Can the Boston Red Sox Win Back-to-Back World Series Championships?

Can the Red Sox establish themselves as the MLB dynasty of this decade with another World Series under their belts in '08? Red Sox Nation is looking forward to the 2008 MLB season with the hopes of achieving back to back championships, and I think their chances are excellent. the off season was busy, especially with the entire steroids controversy heating up after the Mitchell report was issued. The good news is that during the off-season, the Red Sox managed to keep most of the 2007's World Series winning team intact.

The Red Sox have a unique opening season game this year. They're going to be playing the Oaklnad A's in Tokyo, Japan. knuckleballerTim Wakefield is back, and Doug Mirabelli, the Sox’s backup pitcher, finalized a one year deal to stick around. This is a good thing for the Red Sox since Mirabelli is a free agent and could just as easily shopped around for a new team. His current record with Boston is hit .202 with five home runs and sixteen RBIs over 48 games.

The line-up for the Red Sox is basically unchanged with the exception of a few rookies being picked up for depth. This is a positive thing as the team is cohesive with the current roster. One of the biggest things that stops any team from making it to the playoffs – whether its baseball, hockey or football for example – is the loss of players that helped hold the team together.

Missing team leaders can make a team lose their zeal and emotion. You lose that; you’ll lose games. And that's what happened to the Red Sox after their 2004 World Series win; they lost a number of their important players like Pedro Martinez, Derek Lowe and Orlando Cabrera. Plus, when you replace players, the coaches and staff has to spend their time teaching the new players how their club specifically plays the game.

One reason why key Sox players Mike Lowell and Curt Schilling stuck around for less money and fewer years than they could have gotten in other destinations is because they know that the team has an excellent chance of winning back-to-back World Series. You've got to love Mike Lowell for sticking with the Boston Red Sox and turning down more money from the New York Yankees, unlike Johnny Damon, who is not surprisingly despised in Bean Town now. Lowell was last year's World Series MVP, and was already loved by the fans. Now that he turned down the Yankees to stay loyal to the Sox, he's going to be a living legend in Boston.

Red Sox Outfield

The outfielders will be same in '08. This is the last year of Manny's $160 million contract, but he may stay past this year.

The Red Sox outfield in 2008 will consist of superstar Manny Ramirez in left field, J.D. Drew in right field, and either Ellsbury or Crisp in center field. J.D.'s offense was somewhat of a disappointment last year, but came alive in the post-season. His defense was spectacular last year, basically playing like a center fielder in right field. So far, the Sox haven't traded Coco Crisp, which was rumored, so it might end up being a fierce competition between the two for the position. An MLB team needs more than three men for the outfield to make it to the playoffs anyway. Crisp underperformed last year, and Ellsbury became a playoff hero, but both have their strengths and weaknesses.

Of course, in the end it’s all going to come down to how the game is played. Consistency is big part of the game. The hitters have to hit hard and far, and pitchers have to make the other team miss. The season is very long, and stamina and consistency is what gets teams to the playoffs.

The schedule of games looks to be of medium difficulty with the first face off against rival New York Yankees not until April. Based on the player’s statistics and track records alone, the Red Sox look like they should win the '08 World Series if the line-up doesn’t change, at least on paper. However, it always comes down to consistency and heart, that's what wins you World Series games.

Injuries, illnesses, and bannings because of steroids notwithstanding, the Boston Red Sox have a good chance at going all the way once again. The team is strong and although some players have filed for arbitration in order to increase their salaries, there doesn’t seem to be any indication that they will leave the team. The New York Yankees are still aimlessly drifting in an effort to finish filling their roster; while the Red Sox only need a fourth outfielder and lefty batter to round out their roster.

Red Sox Pitching

Fortunately, Boston's pitching rotation looks like it is going to be very similar to last year's. Curt Schilling, Josh Beckett, Matsuzaka, Tim Wakefield, and Bucholz or Lester make up a very talented pitching rotation and have all proved their capabilities aleady.

There are also negotiations still in the works regarding Johan Santana, a possible addition to the Red Sox’s final roster. Once again, only time will tell. But the two time Cy Young Award winner would definitely make an impact on the team. The Boston Red Sox need to snatch him up before the Yankees or the Mets.

The only thing that is going to stand in the way of the Red Sox not running away with the World Series against this year is simply themselves. If the Red Sox can play with heart, consistency, stamina and stay reasonably healthy, I expect to see them winning in October again.