Gonzalez to right field

[Spitball]

Red Sox activate Kevin Youkilis

 

 

BALTIMORE -- Tuesday's Boston Red Sox lineup is out, and it answers several questions about how the team will handle its myriad of injuries.

 

For starters, Kevin Youkilis, as expected, was activated off the disabled list. He's hitting fifth Tuesday against the Baltimore Orioles and playing first base. The regular first baseman, Adrian Gonzalez, is in right field and hitting fourth.

 

That move allows the team to keep rookie Will Middlebrooks in the lineup at third base (and hitting sixth) instead of sending him down to Triple-A Pawtucket.

 

Gonzalez has played right field in two games so far this season, both interleague contests against the Phillies over the weekend. The move allowed the team to keep designated hitter David Ortiz in the lineup in a National League park by shifting him to first base.

 

Outfielder Cody Ross (broken bone in foot) is headed to the disabled list, possibly joined there by Ryan Sweeney, who suffered a mild concussion Saturday night in Philadelphia and has not played in the last two games.

 

Ross will become the sixth Red Sox outfielder on the DL, joining Carl Crawford, Jacoby Ellsbury, Darnell McDonald, Ryan Kalish and Jason Repko.

[Bellhorn04]

This is kind of astonishing, but I really like it. Go Gonzo. Careful out there, dude.

[Spitball]

This is kind of astonishing' date=' but I really like it. Go Gonzo. Careful out there, dude.[/quote']

 

I'm not sure he runs fast enough to get hurt.

 

Seriously, I like the move. It keeps the best offense on the field. The outfield defense might take a hit, but WMB is an upgrade at third while Youkilis is a better first baseman than third baseman.

[JohnGreen2004]

I'm not opposed to this either. It's not like everybody that plays the outfield gets injured and Gonzo showed he can handle it in Philly. I'm sure he will be careful out there, he's a smart guy.

[Spitball]

Back in the 1970s, the Reds moved Rose from left field to third during the early part of the season. They also moved George Foster to left. Rose was not a good third baseman, but the offense became dominant.

 

With Gonzalez, Youk, and WMB in the line-up at the same time, the team has the best line-up they've had all season.

[SoxSport]

RF in small parks. LF in Fenway.

[NativeBostonian]

I like it offensively but defensively I think it's risky. I also think it's risky to have him out there but we'll see what happens .

[a700hitter]

Back in the 1970s, the Reds moved Rose from left field to third during the early part of the season. They also moved George Foster to left. Rose was not a good third baseman, but the offense became dominant.

 

With Gonzalez, Youk, and WMB in the line-up at the same time, the team has the best line-up they've had all season.

With Youk back, it's time to go on a roll and beat teams into submission. We just need to hope that the opposition doesn't hit too many balls to the OF.

[a700hitter]

Abreu is OPS ing at .889 for the Dodgers. But why bother pay a guy like that the minimum.

[BornToRun]

Abreu is OPS ing at .889 for the Dodgers. But why bother pay a guy like that the minimum.

 

How many AB's?

[a700hitter]

How many AB's?

16 games 50 PA

[SoxFanForsyth]

16 games 50 PA

 

Nava is OPS'ing 1.022 in 2 fewer PA.

[a700hitter]

Nava is OPS'ing 1.022 in 2 fewer PA.

and they would both be in the lineup with Ross and Sweeney down. Abreu is a better option than Podsednik, and at the end of the year, it will be obvious that he was the better option than Nayva.

[Rdsxmbnt]

I like this move for now, though Byrd in CF is a questionable decision with Lin on the roster. Why not have an elite defensive CF to make up for some of the lack of range in RF?

[redsoxbeatz]

Cool. Not a WS team with gonzo in OF tho.

[Cocos Disciples]

Dear lord I hope this works at least adequately. I can't wait for Ellsbury and Crawford to come back. Just have to survive June...

[a700hitter]

I like this move for now' date=' though Byrd in CF is a questionable decision with Lin on the roster. Why not have an elite defensive CF to make up for some of the lack of range in RF?[/quote']We don't need some damn fool over eager kid running into Gonzo.

