The best hitter for the Red Sox this spring training wasn't Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury or David Ortiz it was the 22-year-old Jackie Bradley Jr.
He obviously has the talent to be on a major league roster, but do the Red Sox want him? Bradley has been the hot topic this whole spring training. Mostly everyone agrees he should be with the Sox' on April 1. But, do the Red Sox want to mess with his service time.
As most fans remember last year Angels outfielder Mike Trout wasn't called up until May, so the Angels could get another year of arbitration with the phenom. It certainly helps out the team long term to keep Bradley in the minors, but this Red Sox team needs his bat in the lineup now.
After back-to-back disappointing season the fans need to see a great product on the field early in the season, and that product has to be the best the organization has. Bradley gives the fans something to look forward too, along with hope.
If David Ortiz was healthy or the team had more talent then I would be all for keeping Bradley in the minors for a little while. As he has yet to play above Double A. But, Ortiz looks like he will start the season on the disabled list with a sore heel, which makes this lineup even thinner.
After the top four batters the lineup drops off. With Ortiz out you can move Johnny Gomes to the DH spot and Bradley to left field, which isn't his natural position, but he can be above average. Not much should get in between Bradley and Ellsbury in center and left field.
Bradley provides an element of speed also that this team lacks, where he stole 48 bases in 2012.
Red Sox manager John Farrell needs to think out of the box, give this team a spark early. This is the lineup I would like to see rolled out April 1 aganist the Yankees:
Jackie Bradley LF
Jacoby Ellsbury CF
Dusin Pedroia 2B
Mike Napoli 1B
Will Middlebrooks 3B
Jarrod Saltalamacchia C
Johnny Gomes DH
Stephen Drew SS
Shane Victorino RF
Victorino is a proven commodity and can be an excellent second lead-off man in the bottom of the order. The middle of the order has some good pop. With speed and good contact hitters up top and the pop in the middle, a lot of runs should be scored.
This isn't the best lineup in Red Sox history, but it should get the job done, and provide some excitement for a starved Red Sox Nation.
Welcome Jackie Bradley Jr. to the show.
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