2015 Preview: Boston Red Sox

Since the San Francisco Giants aren’t going to the win the World Series, it’s the Boston Red Sox turn right?

It could very well be.

However, the biggest argument against the BoSox is they don’t have a true ace, and Curt Schilling says Clay Buchholz doesn’t want to be the ace.

So despite all the investments and late season acquisitions and the crazy amount of money spent in the Cuban marketplace, the Red Sox just can’t compete right?

I have a lot issues with this idea that because the Red Sox don’t have an ace this year, they can’t win the East.

Other than Tampa, who just isn’t good enough to contend in this division, no one has an ace. Other than Alex Cobb and Chris Archer, the next best thing is probably Chris Tillman, who just doesn’t do for me, in fact, I’d rather have Jake Odorizzi than Tillman.

But that’s me.

Additionally, the Red Sox, without question, have the deepest and strongest lineup in this division. With little pitching, that plays and it is a major element.

What is so great about the Red Sox, is the amount of depth, and ridiculous quality of depth they have at each and every position.

You could literally spend all day talking about how good this offense is going to be, especially with the on base machine they acquired in Pablo Sandoval, the very consistent Hanley Ramirez, the highly touted but very unproven asset Rusney Castillo, adding to an already strong core of young players that includes Mookie Betts (whom everyone is predicting absolutely ridiculous things for, we’ll see) and Xander Bogarts, and of course you can’t forget the fan favorites David Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia.

While I don’t buy the argument because the Red Sox don’t have an ace they can’t compete, there is legitimacy to the argument because the pitching is a big time question mark.

There’s no question, the Red Sox have some big time arms coming, highlighted by Henry Owens, the Red Sox need this pitching staff right now has to just be on par with their career averages.

One guy I like a lot the Red Sox went out and acquired this offseason is Wade Miley.

A very underappreciated left hander, Miley has been the model of consistency. Despite a rough 2014 in Arizona, Miley once again managed to reach the 200 inning plateau for the second year and was six innings shy in 2012 when he won 16 games.

While he’s not an ace, having a guy like Wade Miley in your rotation is great if you’re the Red Sox. Miley has proven he can eat innings, win games and have a very strong and respectable ERA, hovering around 3.30. I think in an atmosphere like Boston, a guy like Wade Miley could fly under the radar and come in and win 15 games and provide the Red Sox with eating innings.

And they will need him to do so if Clay Buchholz cannot stay healthy. The once highly touted righty still has yet to make 30 starts 8 years. Questioning his durability is more than fair and Buchholz has a lot to prove in a likely walk year for him.

We’ve seen numerous guys in the past that have struggled for years, then their walk years come around, and all of a sudden they’re Pedro Martinez.

I can’t say I’d be surprised to see Buchholz have a big time year and finally reach that 30 starts threshold and lead the Red Sox back to the postseason.

Then again, I can’t say I’d be surprised to hear about him having arm problems by early June and not get back on the field until late August.

Joe Kelly could be a guy the Red Sox rotation relies heavily on. Staying healthy in his first few years in the big leagues has been a problem for Kelly, but when healthy, he should easily be able to pitch to a 3-ERA and win 15 games, especially, with a lineup like Boston.

To me, the X-Factor in this Boston rotation is going to be Justin Masterson. For me, it’s now or never for Masterson as a starter. Clearly the Red Sox are going to give him that opportunity to prove he can remain a starter, but he cannot be on a leash of patience.

Masterson came with a lot of hype when he arrived in the big leagues, but has severely disappointed.

Given the depth of the Sox minor leagues and their pitching, Masterson struggling isn’t going to be the end of their season, but the Sox need Masterson to be better and eat innings to put to rest the concerns of a lack of quality in the Red Sox rotation. In my opinion, Buchholz and Masterson are the reasons we’re concerned about the Red Sox rotation.

Listen, offense plays in the regular season. The Baltimore Orioles, Milwaukee Brewers teams of the past, the Yankees, and more have proven you can win 90 or better games in the regular season with an offensive minded team.

However, once it gets to the postseason, the pitching is going to have to come into play, and truthfully, I don’t think the Red Sox don’t have enough to make the World Series.

But, the BoSox will make the postseason. Mark it down.