The 2009 Boston Red Sox are going to resemble very closely the 08 version. What the Red Sox hope is that they will have very different endings. They made some upgrades here and there, with the signing of Rocco Baldelli, and John Smoltz, but no major changes. Varitek will still be catching the pitches, though he will be spelled by newbie Josh Bard perhaps a few games more than usual. Big Papi, Pedroia, Youkilis, and Jason Bay will still be smacking the ball around the park. The real difference you might see is a bit of urgency on the part of the team. They won nothing much at all last year, and they want that to change.

The evil empire that is the New York Yankees went out and signed everyone, and spent about a billion dollars doing it. The Rays upgraded an already awesome team with the signing of Pat Burrell from the World Champion Phillies. Boston liked their chances as is for the most part. That decision will play a large role in the results of this season. Will they move up by standing pat?

The Red Sox are blessed with plenty of talent across the board. They have solid players at pretty much every single fielding position and their starting pitching and bullpen is sure to be near the top of the line as well. Jacoby Ellsbury and his development may end up being the biggest key in the whole season for the Red Sox. They need him to step up and be a powerful force on the bases. Youkilis will need to duplicate the great season of a year ago, as will Pedroia.

The starters are counting on a bounce back season from Josh Beckett. Last year was a bit of a nightmare for him mostly, and they can ill afford for him to struggle this year. A great year from Beckett will virtually guarantee that Boston will be in the mix for the playoffs. You have to figure that you will get solid work from the rest of the starters.

Here is a look at the expected lineup for the Boston Red Sox and starting rotation:

Catcher – Jason Varitek
First Base – Kevin Youkilis
Second Base – Dustin Pedroia
Third Base – Mike Lowell
Shortstop – Julio Lugo
Left Field – Jason Bay
Center Field – Jacoby Ellsbury
Right Field – J.D. Drew
DH – David Ortiz
Starting Pitchers – Josh Beckett (R) Daisuke Matsuzaka (R) Jon Lester (L) Tim Wakefield (R) Brad Penny (R)
Closer – Jonathan Papelbon (R)

That said, should Alex Rodriguez just pack up his needles….err.. toys and go home? It really might not be such a bad idea. Think about it for a moment.

As it stands right now, America and the Yankees are pissed. Yankee fans in particular. The Yankee fans are known to have a short memory, however, and a great start to 2009 would make them forget the steroids in a heartbeat. Now, with Alex having a serious injury, the chances of that happening is slim and none. Regardless of how great he might be with or without HGH, Rodriguez would have to be affected mightily by this injury.

Sure, others have played through the injury. Chase Utley most recently pulled it off and even helped the Phillies to the World Series Championship. The difference here is that Utley was not expected to be great like Arod. Utley did not have to play under the glare of the brightest spotlight in the world. Utley is not Alex Rodriguez. Arod is not going to be able to fly under the radar as Utley was afforded last season for much of the year.

If Alex Rodriguez went home and got the surgery, he could then come back when the injury is healed. This would also allow for the ever loving Yankee passage of time. The roids would get to be old news, and the great Arod could retake his throne as the man that will be the difference for the Yankees once again. Of course this is assuming that Alex does not have more skeletons in his closet that might pop out in 2010……Oh never mind.

Let Alex play hurt. Let the Yankees hate on him for a good long year. Let them self implode from the inside out. It will be good for baseball, and good for Alex. He deserves the punishment after all. Nobody deserves a torn labrum, mind you, but it is ironic is it not? A torn labrum right where the needle likely went in? Maybe the baseball Gods such as Ruth, Mantle, and Maris was sending Alex a sign.