With a little more than a fifth of the 2012 season having been played, you would be hard-pressed to find someone who didn’t agree with the assertion that the Red Sox stink. In particular, their pitching has been terrible, ranking near the bottom of the American League in team ERA and hits, home runs, and walks allowed. Accordingly, their offense is the primary weapon that they can utilize to win some games. Their lineup has been productive thus far- second in the league in hits and runs scored- they have been beset by injuries to key players like Jacoby Ellsbury, Carl Crawford, and Kevin Youkilis. While those players are out there are still ways for Bobby Valentine to maximize the value of the players he currently has and put out a batting order to maximize where his regulars have hit the best in the past.
Valentine has a reputation for being more of an old school manager; relying on gut feelings and hot streaks to help direct his team. By looking at statistics he would find a batting lineup that he has not used yet, but history shows could optimize the bats of his current starters. While this historically ideal lineup would do nothing to cure the ills of the pitching staff, it would give the Red Sox even more ability to bludgeon their opponents in the slugfests that look certain to be persist this summer.
Historically Ideal Red Sox Line Up:
1st: Mike Aviles- Shortstop:
Career: 371 games, .286 batting average, .317 OBP, .738 OPS
Career hitting first: 67 games, .307 batting average, .340 OBP, .821 OPS
2nd: Ryan Sweeney- Left Field:
Career: 501 games, .286 batting average, .344 OBP, .729 OPS
Career hitting second: 43 games, .314 batting average, .365 OBP, .790 OPS
3rd: Will Middlebrooks- Third Base:
Career: 10 games, .310 batting average, .356 OBP, 1.070 OPS
Career hitting third: N/A
4th: Dustin Pedroia- Second Base:
Career: 748 games, .306 batting average, .374 OBP, .840 OPS
Career hitting fourth: 32 games, .397 batting average, .442 OBP, 1.117 OPS
5th: Adrian Gonzalez- First Base:
Career: 1,050 games, .293 batting average, .374 OBP, .885 OPS
Career hitting fifth: 91 games, .313 batting average, .373 OBP, .910 OPS
6th: Marlon Byrd- Center Field:
Career: 1,086 games, .278 batting average, .336 OBP, .750 OPS
Career hitting sixth: 194 games, .299 batting average, .363 OBP, .818 OPS
7th: David Ortiz- Designated Hitter:
Career: 1,775 games, .285 batting average, .379 OBP, .924 OPS
Career hitting seventh: 37 games, .311 batting average, .425 OBP, 1.047 OPS
8th: Cody Ross- Right Field:
Career: 788 games, .261 batting average, .323 OBP, .780 OPS
Career hitting eighth: 44 games, .333 batting average, .380 OBP, 1.039 OPS
9th Jarrod Saltalamacchia- Catcher:
Career: 378 games, .243 batting average, .304 OBP, .713 OPS
Career hitting ninth: .253 batting average, .302 OBP, .753 OPS
It turns out that this lineup isn’t even that horribly unorthodox; with lefties and righties being proportionally split and no ridiculous suggestions like Ortiz hitting lead-off. With the aforementioned injured players scheduled to come back at various times as the season progresses, there could be even more tinkering to get the most out of the one weapon the team seems to possess this year. With Boston floundering in last place why not give this lineup a shot in the meantime and see what dividends may result? It doesn’t require a genius to see the potential; just a guy with a calculator, the internet, and a little time on his hands.
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