7/15 @ Tampa Bay

[SoxFanForsyth]

If you don't want to compare them via video, here's a screen grab of the before and after.

[a700hitter]

If you don't want to compare them via video' date=' here's a screen grab of the before and after.[/quote']Different ballparks shoot from different angles in CF so it is hard to know if he changed his stance.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Different ballparks shoot from different angles in CF so it is hard to know if he changed his stance.

 

You can easily tell based on the chalk.

 

Edit: Not to mention how much more relaxed his front leg looks. In the before picture, his front leg looks like he's almost flexing it, or stretching his groin. In the 2nd, he looks much more relaxed.

 

I'm telling you, this is going to be a different Carl Crawford. Much, much better than last year's version.

[Elktonnick]

You can easily tell based on the chalk.

 

Edit: Not to mention how much more relaxed his front leg looks. In the before picture, his front leg looks like he's almost flexing it, or stretching his groin. In the 2nd, he looks much more relaxed.

 

I'm telling you, this is going to be a different Carl Crawford. Much, much better than last year's version.

 

When I saw the game I described it as closing it a tad. The question is how will this affect his timing and balance.

[2004 ALCS]

It looks like if anything the picture on the right is from a more extreme angle which would make his stance look more open than it already is. There's no doubt that his stance is more closed.

[User Name]

Sox gave me a nice b-day gift. I am pleased.

[redsoxbeatz]

So Crawford is coming back tomorrow. I am thrilled, myself. I can't freaking wait for this guy to step in and be a game changer, because that's what's going to happen.

 

Regardless of whether you agree with me or not, here's my question - What is your lineup tomorrow night?

 

I would go:

 

Ellsbury

Crawford

Middlebrooks

Ortiz

Gonzalez

Ross

Salty

Aviles

Ciriaco

 

I like this lineup. The only other way I can imagine it though is putting Ortiz #3, Gonzom#4 and WMB #5. But yours looks good too.

 

Edit, actually... Since Gonzalez is no longer a power hitter he might fit well in the#3 with Ortiz behind him in cleanup then Brooksie.

[redsoxbeatz]

P.S. trade salty!

 

We could get quite a bit for him I think.

[BornToRun]

P.S. trade salty!

 

We could get quite a bit for him I think.

 

Salty is our starting catcher who's on pace to pop 30 home runs. At the very worst, he's DH insurance for when David hits FA. We could probably get more for lavarnway.

[kapsis21]

I like this lineup. The only other way I can imagine it though is putting Ortiz #3, Gonzom#4 and WMB #5. But yours looks good too.

 

Edit, actually... Since Gonzalez is no longer a power hitter he might fit well in the#3 with Ortiz behind him in cleanup then Brooksie.

 

agreed with Gonzo hitting #3 and Papi WMB following ..

[SemperFi Sox]

Ellsbury Crawford Ortiz Gonzalez

 

Too LH.

[kapsis21]

maybe Ciriaco in the 2 hole? and Crawford at 7

[SemperFi Sox]

Crawford bitched and moaned in ST about hitting 6/7. Said all he could do was try and hit home runs, what an idiot.

 

Keep him in the 2 hole for now so he won't have any excuses.

[redsoxbeatz]

Salty is our starting catcher who's on pace to pop 30 home runs. At the very worst' date=' he's DH insurance for when David hits FA. We could probably get more for lavarnway.[/quote']

 

But he's a strikeout MASTER and a horribly impatient. Tremendous power. Loosing record based on CERA. But yeah, I can see him stickin around. If Lavs or Shopp can pull in a pitcher.

[a700hitter]

But he's a strikeout MASTER and a horribly impatient. Tremendous power. Loosing record based on CERA. But yeah' date=' I can see him stickin around. If Lavs or Shopp can pull in a pitcher.[/quote']Salty would be a horrible DH.

[MANNYHOF24]

I would go:

 

Ellsbury L

Crawford L

Middlebrooks R

Ortiz L

Ross R

Gonzo L

Salty S

Aviles R

Ciriaco R

 

When Pedroia comes back

 

Ellsbury L

Pedroia R

Crawford L

Ortiz L

Middlebrooks R

Gonzo L

Ross R

Salty S

Aviles R

[Laser Show]

Even with the power outage, Gonzo should almost never hit lower than 4th. Our best hitters are Ellsbury, Ortiz, Pedroia, Gonzo, and Crawford. Those 5 should always be at the top with Pedroia batting 3rd to break up the lefties.

 

Ellsbury

Crawford

Pedroia

Gonzo

Ortiz

Middlebrooks

Salty

Ross

Aviles/Iglesias/Ciriaco

[redsoxbeatz]

Salty would be a horrible DH.

 

Agreed. I hope Ortiz stays around for 2-3 years more... He is in great shape.

[BornToRun]

Salty would be a horrible DH.

 

Salty doing what he is now would be just fine as a DH. The guy has a low OBP but hits bombs and can play catcher. He'd be better than what most teams are sticking at DH nowadays.

