With Terry Francona's announcement that J.D. Drew would be batting 5th in the Sox lineup to start the year, Boston's batting order appears to be nearly set. The top five hitters in the lineup will be Ellsbury, Pedroia, Ortiz, Youkilis and Drew. The 6th and 7th slots will be filled by Jason Bay and Mike Lowell (likely in that order). The final spots will be the catcher (mostly Varitek) and shortstop (J-Low, at least until Lugo is ready to go). So what do you think of the 2009 edition of the Red Sox lineup? Is it good enough to win the East? The A.L.? The Series? Will offensive help be brought in before the year is out? Are too many fragile players being counted on to do too much? What would your lineup be? Personally I think Tito got it just right....at least for now. If everyone is healthy this offense can end up scoring a lot of runs, and with the pitching staff looking so strong that may actually be a luxury instead of a necessity this season. Let's hope so at least.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Sox Batting Order Nearly Set
With Terry Francona's announcement that J.D. Drew would be batting 5th in the Sox lineup to start the year, Boston's batting order appears to be nearly set. The top five hitters in the lineup will be Ellsbury, Pedroia, Ortiz, Youkilis and Drew. The 6th and 7th slots will be filled by Jason Bay and Mike Lowell (likely in that order). The final spots will be the catcher (mostly Varitek) and shortstop (J-Low, at least until Lugo is ready to go). So what do you think of the 2009 edition of the Red Sox lineup? Is it good enough to win the East? The A.L.? The Series? Will offensive help be brought in before the year is out? Are too many fragile players being counted on to do too much? What would your lineup be? Personally I think Tito got it just right....at least for now. If everyone is healthy this offense can end up scoring a lot of runs, and with the pitching staff looking so strong that may actually be a luxury instead of a necessity this season. Let's hope so at least.
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8 comments:
It's going to be important for the bottom of the order not to be easy outs as they were by the end of last year, specifically in the ALCS. Tek needs to at least have competitive at bats, regardless of results. A healthy Lowell should have a positive trickle down effect on the entire team....
But, obviously, relying on Lowell, Drew and Ortiz to stay healthy (not to mention the WBC injuries to Destroya and Youk), plus Tek being 36, you are talking about a lot of risks in the health category. I think they could survive one or even two injuries, but let's hope we don't have to find out.
Ther is no question, we will need to make a trade at some point. We just do not have enough offense in the line up.
Relying on Drew, Ortiz and Lowell to stay healthy for the season is a scary proposition...
Good news is we have a plethora of pitching prospects to trade away...
All I want is:
1) for Ortiz to be healthy and look healthy.
2) for Ellsbury to make a big time leap and be in the leadoff hitter leaders of OBP
If those 2 things happen - we are so set (for regular season)
I am not in favor of Drew batting 5th. I think that is too high. He is oft injured, and it's hard to count on his presence...
Couldn't agree more with DK that the bottom of our lineup needs to perform this year.
I agree with Dave that reliance on 3 players listed is definitely a "scary proposition"
I would be very happy with both of JBS's points, but think with even one of them (which I think is pretty likely) we can make things competitive.
I think I am happy that Drew is batting high (5) for exactly the reason's Mitch brings up, we don't know how long we'll have him.
I hate to say it but it does all come back to how well the Yankees contain their implosion this year - as far as just how WELL we'll have to play.
I do think that the back end can hit. Especially after seeing it on paper. It wasn't like when we won in '04 the guys who hit for us were name brand guys that every team in the Big Leagues wanted. (And like is often said about ex-Pats coaches/coordinators, they didn't go on to prove themselves very well in their subsequent opportunities. Maybe Pats ex- Wide Receivers are an equally good comparison). These guys simply played outside themselves, all playing to the best, for moments beyond, the best of their ability. We play in Fenway. And as the media loves to constantly remind, it is a hitters' park. If we have multiple guys having great nights, while our opponent only has a few guys having a great night, even if it is the Yanks, we shall win. I truly think it will be the way we take care of the rest of the A.L. East (other than Yanks) that will determine whether we finish 1st, 3rd or other in the A.L. East(& in turn the MLB).
If Ortiz would not complain and would be fine/happy with the change I think the best lineup would actually be....
CF - Ellsbury
2B - Destroya
1B - Youkilis
DH - Ortiz
LF - Bay
RF - Drew
3B - Lowell
C. - Tek
SS - Lugo (J-Low until he's healthy)
I like that lineup because it guarantees that the starter has to deal with Youk in the first inning and I think Youk is better at taking pitches and preventing a quick inning, which I absolutely hate in the first. He is also more versatile to take advantage of hit & runs with Ellsbury on 1st.
Not a huge difference, but that would be my preference. Something tells me Ortiz would not be happy with it though, and I'd rather have a happy Papi hitting 3rd than a mopey one hitting cleanup.
i agree that ortiz would be pissed about hitting anywhere other than 3rd. keep him happy
for those who think we need to add a bat (dave) where do you plan on upgrading? i agree we have the prospects to make it happen im just not sure who would be replaced
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