Every year we witness a brand new Red Sox team. Whether it's the lineup or the rotation, new faces come and old faces go. As we still get adjusted to names like JD Drew and Daisuke Matsuzaka, I think it'd be nice to see how our former favs are doing now.
Mark Loretta - HOU - .329/.387/.400, 0 HR, 11 RBI
Oh, Mark Loretta, how we hardly knew thee. Loretta, an All-Star last year for Boston, was bumped in the off-season in favor of an up-and-coming rookie we know as Dustin Pedroia. Loretta did nothing wrong in a Boston uniform; he was just unlucky because Pedroia nipped at his heels. Loretta finished the '06 season with a .285/.345/.361 line with 75 runs scored. Now as an Astro, Loretta is still hot. He continues to hit well above the .300 mark while getting on-base 40 percent of the time.
Alex Gonzalez - CIN - .253/.307/.469, 8 HR, 19 RBI
Maybe we can attribute his success to his home park, but Alex Gonzalez is going all "Josh Hamilton" on the ball this season. Gonzalez has just 9 home runs last season for the Sox, but already has 8 for the Reds in '07. But while his home run totals increase, so do his errors. "Gonzo" already has 8 errors on the season - he had 7 all of last year.
Trot Nixon - CLE - .291/.374/.402, 2 HR, 20 RBI
It was really sad to see Trot Nixon leave Boston, but he's doing well without us, and I'm glad. Nixon has been a nice jump start to a struggling Indians team this season. Nixon, like always, is still the dirt dog we know and love.
Willie Harris - ATL - .362/.439/.448, 0 HR, 5 RBI
King of the Utility, Willie Harris, has been an asset off the bench for the Braves this season. Harris, who only saw 45 at-bats with Boston last season, has already had 58 with the Braves this season. He may be hot now, but don't expect it to carry throughout the year.
Carlos Pena - TBD - .312/.379/.596, 9 HR, 25 RBI
Carlos Pena is back. Pena hit 27 home runs in 2004 with the Tigers and since then has struggled. He had his moments with the Sox (walk-off home run) but he's found a groove with his new team, the Devil Rays. Pena has already knocked out 9 home runs and is hitting well over .300
David Wells - SDP - 2-2, 52.0 IP, 4.85 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 29 SO, 13 BB
Boomer just isn't the same pitcher anymore. His 4.82 would be pretty good for the American League this season, but it doesn't cut it in the National League. His ERA is more than a full run worse than the league average, 3.83. His walks are the scary stat, though. In 75.2 IP last year, he surrendered 12 walks. He has already given up 13 so far this season in 52.0 IP.
Rudy Seanez - LAD - 1-0, 22.0 IP, 2.86 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 19 SO, 6 BB
Dodger fans are chanting "Rudy, Rudy" right now because, apparently, Seanez is a bonafide reliever. There's definitely a "National League Factor" involved here, but Seanez definitely looks improved. I really wanted him to work out in a Boston uniform, but the factors (Yankees, Blue Jays, Orioles and Devil Rays) weren't in place.
Lenny DiNardo - OAK - 1-1, 19.2 IP, 1.83 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 12 SO, 4 BB
Here's another player that I think everyone in Red Sox Nation really wanted to see succeed, but just didn't cut it. Now, he's making us look like chumps. DiNardo is flourishing in Oakland and will probably continue to do so in a somewhat weak AL West.