Rusney Castillo

[Behindenemylines]

CF is Betts. You don't want to mess around with him. JBJ can play a great RF, which is invaluable at Fenway.

 

FO hasn't decided on the positioning of the outfielders yet. I do think Castillo will end up in LF. The bottom line is its not a problem the Sox should worry about.

[dupree]

Betts is a terrific centerfielder. JBJ is otherworldly.

 

But....JBJ also has a much better arm, and Fenway's RF is cavernous, so playing Betts in CF and JBJ in RF is probably the best overall use of their respective skill sets.

 

On the road, you could put Betts in LF, JBJ in CF, and Castillo (who also has a good arm) in RF. The nice thing is that all three guys can cover all three spots from a fielding standpoint pretty well. That allows them tremendous flexibility should they need it.

I actually like the way that sounds with the different alignment at home vs the road.

 

I just hope JBJ can continue to hit.

[Behindenemylines]

I actually like the way that sounds with the different alignment at home vs the road.

 

I just hope JBJ can continue to hit.

 

FO has said once they figure out where each will play they will remain there both at home and on the road unless there are injuries. They are still weighing their options.

[dupree]

Well hell. Spoke too soon thanks for shattering people's good ideas behindenemylines.

[cp176]

FO hasn't decided on the positioning of the outfielders yet. I do think Castillo will end up in LF. The bottom line is its not a problem the Sox should worry about.

 

No brainer - Castillo in left - Betts in center - JBJ in right. In Fenway park, you want your beat outfielder with the best arm in right. they will figure this out eventually.

[Kimmi]

I'll have to disagree a bit there ... panic signing of Stephen Drew last year, Grady Sizemore - that is wavering and pointlessly so. THAT was the brass' problem.

 

First off, I don't see Drew's re-signing last year as a panic move. IMO, it was a necessity once Middlebrooks got injured, and it was the best move that could reasonably be made. Besides that, I don't see how the Drew and Sizemore signings indicate wavering from the plan. They were short term signings designed to fill in the holes until the kids were fully ready.

[Kimmi]

No brainer - Castillo in left - Betts in center - JBJ in right. In Fenway park, you want your beat outfielder with the best arm in right. they will figure this out eventually.

 

I agree that this is probably the best alignment. That being said, I think they could be shuffled around and the OF defense would hardly miss a beat.

[sk7326]

First off, I don't see Drew's re-signing last year as a panic move. IMO, it was a necessity once Middlebrooks got injured, and it was the best move that could reasonably be made. Besides that, I don't see how the Drew and Sizemore signings indicate wavering from the plan. They were short term signings designed to fill in the holes until the kids were fully ready.

 

I defended the Drew signing too - the Sizemore signing less so ... they gave him a starting CF job on one month in the spring despite no other evidence he could play ... was a waste of many people's times. It wasn't like signing a Chris Young or somebody who could actually play big league baseball as a decent starter. And it cuts what you've been telling the kids. I think it cost Bradley reps for no real good reason. It is a striking contrast to the org of 2007 who saw how horrible Dustin Pedroia looked in a significant look in 2006 and said "he's our guy" and let it happen.

[reYoukilis]

I was pro Drew at the time too. If I recall it was either Drew or WMB. If you sign Drew you move XB over to third. I still think that was the right move.

[Behindenemylines]

Castillo looks pretty good so far in left.

[mvp 78]

Castillo looks pretty good so far in left.

 

OF is set for next year. Need to figure out corner IF and what to do at C.

[Orange Juiced]

Worrying about which OF plays which position is a great problem to have. The reality is, someone's tools are going to be a bit "wasted" in Fenway's short LF, be it JBJ's range and arm, Betts' speed, or Castillo's arm. But the reality is, all three players are excellent fielders, and JBJ is otherworldly. So no matter where they play, they're going to be great.

[Dojji]

Free agent list at third base next year is particularly uninspiring. Good third basemen are just not easy to get hold of but there aren't even any passably adequate ones. We may be stuck with the Panda, unfortunately.

 

EDIT: You know what, with that said, I just realized that Ben Zobrist is a free agent this coming year. Bring him in ostensibly to add some veteran depth to a young outfield, and try him at the corners. He's got the bat for it. He hasn't played a ton of third base but there's nothing wrong with his arm or athleticism. He could probably pick it up no problem.

Edited September 7, 2015 by Dojji