Just in case, we will give you something to smile about every Tuesday, an answer to that nagging question you had about the bullpen, or the lineup or a decision by Terry Francona. It’s the weekly mailbag, and here is the latest edition. Until you have something else to get excited about, let this be your muse.
Hey Tony, is Terry Francona ever going to use the speed of Jacoby Ellsbury and Carl Crawford to play “small ball” when needed? He hasn’t yet. Why not?
–Coliwabl
I think it’s a pretty easy answer. They aren’t getting on base enough, and neither are those around them, with a few exceptions. Entering the Tampa Bay series, Crawford and Ellsbury were a combined 10-for-70 (.143). Francona needs these guys hitting and getting on base before he can call for any kind of plays. This isn’t a team that is known for “small ball,” but Francona has given every indication that he will let these guys run wild when he can, but he just can’t right now. Even if they were getting on base, the team is usually playing from behind, and it’s much more difficult to take chances in those instances.
Do you think that Crawford was ready to hit big league pitching when he left spring training, and how long do you think it will take him to adjust? The leadoff hitter is supposed to get on base. And do you think he will bat first if he continues not to hit?
–Jim
Crawford will hit in time, but against lefties you will probably see him dropped out of the leadoff spot. He is not a huge OBP guy as it is, and even less so versus left-handers. Crawford had 52 at-bats during spring training, plenty to be prepared for the season. He is just not finding many holes when he does make good contact, and he’s not making enough good contact. If both he and Ellsbury are getting on with regularity, I think that Francona will bump Ellsbury back up to the top spot and find various homes for Crawford (second, third, fifth, sixth or seventh) depending on the matchups.
Tony, do you think that in Tuesday night’s game. Francona might consider sitting Crawford and Ellsbury seeing as how David Price is on the mound, and both are seriously struggling?
–Jack
There is no doubt that Price will cause Francona to shake things up. I would expect Crawford to be dropped in the order, if not given a night off altogether, but more likely the former scenario. Francona said before the series began that he will “probably make some changes” for the Tuesday night affair. If he admits that much, that generally means the changes are definite.
What is the best advice for a slumping hitter like Crawford, Ellsbury or Kevin Youkilis? I have heard they have been taking extra batting practice, which may help. Seeing as how David Ortiz had slow starts in previous years I would think he would have some advice. My other question is, what good is it taking them out against left-handed pitchers if our righties (Mike Cameron, Darnell McDonald) aren’t producing either? How do we keep them fresh in between starts, etc.?
–Nesportsfan
Well, that’s pretty loaded, and I’m not sure I’m the one to be offering advice to the hitters, but extra batting practice is a common action in situations like this. Crawford, specifically, has been taking a ton. Consistent cuts are key to the process. But that holds true for guys like Cameron and McDonald. If they play once a month, they will be ice-cold when called upon, so they need their starts. Plus, they both hit lefties well so it makes sense for someone like J.D. Drew or a struggling Ellsbury to get a breather when someone like Price is on the mound.
How close was Ortiz’s hit to the Jordan’s Furniture sign on his double the other day? I am wondering if I should buy furniture this year. Has anyone ever hit the sign? Who would know such an answer?
–Nesportsfan
First, you must know that hitting the sign alone doesn’t do it. The ball has to hit the baseball on the left side of the sign. The baseball is about the size of a beach ball. As far as I know, nobody has ever hit it, and there are enough restrictions on it that I doubt anyone will when it counts. It has to be a Red Sox hitter and it has to occur between July 22 and Sept. 21. That limits it to just 34 games. If a Boston player in any of those 34 games can hit a ball 440 feet and strike a target no larger than a turkey platter, then you win! Don’t bank on it.
Is it possible that Josh Beckett’s success Sunday against the Yankees was, in part, due to the relationship he has with Jason Varitek. No offense to Jarrod Saltalamacchia, but “learn-as-you-go” is not my favorite business plan. Staying with the catchers, what’s the plan this year to diminish the stealing frenzy other clubs enjoy when they play us?
–fan50years
Beckett said after the game that Varitek has a “calming” effect, and the two were certainly in sync all night long. It’s hard to discount that relationship being key to Beckett’s dominance against the Yanks. Still, Saltalamacchia will catch Beckett plenty of times this year, so that relationship has to blossom as well. As for the base stealing, a lot of it falls on Saltalamacchia. He has been erratic with his throws all season and until he establishes consistency, teams will run any chance they get.
How about letting/telling Ellsbury and Crawford, when they lead off an inning, to BUNT and get on base? And when they get on base, let them steal. What do they have, two or three steals between them this year? Play small ball, Terry, like Cleveland did to you last week.
