Reloaded Red Sox have high 2011 expectations

Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez, two biggest offseason pickups for the Red Sox

It was a hard 2010 season for the Boston Red Sox, going 89-73 and finishing in 3rd place, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2006.  The team struggled with injuries, seeing impact players Jacoby Ellsbury, Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis, Mike Cameron, Jason Varitek, Victor Martinez, Josh Beckett, Clay Buchholz, and Daisuke Matsuzaka all doing time on the DL.  Now, in spring 2011, Pedroia, Ellsbury, Youkilis, Cameron, and Varitek, all of whom suffered season-ending injuries in 2010, are recovered from their injuries.  To add to that, Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford, Dan Wheeler, Bobby Jenks, and Alfredo Aceves have all been brought in to help out as well.  Two words can describe this team- redeem team.

The 2010 season was a tough one.  It was injury after injury, and guys like Darnell McDonald, Ryan Kalish, Daniel Nava, Dustin Brown, and Yamaico Navarro were seeing significant playing time with the big club- guys who would be in Pawtucket or Portland otherwise.  The team did however manage to finish 89-73, being the first team out of the playoffs. 

During the offseason, the injured players (Pedroia, Ellsbury, Youk) healed, and the team made a blockbuster trade that brought Adrian Gonzalez to Boston, and signed Carl Crawford to a 7 year/$142 million contract.  They also revamped the bullpen by adding Alfredo Aceves, Dan Wheeler, Bobby Jenks, and Andrew Miller.  New catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, acquired in a deadline deal last year, is said to have made great improvement in his game over the winter and now is working great with the pitching staff.

As long and as tough as the 2010 season was, it looks as if the 2011 season will be that special.