Francona Talks Lineup, Scutaro and Snow
BOSTON (CBS) - With the snow falling in Boston, it seems the only way to warm up these days is to talk Red Sox.
The warmest thought? Pitchers and catchers report to Fort Myers in just 23 days.
The signs of spring may be buried under a six-foot snow bank, but they are front and center in the mind of Sox manager Terry Francona.
"Like always, that clock kind of starts. You get through the holidays, and the kids show up. You know the rookies show up," Francona told WBZ-TV's Dan Roche at Thursday night's Boston Baseball Writers Association of America dinner in Boston. "We have this banquet and you start talking about baseball. We've been doing it for awhile on our own, but now it's out there. Football season is over, that gives another reason to talk baseball. The weather is bad, so people start talking about going down to Fort Myers."
For Sox fans, it is never too early to start thinking about the Red Sox lineup. With the addition speedy center fielder Carl Crawford and the offensive pop of first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, Red Sox fans have been dreaming of a lineup comparable to the years of Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz in their prime.
Francona has spoken with hitting coach Dave Magadan about the batting order they hope will make opposing team's pitchers cringe, but it is not a top priority. Not yet at least.
"We don't get too caught up in Decemeber who's pitching when, who's hitting when. Our biggest goal is getting them ready," the two-time World Series champ said. "If we get them prepared, their at-bats, get their work in, the other stuff really takes care of itself. We have a lot of time to figure out who is going to hit where. If we're hitting on all cylinders it's not the biggest deal in the world."
Red Sox Manager Terry Francona Talks About The Sox Lineup
One lineup rumor Tito put to bed was who will start at shortstop for the hometown team. It will be Marco Scutaro, who hit .275 with 11 home runs and 56 RBIs in his first season in Boston. There had been rumblings utility man Jed Lowrie would be the opening day shortstop but he is projected to play, well, pretty much anywhere on the diamond.
"What is really good about this, we do view Jed as an every day player. It doesn't have to be as a shortstop. It might be a third baseman. It might be a second baseman. Shoot, it might be a first baseman," Francona said about the versatile 26-year-old. "What we do have as a team right now is a switch hitter that can play four infield positions. Not too many teams can say that, and it's a guy we really like."
February 13th is right around the corner. You just have to dig out to see it.
Terry Francona Talks About The Snow In Boston
You can see the entire interview with Red Sox Manager Terry Francona Sunday on Sports Final at 11:35p.m. on WBZ-TV
