Though the Boston Red Sox don't open the 2015 campaign until a visit to the Phillies in Philadelphia on April 6, manager John Farrell is already thinking about his lineup and where he'll slot some of his newcomers.
Coming off of a season where they finished 71-91 and in last place in the American League East in defense of their 2013 World Series title, the Red Sox had a busy offseason to improve in 2015.
Among there major hauls were the addition of Hanley Ramirez, who will play in the outfield, and third baseman and former World Series MVP Pablo Sandoval. With Opening Day still three months away, Farrell has already gone over the lineup possibilities in his head.
Farrell likes the balance in his lineup of left and right-handed hitters and he is toying with the idea of sandwiching Ramirez (right-handed) in the cleanup spot between designated hitter David Ortiz (right-handed) and Pablo Sandoval (switch-hitter) while first baseman Mike Napoli (righty) would bat sixth.
"The one thing that clearly stands out is we have balance left- and right-handed," Farrell told WEEI radio in Boston on Thursday, according to MLB.com. "I have always liked David in the No. 3 hole. You know he is going to come up in the first inning. I think Hanley gives David some protection behind him."
He continued: "Then you start to create some protection, and we want to keep Sandoval on the left side of the plate as much as possible -- so if you sandwich him in between Ramirez and Napoli, you start to have a formidable middle of the order where you're going left-right-left-right all the way through there."
Farrell added that young outfielder Mookie Betts will likely lead off with second baseman Dustin Pedroia batting second, giving Boston a solid 1-6 in the lineup.
Ramirez, 31, is signed to a four-year $88 million deal and he hit .283 with 13 homers and 71 RBI last season with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Sandoval, 28, signed a five-year, $95 million pact with the Red Sox this offseason after hitting .279 with 16 homers and 73 RBI with the San Francisco Giants in 2014. Sandoval then hit .423 in the postseason en route to his third World Series crown.
After a forgettable campaign in 2014, the Red Sox are ready to turn the page in 2015 and Farrell is already excited about all of the possibilities his lineup offers him.
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