Line Ups for Split Squad 3/24

The Red Sox will be taking two different fields today in two split squad games. One half of the team will be at JetBlue Park taking on the Phillies. While the other half is in Jupiter taking on the Marlins. The Red Sox look to be testing out two pitchers for a spot in the rotation in Felix Doubront and Alfredo Aceves.

Doubront is out of options and if he does not make the team he will have to clear waivers for the Red Sox to put him in Pawtucket. Doubront has had a good spring and overall is a great prospect. According to SoxProspects.com he is the 13th best player in the system and many believe he is ready for the big league.

Aceves on the other hand is competing for a role as a starter. Aceves was the go to guy in 2011. He was the long reliever and a spot starter. Aceves made 55 appearances with four starts and a record of 10-2 with a 2.61 ERA. Aceves is already stretched to be a starter he pitched 114 innings last year alone. The only question is if he becomes a starter who will play the roll as long reliever when he is not there to do it.

Line Ups at Marlins


Iglesias SS
Ciriaco SS
Ross LF
Ortiz DH
Lavarnway C
Sweeney RF
Repko CF
Anderson 1B
Spears 3B

Pitching:

Doubront SP

Mathis

Thomas

Mortensen

Line Ups vs Phillies

Ellsbury CF

Pedroia 2B

Youkilis 3B

Gonzalez 1B

McDonald RF

Saltalamacchia

Aviles SS

Punto DH

Kroeger LF

Pitching:

Aceves SP

Morales

Bailey

Padillia

Bowden

A-Gon in the Outfield Papi at first

Boston fans have been discussing this topic of should Adrain Gonzalez play right field and David Ortiz play first? Well tonight we are going to find if this is best for the team. The line ups are in and both Gonzalez and Ortiz are in the line up. The reason for all this discussion is the long National League road trip that the Red Sox are on. Ortiz who has been smoking hot has only received one at bat each game for the last four games and the problem is the Sox have only won one of those four games. It is clear that the team bats are all needed in the lineup when the pitcher is batting.

So some may ask why Gonzalez in the outfield and has he ever done this before? The answer is yes, once. When he was a member of the Texas Rangers, when he was playing behind Mark Teixeira. He also knowing he would be playing behind Teixeira played in right field during his winter ball while with Texas to prepare him to get playing time. As we all know how that worked out he didn't have to do that and has been holding on to that skill for awhile. Gonzalez is also not the fastest guy in the major league I mean honestly Ortiz could probably beat him in a foot race but as long as he is just dealing with fly ball i believe he will be just fine. Gonzalez has been practicing the position and has even went to Tito to ask if he could play this position. He has shown to be a true team player and this will allow him to work toward his goal of playing in all 162 games this season.

As for Ortiz playing the field this was his primary position prior to becoming a DH he only does this during interleague play and the World Series. I just pray he isn't to rusty at playing the field. I'm not sure I would have put him into the line up tonight with John Lackey on the mound who is considered a ground ball hitter which means a lot of plays to firstbase. I would have probably done it last night while Beckett was getting shelled on the mound or tomorrow with Jon Lester on the mound which may still happen if today goes well.

The Lineups for tonights games are:

Red Sox

CF Ellsbury
2B Pedroia
RF Gonzalez
3B Youkilis
1B Ortiz
C Saltalaamacchia
LF Reddick
SS Scutaro
P Lackey

Phillies
SS Rollins
3B Polanco
2B Utley
1B Howard
CF Victorino
LF Brown
C Schneider
P Worley