I'm going to predict the opening day position player roster. Anyone care to guess about the pitchers?
Starters:
Hanigan, Napoli, Pedroia, Sandoval, Bogaerts
Ramirez, Betts, Victorino
Ortiz
4th OF: Castillo
5th OF / 1B: Craig
B/U C: Leon
UI: Holt
Victorino starts and either plays himself out of the position or doesn't. He's a perfect 4th outfielder.
Craig gets the nod over Nava (even though Nava is a LHH). Craig's potential value (including the remaining years on his contract) is just too valuable to give up on. Maybe Craig brings back something of great value in a future trade.
Leon gets the nod as a "defense-first" backup.
edit: It's too bad there is no pinch-runner on that roster. It's also too bad that there's only 2 left handed hitters - here's selected 3-year OPS splits hitting R/L:
Hanigan: 703 / 628
Napoli: 851 / 801
Pedroia: 846 / 734
Sandoval: 654 / 806
Bogaerts: 786 / 610
Ramirez: 896 / 822
Ortiz: 852 / 991
Craig: 830 / 749
Nava: 578 / 828
Not assessing Victorino, Betts or Castillo
What's the bullpen?
Starters:
Hanigan, Napoli, Pedroia, Sandoval, Bogaerts
Ramirez, Betts, Victorino
Ortiz
4th OF: Castillo
5th OF / 1B: Craig
B/U C: Leon
UI: Holt
Victorino starts and either plays himself out of the position or doesn't. He's a perfect 4th outfielder.
Craig gets the nod over Nava (even though Nava is a LHH). Craig's potential value (including the remaining years on his contract) is just too valuable to give up on. Maybe Craig brings back something of great value in a future trade.
Leon gets the nod as a "defense-first" backup.
edit: It's too bad there is no pinch-runner on that roster. It's also too bad that there's only 2 left handed hitters - here's selected 3-year OPS splits hitting R/L:
Hanigan: 703 / 628
Napoli: 851 / 801
Pedroia: 846 / 734
Sandoval: 654 / 806
Bogaerts: 786 / 610
Ramirez: 896 / 822
Ortiz: 852 / 991
Craig: 830 / 749
Nava: 578 / 828
Not assessing Victorino, Betts or Castillo
What's the bullpen?