By: Mark Pagliuca

Welcome to the first installment of RedSox2000. From time to time we will be publishing strictly opinionated reports on how the Boston Red Sox are performing and various activities surrounding the team. Here is the first of such installments.

The Boston Red Sox finished the 1999 regular season with 94 wins and 68 losses. This year they'll do better. Attempting to catch the Yankees is not the issue this year, it's watching the Yankees try and catch the Red Sox. One of the biggest problems the Red Sox had last year was the offensive production from the outfield positions. With a combined .261 average, driving in 233 runs and hitting 51 out of the park, these are the numbers that needed increasing in order to compete for a championship. The offensive outfield figures are the worst in the AL East, with the exception of HRs. The Yankee outfield hit .294, 309 RBI, and belted 64 homers. Duquette was aware of the problem and pulled the trigger, bringing to the Red Sox former Astro/Met/Marlin 28-year old Carl Everett. Everett had the best year of his career at the plate in 1999 with a .325 BA, 108 RBI, 25 HR, and a definite bonus 27 SB, which would lead the Sox by 9 SB. If you're asking yourself about the defense, the Red Sox outfield committed 14 errors last year. Everett made 6 errors last year and made 11 assists from center, Buford and Lewis made 10 combined assists. Just so you know, the Yankee outfield made 22 errors. Losing Damon Buford does affect the defense, like I mentioned previously, the Sox aren't losing a lot. Buford committed 3 errors in 151 games in 2 years of service with the Sox…not bad. However, I would definitely accept Everett and the vast offensive increase for 3 errors per year.

In left, Troy O'Leary has managed to learn the Green Monster better than anyone else around, probably because he spends more time out there than anyone else. He committed only 2 errors all last season and lead the team in outfield assists with 9. O'Leary also had one of his best years in a Sox uniform at the plate driving in a career high 103 runs, and hit 28 HR. Watch him to parade around left field like he owns it because he does.

Nixon out in right has been a question mark for the few years in Boston. Jimmy Williams gave him a shot and let him play everyday. By doing this Williams instilled some confidence in the outfielder and Nixon finished the season with a .270 BA, 67 runs, 52 rbi, and 15 home runs in 124 games. The more he plays the better he feels and that turns into a good outfielder, as long as he works on those 7 errors. Look for Nixon to play about 150 games and increased production from probably the nine spot in the order.

It will be very interesting to see if Nixon, O'Leary, and Everett, all of which had career years at the plate will be able to duplicate the feat in 2000. They may not put up the numbers the Baltimore outfield does, but they only helped win 78 games. This improving outfield will also help the pitchers, Pedro Martinez gave up a total of 13 runs in those 4 losses, that's less than 3.25 runs in support.

By Mark Pagliuca