Notable Additions: Wade Miley SP, Pablo Sandoval 3B, Robbie Ross SP, Hanley Ramirez LF/SS, Justin Masterson SP, Ryan Hanigan C, Rick Porcello SP, Alexi Ogando RP

Notable Losses: Rubby De La Rosa SP, Allen Webster SP, David Ross C,  Yoenis Cespedes LF, Alex Wilson RP, Will Middlebrooks 3B

Everyone was shocked when the Red Sox signed Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval. The Sox announced that they will be using Hanley Ramirez as their left fielder. I have to say, I like the move. Ramirez has no business playing short and he is still an elite hitter. He’s a shortstop transitioning to the outfield and will get to play in front of the Green Monster. Hanley can’t be any worse than Manny Ramirez was. Hanley hit .283 and poked 13 home runs in 2014 with the Dodgers. Pablo Sandoval finished 2014 with a .279 batting average and a World Series Ring. Sandoval will take over at third and could be the difference maker for this team.

I really like the Red Sox’s chances in 2015. The clearly have the hitting to be a serious threat. The pitching shouldn’t be bad. I loved the move for Rick Porcello. He pitched in 204.2 innings and finished with a 3.43 ERA last season. He doesn’t produce a ton of strikeouts but he has the ability to get batters out by staying ahead in the count. He knows how to work the corners and will go deep into games. I think Porcello will love pitching somewhere where the bullpen has a chance of closing out games. Wade Miley will fit nicely in Boston where he’ll receive run support. He been durable in his first three full seasons throwing a combined 597.2 innings. Miley still holds a career ERA of 3.79 and a 7 SO9 rate. You never quite know what you’re going to get out of Clay Buchholz. In 2010 he finished with a 2.33 ERA through 173.2 innings of work. He held a 5.34 ERA through 170.1 innings last season. If Buchholz can be the pitcher he was in 2012 this year, the Sox will have a great opportunity to finish atop the division.

When I look at this team one word comes to mind… depth. They have Brock Holt, Mookie Betts, Allen Craig, Daniel Nava, and Jackie Bradley Jr. all coming off the bench. Every sing one of those guys are capable of starting for the Red Sox but instead will be used situationally. Craig offers a right-handed bat with incredible contact. He finished 2013 with a .315 batting average and 13 home runs. Mookie Betts is one of the top prospects in the game and has the tools to be a solid player in the future. Jackie Bradley Jr. struggled offensively last season but his defensive skills will keep him in the Majors. He is one of the best defensive center fielders in the game and should be put in late in the game for defensive safety. Next up is Brock Holt. Holt should be a captain in the MLB. He’s a guy who plays the game the right way and earned his way into the lineup. He is a hustle player who finished last season with a .281 batting average. Holt was given an opportunity and he took advantage of it. He earned the respect of his teammates, coaches, and fans through hustle. Hustle seems to be an undervalued in today’s game but it’s players like Brock Holt who remind us of its importance.

Breakout Player: Justin Masterson SP

Masterson is already a well known name but I’m anticipating a turnaround season. He struggled in 2014 finishing with a 5.88 ERA through 128.2 innings. He should adjust well in Boston given the offensive support that he’ll receive. Masterson still has the ability to be a good pitcher and will be one in 2015. If healthy I expect:

174.1 IP, 3.82 ERA, 156 SO

Game Changer: Joe Kelly SP

Joe Kelly will have an opportunity to rebound from his average 2014 season. He finished with a 4.20 ERA through 96.1 innings last season. The Red Sox hope that Kelly will return to his 2013 form when he finished with a 2.69 ERA through 124 innings of work. If Kelly can give 150+ innings and keep his ERA below 4, the Red Sox will have enough fire power to win the division.

Boston is a deep offensive team this year and I wouldn’t be surprised to see a trade for another pitcher at some point before the All-star break. Their offense will be one of the best in the American League but the pitching rotation has their work cut out for them. Expect the Sox to be serious contenders in the AL East in 2015.

