Spring Training Is Here

Soon it will be the crack of the bat & the sound of balls zipping into mitts. As always, the start of camp is a time to focus on the team's perceived strengths & weaknesses by sports reporters & fans. Very little said is actually the way things turn out in the regular season. For example, was anyone picking the Giants last spring to win a 2nd world series in 3 years? There will be talk about the new Sox acqisitions - Drew, Napoli, Gomes, Ross, Victorino, Hanrahan, etc. But it will all comes back to the same question that started in September of 2011 & remained throughout all of 2012 -- starting pitching. Can Lester ever take the jump to become a true ace? Can Buck stay healthy? Can Doubront stay solid over the 2nd half? Do Lackey & Dempster have a good year left in their arms? Will the starters go deeper into games & save the pen? Talk throughout February & March will be about everything for sure, but make no doubt about it - that the Sox will only go as far as the starting rotation will take them. Nuf ced!