Ortiz At First

[sarasoxfan]

okay, I'm still a little croggy and still basking in the joy of beating the yanks, but I have had a nagging question roaming around my noggin for awhile.

 

I was reprimanded by so nameless friend of Talksox for bringing this up before we demolished the yankees, but it is safe now.

 

The national league games with no DH are going to mean DO plays first?

Millar sits I guess-is this the only option or am I missing something?

[Ortees24]

We probably need to look at the rotation and see if our opponents are lefties or righties and adjust. I don't think Francona will care much, as long as he has the best possible percentage going for him v.s. each pitcher. I actually hope Clemens makes it, so we can shell him.

[elsrbueno]

Originally posted by sarasoxfan@Oct 21 2004, 10:54 AM

okay, I'm still a little croggy and still basking in the joy of beating the yanks, but I have had a nagging question roaming around my noggin for awhile.

 

I was reprimanded by so nameless friend of Talksox for bringing this up before we demolished the yankees, but it is safe now.

 

The national league games with no DH are going to mean DO plays first?

Millar sits I guess-is this the only option or am I missing something?

I THINK I was the one that said something to you about this, and you were talking about the World Series right after we clinched a playoff spot.... and I was thinking: Woah, slow down.

 

This is going to be a really tough decision for Francona and company. I fully expect them to play it on a game by game basis. If a lefty starting, expect Ortiz to sit. If it's a righty, it's anyone's call.

 

The one thing that comes out of benching David is that you've got his bat off the bench if need-be late in games.

 

My first instinct to this is: "Pitching and defense wins baseball games. Sit Ortiz."

 

My second thought was: "Ortiz wins baseball games. We NEED his bat!"

 

How do you take your best clutch hitter out of the lineup?

 

David only started 31 games at first this year and had a .986 fielding percentage. Millar's fielding percentage was .989 in 66 starts.

 

Millar isn't exactly stellar with the glove at first, but he has been solid there this season.

 

I could go either way on this one... For now I'm saying start Millar and keep David on the ready in case we need a BIG hit. Get Mientkiewicz ready for late innings.

[Ortees24]

If you want defense...Mientkiewicz is a stud. I really can't stand Millar at times with is "pop-up" swing. At least Doug is level. As for my boy Ortees He is on fire right now, and I believe Terry might go with him just for the bat. The benefit is, we have the first 2 at home, and hopefully get out of the gate well. Terry will have to look at the defense in the NL park, and see which Stadium we will be playing in. Hell..Minutemade Park is a small as a Little League Park. Which may inturn have an effect on the first base senario.

 

Go Sox!

[mosox]

How can Tito leave Ortiz out of the lineup? He has to play first, putting Millar in a pinch hit role. The problem this creates is when Tito needs to insert Mank for defensive purposes, then the Sox lose Ortiz's bat in a possible extra inning game.

[yeszir]

Is there really another option? You can't leave the ALCS mvp out of the lineup. He had two game winning hits. If it means dealing with his D (which isnt REALLY that bad), then so be it. I'd rather have him out there than anyone else. Hell, I'd have Ortiz PITCH if it meant he could bat.

[elsrbueno]

Originally posted by yeszir@Oct 21 2004, 03:51 PM

Is there really another option? You can't leave the ALCS mvp out of the lineup. He had two game winning hits. If it means dealing with his D (which isnt REALLY that bad), then so be it. I'd rather have him out there than anyone else. Hell, I'd have Ortiz PITCH if it meant he could bat.

I hate to bring this up, but infield defense has hurt the Red Sox before...

 

I say start hitting him grounders NOW so he gets lots of practice! Regardless of who starts, Ortiz will have to play first at some point in the WS.

 

I just remember Ortiz making a bad play on a KEY grounder against the Yanks while he was playing first earlier this year....

 

He's a monster at the plate... but if you start Millar you can bring in Ortiz with the game on the line, anytime you want! What a weapon!

 

I can see both sides of it, and if someone asked Terry Francona he'd dance around the question... because it's no easy decision.

[stocker323]

I see what you are saying about having Ortiz in a key spot, but that would mean that he would get up ONCE per game and that would most likely be against a lefty, which would obviously be and advantage to Houston/St.Louis.

[jlcrss9]

Tough decision. If you ask me....millar has been hitting well lately so have him play right, sit the struggling nixon, and have ortiz play first. try it in game one.

[Sizzlin22]

I gotta play Papi he's the reason we got this far.

[sarasoxfan]

i saw this in the Globe today...

 

Even though David Ortiz has started only two games at first base in the last three months, he will play the position when the Red Sox face the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium in Games 3, 4, and 5 (if necessary) of the World Series. The way the Sox see it, they have no choice but to go with Ortiz, their least skilled defensive first baseman but their postseason hitting star. Millar will sit.

 

 

that's our answer.

[elsrbueno]

I heard on the radio this morning that Francona's starting Ortiz at first in St. Louis. Can't say that I blame him.

 

The more I think about it, the more I think he should be in there. Not having Ortiz in the lineup also takes Manny out of the lineup, because with Millar behind him.... They'll pitch around Manny EVERY time. With Ortiz standing in the on-deck circle, nobody wants Manny on base with Ortiz at the plate.

 

So in reality, I believe taking Ortiz out of the lineup takes Ramirez out too. I DON'T think Millar should play right field. I really don't. Please don't forget Nixon played VERY good defense for us out there, and he saved our season with that play against Matsui with the bases loaded (game 5).

 

Nixon's my right fielder. That I'm sure of.

[DOrtiz4prez]

We have to put Ortiz at first. Now we have no spots for Mientkicz(sp?) and Millar. Now we won't be able to use them because we hafta have Ortiz's bat.

 

How's Francono gonna fix this?

[yeszir]

We're just going to have to deal with it. Ortiz's position, if he has to have one, is 1st base. In this case, in order to play, he has to have a position. You can't sit an MVP candidate because of defense, it won't work. The sox need to rely on our offense to win these games, especially against a relatively deep St. Louis bullpen.

 

Papi will play, no doubt about it. If it means Millar sits for the road games, so be it.

[Ortees24]

Just got word that Ortiz will play first base at Busch Stadium. Games 3 & 5 for sure.

[yeszir]

Was there ever any doubt? And I'll be merging all of these topics about Ortiz, we seem to have a bunch.

[yeszir]

This is where I have merged all of the "can/should ortiz play 1st in St. Louis?" threads.