[a700hitter]

Salty doing what he is now would be just fine as a DH. The guy has a low OBP but hits bombs and can play catcher. He'd be better than what most teams are sticking at DH nowadays.

He'd fall apart if all he to think about was his hitting. When he starts one of his strike out streaks, the guy looks like a mental case swinging at everything. Last weekend against the Yankees, I thought he was going to start swinging before he stepped in the box. Also, bite your tongue. The Red Sox are not most teams.

[Emmz]

His OPS drops, and drops, and drops, and drops. Then it drops some more. He's down to .794 OPS. Wow, remember when I was laughed at for suggesting an OPS under .800? Because it would take months of not hitting to do that? Well yeah, there you have it. Salty's under .800 OPS.

[redsoxbeatz]

His OPS drops' date=' and drops, and drops, and drops. Then it drops some more. He's down to .794 OPS. Wow, remember when I was laughed at for suggesting an OPS under .800? Because it would take months of not hitting to do that? Well yeah, there you have it. Salty's under .800 OPS.[/quote']

 

Yup!

 

17 bombs is great. 17 MONSTER BOMBS is awesome. Gazillion strikeouts, usually swinging and no walks? Not so great.

 

Plenty of teams probably NL teams would want this guy.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Ellsbury Crawford Ortiz Gonzalez

 

Too LH.

 

Ortiz has a .964 OPS vs LHP.

 

He's better than most RHH vs LHP.

[a700hitter]

Yup!

 

17 bombs is great. 17 MONSTER BOMBS is awesome. Gazillion strikeouts, usually swinging and no walks? Not so great.

 

Plenty of teams probably NL teams would want this guy.

The trick is to trade him during one of his hot streaks to maximize his value. I think that window has passed.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Nick Cafardo ‏@nickcafardo

Crawford will bat second in boston lineup.

 

BOOM!!!

 

Hell yes!!!!! I cannot wait for this s***. Ells Craw. Love it.

 

It's about time this guy stopped getting the s*** mismanaged out of him.

 

Look at Maddon. That guy has Pena hitting leadoff half the time. He is the king of off-the-wall lineups. He thinks outside of the box more than anyone.

 

And Crawford hit 2nd or 3rd in virtually every game for him. That alone should tell you something.

[a700hitter]

BOOM!!!

 

Hell yes!!!!! I cannot wait for this s***. Ells Craw. Love it.

 

It's about time this guy stopped getting the s*** mismanaged out of him.

 

Look at Maddon. That guy has Pena hitting leadoff half the time. He is the king of off-the-wall lineups. He thinks outside of the box more than anyone.

 

And Crawford hit 2nd or 3rd in virtually every game for him. That alone should tell you something.

Maddon is an imbecile.

[Emmz]

Mismanaged? He wasn't going to magically play like a 20M dollar player or not be injured if he was hitting 2nd all this time. He has been a massive disappointment, and correct me if I'm wrong, and whether or not he is is an entirely seperate issue, but it seems like you're making excuses for him.

 

His .600 OPS last year is not acceptable, and he needs to re-prove himself.

 

I'm not a Crawford hater at all, and no one thinks he'll be back to form more than I do, but he still has to go and get it done. I like results, he didn't give us results last year, he was atrocious.

[SemperFi Sox]

Ells 8 crawford 7 ortiz dh gonzo 3 ross 9 salty 2 middle 5 aviles 6 ciriaco 4 cook 1

[SoxFanForsyth]

Mismanaged? He wasn't going to magically play like a 20M dollar player or not be injured if he was hitting 2nd all this time. He has been a massive disappointment, and correct me if I'm wrong, and whether or not he is is an entirely seperate issue, but it seems like you're making excuses for him.

 

His .600 OPS last year is not acceptable, and he needs to re-prove himself.

 

I'm not a Crawford hater at all, and no one thinks he'll be back to form more than I do, but he still has to go and get it done. I like results, he didn't give us results last year, he was atrocious.

 

He played 130 games and didn't hit anywhere more than 48 times. He hit in 7 spots last season. For a player who obviously thrives on consistency, that's being mismanaged.

 

And he had a .694 OPS, not a .600. I'm not blaming it entirely on Francona, but the guy preaches track records. He sticks with Ortiz and Pedroia at the top of the order because he knows they'll turn it around. But then he starts shifting Crawford around in the order after, what, 2 games?

 

Come on man. Crawford is a guy who has a very good history. You don't throw him down in the 7 or 8 slot after a bad start. He gets out of his game and starts trying to do too much. He's a top of the order, base sealing run scorer.

 

For a guy coming onto a new team with a huge contract, the one thing you want is to make him comfortable. If Crawford is hitting, the team is better. You slide him in the 2 hole and leave him there.

[Emmz]

A .694 OPS is absolutely god-awful from anyone in any part of the lineup. Pedroia was the only one hitting. All he had to do was produce and he'd have been hitting 2nd. He didn't.

 

I already said I fully expect him to be the guy we signed him to be, but I can't make excuses for him letting everyone down last year.