Who’s on first for the Red Sox?
By Rick McNair
Aug 7, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Boston Red Sox third baseman Pablo Sandoval (48) gets set to bat in the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Pablo Sandoval has played first base at various times in his career with a reasonable defensive return. No Gold Glove appears to be hiding away in-case such a switch is made, but what has developed at third this season has given new meaning to the word “disappointment.”
The bat has not performed as expected and eventually Sandoval deep-sixed batting right-handed. Line drives have not been tattooing the famed Green Monster and to make a very bad situation virtually intolerable – especially for pitchers – the defense at third has been porous.
A switch first is a potential problem solver for the defense at the other corner, but that also opens up what to do at third?
Chances are the Red Sox will remain with Sandoval at third base with the hope that somehow the portly Panda gets into reasonable shape.