Views: 5754
Comments: 976

08:27 AM ET 02.27 | Jacoby Ellsbury said over the weekend he's setting his expectations high for 2012, but how his spot in the order affects them we may not know. His speed and ability to get on base suggests they would be wise to leave him at the top of the order. The Red Sox led the majors in runs scored last season, why tinker with what worked so well? But why squander so many extra-base hits in the leadoff spot? Having Ellsbury come up so many times without runners on base seems wasteful. Surely he should hit third. "We've talked about this already and I bet we have a chance to talk about it again. Just call it a hunch," said Bobby Valentine, who has ducked all questions about his lineup. "That's going to be an interesting situation."

Bobby Valentine, Getty Images

Comments (976) Add A Comment

February 27, 2012 08:38 AM ET

Report Abuse | QUOTE

Can we actually have an exhibition game first?

Schad - Notorious…

Total Comments (29891)

Comment #2 has been removed

Comment #3 has been removed

February 27, 2012 08:49 AM ET

Report Abuse | QUOTE

QUOTE(#3):

Originally posted 08:44 AM ET 02.27 by Razor Ray

Crawford

Crawford really played well last year, embodying everything the word 'powerful' stands for.

.ChiSoxFan.

Total Comments (13351)

February 27, 2012 08:51 AM ET

Report Abuse | QUOTE

QUOTE(#1):

Originally posted 08:38 AM ET 02.27 by Schad - Notorious Deadbeat

Can we actually have an exhibition game first?

You know the Boston baseball beatwriters don't have the patience for that.

THE BISHOP!

Total Comments (13383)

February 27, 2012 08:52 AM ET

Report Abuse | QUOTE

QUOTE(#4):

Originally posted 08:49 AM ET 02.27 by .ChiSoxFan.

Crawford really played well last year, embodying everything the word 'powerful' stands for.

Morning CSF. Thanks for your support the other night.

clemtheslowson

Total Comments (35188)

February 27, 2012 09:12 AM ET

Report Abuse | QUOTE

QUOTE(#1):

Originally posted 08:38 AM ET 02.27 by Schad - Notorious Deadbeat

Can we actually have an exhibition game first?

Took the words out of my mouth.
The media scribes are desperate to have something to write about.
Batting order lineup will be decided over the course of the spring training process, and may change even when the season begins.
It's often a work-in-progress, depending on who is healthy, or not, and who is hitting, or not.

SportsFun

Total Comments (2602)

February 27, 2012 09:13 AM ET

Report Abuse | QUOTE

QUOTE(#6):

Originally posted 08:52 AM ET 02.27 by clemtheslowson

Morning CSF. Thanks for your support the other night.

Haha no problem.

.ChiSoxFan.

Total Comments (13351)

Comment #9 has been removed

February 27, 2012 09:17 AM ET

Report Abuse | QUOTE

QUOTE(#9):

Originally posted 09:14 AM ET 02.27 by Lex-LOU-thor

What happened?

Dolemite was giving clem some crap.

.ChiSoxFan.

Total Comments (13351)

Comment #11 has been removed

February 27, 2012 09:18 AM ET

Report Abuse | QUOTE

QUOTE(#11):

Originally posted 09:17 AM ET 02.27 by Lex-LOU-thor

Any particular subject - or just some general grief......

I didn't really go back in the thread to find out, just noticed who was dishing it out.

.ChiSoxFan.

Total Comments (13351)

Comment #13 has been removed

Comment #14 has been removed

February 27, 2012 09:21 AM ET

Report Abuse | QUOTE

QUOTE(#13):

Originally posted 09:20 AM ET 02.27 by Lex-LOU-thor

I've had a few minor run ins with him - but nothing "nasty".... Interesting....

Many people have had similar experiences. He never usually comes over to the MLB threads.

.ChiSoxFan.

Total Comments (13351)

February 27, 2012 09:22 AM ET

Report Abuse | QUOTE

QUOTE(#11):

Originally posted 09:17 AM ET 02.27 by Lex-LOU-thor

Any particular subject - or just some general grief......

People were (and still are) saying Mauer is innocent. This is patently untrue. He failed a drug test. The results were in-admissable. People just can't seem to wrap their heads around that.