Terry Francona tinkers with batting order as Carl Crawford moves to second
In a move that called for the Boston Red Sox to change their strategy, Terry Francona, their manager delivered, as he placed A-grade outfielder, Carl Crawford, at second position in the batting order.
The club has currently been involved in a series with the Cleveland Indians and the skipper wants a better strategy to evolve from the move.
Replacing Dustin Pedroia on second, Crawford is expecting to yield more hits in the coming games. Going on the third position in the first two games of the season against the Texas Rangers, the fast runner availed a 0-for-7 tally to his name before getting
a couple of knocks on Matt Harrison on Sunday in the third outing against the 2010 American League Champions.
Francona is looking to place more speed in his line up and he’s tinkering with the current roster to redeem the optimal benefit.
Jacoby Ellsbury is prescribed to be in the line up, near Crawford and the skipper is opting for both players to hit, back-to-back. The true intention behind the move would be to get more runs through bases.
Francona said:
"Maybe get him and Ellsbury back-to-back and let them get on base and cause some havo.We may drop him down in the order, at least for a while, against lefties, just to kind of make our batting order look a little better, but we'll see. Again, when guys are
hitting and they kind of get into the groove, that won't matter as much. I just thought he was trying too hard the first couple of days".
Dustin Pedroia has moved to third and the change would not hinder his potential. Last time he came on that position, he went 5-for-5 in Colorado, tallying five RBIs and three homers for the game.
"I think he'd hit anywhere. He's even told me he'd hit first. I don't think that's [a good idea]. I think he tries too hard".
Pedroia is a fabled cleanup hitter with a tally of 13-for-20 and that is something Boston wants to maintain this season.
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