Projo Sox Blog

BY KEVIN McNAMARA
Journal Sports Writer

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Angels manager Mike Soscia said he considers the Red Sox a different offensive team this year simply because Manny Ramirez isn't following David Ortiz in the batting order. He emphasized different and not neccesarily better or worse.

Mike Lowell was the fifth hitter in that order last October and saw enough good pitches that he won the World Series MVP award with his outstanding play as he hit .400 with four RBI.

"I felt like I had a great year last year from an RBI standpoint. In any RBI situation that came, they're going to walk Manny to face me," Lowell said. "If I was pitching, I'd do the same thing. You're talking about a sure-fire Hall of Famer. So it does change, but that doesn't mean we don't have guys in place of Manny that can't do damage.

"I think you've seen the year that Youk had and can almost say that he's been as productive as Manny would have been through the course of the year for us."

Angels' starter John Lackey may breathe a bit easier knowing Ramirez is now playing for the Dodgers, but he's aware that the Sox lineup still packs a lot of punch.

"There's a couple of personnel changes a little bit, but still a formidable offense and they have guys that can swing the bats. We're going to have to pitch well to be able to win games," Lackey said. "Obviously Manny is not there but Bay has come over and been a very productive player and looks to be a great hitter. So we're going to have to do the same thing that we failed to do last year, I guess."

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