Boston Red Sox: What Should the Batting Order Look Like in 2012?

I am going out on a limb here and making the wild assumption that the Red Sox have finished making any major positional moves this winter.

That might be the boldest prediction I've made this year.

But with the little moves we've seen Ben Cherington and Co. make, I think one can start to picture the team that will take the field in 2012.  

While there still needs to be a couple of bench/supplemental players to be signed, I feel confident enough in what we have for a lineup to offer what I believe to be the best batting order for the Red Sox next season.  

This is a topic that I always find fascinating, so let's have at it!

Batting Leadoff: Jacoby Ellsbury

I know you think I'm crazy, Ellsbury was one of the Red Sox best offensive options in 2011 and deserves a middle of the lineup batting position.  He's a cold heart breaker, fit to burn and he'll rip your heart in two, then leave you lying on the bed.... sorry... listening to some GNR while I write.

I digress.

Normally I would agree, but Jacoby Ellsbury has proven himself to be quite comfortable batting in the leadoff position, and that did not prohibit him from putting up MVP caliber numbers ( .321 BA, .376 OBP, .552 SLG, .928 OPS).

Not to mention, it is nice to have his speed at the top of the lineup to get things started.  With this position, I have to say that if it is not broken, don't fix it.

In the 2 Spot... Carl Crawford

I firmly believe that Carl Crawford Will Be 2012's version of Curtis Granderson.  That doesn't mean that I think he's going to have the power numbers, but I believe he will have the bounce back season that Granderson saw after a slow start in New York.

The problem Crawford faced last year (other than acclimating to Boston) was the fact that his position in the lineup kept changing, never allowing him to get comfortable and get in stride.

I say, put him in the two spot and let him hack away.  He's going to get on base, he's going to drive in runs with Ellsbury in front of him.  Sure, the fact that it would be back to back lefties is not ideal, but for the sake of production it would be killer.

Batting Third for Your Boston Red Sox: Dustin Pedroia

There is no doubt that Pedroia can get on base.  He can drive in runs.  He can talk the talk and walk the walk.  He is one bad man in a 5'9" 180 lb. package.

Pedroia is no stranger to moving around the batting order, and wherever he is placed he has produced.  In 2011, he did a majority of his batting second in the lineup (123 times to be exact.)  He did bat nine times from the three spot and twenty five times in the cleanup spot.  It didn't stop him from producing.

I have no reason to believe that Pedroia's numbers wouldn't increase in this position behind Ellsbury and Crawford.  At the very least, we know he can get on base with a career .373 OBP.

The Cleanup Hitter: Adrian Gonzalez

With a combined career average OBP of .353 for the batters in front of him in the lineup, Gonzalez would likely see an increase in RBI batting fourth in the lineup.  This also allows for a lefty, righty, lefty tandem from Crawford to Pedroia to Gonzalez.

Gonzo is another batter that I don't think batting third or fourth would present a major problem for his production.  He is an excellent hitter and should be back fully healthy in 2012, ready to dominate the American League.

As I so boldly predicted, Adrian will win the 2012 AL MVP easily.

Batting Fifth: Kevin Youkilis

This was actually the hardest slot to decide for me.  Should Kevin Youkilis the right handed batter, or David Ortiz the left handed batter protect Adrian Gonzalez in the lineup?

I went with the righty.

As a Sox fan, I am hopeful that Youkilis can come back and be productive in 2012.  He has been an injury concern for the last two seasons having played the second fewest number of games for a starter behind only J.D. Drew in the last two seasons... and it was only by two games.

However, a healthy and rested Kevin Youkilis is an All-Star.  

The Greek God of Walks has a career .391 OBP and can both hit for power and drive in runs.  In other words, I doubt many pitchers would want to pitch around Gonzalez to face a batter that will likely get on base in some manner or another.

Batting in the Second Three Spot... Okay Sixth: David Ortiz

There is no question what David Ortiz is capable of.  

At this point in his career, he has developed into a consistent 30 home run, 100 RBI batter from the left side of the plate.

Putting Ortiz in the sixth spot allows for the heart of the batting order to be right-left-right-left, something that will frustrate opposing managers in tight games in late innings.  This lineup as constituted would wear down starting pitchers and tax bullpens.

Ortiz batting sixth also allows you the opportunity to have a stud bat batting third in the unlikely event that the first inning goes down one-two-three.

Batting Seventh: Ryan Kalish

I have resigned myself to believe that Ryan Kalish will be the starting right fielder for the Red Sox in 2012.

While his sample size of work in the big leagues is not expansive, I have a feeling, call it a gut feeling, that Kalish is going to perform admirably in 2012.  

He is a .982 fielder in just 53 games while batting .252, and both are figures that I venture to guess will increase with more playing time for the Red Sox.

Batting Eighth: Marco Scutaro

At the end of the 2011 campaign, Scutaro was one of the few consistent batters left in the lineup.  

When the Red Sox originally signed Scutaro, I was not a fan of the deal, but in his time in Boston, he has impressed me with his consistent play in the field and a solid .284 batting average for the local nine.

While he is not a power hitter by any means, his career .343 OBP in Boston is enough reason for me to put him eighth in the lineup to break up the younger batters and give solid performance in the middle of the bottom three.

Batting Ninth: Jarrod Saltalamacchia/Ryan Lavarnway

I'm a little up in the air on this one.  I feel that Salty MAY lose out on the starting gig to the youngster, Ryan Lavarnway.  

The plus side to having Salty in the lineup in the ninth hole is the fact that he is a switch hitter, whereas Lavarnway is a right-handed batter.

Though, this question will be answered for me in the spring, either way, your catcher will be batting ninth.