Make sure to check back in on March 31st for my complete standing predictions along with a few other fun pieces of news. Until then, you will be able to find a new preview of an individual team from March 1st through the 30th here at KRUI.FM.

The post Boston Red Sox 2015 Preview Edition #23 appeared first on KRUI Radio.

It only seems fair to start with the 2014 champs, the San Francisco Giants. The Giants have a certain beauty to them. They are a team that becomes one. People always seem to be surprised when a team like the Giants have such success. That’s called unselfish teamwork.

Notable Additions:

Nori Aoki OF

Casey McGehee 3B

Notable Losses:

Michael Morse LF/1B

Pablo Sandoval 3B

The Giants will enter 2015 with a few key changes. In the infield, the absence of Pablo Sandoval will not go unnoticed. Sandoval was a key contributor in each of the Giants past three playoff runs. In 154 postseason at bats, Sandoval holds a .354 batting average and a .545 slugging percentage. Casey McGehee will fill the spot at third base in 2015. McGehee played for the Marlins last season where he posted a respectable .287 batting average. There’s no question that this is a major downgrade.

The Giants will miss the switch hitting bat of Sandoval in the middle of the lineup. McGehee had two areas of concern last season. The first was the non-existent power. He hit only 4 home runs in 2014 and finished with a .357 slugging percentage. The Giants would love to see just 10-15 long balls from McGehee in 2015. It’s noteworthy to mention that he did blast 23 home runs back in 2010 when he finished with a .464 slugging percentage. The second area of concern is double plays. McGehee grounded into an MLB high 31 double plays in 2014. That’s almost twice the number of Sandoval who was doubled up 16 times last season. McGehee could be a difference maker if he could find a way to add some power to his stroke.

San Francisco fans should be excited to see Nori Aoki playing left field for the Giants this season. I think Aoki will fit well in the Giant’s system. He is a left-handed bat that managed to hit .285 in 2014 for the Kansas City Royals. The statistic that I find the most intriguing about Aoki is his batting average against left-handed pitching. He hit .363 against lefties last season with a .435 slugging percentage. Aoki should continue to be an exciting player to watch.

Breakout Player: Joe Panik 2B

You could argue that Panik already broke out in 2014. He played 73 games for the big league club last season and posted a .305 batting average. Panik brings a quick left-handed bat to the lineup. He was another guy who crushed left-handed pitching last season finishing with a .373 batting average and only struck out 12 times against south paws. He struggled to find the gaps at home but managed to hit 8/10 doubles on the road. If healthy I’m expecting:

.279 BA,  .346 OBP, 6 HR, 49 RBI’s, 71 SO

Game Changer: Matt Cain SP

Cain is coming off of an elbow surgery that ended his 2014 campaign early. Cain has struggled in the past few season with ERA’s above 4.00. If Cain can give the Giants just 175 innings with a 3.67 ERA it could be the difference between October baseball or an early off season. He finished the 2012 season with a 2.79 ERA over 219.1 innings. The Giants will look for any help they can get with their aging rotation.

It’s hard to say that the Giants will be a great team but I’m certainly not ready to doubt them. They still have solid pieces in place.

Madison Bumgarner reassured everyone last year that he is a true ace who can carry a team through the playoffs. Bumgarner posted a 0.43 ERA in the World Series last season through 21 innings of work. He’s given the Giants four consecutive seasons of over 200 innings of work. Hunter Pence continues to be one of the most consistent outfielders in the game and has given no indication that would show any change. Buster Posey seems to get better every season and is the core of this talented team. With the key pieces still in tact, the Giants should be ready to contend for another NL West Title. 2015 should be a more challenging season due to the fact that the Dodgers still remain a major threat and the Padres have significantly improved.

Make sure to check back in on March 31st for my complete standing predictions along with a few other fun pieces of news. Until then, you will be able to find a new preview of an individual team from March 1st through the 30th here at KRUI.FM.

The post San Francisco Giants 2015 Preview Edition #1 appeared first on KRUI Radio.