If I were the GM or manager of the Boston Red Sox these are the guys I’d take for the American League Division Series. Factoring that everyone is healthy here is my 25-man roster:
Infielders (6)
Kevin Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia, Julio Lugo, Mike Lowell, Alex Cora, Eric Hinske
Outfielders (5)
Manny Ramirez, Coco Crisp, Jacoby Ellsbury, JD Drew, Bobby Kielty
Catchers (2)
Jason Varitek, Doug Mirabelli
DH (1)
David Ortiz
Pitchers (11)
Josh Beckett, Curt Schilling, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Tim Wakefield, Jonathan Papelbon, Hideki Okajima, Eric Gagne, Mike Timlin, Manny Delcarmen, Javier Lopez, Clay Buchholz
I’d go with 4 starters it’s a short best of five series and you’re only going to use three of them so Wakefield could come out of the bullpen as your long guy and there’s no need for Jon Lester. I’d also drop Julian Tavarez and Kyle Snyder in the first round and take Buchholz who could give you a boost with a solid inning here or there in the round and Ellsbury. I think if you’re lucky enough to advance to the best of seven ALCS then you add Lester and Tavarez and drop Buchholz and a position player.
