The Boston Red Sox are looking forward to the 2012 MLB season. They may no longer have Terry Francona on the bench or Theo Epstein wheeling and dealing upstairs. Soon they may even be without the services of Big Papi. Yet, Red Sox tickets to Fenway Park are still the most treasured pieces of paper in Boston. This season the team must avoid missing the playoffs a third consecutive time, lest they want to begin fueling premature talk of another barren age. The fans are well aware of this impending possibility and will be rabidly attentive in the stands, cheering the team toward victory and jeering hated rivals like the Yankees and now Rays.

This season the Red Sox have three major concerns – injuries, the back end of the starting rotation, and the depth of the middle relief. Injuries plagued the Red Sox roster as the schedule came to an end in 2011. They already have caused new manager Bobby Valentine to search for two replacements at the field positions, one for Carl Crawford in left field and the other for Dustin Pedroia at second base. The outfield may simply be a case of shuffling the requisite talent. Move Cod Ross over from right and move Ryan Sweeney up from the bench. The second base situation comes without a clear course of action. Instead, Mike Aviles and Nick Punto will be battling for the starting honors.

The front three of the starting rotation is set. Jon Lester and Josh Beckett will excel at one and two and Clay Buchholz will at least give a solid effort as the number three man. It is difficult to decipher just who the back two candidates really are. Daisuke will be once he returns from rehab, but that is an issue for the second half. In the meantime, relievers Daniel Bard and Alfredo Aceves and veterans Aaron Cook, Carlos Silva, and Vincente Padilla will be mentioned before pitchers and catchers even report.

Since the third question greatly relies on the second, my guess is that only one of those relievers will earn a starting bid and a couple of the veterans will need to learn how to come into the game in the sixth. Really, with as many options as there are for the both the starting rotation and the middle relief, it seems silly to worry until given reason. The only major concern out of the gate should be about injuries. This offense may be two major hitters down, but Adrian Gonzalez, Jacob Ellsbury, Kevin Youkilis, and Ross should be able to produce enough runs until the rest of the team heals. If David Ortiz does in fact return, the offense should be able to manage.

With more world championships than any other team the Yankees are the team to watch. This is going to be a special year for the Yanks as they play their last season at the old Yankee Stadium. Tickets are going to go fast so don't wait to see them play their last season in The House That Ruth Built.