[FredLynn]

I'm not opposed to this either. It's not like everybody that plays the outfield gets injured and Gonzo showed he can handle it in Philly. I'm sure he will be careful out there' date=' he's a smart guy.[/quote']

 

Yeah, well, his OPS is .754 this year. Pretty anemic. I would prefer a real outfielder in RF and Gonzalez at 1B, where he belongs. In the end, he will cost us more runs than he will provide.

[Divinity]

I imagine this will just be for a month or two while the Sox try to trade Youkilis.

[Elktonnick]

I imagine this will just be for a month or two while the Sox try to trade Youkilis.

 

Gonzo shouldn't be playing right field in Fenway. Baltimore ok but Fenway is too risky. I'd put Youk in left at Fens before I'd do that.

[jacksonianmarch]

Byrd in CF and AdGon in RF. Wow, that is an incredibly horrible outfield

[Brennan]

Byrd in CF and AdGon in RF. Wow' date=' that is an incredibly horrible outfield[/quote']

 

 

 

 

 

You pay more attention to the faults of the Red Sox than you do to your own team. I mean I think you are a knowledgeable baseball fan and all but it gets to be almost twisted. You are always there to do your best to bring us down. Wouldn't it be cool to comment on a yankee with yankee fans on a yankee site once in awhile?

[jacksonianmarch]

You pay more attention to the faults of the Red Sox than you do to your own team. I mean I think you are a knowledgeable baseball fan and all but it gets to be almost twisted. You are always there to do your best to bring us down. Wouldn't it be cool to comment on a yankee with yankee fans on a yankee site once in awhile?

 

Brennan, welcome to the site, lol.

 

I do comment on Yankee boards too.

[User Name]

So you openly admit to trolling? You're my internet hero.

[Laser Show]

So you openly admit to trolling? You're my internet hero.

 

And then a hero comes along

With the strength to carry on

And you cast your fears aside

And you know you can survive

So when you feel like hope is gone

Look inside you and be strong

And you'll finally see the truth

That a hero lies in you

[SoxSport]

AdGon can probably handle LF at Fenway. If Manny could, AdGon can. He's a good fielder.

 

I would move Crawford to RF when he returns. AdGon in left, Ellsbury in center.

Youks at 1B, Brooks at 3B.

 

I would also put Iggy at SS, and split Lav and Salty behind the plate. They would need more defense on the left side with AdGon in LF. That's where Iggy fits.

 

The team right now is s-l-o-w. They need some speed in hitting and defense to offset the mediocre pitching.

[Cocos Disciples]

AdGon can probably handle LF at Fenway. If Manny could, AdGon can. He's a good fielder.

 

I would move Crawford to RF when he returns. AdGon in left, Ellsbury in center.

Youks at 1B, Brooks at 3B.

 

I would also put Iggy at SS, and split Lav and Salty behind the plate. They would need more defense on the left side with AdGon in LF. That's where Iggy fits.

 

The team right now is s-l-o-w. They need some speed in hitting and defense to offset the mediocre pitching.

When Ells and Crawford come back, Ross will probably be back. I'd rather sent Middlebrooks down, play Ross and have everyone at their natural positions.

[SoxSport]

When Ells and Crawford come back' date=' Ross will probably be back. I'd rather sent Middlebrooks down, play Ross and have everyone at their natural positions.[/quote']

 

Middlebrooks right now is probably better than Ross. Ross is a role player. No sense in making him something he isn't. Brooks could be a star.

[redsoxfan3]

Middlebrooks right now is probably better than Ross. Ross is a role player. No sense in making him something he isn't. Brooks could be a star.

 

I don't like that abbreviation. It is Middlebrooks. I like WMB, Will, or Middlebrooks. Brooks itself is a completely different last name. Ross is a decent OF and he is one of the best hitters in baseball when he his hot offensively. This guy can hit the ball a mile when he gets a hold of one. Middlebrooks is a solid player. I really want to keep him around in the majors. Ross and Sweeney are a good combo in RF.

[Dojji]

Ross is not consistent. Middlebrooks is the future and I'd like to see him here. So far he's been contributing steadily since he was called up. Ross can function well as a backup. It was his original purpose.

 

The real casualty of everyone coming back is going to be Nava. Ross does Nava's job better than anyone's going to trust Nava to do it so he's probably done at that point despite really being a pretty solid all around LF. If he's lucky they'll find a team to trade him to who's willing to explore his potential, otherwise he becomes another story of the amazing age related catch 22 you run into in pro sports.