Let me say I am sorry to Sox fans for being a little late with this Sox report I know you Dirt Dogs were all dying with anticipation, but I was greeted by a strange visitor last week and it’s taken me a while to recover and decide if I wanted to report my findings to Red Sox Nation.

It was early last week, I was minding my own business going for a nice walk down the street to pick up a movie and enjoy some peace and quiet, when I heard a loud crash and could almost smell electricity in the air! Before I could even turn around to see what it was, a bright sliver car pulled up to me. The gull wing doors flew open and a crazy old man with wild white hair busted out yelling, ” Please, please take this from me and hide it! I need to be sure it will not fall in the wrong hands, but I am out of time!” Before I could even react a rolled up magazine was thrust in my hands and my strange visitor was climbing back into the car. As the door was closing he shouted one last warning. ” Do NOT read that, the consequences could be dire if you do!” and with that he was gone.

Well forget the movie I HAD to get right home to see what was in this magazine! The cover said it all, Grays Sports Almanac 1950-2015. Well Sox fans ,you can see my dilemma, what should I do? Listen to the crazy old man and lock the magazine away? Or better yet burn it? Should I use the information in the book for a huge profit, selling my soul in the process? Heck no! I already sold my soul to Red Sox Nation for that World Series win in 2004, so why not just tell you all what I found! The Red Sox will win the world series in 2011! I could of course tell you who will will this year and next but what fun would that be?

The best part about the Red Sox page is because they won the 2011 World Series it shows the teams starting line up for that year. So without further delay I present you the Red Sox everyday line up and rotation for 2011!

Starting at first base is Lars Anderson, the former five star prospect seems to have settled into a full time role with the Sox and put up decent numbers all things considered. .285 BA 85 RBI and 17 HR.

Second base was once again manned by Dustin Pedroia who seems to defy all common sense and put up numbers as good as his MVP year of 2008. .301 BA 80 RBI 120 Runs and .450 SLG!

Short Stop is manned by Jed Lowrie who seems to have settled into the job after a multiple year battle with Lugo. I’ll have to look ahead in the Almanac to see if he is still with the Sox in 2012 since these numbers at the SS position always have made Theo cast his eyes to the market place for an upgrade. Though a .255 BA 11 HR and 67 RBI are not that bad especially when you consider he will not even be eligible for free agency until 2015. Oscar Tejeda seems to have solidified the back up job. His stats may be deceiving and his defense was no doubt very solid. .240 BA 60 Runs scored.

Third base was anchored by the rock of the team: Kevin Youkilis. His numbers for 2011 seem to indicate he has found a way to get away from those later season slumps. .285 BA 25 HR, 110 RBI seem pretty solid and he should still be the foundation of the team into 2013.

Chris Carter seems to be in a back up position covering first base and the corner outfield spots.
Catcher for the Red Sox is Jarrod Saltalamacchia, I have no idea how he came over to the Sox, but based on the players listed on the Red Sox roster, it seems he was acquired in a trade for a top pitching prospect and a lower level prospect like Ryan Kalish (whom the Sox deemed expendable with the emergence of Ellsbury) The switch hitting 28 year old seems to have settled in perfectly for the old Captain a the plate, hopefully his defense improved as well. His final stats were .285 20 HR and 90 RBI. Mark Wagner seems locked in as Saltalamacchia’s back up behind the plate.

The outfield seems to have seen dramatic turn over from where we left off in 2009, only Jacoby Ellsbury remains in the starting line-up, he finished the year with a BA .301 17 HR and 60 SB. Cementing his place in Red Sox history as their most prolific base stealer.

Josh Reddick seems to have won the starting right field job and preformed admirably in his second full season. His mix of speed and power work well for the vast right field in Fenway park. His solid defense and strong bat must be reminding folks of Dwight Evans. .285 BA 23 HR and .544 SLG show the future is very bright for this former 4 star prospect.

Left field seems to have become a platoon between Jeff Baily and JD Drew (in the last year of his contract). Baily finished with a .301 AVG 18 HR and 87 RBI in limited duty, while Drew missing more games than usual due to injury ended up .320 14 HR and 75 RBI.

The starting rotation for 2011 seems to have a very home grown feeling.

Jon Lester , the feel good story of 2007, has turned into the anchor of the rotation. 225 IP 19-12 W/L and 3.05 ERA seem to indicate he’s gone from the new kid on the block to a perennial CY Young contender.

Daisuke Matsuzaka. The Japanese phenom that look the baseball world by storm in 2007 has not turned out the be the dominate force some felt he would be but is non the less a very solid number two man. 170 IP, 4.06 ERA 16-14 W/L.

After spending time in the bullpen it seems Justin Masterson has found his way back in the rotation, that experience has served him well as his numbers show. 200 IP 14-10 W/L ERA 3.75.

Clay Buchholz went from super prospect, no hit pitcher, to bust, in less then 12 months. He seems to have built on a solid spring in 09 and success in AAA to a real MLB career. The one time trade bait is one of the most coveted arms in baseball but they will all have to wait until he is a free agent in 2015. His 18-9 W/L in 210 IP with 175 K no doubt made him a CY Young contender.

Michael Bowden The one time five star prospect no doubt found his way to the starting rotation after Josh Beckett left for free agency. I am sure lots of ball clubs would love to have a number five pitcher that is 14-12 W/L 4.25 ERA.

The Bullpen for 2011 seems to have once again been a strength for the Sox.

Jonathan Papelbon once again anchored the pen with 60 IP, 40 saves and 2.49 ERA.

Setting up for Pap were Daniel Bard and Junichi Tazawa with Manny Delcarmenn still in the mix. Ramon Ramirez is still getting the job done along with Nick Hagadone getting out’s as needed.

Well there you have it Sox fans. No need to worry about 2009 or 2010, you have a 2011 World Series win to look forward to. How do you think those smug Yankees fans will feel about that as they are still paying off those long term contracts for players that are not even on their team anymore.

I better get going now, it looks like a big lightning storm is coming.