Filling Out a Lineup Card: Boston Red Sox

As we get closer to opening day and managers have to figure out who is going to fill out their starting lineup, we're going to have a guest post series by Jordan who is going to give his thoughts into the batting order each team will go with this season. Currently Jordan is leaving up in Red Sox territory so it's fitting he starts with the Yankees' heated rivals. As always, let us know what you think in the comments below. Here is his first entry in the series:

Jordan says "The Smurf" should bat 6th in this potent lineup (Boston Herald)

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There has been much debate over the projected Red Sox batting order. Manager Terry Francona has difficult task ahead. With the additions of Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez, the batting order will look dramatic different. I would expect Tito to break up the lefties as much as possible. My predicted order:

1. Dustin Pedroia (R)
2. Carl Crawford (L)
3. Adrian Gonzalez (L)
4. Kevin Youklis (R)
5. David Ortiz (L)
6. Marco Scutaro (R)
7. J.D. Drew (L)
8. Jarrod Saltalamacchia (S)
9. Jacoby Ellsbury (L)

This line up gives the Red Sox the most advantages. The only back-to-back lefties are the key acquisitions that can both hit lefties. Ellsbury drops from lead off to the ninth spot in the order to create a second leadoff batter when he starts off an inning.

Some may find it odd that Scutaro is batting sixth, but he is needed there to break up Ortiz and Drew, who both can struggle against south paws. If Drew was bumped ahead of Scutaro, opponents could have a lefty come in to face Crawford through Drew. Scutaro is a better option in the sixth spot as opposed to the fourteen lettered, Saltalamacchia due to striking out less.

My All-Star Team: American League Hitters

The Major League Baseball All-Star Game in baseball is probably not a game that should count and sometimes the fans seem to get the wrong players elected--but then again, that doesn't make it different than any other form of democracy. And sometimes, people certainly get picked for the wrong reasons as The Common Man showed  last week. In the end, the Mid-Summer Classic is all about being an exhibition of baseball's best players. So I'm going to take only the best players, rule-about-taking-one-player-per-team be damned! Here's my list of the best candidates for the All-Star Game starting with the AL guys who will be swinging the bat (all stats min 100 PAs):

Catcher: Jorge Posada, Victor Martinez, and Joe Mauer. Mauer is the leading vote getter for all of Major League Baseball so he's in without a doubt. But if you were picking a player on pure stats, this wouldn't be the year to take Mauer at first glance (his numbers perfectly mirror his 2007 output). But when you drill down, Mauer has still had a pretty great season and is worth of an All-Star nod. Although not as adept defensively, Posada and Martinez may beat Mauer with the bat this year. Although he's been battling injuries (and therefore spent quite a bit of time at DH as well as only racked up 171 PAs), Posada leads all the catchers in OPS (slash lines of .287/.398/.538) and wOBA (.406 to Martinez's .363 and Mauer's .356). Martinez leads all catchers with 29 XBH so far this season. Amazingly (considering his lack of speed), one stat that favors Jorge this season is GIDP: Mauer has 14, Martinez 9 and Posada 1. "Counting" stats: Mauer .304 avg, 3 HR, 21 RBI; Martinez .291 avg, 9 HR, 37 RBI; Posada .287 avg, 9 HR, 25 RBI. Honorable Mentions: John Buck (.271/.309/.532, .356 wOBA, 12 HR, 38 RBI) and Mike Napoli (.251/.329/.478, .354 wOBA, 11 HR, 27 RBI). Picture from The Star-Ledger.

Firstbase: Justin Morneau, Miguel Cabrera and Kevin Youkilis. All three players are having monster years and all three are early candidates for MVP. Morneau's numbers are off the charts (almost Mauer like) with a ridiculous slash line of .340/.448/.622 and a wOBA of .452 to go along with 15 HR and 47 RBI. That wOBA is the highest (among all players who have qualified for the batting title) in the Majors. Second is Youk (.440) and third is Cabrera (.437). Mourneau's OPS of 1.070 leads all 1Bs trailed by Cabrera (1.041) and Youkilis (1.026). The WAR numbers tell the difference thus far though. Due to extremely positive fielding numbers, Morneau takes the lead with 4.3, Youkilis is seen about even and Cabrera is marked down for his defense. Cabrera leads in the counting stats while Youkilis has been hitting the tar out of the ball recently for the surging Red Sox. Morneau has the lead and should start but the other two should be named replacements on the team. Counting stats: Morneau .340 avg, 15 HR, 47 RBI; Cabrera .328 avg, 19 HR, 60 RBI; Youkilis .312 avg, 14 HR, 47 RBI. Honorable Mentions: Paul Konerko (.296/.396/.574, 17 HR, 51 RBI, .413 wOBA) and Billy Butler (.330/.383/.491, 7 HR, 37 RBI, .381 wOBA). Picture from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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Dustin Pedroia is a Whiny Little Bitch

Boy it feels good to write that title. Here is Dustin Pedroia in the Portland Press Herald (via The Big Lead):

“Our infield (stinks). It’s the worst in the game. I’m not lying about that. That is true. I think about those things. That stuff upsets me. My job is to take 1,000 groundballs a day. Other guys’ job is to get the field perfect so we can play baseball.”

Pedroia is peeved because he wasn't able to turn a double play in the 8th inning of the game. He did not, however, mention that he was able to turn a double play in the sixth inning, which--and this must be just a coincidence--was turned on the same playing surface.

The Big Lead ends with a zinger:

Classy guy, that Dustin. Must get it from his pedophile brother.

Classy he is not, that whiny, little Keebler Elf-like bitch. Maybe all he needed was "a little bit of luck".