Boston Red Sox: 2012 Opening Day Lineup Predictions

With Carl Crawford probably not being ready for Opening Day, it is tough to say who will play left field, right field and shortstop for the Boston Red Sox.

It may be over two months away, but it is really interesting to think about what the lineup will look like for the Red Sox in their first regular season game.

With guys such as Darnell McDonald, Ryan Sweeney and now Cody Ross, who will get the two outfield spots?

Mike Aviles and Jose Iglesias will battle for the starting shortstop position in spring training, but will it just be a platoon position until one of these players gets hot during the season?

1. Jacoby Ellsbury

Jacoby Ellsbury is the dream lead-off hitter for any team, and the Boston Red Sox are lucky to have him.

Ellsbury will be a free agent soon, and the Sox will need to pay big money in order to keep him—and they definitely should consider it.

He had a career year in 2011 with 32 home runs, 105 RBI and 39 stolen bases in 54 tries.

Ellsbury may not always have that pop, but hitting .321 after missing almost an entire season, as well as a .376 OBP, proves he will be a great asset for years to come.

The Sox would be foolish not to put him at the top of the order or sign him to a multi-year deal.

2. Dustin Pedroia

Dustin Pedroia keeps plugging along at second base for the Boston Red Sox and is one of the batters on this team that gets the job done at the plate.

Each plate appearance is a battle for him, and 2011 was no different.

In 2011, Pedroia hit 21 homers and drove in 91 RBI, which were both career highs. He also stole 26 bases.

The weird thing is he also had a career year with 86 strikeouts, which is unusual for a batter that usually makes contact.

Bobby Valentine will keep "Laser Show" in the second spot in 2012.

3. Adrian Gonzalez

With a .338 batting average in his first year with the Boston Red Sox, Adrian Gonzalez is on his way to being a great first baseman for years to come.

Gonzalez also hit 27 home runs and drove in 117 RBI in his first year, and he looks to improve those numbers in 2012.

Keeping him in the No. 3 hole will help the lineup deal with pitching matchups late in ballgames, as he will be surrounded by two righties, and the rest of the lineup will be switching from right to left all the way down to the No. 9 spot.

4. Kevin Youkilis

Kevin Youkilis will be the cleanup hitter for the Boston Red Sox in 2012, but it will be a tough year for him due to his poor offensive output in 2011.

Youkilis only hit .258 with 20 homers and 80 RBI, while playing his heart out at third base. It was his first time being the starting third baseman in a long time, and that is probably the main reason why he kept getting injured in 2011.

A bounce-back year would be great for Youkilis and the Red Sox in 2012, as long as he does not hurt himself over at the hot corner.

5. David Ortiz

At 35 years old, David Ortiz was able to get into great shape and hit .309 with 29 home runs and 96 RBI.

In 2012, he will be 36, and it will be almost time for the DH to hang up his bat for good.

Hopefully, Ortiz can last at least one more season and help the Boston Red Sox to another World Series title.

He is the heart of the Red Sox lineup until he just can't hit the ball anymore.

6. Cody Ross

Cody Ross will get the start in right field for the Boston Red Sox and will use his ability to field the ball as well as his NLCS MVP form to lead the Red Sox back into the playoffs.

Ross hit 14 homers with the San Francisco Giants in 2011 and had 52 RBI. Back in 2009, he cranked 24 homers and drove in a career-high 90 RBI.

The change to a hitter-friendly ballpark, such as Fenway, should help his production at the plate, and he will be a great asset going forward.

7. Ryan Sweeney

Ryan Sweeney will get the start as long as Carl Crawford is not playing on Opening Day.

Sweeney is a great fielder and can get on base for the guys at the top of the order, and there won't be too much pressure on him to hit since the Boston Red Sox lineup is so deep.

His ability to field the ball off the Green Monster will need to be proven, but if he can do it well, then the Red Sox will give him Crawford's spot until he is healthy.

8. Jarrod Saltalamacchia

Jarrod Saltalamacchia had a career-high 16 homers and 56 RBI in 2011 with the Boston Red Sox, and his ability to switch-hit is just a bonus at the bottom of the lineup.

In 2012, Saltalamacchia will be the starting catcher for the Red Sox and will be showing the other catchers on the roster how to play the game.

9. Jose Iglesias

Jose Iglesias will make a name for himself in spring training for the Boston Red Sox. He has only six major league at-bats, but he also has two hits in those plate appearances.

Iglesias will win this job thanks to his glove and his ability to hit in spring training.

If it does not pan out, however, the Red Sox do have Mike Aviles and other infielders to fill his shoes.