The outfield is Mike Aviles' only answer for a decent amount of playing time in 2012. The Sox have yet to add a long-term replacement for J.D. Drew in right and there is a possibility of time on the DL for Crawford. He is sure to get some fill-in time in the infield, but he may now prefer the outfield grass for the future.
"I was playing every day in right field just to get the ins and outs of outfield, so I could feel comfortable come spring training and be ready to play anywhere in the outfield next year," he said on Friday. "For me, it's all about getting at-bats and trying to get a chance in the game and help the team win some way somehow. I don't care if it's second, third, short, first, left, right, center -- wherever. Wherever it may be, I just want to help the team out."
Aviles hasn't played in the outfield since he was a sophomore at Concordia College in Bronxville, N.Y., but he surprised himself by adapting to the role quicker than expected both then and now.
"I also surprised myself at how much I actually like it," Aviles said. "I actually really love it."
While he is at it, learning to throw a breaking ball wouldn't hurt.
Original Story:
