Red Sox Nation Way Off Base!

Friday, July 01, 2011

Scott Cordischi, GoLocalProv Sports Editor

He’s still alive! Amazing!

After weeks of waffling by Red Sox management and a healthy debate by Red Sox fans and the media that covers the team, Terry Francona decided to put Adrian Gonzalez in right field in Philadelphia Wednesday night to get Big Papi’s bat into the line-up.

As you know, interleague play allows for the DH to be used in American League ballparks but not in National League ballparks meaning Ortiz had to ride the pine in both Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.

This wouldn’t have been such a big deal if a.) Ortiz was just some average hitter and b.) the Red Sox offense wasn’t in such a funk.

But, given the fact that Big Papi IS one of Boston’s best sluggers (.305 avg, 17 HR, 48 RBI) and the Sox have been struggling to score runs as of late, Francona’s hand was forced to where he almost had to make the move.

Critics of putting Gonzalez in right field claimed that the move was far too risky. Outfield was not a natural position for the slow-of-foot first baseman and his presence in right field would not only hurt the team defensively, but also put him at risk of serious injury.

Neither thing happened Wednesday night. Nor did Papi’s bat give the Boston offense the spark it needed. But that’s a moot point because this team needed a jolt offensively and, by far, the best option available to them was David Ortiz.

None of us underestimate the importance of Gonzalez to this Red Sox team. He is the front-runner for American League MVP honors and a potential triple-crown candidate. Some might say he is as important to the Red Sox as Tom Brady is to the Patriots.

And just like Bill Belichick would never ask Tom Brady to play fullback or linebacker, neither would Francona suggest that Gonzalez give Saltalamacchia a rest by putting on the catcher’s equipment and crouching behind home plate.

But, Belichick has put some of his star players into positions they were not necessarily accustomed to. Linebacker Mike Vrabel caught double-digit touchdown passes playing tight end in New England. Wide receiver Troy Brown played defensive back. Richard Seymoure played fullback.

Belichick’s M.O. is to simply do whatever you need to do (within reason) to win a game.

Putting Adrian Gonzalez in right field Wednesday night was well within reason.

If Gonzalez had committed a costly error in the game or, even worse, been injured, most of New England would have been up in arms today. But we’re not because the percentages said that neither thing would happen and they didn’t.

And all of the hemming and hawing in these parts was much ado about nothing.

If the Red Sox are fortunate enough to get to the World Series this fall, they will be faced with this same dilemma again when the Series shifts to the National League ballpark. Do you mean to tell me that you would rather have David Ortiz sitting on the bench for those games? Not a chance!

Remember, Adrian Gonzalez is being asked to play a few games in right field, not disconnect a nuclear bomb with a timer attached to it!

For now, however, the struggling Sox need to right a ship that is taking on water. At 46-34 they have a slim 1 ½ game lead over the Tampa Bay Rays for the American League Wild Card spot.

Here’s hoping that we see Ortiz at first and Gonzalez in right at least once or twice this weekend in Houston.