Too Early to Change?

Do you remember back in mid February, I put up a poll about where in the lineup Jacoby Ellsbury should bat.  That poll had limited activity, but the ones who did vote felt Ellsbury was better suited in the leadoff position.  Felling justified right about now aren’t you?  Well you should, Ellsbury is off and running after the first two games.  That Poll was about Terry Francona as much as it was about Ellsbury.  I knew piecing this lineup together was going to be very taxing on Tito this year.  A lineup full of superstars and as tiggertoronto commented on the AL East preview, a bunch of egos.  Is it too early to mix things up?  I will say again “With great power, comes great responsibility.”  The problem the first two days hasn’t been scoring runs.  You would think averaging 5 runs per game would be enough with this pitching staff, unfortunately that hasn’t been the case.  This post isn’t about the pitching staff, this is about the lineup and more importantly, Carl Crawford. 

Don’t worry, I am not the least concerned about the impact Crawford is going to make for this team.  I am standing by my pick that he will win the AL MVP this year.  The goal is to make him comfortable and put him in a position to succeed.  Here is a man who has graced the cover of every sports publication since he signed with the Sox.  He is under a tremendous amount of pressure right now and it is Terry Francona’s job to help him succeed.

Crawford is trying to hard, new team and now batting third.  A spot in the lineup where normally a power type player bats.  Crawford does have power, but not David Ortiz or Kevin Youkilis power.  He is more fitted as the #2 in the lineup, but that spot is already filled with another superstar, Dustin Pedroia.  Aren’t you glad you’re not waking up this morning as Terry Francona?

Should you flip flop Pedroia and Cawford in the lineup?  Maybe.  Pedroia said he would bat anywhere Francona penciled him in.  Or do you treat Crawford the same way you have with David Ortiz the past two years and let him work his way through this slump?  Tough call to make, but i think I would try batting Crawford second and Pedroia third and see what happens.  Hell, it couldn’t be much worst then it is now, right?  Let Crawford get his feet wet and comfortable around his new surroundings.  I think it will have huge payback down the road.

Terry Francona may not win Mangaer of the Year this year, but he is going to earn every penny he makes this year.

Since i quoted Spiderman twice this year, why not quote the great Alfred E Newman.  “What me Worry?”

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