Looking into my crystal ball, there could be a cloudy 2009 forecast for the list below.

RED SOX: They were so close to another World Series even after Manny Ramirez’s departure. Did that create a false sense of belief? Did they suffer a huge blow by not landing Mark Teixeira?

Look at the first week of the season for the biggest bat on the Red Sox, that of David Ortiz: one double in 34 at-bats. Wrist injuries are always dicey for sluggers. Watch how teams approach Ortiz in crucial situations: so far he has one walk and zero extra base hits in at-bats with runners on base.

BARRY ZITO: Patience may start to run thin, even in a highly tolerant San Francisco. Zito’s second start, Thursday night in Los Angeles, saw him again stung for a first-inning run. There doesn’t seem to be any swing-and-miss stuff, thus Zito runs up high pitch counts, 94 in just five innings Thursday night. At $18.5 million, a five-inning pitcher is not what the Giants thought they were buying.

GIANTS:  A disastrous trip to San Diego and Los Angeles ratchets up the early-season pressure on a team with new management at the top.  For the first time in years, the Giants have strong prospects in the lower levels of their system. But none of their own, save Tim Lincecum, have really hit at the major league level. Progress for the young will be accelerated, but there could be less patience at the corner of Third and King.

VLADIMIR GUERRERO: Friday he was placed on the 15-day disabled list due to a torn muscle in his chest. Like David Ortiz, he had shown a lack of extra-base power with one homer in 32 at-bats. There has long been concern about his real age, now he admits to lying by one year, but can anyone really be sure how old he is? Hope is that he comes to life in the second half as in 2008 (he had a bunch of singles, but no extra base hits or RBI in the playoffs).  But there is always the fear, more so in the post-BALCO era that a player can age quickly.

TWINS’ PITCHING: They must pick up their starts (5.80 ERA in their first 10 games). A young, homegrown rotation is supposed to be their advantage in a competitive division. They throw strikes, but in the early games, there have been too many hits and homers allowed.

INDIANS’ PITCHING: Cliff Lee is the centerpiece of this story that took a turn for the better in the Yankee Stadium opener when Lee got his first win of the season after opening with two losses.

Like with Tim Lincecum, the concern has been over Lee’s location. (I keep reading about a drop in Lincecum’s velocity, and word from the Giants is that his normal fastball has lost a few mph. When Lincecum reaches back for 96-97mph, his command is off). Fausto Carmona still can’t throw strikes consistently, and the Indians’ third starter is Carl Pavano. Anything more need to be said?

RON WASHINGTON: The Texas manager once again has a scoring power as the Rangers are averaging almost eight runs a game, but that’s coupled with a pitching-challenged staff. Offense is so contagious in Texas that Andruw Jones, the same man who was cheered by his Los Angeles teammates for simply fouling off a pitch, is already 6-for-11 with four extra base hits. The problem for Washington is the man in charge is Nolan Ryan, who wants to see some pitching.

PUDGE RODRIGUEZ: Houston’s bats showed some life with a six-run outing Thursday in Pittsburgh. But Pudge, listed at 37 (are we sure that’s his real age?), is just 7-for-35 with little pop in his bat. Mentoring the pitching staff could still give Pudge a chance to contribute, but if the Astros struggle for wins, will they accept the lack of a bat at catcher?

ROCKIES BULLPEN: The search for a closer post Brian Fuentes, has been uneven. Manny Corpas lost the job in spring, but Huston Street has been unable to cement his spot. Wednesday in Wrigley Field, Clint Hurdle pulled Street during an uneasy bottom of the ninth. Jason Grilli posted the final outs in Chicago, and the Rockies move forward uncertain about their finisher.