–Jeff
Jeff, I’ll refer you to the first answer I gave, and add a bit more. Certainly, Ellsbury and Crawford have the go-ahead to bunt if the defense is giving them the chance, but that’s not always the case. Teams are aware that those guys can run. And if you are a .300 hitter in a major slump, you have to swing your way out of it at some point. Bunting might give you a good feeling for a bit and give the team a base runner, but it might not have any lasting effects. And, again, they can’t steal much when they’re not on base, or playing from behind the whole time.
What happened to Devern Hansack and Charlie Zink? At one time they actually seemed they could help the team?
–Jerry
Last we knew of Hansack, he was released by the Red Sox in May 2010. Unsure of his exact whereabouts now, but he will always have a place in the annals due to his rain-shortened no-hitter on Oct. 1, 2006. As for Zink, he was in the Twins system last season, but didn’t perform well. I think it’s safe to say they are not on the Red Sox’ radar anymore.
With Youkilis struggling a bit, wouldn’t it make sense to bat him in front of Adrian Gonzalez to see some better pitches?
–Geoff
It’s an interesting thought, Geoff, but not likely for two reasons. One, Francona has made it clear he wants Gonzalez to be batting third so he can get an at-bat in the first inning every time. So that would mean that Youkilis is your No. 2 hitter, with Dustin Pedroia perhaps batting leadoff. Not a bad top three, but they want Youkilis in a position to drive in runs. And then where do you put Crawford and Ellsbury, if in fact neither are in the top three.
Two, Youkilis is just one of many guys not swinging a good bat. If Francona has to worry about putting a good hitter behind a struggling one to get him going, he will have quite the headache filling out the lineup card each day. They will wait for Youkilis to get it going, and keep him batting fourth or fifth each night.
Has the position switch caused Youkilis’ batting average, power numbers and on-base percentage to decline?
–Jack
It’s a good theory, Jack. Youkilis has been asked and said that playing third is not a factor at the plate. For whatever reason, he is getting victimized left and right by sliders. He just can’t pick them up right now, and fastballs that follow are doing plenty of damage as well. He seems to be off-balance or guessing wrong, and he needs to get one on the screws one of these days to get going. The fact that he’s playing third base shouldn’t have much to do with it.
Bill Madden (NY Daily News) in his Sunday column stated that Youk’s slow start and lack of power was attributable to his thumb not being fully healed. He also indicated that scouts in spring training shared the same concern. What is your take?
–Bob Chartier
A lot of Youk inquiries flying in today. If Madden is correct, it would be surprising in the sense that Youkilis was, for all intents and purposes, “fully healed” just weeks after the 2010 season ended. He was the last of the injured players we figured would have much of an issue coming back 100 percent. I asked Youkilis early in spring if he had adjusted anything with his batting style as it appeared as if he was dancing that top hand down the handle of the bat much earlier than before as the pitcher stepped into the windup. He said he hadn’t tweaked anything significantly, but if he is hurting, you’ll see it manifest itself somehow.
Do you think Francona’s constant changing of the lineup is making it hard for the hitters to get comfortable and start getting hits?
–Tyler
It’s very possible. Francona has an interesting dilemma every day he makes out the lineup card. He has new players he needs to break in and several guys that can hit in the same spot. And the fact that so many of them are struggling at the same time makes it hard to pinpoint an exact spot. Francona also has loads of options in right-lefty situations, so he has an obligation to play matchup games from time to time. If guys get moved around, it’s a product of that dilemma, and the fact that Francona has to win some games and cannot wait around for some guys to get going makes it all the more possible he will continue to tinker with some things.
Tony, I’ve caught most of the games this season thus far and I’m just curious: If Adrian Gonzalez is supposed to have this swing that’s perfectly suited for Fenway and he goes the opposite way toward the wall all the time, why are teams playing the shift on him? I’m not sure about Texas but both Cleveland and New York have employed this defense. Any idea why? Thanks.
–Mitch
A question from the UK. Thanks for that, Mitch, and thanks for watching from overseas. If you notice, the shift is an infield one, but the outfielders are often leaning to the left. Gonzalez goes the other way in the air much more than on the ground, where he tends to pull the ball.
Tony, love your writing. Can you help with NESN.com making available bigger text for people with eye problems? Thank you.
–Don
Thanks, Don. I’ll bring it up to the powers that be. Want you to keep reading this lovely writing without any issues.
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To submit a question to Tony Lee for future mailbags, click here. You also can ask Tony a question via Twitter at @nesntonyee.
