Who Starts at SS/3B?

[RedSoxtober]

The offense has obviously gone silent against the dominant pitching of the Tigers. It reminds me a little of the 2005 White Sox run to the WS title. Still, the left side of the infield has been utterly lost at the plate this postseason. Drew striking out with a runner on third last night and less than two outs has been a microcosm of the struggles. Overall the left side of the infield is 7/51 in October and has left 27 men on base. If this lineup needs a jumpstart, then this seems to be the most logical place to start... or does it?

What combination would you use for SS and 3B?

[RedSoxtober]

While Drew has been lost, I went with Bogaerts (3B) and Drew (SS). It's a bit easier to sit WMB and I think that the DP combination has worked pretty well defensively.

[-Lavigne43-]

Drew and WMB have both sucked. Drew had a good season and is good defensively. WMB had a dreadful season and is questionable defensively at times. It's an easy decision.

[Station 13]

Mix the lineup, Victorino need to get out the 2-hole to get Ortiz up one. Middlebrooks have zero business playing the rest of this series.

[StryderSox]

I disagree with everyone ragging on Middlebrooks. I agree that you probably put in Bogaerts at 3rd and Drew at SS but I dont think its as obvious a choice as people are making it out to be. Everyone is beating up on WMB for being bad defensively and not hitting but Drew has been pretty awful at the plate as well as has looked pretty shaky on a couple of groundballs and throws over to 1st.

For me it comes down to the fact that I have more faith in Drew drawing a walk or eating up some pitches before he strikes out whereas Middlebrooks is more likely to chase 3 bad pitches before heading back to the dugout.

[StryderSox]

Mix the lineup, Victorino need to get out the 2-hole to get Ortiz up one. Middlebrooks have zero business playing the rest of this series.

I agree with the bolded statement above. Personally I move Pedroia to the number 2 slot and move up Ortiz and Napoli to 3 and 4. Something like this.....

Ellsbury
Pedroia
Ortiz
Napoli
Nava
Salty
Victorino
Bogaerts
Drew

I think this helps breakup the strikeout brigade of Napoli, Gomes, Salty, Drew, WMB by inserting Nava and Bogaerts who have both seen some success against the Tigers in their limited atbats in this series (Combined 3 for 8).

[bagwell368]

I disagree with everyone ragging on Middlebrooks. I agree that you probably put in Bogaerts at 3rd and Drew at SS but I dont think its as obvious a choice as people are making it out to be. Everyone is beating up on WMB for being bad defensively and not hitting but Drew has been pretty awful at the plate as well as has looked pretty shaky on a couple of groundballs and throws over to 1st.

For me it comes down to the fact that I have more faith in Drew drawing a walk or eating up some pitches before he strikes out whereas Middlebrooks is more likely to chase 3 bad pitches before heading back to the dugout.

Drew also made that very nice base running play, and his error led to nothing. Drew is a vet and WMB is not.

WMB makes a better "impact" SLG PH than Drew IMO as well.

Also Gomes has started in both wins and not in both losses. I expect to see Gomes starting more, and also coming in to PH when he is seated, and maybe staying in the game too.

[StryderSox]

Drew also made that very nice base running play, and his error led to nothing. Drew is a vet and WMB is not.

WMB makes a better "impact" SLG PH than Drew IMO as well.

Also Gomes has started in both wins and not in both losses. I expect to see Gomes starting more, and also coming in to PH when he is seated, and maybe staying in the game too.

I get what you are saying about WMB and Drew..... my point is that it isn't as much of a no brainer as people are making it out to be. Its not like one guy was clearly better than the other in this series so far. I would still be more comfortable with Nava starting in LF though and having Gomes as a late inning pinch hitter when we have something going on the bases.

[BGeer091]

Its definitely Xander 3B Drew SS.

I like the idea of moving Victorino down and Pedroia Ortiz up. The strike outs are killing us.

I believe Xander has a big night. Doesn't mean 4 hrs. However a hit and a walk. I just feel like he will be on base at least twice.

[RedSoxtober]

Farrell's vote:

Jacoby Ellsbury CF
Shane Victorino RF
Dustin Pedroia 2B
David Ortiz DH
Mike Napoli 1B
Jonny Gomes LF
Stephen Drew SS
Xander Bogaerts 3B
David Ross C

Boston.com

[-Lavigne43-]

I might have considered going with Nava and Gomes at the corners. Victorino has looked brutal at the plate. He just gets off speed stuff and he can't make contact. They found out how to get him out righty on righty.

[bagwell368]

Jacoby Ellsbury CF
Shane Victorino RF
Dustin Pedroia 2B
David Ortiz DH
Mike Napoli 1B
Jonny Gomes LF
Stephen Drew SS
Xander Bogaerts 3B
David Ross C

JF's way of making changes w/o looking like he is in a panic. If we lose and SV is brutal, SV is not batting 2nd in game 6.

[AI]

Jacoby Ellsbury CF
Shane Victorino RF
Dustin Pedroia 2B
David Ortiz DH
Mike Napoli 1B
Jonny Gomes LF
Stephen Drew SS
Xander Bogaerts 3B
David Ross C

JF's way of making changes w/o looking like he is in a panic. If we lose and SV is brutal, SV is not batting 2nd in game 6.

I agree that SV shouldn't be batting 2nd, but JF does not have the "cojones" to remove him from that spot.

[RaginRondo17]

Please, please, let Xander start again in game 6. Might be time to give Drew a night off and have Xander at SS with Middlebrooks at 3rd.

[MG956]

I'm kinda curious why we haven't seen Carp. I would have PH him instead of WMB.