What's Francona to do?

[AutographCollector]

Who will the BoSox start at 1B when they play in Coors Field? Big Papi or Youk? (As we all know that there is no DH in NL parks)
If Ortiz plays at first, do you play Youk at 3B? In the outfield? Remember he does have experience out there. So what does Francona do?

[DickZ]

Youk didn't play in the 2004 World Series. Big Papi played first base for the two games in Saint Louis, relieved in the late innings by Doug Mientkiewicz. Big Papi did just fine in the field.

However, with Big Papi's knees this year, and with Youk playing well right now, I hope that Youk plays first in Colorado, and that Big Papi just pinch hits. But I'm not in charge, so I don't know what will actually happen.

[hellborn]

Youk didn't play in the 2004 World Series. Big Papi played first base for the two games in Saint Louis, relieved in the late innings by Doug Mientkiewicz. Big Papi did just fine in the field.

However, with Big Papi's knees this year, and with Youk playing well right now, I hope that Youk plays first in Colorado, and that Big Papi just pinch hits. But I'm not in charge, so I don't know what will actually happen.

Papi threw Suppan out at 3B after Jeff's bizarre dance on the baseline in the Pedro game...it was a nice throw, better than anything Jason Giambi or Steve Garvey could come up with.

[bakes781]

Youk didn't play in the 2004 World Series. Big Papi played first base for the two games in Saint Louis, relieved in the late innings by Doug Mientkiewicz. Big Papi did just fine in the field.

However, with Big Papi's knees this year, and with Youk playing well right now, I hope that Youk plays first in Colorado, and that Big Papi just pinch hits. But I'm not in charge, so I don't know what will actually happen.

Plus Youk is a much more established hitter now than he was back in '04. During interleague play Francona rotated days off between Youk, Papi & Lowell. I imagine he'll stick with this plan & the order in which they go will depend on the pitching matchups.

[maximum jack]

Let's put Papi at Short!

[bakes781]

Let's put Papi at Short!

lol if we could put youk or lowell there that would be perfect.

[hellborn]

I wouldn't mind seeing Youk out in RF.
But, even when he doesn't hit, Drew is a pretty good defensive OFer, fast with a good arm. Manny in LF and Youk in RF might be pretty scary in a big park like Colorado's.
Scratch that!

[Dogdaze]

Plus Youk is a much more established hitter now than he was back in '04. During interleague play Francona rotated days off between Youk, Papi & Lowell. I imagine he'll stick with this plan & the order in which they go will depend on the pitching matchups.

That would be my guess, depends on who's pitching for the Rox. If it's a lefty, I imagine Papi sits, if it's a righty, I can see Papi playing at first base.

[Dogdaze]

Let's put Papi at Short!

LOL. If only he could play SS.

Maybe Youk could play 2nd base and move Pedoria to SS?

Youk played 2 games at 2nd base in 2005, and Pedoria played SS in college.

[cardinalfaninNY]

Has Lowell ever played SS or 2nd? Put Lugo on the bench and use as a late inning defensive replacement. Let Lowell play 2nd or SS, put Pedroia at the other position, Youk at 3rd, Big Papi at 1st.

[Westlake]

I dont think ol Mikey can handle 2B or SS.

[brose3312]

That would be my guess, depends on who's pitching for the Rox. If it's a lefty, I imagine Papi sits, if it's a righty, I can see Papi playing at first base.

I don't think the Sox can sit Ortiz. In the World Series I think you sub Ortiz for Youk at first. I know Youk had an outstanding ALCS and is a gold glove first baseman but I don't see how you take Ortiz' bat out of the lineup. You start Ortiz and if the Sox get a lead you stick Youk in for defense. It's a bad move to put Youk at third, where he has hardly played, in such an important series.

[Matt1901]

It's tough to not have Big Papi's bat in the lineup. Here is a comparison of the three men's numbers in the Regular Season, ALDS, ALCS and overall Postseason.




