easy, johnny gomes dh and bradley play left, that simple

Since when do the Red Sox plan for what might happen in 2018 and not plan to put their best possible team on the field?  

For those who want Bradley starting as a full time outfielder me being one of them it would be bad business.And after all is said and done the long term view would be to not use him in April.Players say themselves that baseball is a business.The only way you start Bradley now is if he will be a game changer that could put a team over the top and thats not the case as of yet.Pitching will ultimately decide who goes to the promised land.If all the puzzles fit he will play in 2013 but he has to play every day,platooning would’nt be good for Bradley.The only way you consider starting the seaon with him is if some one goes down to injury.We’ll see him soon enough.

You don’t think they already know that? That 1 year down the line does’nt seem like much now but when it gets here the FO will be called idiots for not waiting several weeks.This franchise is damned if they do or damned if they don’t,thats the nature of New England fans,and the FO isn’t about to let the fans run their business.

Just because Bradley’s having a good spring training doesn’t mean it’ll be the same in the majors. Give him some time in AAA then call him up if he has a hot April in Pawtucket.

If they want to do that on May 1st, I’m all for it

You’re absolutely right.

Another thing that is irritating: having Bradley play left and Ellsbury play center. Yeah Bradley only covers more ground and has a better arm but let’s have him play left where there’s less ground to cover and throw the ball while weak-armed Ellsbury stays in center.

But if things aren’t going well in July, Ellsbury’s trade value to a contender is considerably increased in CF. He’s gone next year, I think that should be accepted if not expected, and getting something of value in return is certainly worthy of consideration.

Webster and Bradley are making the toughest choices of the Spring for the Sox. based on performance they both deserve shot

I’m fine with waiting until later to bring him up from AAA. Lets see how the guys we have do, meanwhile not compromising another year of arbitration. Besides, one a guy or two are hurt, call him up then.

Ellsbury is gone after this season and the way he is going in spring training he likely will not get the big contract he is seeking. And I agree with you, if Bradley ends up on the team he should be in center. With all the “wisdom” in the front office do we think the Sox would put Bradley in any position other then CF. YEP.

Having him play LF for a brief period of time won’t deplete his trade value as a CF. I don’t see the club trading Ellsbury unless the wheels completely fall off. On paper this is a very improved club who should contend for a playoff spot. Trading him will be tricky since we’ll want something of equal value to two first round picks (or a sandwich pick and a second round pick). But with the new CBA teams aren’t as willing to trade top notch packages for rentals since they can no longer offer a traded player a qualifying offer.

It’ll be a huge surprise to see Ellsbury traded unless one team is really in win now mode.

They’ll both be up at some point in 2013. Since he’s already on the 40 man, there’s less obstacles to calling Webster up. Besides the confrontation of risking the loss of a season of control, they’ll have to carve out a 40 man spot for Bradley. Guys like Nava, Overbay, Sweeney, and Carp are placeholders at this point, but they’re more than capable of holding down the fort for the first few weeks or so. If Bradley has a hot start at Pawtucket, a call up will be inevitable.

I wouldn’t put too much emphasis on spring stats. Darnell McDonald was the best hitter for this club in last season’s spring training and he wound up being DFA’d. Ellsbury will be fine as long as he stays healthy. Might not wind up getting a nine figure contract, but he won’t be getting a one year redemption deal either (once again if he stays healthy).

I don’t buy the whole service year thing with Red Sox. Sox have been pretty good of paying young guys (Pedroia, Lester, Clay, etc.) well early in careers to buy off early comp years. The Red Sox charge a “boatload” of cash to see them play they need to put the “BEST” team on the field and not play the game small market teams play with players.

totally agree, needs to play everyday and he also only has 60 games in AA ball. be patient

As long as Bradley keeps ripping hits he should play left and bat 3rd. The problem is once the season starts he will be facing all MLB pitching and not feasting on minor league spring training easy marks of which there are many. Then the real test begins!

he should start the season in AAA to face guys who are major league quality pitchers

For once, I completely agree with you, Dennis. Well said.

This kid is fun to watch. Id love to see him up, but unfortunately a lot of players tear it up in ST, then are average at best once the season starts.

Totally agree…let this primo prospect play at the AAA level and continue his development.

There is a very simple answer here. Have him start the year in Boston until Ortiz comes back. Send him back to AAA when Ortiz is back. If he was tearing it up in Boston, take 3 weeks and trade Ellsbury for as much as you can get and call him up to take over CF. If he was struggling, you keep him in AAA. That way you see what he can do at the big league level, delay his free agency, and cover for Ortiz’s absence.

There IS an injury, or should I say injurieS. Ortiz, the teams best hitter is Out. Drew, the teams best Hitting SS is Out with injury. So Bradley jr would play everyday in LF and Gomes (a poor fielder) would DH. Once Ortiz comes back, IF he comes back, then Bradley jr Can be sent to AAA ( for 20 days or more, if needed) and his service time will Not be triggered, win win. IF Ben decides to send jr down to start the season, w/o Ortiz & Drew THEN he would NOT be fielding the Best possible team and in turn do a disservice to the team and it’s fans.

That ONLY applies to Fenway, they play in other parks you know. Yankee stadium, Tiger stadium among others all have large left fields.

This has been talked to death BUT IMO the Sox MUST start the season with Bradley jr on the roster, THEN when Ortiz comes back, IF he comes back, you can send jr down to AAA to play everyday and his service time wont be triggered. I really dont see the issue and dont understand why the Sox brass would even hesitate. IF Ben starts the season w/o jr than he isnt fielding the best team and doesnt care about winning this year, which I would have a huge problem with.

He WOULD play everyday. Gomes would DH and jr would play either LF or shift Victorino and play RF. Either way he would play everyday. Ortiz is the teams Best hitter and with him & Drew ( the teams best hitting SS) out to start the season the Sox need their best bats, that means Bradley jr. Once Ortiz comes back jr can be sent down to AAA and it wont effect his service time as long as they leave him down there for 20 days.