mark Bellhorn, then the next year they ran him out of town. Millar had a great second half, then they ran him out of town. I don't think anyone can ever give Tim Wakefield enough credit. I'm glad the Sox had enough sense to keep him around. And Theo had nothing to do with getting Wakefield.

So Theo's back, but I still think the Sox need some major work. Toronto's put together their best team in years. The Yankees will always be a contender (even though they don't seem to have the usual intimidating pitching rotation as of yet). The Orioles and Devil Rays... well, ok, worst case scenario, the Sox finish third.