With Napoli signed, what is the line up?

[Spitball]

Here is my guess...

 

Victorino, rf (B )

Ellsbury, cf (L)

Pedroia, 2b ®

Ortiz, dh (L)

Napoli, 1b ®

Kalish/Gomes, lf (L/R)

Saltamalacchia/Ross, c (B/R)

Middlebrooks, 3b ®

Drew, ss ®

[dupree]

Heres mine:

 

Ellsbury - L - CF

Pedoria - R - 2B

Napoli - R - 1B

Ortiz - L - DH

Middlebrooks - R - 3B

Salty - L / Ross - R - C

Victorino - S - RF

Kalish - L / Gomes - R - LF

Drew - L - SS

 

Napoli and Middlebrooks can be either or just depends what is shown in ST.

[mvp 78]

Ells

FH

Pedroia

Papi

Napoli

Middlebrooks

Salty

Gomes

Drew

[Spitball]

Yaz taught me to appreciate a left-handed pull-hitter batting third. He would move the runner from first to third more easily. With this line-up, I just think Pedroia makes the most sense in the third hole.

 

If Ellsbury's power returns, I can see him hitting third. I don't know if batting Ellsbury and Ortiz back to back is a great idea, though.

[dupree]

I think the third spot in this lineup is the hardest to pinpoint. We really dont have a true third hitter. Thats why i though a Hamilton or Swisher should have been signed. But that didnt happen so now we have to hope either Ells gets his power back and looks more of a Matt Kemp type or Napoli dont go down with his hip or prolly what the FO would love to see is Will Middlebrooks come into Spring Training and kill the ball if so you got your 3rd spot in the order for years to come. Its just kinda a wait and see. But i think the hardest spot for anyone on this forum to write a lineup card would definitely have trouble to think about who to slot into the 3rd spot

[Dojji]

Victorino

Ellsbury

Pedroia

Ortiz

Napoli

Middlebrooks

Gomes

Salty/Drew

Drew/Ross

 

No law requires Ellsbury to lead off, and things flow a lot better if we lead off with Victorino. Assuming he's anywhere near his normal year, that ought to be OK.

[iortiz]

Ells

Victorino

Peddy

Napoli

Ortiz

WM

Gomes/Kalish

Salty/Ross

Drew/Ciriaco

 

It is not elite but could be very competitive.

[Bellhorn04]

Farrell says Victorino will hit second against LH starters and Pedey second against RH starters.

[BSN07]

Ells

Victorino

Peddy

Napoli

Ortiz

WM

Gomes/Kalish

Salty/Ross

Drew/Ciriaco

 

It is not elite but could be very competitive.

 

You think Napoli is going to hit clean up over Ortiz?

[BSN07]

Vs LHP

 

Ells

Vic

Pedey

Ortiz

Napoli

Middlebrooks

Ross

Gomes

Drew

 

Vs RHP

 

Ells

Pedey

Ortiz

Napoli

Victorino

Middlebrooks

Drew

Lavs/Salty

Kalish

 

If Middlebrooks tears it up again I can see him being moved up to #3 or #4.

[a700hitter]

If Ortiz is healthy, he has to hit in the first inning. Your best hitter should be hitting #3 everyday.

[a700hitter]

Ells

Victorino

Peddy

Napoli

Ortiz

WM

Gomes/Kalish

Salty/Ross

Drew/Ciriaco

 

It is not elite but could be very competitive.

However they stack the lineup, it should be competitive. The question is whether the starting pitching will be competitive. Lackey coming off TJ and Dempster will be replacing Beckett and Bard from the start of last year. Darnell McDonald would be a huge upgrade over Bard. Beckett is a better pitcher than Lackey or Dempster. I am not seeing that the starting pitching has improved enough to be competitive. Farrell is coming in at an opportune time. The starting pitching couldn't suck more than it did last year. If they improve, he gets the credit. If not, no one can blame him. IMO, if Salty catches 110 games or more, the starters will struggle.

[User Name]

I think the third spot in this lineup is the hardest to pinpoint. We really dont have a true third hitter. Thats why i though a Hamilton or Swisher should have been signed. But that didnt happen so now we have to hope either Ells gets his power back and looks more of a Matt Kemp type or Napoli dont go down with his hip or prolly what the FO would love to see is Will Middlebrooks come into Spring Training and kill the ball if so you got your 3rd spot in the order for years to come. Its just kinda a wait and see. But i think the hardest spot for anyone on this forum to write a lineup card would definitely have trouble to think about who to slot into the 3rd spot

 

So Ortiz, he of the .900 + ops for both his career and the past three seasons, which is better than the league average ops for number three hitters, is not a true number thtee hitter?

[BSN07]

So Ortiz, he of the .900 + ops for both his career and the past three seasons, which is better than the league average ops for number three hitters, is not a true number thtee hitter?

 

He's not "sexy"

[mvp 78]

He's the definition of sexy. Every pink hat knows who he is. He's the longest tenured Red Sox. He's on tv all the time. He's one of the most fan friendly guys that MLB has.

[BSN07]

He's the definition of sexy. Every pink hat knows who he is. He's the longest tenured Red Sox. He's on tv all the time. He's one of the most fan friendly guys that MLB has.

 

But he's old sexy, not new sexy regardless I was joking. I think if he's healthy and hitting he should be 3 or 4 for sure.

