Terry Francona: Big Papi, Wally Will Platoon

Red Sox Manager Terry Francona announced yesterday, after the team’s 5-3 loss to Tampa Bay, that David Ortiz would be part of a new platoon in the Boston line-up. Mired in a slump that has his average hovering over the Mendoza line, Papi has shown enough power to drive the same amount of balls over the wall as Wally, who has shown flashes in firing t-shirts to the fans.

Wally, whose range is considered slightly better than Ortiz’s, could even sub in at first base on days that Mike Lowell or Kevin Youkilis need a day off. The green skinned fan favorite says that he’s willing to “hit in accordance to the shift,” unlike Ortiz who has continued to hit sharp groundballs at the shallow right centerfield playing second baseman.

Ortiz, to his credit, said that he was “more than willing to round the field in a golf cart instead of on foot if it helped the team.” Wally is expected to fit in nicely between Youkilis and Jason Bay, whose hot start has coincided with Papi’s inability to hit anything outside of his saliva encrusted batting gloves. Papi will still start vs. some lefthanders, according to Francona, since he is actually hitting for a higher average against lefties.

Wally is an immediate pickup in all 10 team mixed leagues. He brings ample power as well as a disciplined approach at the plate.

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