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When we go to Coors field for games 3-5, there will be no DH. I've been thinking about this for a while now. Its hard to leave Ortiz's bat out of the lineup, but the Sox might have to with his knee injury. I say bench him when Francis starts, because Francis is a lefty. My guess is pretty much Youk, Lowell, and Ortiz will all have to sit out one game. Game Three would have Lowell at third, Ortiz at first, game 4 would have Lowell at third, Youk at first, game 5 would have Youk at third, Ortiz at first.

Youk could play right field as well in one of the lefty matchup games.

I think you lose quite a bit of defense if your taking Drew out of the lineup for Youk. It would be a big gamble to put Youk in the outfield at this point.

Youk is not playing RF, a position he has never played, in the World Series.

I imagine Ortiz, Youkilis and Lowell will each get a day off. Ortiz will probably sit against Francis in Game 5, assuming it goes that far.

You may also see a Lowell-Pedroia-Youk-Ortiz line-up at some point in the series. Not the ideal situation defensively but that's the best offensive infield you're going to find and against something like Cook vs. Lester in Game 4, I'd be alright with it. mahalo
~Chach~

Haha, what? Pedroia and Youkilis playing positions they haven't all season long and Ortiz playing a position he's played about 5 times?

Bleeding Green is making the most sense. Youk can't play 2B or RF. Ortiz, Lol, and Youk will be rotated and the single man out will be used as a pinch hitter in late innings.

Bleeding Green wrote:Haha, what? Pedroia and Youkilis playing positions they haven't all season long and Ortiz playing a position he's played about 5 times?

Dude, tell me that would not have you in fits of laughter seeing Youk try to turn the double play? Remember, I wrote that before the Sox embarrassed the Rockies. It was hypothetical that they could go to Colorado down 0-2 and if that was the case, you need your best bats in the line-up, you can't put Papi on the bench. Now that they look like they are going to take control of the series, it is less likely to happen but there is no next series, you're going home in a week with or without a ring. So if you need to do something completely unusual, then you do it. mahalo
~Chach~

I've been hearing a lot of talk about how we're at a disadvantage because of the no DH rule. Wouldn't Colorado be at a bigger disadvantage overall because they have to put a bench player as the DH when they play in Fenway. This seems obvious but its never mentioned in any articles

Well with how bad Ryan Spilborghs was for the Rockies it's hard to argue that point Markos.

You guys should have played Lowell at short, Youk at 3rd, and Big Papi at 1st. Is Lugo really a better player than Youk?

David Laurila wrote a piece for BP's Unfiltered column today talking about how the '68 Tigers played Michael Stanley out of position in the World Series to keep the best hitting line-up out there. Stanley went on to win Gold Gloves in CF but for the series, he was moved to SS to take the place of Ray Oyler, who had no bat whatsoever. That would take some serious balls for Tito to play Youkilis at Shortstop. I would prefer the Pedroia to short, Youk to second move but what are you going to do? Sucks but I would love to see Tito pull a move like that. mahalo
~Chach~

Lowell can play 2B, take out lugo and move pedroia to short

Lets go crazy, Ortiz at first, Youk at 2nd, Peds at SS and Lowell at third.. or Ortiz at first and Youk in right, Drew in center. CRAZY