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Eventually, Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine and Carl Crawford will talk, at which time they will leave behind the comments Valentine made as an ESPN analyst that insulted the left fielder and move on to more timely matters.
One such topic: Crawford’s spot in the Red Sox lineup.
For nine seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays, Crawford was a dynamic top-of-the-lineup threat. He typically batted second or third, and his success led former Red Sox manager Terry Francona often describe him as a “game-changer.”
But last season, Crawford was a square peg that didn’t quite fit into the lineup’s round holes. His awful April — and Francona’s view of Dustin Pedroia and Adrian Gonzalez as prototypical No. 2 and 3 hitters, respectively — bumped Crawford down. His two most frequent spots: sixth and seventh.
Crawford wasn’t particularly happy and said in September he didn’t feel as comfortable using his speed in the bottom third of the lineup.
Valentine isn’t about to commit to a specific spot for anyone in January. In fact, he said he’s unlikely to finalize his Opening Day lineup until a day or two before, and he figures to use multiple variations throughout the season.
“I’m not a lineup guy because everyone uses over 100 of them,” Valentine said Saturday night while attending closer Andrew Bailey’s charity bowling event in Pennsauken, N.J. “I would love to have one lineup and play it 162 times a year and go into the playoffs with it. (But) I know that’s not reality.”
Herald::Bobby V, Crawford to restore order
To sum up Carl Crawford's 2011 season in one word: disappointment. He struggled mightily last year when he was supposed to take the leadoff role from the oft injured Jacoby Ellsbury. But Jacoby decided to destroy anything that moved last season and cemented his place in the leadoff spot. To make things worse, Pedroia did so damn good in the two spot that there were legitimate conversations about him grabbing his second MVP. Francona never really moved anyone from the their positions last year as the offense was a well oiled machine from May to August.
But that was last season, one that will always be looked back at with such digust. Now that Bobby V. is the new sheriff in town, Crawford will have a chance to crack the top of the lineup. If Crawford can have a bounce back year, this offense will be better. Picture this lineup:
1) Ellsbury
2) Crawford
3) Gonzalez
4) Pedroia
5) Ortiz
6) Youkilis
7) Saltalamacchia
8) The RF pupu platter
9) Scutaro
Crawford will be protected by two of the best in the game and pitchers would much rather take their chances with him then either Ellsbury or Gonzo. The only issue is that it is very lefty heavy but that's a problem that the Sox have. If you put Ellsbury in the middle of the order, as the Herald article suggested, there will be batting lefties batting third, fourth, and fifth. It will be lefty heavy no matter how you cut it.
Crawford deserves a chance to succeed and prove he is worth the seven year, $142 million deal. He is most valuable at the top of the order, getting on base and making pitchers respect his base running ability. Imagine how many RBIs a healthy Adrian Gonzalez would have with those two guys in front?! Hack Wilson's record better watch out.
Rest of the links: CSNNE:Lavarnway ready to build on heady 2011
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