[Moriarty9]

Player-by-player review of 2010 regular season

Antonio Andres, OF (.277, 6 HR, 33 RBI, 32 R, 11 SB, 206 AB)
Acquired after Ichiro Suzuki went down for the season with an injury, Andres served primarily as the fourth outfielder for the Red Sox. He performed well in his limited playing time, often working as a pinch runner or defensive replacement. Andres played well against the Cleveland Indians, whom Boston will face in the ALDS. In his five at bats against the Indians, Andres picked up two hits - a triple and a home run - stole a base, score three times and drove in two runs.

George Avila, 1B (.211, 3 HR, 20 RBI, 17 R, 190 AB)
Avila was acquired in late June to provide some pop to the Boston batting order but failed to do so and was eventually demoted to AAA Pawtucket before being recalled in September. Avila had hit .278 with 14 home runs and 39 RBI in 62 games with the San Diego Padres but seemingly left his bat behind in southern California.

Miguel Cabrera, 3B (.352, 32 HR, 112 RBI, 125 R, 9 SB, 622 AB)
The AL batting champion may have won himself a third MVP with this season's performance. Cabrera hit .300 for the eighth time in his nine-year career, topped the 30 home run plateau for the fourth time and the 100 RBI mark for the fifth time. He excelled against the Indians this season, hitting .429 (12-for-28) with five doubles, a triple, three RBI and two runs.

Ben Dixon, 3B (.133, 15 AB)
Dixon has had three trips to the Major Leagues the last three seasons but has yet to show any sign of ability at that level, hitting .179 in 65 big league games. This year was no different as he collected two singles in his 15 at bats with the Red Sox.

Todd Helton, 1B (.182, 2 HR, 27 RBI, 23 R, SB, 154 AB)
Once one of the premier players in the game, Helton, 37, has found himself hanging onto a job in the big leagues in large part to the $18.5 million owed to him this season. Given the starting firstbaseman's job to start the season, Helton struggled, hitting .163 in April and .158 in May before suffering an ankle injury and later a back injury.

Nick Huggins, INF (.571, 2 RBI, 2 R, 7 AB)
Huggins was part of a minor trade made in September but performed well in his limited time with the Red Sox. An excellent defender, Huggins has the chance to go to camp with the club next spring.

Chris Iannetta, C (.245, 9 HR, 49 RBI, 45 R, SB, 327 AB)
The leader of Boston's catcher-by-committee, Iannetta performed well for his playing time and position. He did allow seven passed balls and threw out 22.5% of would-be baserunners.

Conor Jackson, 1B (.289, 6 HR, 21 RBI, 26 R, 180 AB)
Acquired in late July after George Avila had failed to produce, Jackson played well for the Red Sox in his two-plus months with the team. He finished the year with a .272 average, 15 homers, 79 RBI and 79 runs in 151 games between Boston and the New York Mets.

Howie Kendrick, DH/2B (.293, 10 HR, 85 RBI, 87 R, 593 AB)
Spending much of the season batting second as the DH, Kendrick performed well and has made a case for the Rookie of the Year. He played well against the Indians, hitting .282 with five RBI in nine games.

Nick Markakis, OF (.315, 26 HR, 108 RBI, 91 R, 7 SB, 574 AB)
Markakis set a career high in RBI and was one homer shy of his career high this season. He has quietly become a big key to Boston's success. Although he has never hit well in the playoffs (.214 average in 30 games) and struggled against Cleveland this year (.172 average in 9 games), the Red Sox hope he can continue his 2010 success into the playoffs.

Kazuo Matsui, INF (.188, 2 RBI, R, SB, 16 AB)
Matsui has struggled in his time at the big league level the last two seasons after being a strong contributor off the Boston bench in 2007 and 2008. Eligible for arbitration in the off-season, he may be looking for work outside of Fenway Park next year.

Kendry Morales, 1B (.294, HR, 8 RBI, 4 R, 17 AB)
Morales' late season callup puts him in a strong position to fight for a big league job next spring.

David Murphy, OF (.286, 2 HR, 16 RBI, 13 R, SB, 133 AB)
Murphy has been a fourth outfielder with Boston the last couple seasons and continues to play well in that role. The left-handed hitting 28-year-old was forced into the starting lineup for the playoffs last season due to an injury to Manny Ramirez and excelled, hitting .324 with 3 RBI and 7 runs in 10 games. The Red Sox hope he performs just as well this October off the bench.

Dustin Pedroia, 2B (.254, 8 HR, 64 RBI, 73 R, SB, 559 AB)
Given the starting job after Dan Uggla was traded in the off-season Pedroia performed admirably. He seemed to tire in July (.179 average in 84 at bats) but was given sporadic rest and hit well down the stretch (.352 in September/October). The Red Sox need Pedroia to contribute in the playoffs in order to get anywhere.

Josh Phelps, C/1B (.211, 2 HR, 18 RBI, 26 R, 242 AB)
Playing for his ninth big league club, Phelps split time behind the plate but was unable to do anything to show he deserved to be the starting catcher, although he did throw out 38.4% of those attempting to steal off him.

Hanley Ramirez, SS (.272, 21 HR, 94 RBI, 107 R, 30 SB, 624 AB)
Ramirez hit a career-high 21 homers this season and earned a lengthy contract extension in the process. The Red Sox need the 26-year-old shortstop to stay hot (.295 in September/October) throughout the playoffs.

Manny Ramirez, OF (.303, 31 HR, 99 RBI, 105 R, SB, 535 AB)
Having missed a couple weeks with a hand injury, Ramirez missed his 10th straight 100 RBI season by just one, but was able to keep his streak of six straight seasons at .300 or better. A free agent at season's end, Ramirez is hoping for a big post-season to show he deserves a big off-season contract from the Red Sox ... or some other team.

Dale Reed, INF (.368, 6 RBI, R, 19 AB)
Picking up a number of base hits and playing solid defense, Reed opened some eyes as a potential backup infielder for next year's Red Sox team.

Ichiro Suzuki, OF (.258, HR, 9 RBI, 9 R, SB, 66 AB)
Ichiro went down for the season with a ruptured Achilles tendon in April, hurting his chances of getting the Red Sox to pick up his $8 million option for next season. His injury forced the team to acquire outfielders Willy Taveras and Antonio Andres - further hindering the possibility of his option being picked up. The team may, however, try to negotiate an extension at a lower payrate.

Willy Taveras, OF (.265, HR, 44 RBI, 65 R, 28 SB, 431 AB)
Acquired to help replace Ichiro Suzuki in centerfield and at the top of the lineup, Taveras performed adequately enough to help lead the Red Sox to the playoffs. He struggled against the Indians, however, hitting .200 (3-for-15), but hopes to perform well in his first time in the playoffs.

Reggie Willits, OF (.305, 6 RBI, 12 R, 9 SB, 95 AB)
Willits has performed well in his limited time in the big leagues the last two years, hitting .305 and stealing 10 bases in 46 games. A fine defensive outfielder, his glove and speed - not to mention his good hitting in limited action - may get him a spot on the big league roster sooner than later.