What would you put out there for a starting lineup and why? Remember, National League Park, so no DH

I'd keep Youk in, having Papi's bat at the ready is a nice option.

Why not keep both Youk and Papi in and sit Lowell?

Luogo out. Lowel to short , Youk to 3rd , Pappi on first.

I don't doubt Youk's ability at 3rd, but he's been perfect at 1st.

National league play is stolen base heavy and I would expect any runners to be held on with throws to 1st to keep them honest.

Papi's knees don't need any more abuse and it would be nice to see him bat for a departing pitcher in the 9 spot (even though I'd put Beckett ahead of Lugo in the order, just kidding, but if we lost last night because of Lugo's bonehead fielding I might be a wanted man today :smash: )

I would put Big Papi on first, Lowell slide to short......gets rid of Lugo's poor fielding and his rally killing at bats, and put Youklis on the hot corner!?!?!? Sounds pretty good to me!:kewl:

Lowell has played exactly zero games at short in his major league career, and only 9 games at 2nd base. The rest of his career, he's been a third baseman except for the 5 games he DH'd in interleague play.

I don't care how good a glove he is at third--shortstop is a whole different game. Take a 33 year old guy going grey, who played his entire career at third, and stick him at short for the WS? :hs: :doh:

He's never turned a DP at second and had to avoid a hard slide there. Third base is a reaction position. Shortstops need range, and a rocket arm, and it's a longer and different throw. Putting a guy who has never played a game at SS for the series doen't sound so good to me--it sounds like a recipe for disaster :rollem:

As great a glove as A-Rod was at short, even he'd have problems making the transition back now after 4 full seasons at third.

If Sox win games 1 and 2, sit Papi. The defense has to come up big. Youk and Lowell have been hitting well. Wake's knuckler in the thin air could be scary. And Papi's knees could use a rest.

All this talk of playing Lowell at short or Youk in RF is kinda funny. They haven't played those positions and you want them to start in the flippin' World Series??

Lowell at short? Have people around here gone nuts!? Papi will play first, and Youk and Lowell will take turns at 3rd while in Colorodo.

No Papi......you do not win the series!!! Lowell has the highest fielding percentage in baseball history at third!! I find it hard to believe he would let you down.....my money is Lowell will be at short especially if they find themselves down 2 games!

Papi's bat has been too thunderous lately. The sox have home field, so that means Papi will dh in Boston. If he starts hitting then Francone does something, otherwise you got Youk with a hot bat, and Lowell is the RBI guy...

No Papi......you do not win the series!!! Lowell has the highest fielding percentage in baseball history at third!! I find it hard to believe he would let you down.....my money is Lowell will be at short especially if they find themselves down 2 games!

Not a chance in hell Lowell plays short. third base and shortstop are a totally diff postion to play, you cant just switch off like that! Lowells never turned a double play from the shortstop postion. Thats a skill that takes years of practice to master. But you want Lowell trying to learn that during the world series!? When smooth crisp turned double play can make or break a game! Ummmm ok :conf:

Lowell at 3rd!!!
Youk at 1st(HOT BAT!!!)
Big Papi will pinch hit and come in game at 1st(late innings!!!)(He is hurting!!!)
Cora to spell Lugo at ss in late innings!!!(Lugo needs some rest!!!)

Lugo needs a season off!!! He flat out sucks!!! Gave him all season to come around and NOTHING! He is a rally killer of the highest order!

lowell stays at 3rd of course, cora at short, alternate papi and youk.

my money is Lowell will be at short especially if they find themselves down 2 games!

want to bet a plug on that?

Name one--just one--premier third baseman who made a successful transition to shortstop 9 years into his career.

I can give you the names of several shortstops who made the switch to third, including Petrocelli, Ripken and A-Rod. Give me one who made the switch the other way. Even with the whole of spring training to acclimate to the toughest position in all of baseball to play.

You want to take a guy who has never played a game at short, give him some BP grounders on the off day between games 2 and 3, and then stick him out there in the freaking WORLD SERIES?????

If Francona does that, most of Boston will rightly be yelling for the noose to string him up :hang:

If I remember correctly, Ortiz has a nagging muscle strain. If the Sox are ahead after two, rest him and keep everyone where they are.