Season Preview: Boston Red Sox

Last Season: 83-71, 3rd in ALManager: Joe McCarthy (1st season in Boston, 22nd total)Offseason: Boston won the offseason by pillaging the Browns over two days in November. The Red Sox sent six unremarkable players and $310,000 to St. Louis for Vern Stephens and Jack Kramer. Stephens will take over at shortstop. A former home run champ who also led the league in RBIs for the '44 pennant wining team, Stephens could be in line for more RBI titles batting fifth in this lineup. Kramer has been an All-Star the last two years for the Browns and will be an important man near the top of the rotation once he is healthy. That may not be until May as he recovers from the flu and a bad leg in spring training.Catcher: The Tigers shipped longtime catcher Birdie Tebbetts to Boston last May, and he responded with an All-Star caliber performance behind the plate. Tebbetts is likely to be a manager one day after his playing career winds down. His backup will be rookie Matt Batts, who came up for a cup of coffee last September. The Red Sox hope Batts can live up to his name, which he did in his limited appearances last season by getting a hit in half of his 16 at bats.Infield: Stephens isn't the only new addition to the infield. In December, the Red Sox made another move to acquire Stan Spence from Washington. Spence will bat cleanup at first base, as his mediocre defense in center field is not needed for this roster. This will put Jake Jones coming off the bench, who nearly had 100 RBIs last year but struggled getting on base himself. With Stephens slotted at short stop, this will allow Johnny Pesky to move over to third. The Red Sox started eight different players at the position last year, none more than 44 games. Now they start a guy who has had at least 600 at bats in all three of his seasons and has led the AL in hits every year he has been active. Bobby Doerr at second is the only constant, but that has been the same every year since his debut in 1937 minus his year of service in 1945. Doerr has managed 100+ RBIs three times and has also hit at least 15 homers every season he's played in this decade.Outfield: The Red Sox may have one of the best infields in baseball, but their best player is patrolling left field. Ted Williams earned the second triple crown of his career in 1947, even though it was only his sixth season after giving up three prime years in the war. Williams will turn 30 at the end of August but one must think his career is only just beginning. Playing next to him in center field is the brother to the only player who can contest him for the title of best player in the American League. Dom DiMaggio is more than just Joe's little brother, though, as he has become a three-time All-Star in his own right. DiMaggio is a good lead off hitter with solid contact and speed, and also is speedy on the base paths. The notable part of Joe's game that he lacks is power, but his teammates certainly make up for that. Sophomore Sam Mele will look to build on his strong rookie season in right field, but can be used anywhere in the outfield as needed like he did in ' 47. When he does play elsewhere or is on the bench, McCarthy can turn to veteran Wally Moses to take over right.Rotation: Joe Dobson was a capable starter before the war, but since then he has settled into the role of team ace. His '47 campaign was his best season yet and he has been rewarded with being named the Opening Day starter for the first time. For the last two years that honor went to Tex Hughson, but an injury last year led to offseason surgery and his absence from the rotation to start the season. Even though Kramer and Hughson will be out in April, Joe McCarthy has plenty of options to turn to in the rotation. Veteran Denny Galehouse had two unremarkable seasons in Boston nearly a decade ago, but he finally found success playing for the Browns and returned to the Red Sox last season a new pitcher. Dave Ferriss won 46 game in his first two years in the majors, though he did come back to earth in '47. If he can find his form from the 25-6 season when Boston won the pennant in 1946, the Red Sox will be just fine. Mickey Harris also went 17-9 that season before missing most of last year. Windy McCall is slated to be the fifth starter the first time through the rotation, but a second start is not guaranteed for the young rookie.Bullpen: After being called on to start a career 17 times last year, the Red Sox want to keep Earl Johnson to be called on out of the bullpen only this season. The lefty was one of two relievers the Red Sox primarily turned to, with the other being righty Harry Dorish. Dorish struggled in his rookie year, but ended on a high note with a strong September, pitching 32 innings at a 3.38 ERA. Fellow sophomore Mel Parnell will start the campaign as a reliever, but he is expected to be one of the first names called upon if a starting role opens up.Outlook: In 1948, we may find out just how important Joe McCarthy was to the Yankees dynasty while he was in pinstripes. He faced off against Joe Cronin countless times in the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry, but now he has teamed up with him since Cronin moves up to the general manager role. Most of 1946's pennant-winning squad is still on the roster, and those that aren't have been replaced by some aggressive moves in the offseason. Boston will be expected to battle New York for the pennant, and anything less will be a disappointment.