30 Teams in 30 Days: Boston Red Sox

30 Teams in 30 Days is a preseason feature to highlight the significant changes to each of the major league teams. It's meant to get everyone up to speed before our pre-season predictions in mid-March

The other Evil Empire, after turning into the very thing they despised in trying to end the dominance of the Yankees at the end of the last century, has had a very productive decade. The Sawks have been one of the most successful teams in baseball over the last five years, averaging 94 wins per season with playoff appearances in four of the five last five seasons and World Series titles in 2004 and 2007. So maybe changing from the lovable underdog and thorn in the Yankees' side to the other disgustingly rich perennial power in the AL East was worth it. You really can't fault them for thriving in a broken system.

Last year, the Red Sox finished second in the East to the eventual League Champion; the Rays. They still won 95 games and earned the AL Wild Card. The Red Sox lost in the ALCS to the Rays in seven games. With seven All-Stars, six of which will return for 2009 (including the AL MVP Dustin Pedroia) the Red Sox don't look likely to fall from contention any time soon.

C-Josh Bard
1B-Kevin Youkilis
2B-Dustin Pedroia
3B-Mike Lowell
SS-Julio Lugo
LF-Jason Bay
CF-Jacoby Ellsbury
RF-J.D. Drew
DH-David Ortiz

SP-Josh Beckett
SP-Jon Lester
SP-Daisuke Matsuzaka
SP-Tim Wakefield
SP-Brad Penny

Other notable players: P John Smoltz, P Clay Buchholz, IF Jed Lowrie, OF Rocco Baldelli, and C Jason Varitek.

By all appearances, the Red Sox look poised to be one of the elite teams in the AL again this year. With experienced veterans such as Ortiz, Lowell, and Beckett along with exciting young stars like Ellsbury and Lester, the Red Sox will be 2009 favorites for many observers.