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The Red Sox are on television. National television, for that matter. Usually, that's a really, really good thing. And, really, it's still a good thing today--just not as good as usual. That's because, with the Red Sox on the road, the lineup is a bit lacking in quality.
- Brock Holt, 2B
- Daniel Nava, 1B
- Jackie Bradley Jr., CF
- Mauro Gomez, DH
- Mike Carp, LF
- David Ross, C
- Ryan Sweeney, RF
- Drew Sutton, 3B
- Jose Iglesias, SS
It's not the worst bunch. While Brock Holt is probably only in the Opening Day loop thanks to injury concerns with Stephen Drew and Pedro Ciriaco, and neither Mauro Gomez or Drew Sutton is going to break camp with the big league team, the rest of the names are pretty decent.
Carp and Nava will each get time at their secondary position, trying to prove they can cut it as a corner infield/outfield utility player. Ryan Sweeney just needs to not break something. David Ross is probably getting the start as much because he's the "backup" as because Felix Doubront is exactly the sort of pitcher who should benefit the most from having an excellent receiver like Ross behind the plate. And Jose Iglesias is, as always, Jose Iglesias, in both the best and worst sense.
Of course, the star attraction is the man batting third: Jackie Bradley Jr. He's on his way down from a .500 average because, well, that's what happens to guys who have .500 averages. But with two hits and a walk in his last six trips to the plate, his fall isn't exactly dramatic.
With the game on ESPN2, we'll have a game thread for those interested in dodging work for a little while.