[jacksonianmarch]

1. Ellsbury

2. Pedroia

3. Ortiz

4. Napoli

5. Middlebrooks

6. Victorino

7. Gomes/Kalish

8. Saltalamacchia

9. Drew

 

Lineups aren't that important except that the higher you are in the lineup, the more ABs you'll get over the course of the yr.

[jopete19]

Throwing this one out here... Y'all probably think I'm crazy

 

1. Ellsbury

2. Ciriaco/ Drew

3. Pedroia

4. Ortiz

5. Napoli

6. Middlebrooks

7. Gomes/Kalish

8. Saltalamacchia

9.Victorino

 

 

I really like speed at both ends of the line up, but that's me. You guys know a lot more baseball than me.

[cbbosox]

I like the Yankee fans idea myself(did i just say that?)

[iortiz]

However they stack the lineup, it should be competitive. The question is whether the starting pitching will be competitive. Lackey coming off TJ and Dempster will be replacing Beckett and Bard from the start of last year. Darnell McDonald would be a huge upgrade over Bard. Beckett is a better pitcher than Lackey or Dempster. I am not seeing that the starting pitching has improved enough to be competitive. Farrell is coming in at an opportune time. The starting pitching couldn't suck more than it did last year. If they improve, he gets the credit. If not, no one can blame him. IMO, if Salty catches 110 games or more, the starters will struggle.

 

Yup, our rotation is very thin as it is. I agree, it seems even thinner and with more questions marks than last year. At this point I'm not sure if out there's still something worthy. For whatever reason our FO has not been capable to address that issue. Yup, if we fail for 5th year in row, charge the blame to them... Again. They had plenty of opportunities to address the issue.

[MANNYHOF24]

However they stack the lineup, it should be competitive. The question is whether the starting pitching will be competitive. Lackey coming off TJ and Dempster will be replacing Beckett and Bard from the start of last year. Darnell McDonald would be a huge upgrade over Bard. Beckett is a better pitcher than Lackey or Dempster. I am not seeing that the starting pitching has improved enough to be competitive. Farrell is coming in at an opportune time. The starting pitching couldn't suck more than it did last year. If they improve, he gets the credit. If not, no one can blame him. IMO, if Salty catches 110 games or more, the starters will struggle.

 

How Clay Buchholz and Jon Lester go is going to determine how successful the staff is. What I am hoping is that Lester can put up 16-18 wins with a 3.50 ERA and 220 innings. I am also hoping that Buchholz can put up a sub 3 ERA with 15-17 wins. If those two things happen, I believe the back of the rotation will be good enough to get the Red Sox to the playoffs.

[a700hitter]

How Clay Buchholz and Jon Lester go is going to determine how successful the staff is. What I am hoping is that Lester can put up 16-18 wins with a 3.50 ERA and 220 innings. I am also hoping that Buchholz can put up a sub 3 ERA with 15-17 wins. If those two things happen, I believe the back of the rotation will be good enough to get the Red Sox to the playoffs.

What if Lester is 15-10 with a 4.15 ERA and 200 innings and Buchholz is 13-7 with a 3.85 ERA over 195 innings, where would that put the team, because I would be very happy to get that production out of them?

[wyo-sox]

What if Lester is 15-10 with a 4.15 ERA and 200 innings and Buchholz is 13-7 with a 3.85 ERA over 195 innings, where would that put the team, because I would be very happy to get that production out of them?

 

I think if both end up with era's under 4 we have a great year and make the playoffs.

[a700hitter]

I think if both end up with era's under 4 we have a great year and make the playoffs.

So, under the scenario that I pose, they don't have a chance to get to the post season?

[wyo-sox]

So, under the scenario that I pose, they don't have a chance to get to the post season?

 

No, I did not say the only way to the playoffs was for both get era's under 4. I said I think they will. I was just stating where I think their era's will end up and that I think it will help us get to the playoffs. It was meant as opinion, not an argument against your post.

[a700hitter]

No, I did not say the only way to the playoffs was for both get era's under 4. I said I think they will. I was just stating where I think their era's will end up and that I think it will help us get to the playoffs. It was meant as opinion, not an argument against your post.

I didn't think you were arguing. I was just wondering what you thought of their chances if they had seasons like the ones I posted.

[wyo-sox]

I didn't think you were arguing. I was just wondering what you thought of their chances if they had seasons like the ones I posted.

 

Ah, well in my mind we need three pitchers to pitch under4 for the season in order to compete. So depending on the rest of the staff, yes under your scenario I think we can make the playoffs.

[SoxSport]

I think if both end up with era's under 4 we have a great year and make the playoffs.

 

I think they'll need that kind of year just to get over .500.

[User Name]

If they're over .500, they're close to competing for a playoff spot.

[Lucienbel]

1. Ellsbury

2. Pedroia

3. Ortiz

4. Napoli

5. Middlebrooks

6. Victorino

7. Gomes/Kalish

8. Saltalamacchia

9. Drew

 

Lineups aren't that important except that the higher you are in the lineup, the more ABs you'll get over the course of the yr.

 

If Middlebrooks comes out of the gate and hits similar to how he left off last year I like this a lot. Though, it'll be interesting to see what Drew can do as well. If Drew were to start hitting too I'd probably move him up to that 7 slot and move them down to 9. Either way, something similar to this would probably be best.