Clearly the great doubt shadowing the 2009 Red Sox, at least until the season is well underway, is whether they can generate sufficient offense to prosper in the land of great offensive prowess, the American League. Some fans still yearn to see Manny Ramirez in the middle of the order, despite all the nonsense and potential for pouting he brings with his Hall of Fame credentials.

Apparently, the players Manny left behind are not particularly concerned. As noted in a column by the Boston Herald’s Gerry Callahan, Dustin Peroia said flatly, “We’re not going to miss Manny Ramirez at all.”

Mike Lowell, a bit more diplomatically, suggested that we all will have to wait until season’s end to see if Ramirez is missed. But Lowell also expressed confidence that a lineup constructed with the men who are there can be productive in its own Manny-less way.

As for the current Red Sox left fielder, boston.com’s Tony Massarotti suggests that front office would be wise to lock up Jason Bay to a long-term contract now, before he begins the final year of his current deal. Mazz makes a strong case, but Red Sox management, while seemingly hesitant to offer extensions during spring training, seems to have no iron-clad policy against it.

Personally, I’d like to see what Bay can do in a full season here, much of which could depend on where he lands in the lineup. He is hardly on a pace to equal Mark Bellhorn’s bar for strikeouts, but he does fan often enough for it to be a concern.

Tags: Dustin Pedroia, Jason Bay, Mike Lowell, Red Sox lineup