2006 Starting Lineup

[RichardLikeWhoa]

1. Coco Crisp
2. Mark Loretta
3. David Ortiz (it's gone...homerun)
4. Manny Ramirez (it's gone...homerun)
5. Jason Varitek
6. Trot Nixon
7. Mike Lowell:noidea
8. Alex Gonzalez
9. Youklis/ Snow

does that look correct to everyone? if not what is the starting lineup

[RichardLikeWhoa]

sorry about the smilies.. those are the expressions I have
on these players in offense

[DoubleX]

I'm with you until you get to Ortiz . Ideally, I think the Sox would like either Lowell or Nixon to show some power this year and be able to protect Ortiz. Assuming Lowell can, here's how I envision the Sox lineup:

1) Crisp (CF)
2) Loretta (2B)
3) Ramirez (LF)
4) Ortiz (DH)
5) Lowell (3B)
6) Nixon (RF)
7) Varitek (C)
8) Youkilis (1B)
9) Gonzalez (SS)

Lowell, Nixon, and Varitek are all probably interchangeable, but I'm guessing the Sox would rather have Lowell or Nixon emerge to protect Ortiz than put Varitek in that spot.

[pesky6]

I think I'd move Gonzalez to the 9 hole, and definitely keep Ortiz #3 and Manny #4.

[Mattingly]

1) Crisp (CF)
2) Loretta (2B)
3) Ramirez (LF)
4) Ortiz (DH)
5) Lowell (3B)
6) Nixon (RF)
7) Varitek (C)
8) Youkilis (1B)
9) Gonzalez (SS)

I'd go with:

1) Crisp (CF)
2) Loretta (2B)
3) Ramirez (LF)
4) Ortiz (DH)
5) Nixon (RF)
6) Varitek (C)
7) Lowell (3B)
8) Youkilis (1B)
9) Gonzalez (SS)

I essentially dropped Lowel from the 5-spot to the 7-hole, moving Trot and Jason up a spot while Youk and Gonz stood still. With Lowell being on the rebound, I think that batting lower in the order would do him some good.

I think I'd move Gonzalez to the 9 hole, and definitely keep Ortiz #3 and Manny #4.

No argument with Big Papi and Manny. What would you have as the rest of your lineup?

[D-No]

I'd go with:

1)Crisp--look for 20-80-.285 numbers...he needs to develop a more discerning eye.
2)Loretta--a very good glove guy, no worries here. He'll be a doubles machine.
3)Papi--will continue to adjust to whatever is being thrown his way. We've seen him learn to lay off the outside slider, we've seen him learn to turn on the low and inside fastball. The only way to safely pitch to this guy is to throw behind him. I'm SO glad he's on our side.
4)Manny--another typically great Manny year, look for rumblings of discontent and scattered showers with dazzling offensive displays. Oh yeah...the sun will come up in the east too.
5)Tek--Only cost us half of Heathcliff Choke-um, steal of the century. This would have been a great deal if he were a .230 hitter. I'll take a great defensive catcher, who'll give us 25-80 numbers, and can call a game.
6)Nixon--great attitude, plays the game like it should be played, if only he'd stay healthy for a whole season.
7)Lowell--he could move up if he displays a return to form--he's only 32. Very good defensive thirdbaseman, his potential upside is really good.
8)Youkilis/Snow--I like this platoon. Granted, I might have preferred John Olerud, but he wants to retire. Snow will show Mattingly-esque leather, and is an underrated hitter. I see 10-60 and .997 at first. Youkilis is also an insurance policy should Lowell not play well or be injured. Snow as a full time firstbaseman isn't a bad thing at all.
9)AGone--Is warming the bed for Pedroia. He'll provide a year's worth of steady defense. Any offensive production is pure gravy.

We've got arms to burn, huge turnover in the bullpen (which directly translates to "improvement"), and 6 bona fide starters with 2 serviceable spot starters (Papelbon and DiNardo). I don't think 2006 is going to be rough at all. Granted, we've got a brand-new team chemistry to work out, but all of the acquisitions have previously demonstrated that they are not bad teammates or cancers in the clubhouse. Manny and Boomer are our biggest concerns, and Boomer can at least be a pro on the field. We'll have to endure Manny not running out popups from time to time, but his bat more than compensates for his erratic hustle.
As I see it, provided Loretta-Crisp-Lowell-Beckett put in decent performances, I like our chances of winning 95 games. Those 4 are the question marks that I feel are critical to our success on the field.

And if I'm completely wrong, and we fall flat on our faces, we still know what a World Championship feels like...and it was pretty fine!

[Evangelion]

Mattingly, you're going to have Ortiz and Nixon bat back to back? They're both bat from the left side of the plate. If Ortiz in the clean-up spot, then V-tek or Lowell should be behide him since V-tek a switch hitter and Lowell a right hand hitter. Ortiz and Nixon is just asking for specialist like Myers to come in and make short work of them.

DoubleX, posted the line-up we would likely see next year.

[SoxSon]

I'm in favor of Lowell behind Ortiz.

[pesky6]

Mattingly, you're going to have Ortiz and Nixon bat back to back? They're both bat from the left side of the plate. If Ortiz in the clean-up spot, then V-tek or Lowell should be behide him since V-tek a switch hitter and Lowell a right hand hitter. Ortiz and Nixon is just asking for specialist like Myers to come in and make short work of them.

DoubleX, posted the line-up we would likely see next year.

How do you figure that? Ortiz hitting 3 and Manny hitting 4 seemed to work pretty well last year.

[king_ghidora]

I should think that on days facing a lefty starter, you would bat Tek 5th, and on days when facing a righty starter, you would bat Trot 5th. I think it's good to have a concrete 1-4, but the 5/6/7 slots can be arranged depending on the day.

[hellborn]

Crisp's OBP is not good for a leadoff man. I'd bat him lower in the order to let him make use of his speed by stealing with weaker hitters coming up behind him, and also to take advantage of his power by letting him sweep some of the high OBP guys in the middle of the order off the bases. Youk is not a classic leadoff guy, but he should have a good OBP...I'd either lead him off or Loretta.

[Evangelion]

You don't always put the player with the highest OBP on your team as your lead-off hitter. Loretta is not a lead-off hitter period. Youkillis is not a lead-off hitter either. Crisp will probably have a OBP around Damon's range next year and he will offer speed to top of the line-up.

How do you figure that? Ortiz hitting 3 and Manny hitting 4 seemed to work pretty well last year.

Forgot about that for a second. Ortiz should be third and Manny should be fourth. I believe Ortiz was never comfortable batting clean up to my knowledge.

[SoxSon]

Crisp's OBP is not good for a leadoff man. I'd bat him lower in the order to let him make use of his speed by stealing with weaker hitters coming up behind him, and also to take advantage of his power by letting him sweep some of the high OBP guys in the middle of the order off the bases. Youk is not a classic leadoff guy, but he should have a good OBP...I'd either lead him off or Loretta.

I have to agree with Evangelion on this one. Examining the options we have, Crisp is the lead-off hitter. It's simply paramount that Boston works with him on patience at the plate. Youk and Loretta just don't seem like credible options to me there. We want Crisp's speed on base with bigger bats coming up. Putting him in a position to essentially "clean-up" for Manny and Ortiz makes no sense to me.

[pesky6]

Forgot about that for a second. Ortiz should be third and Manny should be fourth. I believe Ortiz was never comfortable batting clean up to my knowledge.

Isn't that what I said?

[Evangelion]

Isn't that what I said?

That's why I quoted you...

I was just making a statement, because it just slip my mind. Not allowed to forget?