NAME REG ALDS ALCS POST
David Ortiz 1.066 2.418 0.966 1.318
Kevin Youkilis 0.843 0.869 1.504 1.314
Mike Lowell 0.879 0.919 0.894 0.900

Defensively, Youkilis at first and Lowell at third is clearly the best defensive combination. However, I do think that Ortiz at first with Lowell at third is closer to that than it is to Ortiz at first with Youkilis at third. Youkilis play at third base hasn't been that great in his limited time there over the past two season. Granted, much of that has to do with him mostly playing first base.

I just see it as very difficult to remove one of the best bats in all of baseball from the lineup. One of the positive thing is that Tito doesn't have to make an ultimate decision until after the first two games of the World Series.

[Dogdaze]

I don't think the Sox can sit Ortiz. In the World Series I think you sub Ortiz for Youk at first. I know Youk had an outstanding ALCS and is a gold glove first baseman but I don't see how you take Ortiz' bat out of the lineup. You start Ortiz and if the Sox get a lead you stick Youk in for defense. It's a bad move to put Youk at third, where he has hardly played, in such an important series.

Thats why I'm suggesting to try Pedoria at SS and Youk at 2nd, and have Papi play first. Not sure if that would work, but it might.

But my guess is Tito will either start Papi at first and if we have a lead, Youk will come in later, or he will do the lefty/righty thing. I.E. Play Papi at first if the Rox use a right handed pitcher, or play Youk at 1st if a lefty is pitching.

[Dogdaze]

Another thought that just occurred to me is, that Colorado was one of the NL's best bunting teams, and plays pretty good small ball, so Tito may be forced to play Youk more at 1st base for defensive reasons.

But I guess we'll find out what Titio has planned soon enough!

[NightHawks2007]

Playing Pedroia at SS would make plenty of sense. I would be worried about Youk at second because he isn't exactly very fleet of foot. But we can't sit Ortiz. He is just too darn good to leave on the Bench in something as important as the World Seires.

[Dogdaze]

Playing Pedroia at SS would make plenty of sense. I would be worried about Youk at second because he isn't exactly very fleet of foot. But we can't sit Ortiz. He is just too darn good to leave on the Bench in something as important as the World Seires.

I think Pedroia would be fine at SS as well.

I think it would be a gamble playing Youk at 2nd base, no question. But he has played there twice in 2005. I don't recall how he did or if he played more then an innig or two, but if we want both Youk and Ortiz in the lineup in Colorado, that might be a potential answer. Either that or play Youk in RF.

And I agree we can't leave Papi on the bench, his bat is too valuable, so my guess is Tito will have Papi play first and if we have a lead in the later innings he'll bring Youk in for defense.

But keep in mind, that the Rox are a good bunting team and can play good small ball as well, so I wouldn't be too surprised to see Youk getting more time at first base then Papi when we play in CO since Youk is so good defensively.

[hellborn]

Thats why I'm suggesting to try Pedoria at SS and Youk at 2nd, and have Papi play first. Not sure if that would work, but it might.

But my guess is Tito will either start Papi at first and if we have a lead, Youk will come in later, or he will do the lefty/righty thing. I.E. Play Papi at first if the Rox use a right handed pitcher, or play Youk at 1st if a lefty is pitching.

Boy, I can just see Youk getting hit at 2B trying to make a turn because he's not experienced at it. If you're going to mess with somebody new at 2B, it should probably be a more agile guy.
Maybe Youk or Papi could catch???? :pray:

[Dogdaze]

Boy, I can just see Youk getting hit at 2B trying to make a turn because he's not experienced at it. If you're going to mess with somebody new at 2B, it should probably be a more agile guy.
Maybe Youk or Papi could catch???? :pray:

Well, maybe if Yankeebuscuitfan can give him some Mojo he'll do okay! :D

Yes, I know Youk isn't that mobile, but he may not be that bad either. And they did play him at 2nd twice.

