Total Makeover: Red Sox Edition

Often when a team overhauls as much of its roster as the Boston Red Sox did this off-season, it's because they're in rebuilding mode, they're financially unstable, or both. Either way, it means the fun of familiarizing oneself with new players on your team is dampened by your team absolutely sucking. Clearly, none of those negatives have applied to the Sox after the massive changes the club made this winter. With an entirely new infield, new pitching talent, and a new man in the outfield, this Red Sox team looks very little like the World Series team of just two years ago. Yet so far, this team is just as fun to watch, for some new reasons.

Number one on the list is the improved defense. The Red Sox have never been known for their defense, preferring to rely on power hitting and pitching. Over the course of the years, the Red Sox have become used to settling in the bottom of the barrel in the defensive rankings. Fans have become used to focusing on averages and ERAs, and just hoping that defensive miscues don't come at key moments in the playoffs or during a Red Sox-Yankees game.

That's all changed. The new infield of 1B Kevin Youkilis, 2B Mark Loretta, SS Alex Gonzalez, and 3B Mike Lowell is performing marvelously. Kevin Youkilis has adapted well to his new first base position, after spending last year playing third in Boston and Pawtucket. Loretta, acquired from the Padres for Doug Mirabelli, is another valuable addition. He and Youkilis are a great combination; some truly amazing double plays have been turned. Gonzalez is a talented fielder, making brilliant catches and working well with the rest of the infield. Lowell, acquired in the Josh Beckett deal from the Marlins, has been extraordinary at the other corner of the field. While he was seen at the time as a "throw-in" to the deal, due to his relatively large contract and difficult 2005 season, he's rebounded nicely with the Sox, proving himself a valuable addition to the team.

Offensively the new infield is performing as well. They've largely allayed the concerns of Boston fans that the team's offensive prowess would suffer in 2006. After a slow start, Lowell has become a key part of that offense. He's rebounded from his struggles last season with a vengeance, hitting .333 on the season. Notably, he leads the majors in doubles. Youkilis has filled in for the injured Coco Crisp in the leadoff spot and done very well in that role, batting .317 (better than Ortiz or Manny). Loretta has done well, too - he's batting .303, and certainly made contributions in key moments that led to victories. Most memorable is his walk-off home run on Patriot's Day, but he's been a regular contributor all season. While Alex Gonzalez has struggled offensively, the rest of the new infield has more than made up for him - and he seems to be rebounding of late. If he rebounds offensively, the Red Sox may actually have the same shortstop for two Opening Day rosters in a row, something that hasn't happened since 2003-2004.

Though we've missed him for most of the season due to injury, new CF Coco Crisp showed great potential in his initial games in Boston. He played in just five games before landing on the DL, and hasn't yet faced the Yankees or had his first home run in a Boston uniform, but it seems likely that he'll bounce back well from his injury. All reports are positive, and he should be a huge addition to the lineup and outfield when he returns, likely on Monday night against Toronto.

On the pitching side, former Marlin Josh Beckett and rookie closer Jonathan Papelbon have been marvelous additions to the team, and Curt Schilling has rebounded well from his injury. Schilling and Beckett are a great one-two punch at the top of the rotation, something any contender needs. While the bottom of our rotation has struggled, especially with the injury to David Wells, they've been helped by the team's improved defense. There have certainly been times when the new and improved defense has made it easier to overcome bad starts by Clement, Wakefield, and DiNardo.

As for Jonathan Papelbon, what superlative can I apply that hasn't been written a dozen times already? His emergence as a powerful major league closer is a welcome addition to the team. Being able to use Mike Timlin, who's having a wonderful year in his own right, and Keith Foulke, who seems to be on the rebound, to get to Papelbon has improved the Boston bullpen enormously. Last year Timlin was a good closer, but Schilling was shaky in that role, and getting to Timlin - especially without Foulke - often proved difficult. This year Foulke's return, coupled with Papelbon's emergence, makes the Boston bullpen worlds better.

Now, I hate to make predictions or pronouncements about how my team's going to do in the middle of the season. I make my one preseason prediction, and generally leave it at that. So I won't make any grandiose claims about where this team will be come August. All I'll say is that so far it's been a lot of fun to watch this team, become familiar with the excellent new players they've signed, and watch them play some pretty good baseball here in Boston. There's a good chance that however the team finishes the season, I'll feel lucky to have watched 2006 and optimistic about 2007.