Back from vaykay! I was able to watch a few of the games while I was away from my NESN subscription at home and I'm happy the Red Sox went 5-1 while I was visiting family in Charleston, SC. As the team prepares for the 9-game roadie in NL parks, a dilemma has presented itself to the Nation: Should the Sox play Adrian Gonzalez in the outfield in order to keep Papi in the lineup? Both hitters are batting well above .300 and have 32 dingers between them. Unfortunately, they both happen to play first base. Other than his primary job of DH-ing, Papi can occasionally play first. That's the only position he's played in NL parks in the past. The starting first baseman, Gonzo is a gold-glover and, so far, a legitimate MVP candidate.
Playing Gonzo out of position in, say, right field, would not only risk injury to such a valuable asset to the team, but it would weaken the right side defense considerably, making it especially attractive to hitters. As for Papi, NL rules call for pinch-hitting far more regularly than in the AL. Once the starting pitcher is out of the game, his space in the lineup is usually given to a pinch-hitter off the bench. Having a bat like Papi's off the bench could prove very valuable to the Red Sox and he can get his at-bats that way. Resting Gonzo for a game or two if they're really concerned about getting Papi more at-bats is also an option, but Gonzo should get the vast majority of the starts at first.
Playing by NL rules puts AL teams with highly-productive DH's, such as the Red Sox, at a disadvantage. However, any AL team that makes it to the World Series must forfeit that DH spot when they play at the NL team's ballpark. Ideally, the AL team wins the All-Star game and home field advantage in the World Series. If that AL team turns out to be the Red Sox, home field advantage could be huge, especially if said NL team is the Phillies.
Tonight, Aceves starts in place of Beckett, who is getting over a bout of tummy trouble (or, in Tito-ese, "intestinal turmoil") With Wake in the rotation, Aceves has become the long-reliever/spot starter guy. Last night, the Sox unloaded a can of whoop-ass on the Padres in a 10-run 7th inning. Will more offensive fireworks follow tonight?
1 comment:
Couldn't agree more about Gonzie to right. You don't weaken your defense at first & right for the entire game, just for the benefit of an upgrade at the plate 2-3 times a game. Ortiz can be used off the bench in an RBI-needed situation over the last four innings, maybe not even for a pitcher.
I also don't buy the "disadvantage" the Red Sox claim they have to deal with. Every AL team has to make the adjustment when they get to an NL ballpark, the same number of times each year. If they want to put $12 million into a DH when they're not going to be able to use him in 7% of the season, that's not grounds to kvetch about the situation. Like rain, snow, wind, birds, bees, day & night, it's a part of the game and you must accept it.
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