Just wishful thinking on my part to have both Youk and Papi in the lineup!

[NightHawks2007]

Youk played 7 innings at 2nd in 2005. Made no errors, 2 assists.

Its more than wishful thinking, it would be nice to have both sluggers in the thin air.

[bakes781]

This whole discussion is meningless lol they're not going to rearrange the fielding duties now! If there's a lefty starter then Papi sits & here's how I would have the lineup:

Pedroia
Youkilis
Ellsbury
Manny
Lowell
Drew
Varitek
Lugo
Pitcher's Spot

Otherwise...w/o Lowell:

Pedroia
Youkilis
Ortiz
Manny
Drew
Varitek
Ellsbury
Lugo
Pitcher's Spot

And w/o Youk:

Ellsbury
Pedroia
Ortiz
Manny
Lowell
Drew
Varitek
Lugo
Pitcher's Spot

[AutographCollector]

This whole discussion is meningless
Yesterday morning on XM radio a bunch of callers from the NE area called in and were obviously worried about this. Just wanted to see what all of you thought.

[maximum jack]

All kidding aside, I think we're going to be alright. I've complained all season about a lack of a big bat off the bench. Well, at Coor's Field we won't have that problem as either Youk, Lowell or Papi will be available to pinch hit.

[bakes781]

Yesterday morning on XM radio a bunch of callers from the NE area called in and were obviously worried about this. Just wanted to see what all of you thought.

Oh no I don't blame you for bringing it up. In fact I had done the same in the game thread, but the idea that they're going to shift the fielding aligment around especially now of all times is just crazy. With Papi's knee he could use the day off. But I expect that only to be a one time thing. He's been out on the field in practice this week & is serviceable at 1st base. Youkilis has experience at 3rd base & shouldn't have any serious issues. That's as far as I see any shifting of the fielders.

Preferrably I'd like to see that day off come in game 5(Beckett's next start) when we wouldn't likely need him as much.

[AutographCollector]

Preferrably I'd like to see that day off come in game 5(Beckett's next start) when we wouldn't likely need him as much.
Would this be a good idea? Keep Ortiz out of the starting lineup for games 1 & 5?
Have Youk start at 1B, and keep Ortiz as a pinchhitter if the game is really close late in the game. Whatcha think?

[maximum jack]

Would this be a good idea? Keep Ortiz out of the starting lineup for games 1 & 5?

I don't think anyone wants Ortiz out of the lineup in Game #1, who would we DH, Cora?

[AutographCollector]

I don't think anyone wants Ortiz out of the lineup in Game #1, who would we DH, Cora?
That's right... the 1st game is at Fenway. I'm tired. :dismay:

[bakes781]

Would this be a good idea? Keep Ortiz out of the starting lineup for games 1 & 5?
Have Youk start at 1B, and keep Ortiz as a pinchhitter if the game is really close late in the game. Whatcha think?

Well at home we don't have to worry about benching Ortiz b/c we still have the DH. But in the game in which Papi sits the fielding alignment would stay the same as it always has. It's when you sit Lowell it changes the most, b/c then you have Youk at 3rd & Papi at 1st.

[NightHawks2007]

This brings up another question though. Who is more valuable? Youk's bat and weaker glove at third, or Lowell's RBIs and stronger fielding against a good bunting Rockies team?

[Dirt Dog]

I thought this would happen for Game 3 but not sure about Game 4. No real surprise here...

Tito will start papi at 1B and Lowell at 3B. Could bring Youk in for a defensive swith late in the game.


Also, Ellsbury will leadoff and Pedroia will bat 2nd.

[Boston Boxer]

This brings up another question though. Who is more valuable? Youk's bat and weaker glove at third, or Lowell's RBIs and stronger fielding against a good bunting Rockies team?

i am not so sure Youk has a weaker glove at third...in my mind, he is a great glove at third.

I will go on the records and say that i think it is Ortiz who should sit out of the three.