Heyman On Gresh & Zo: How To Play Youk, Middlebrooks And Gonzalez All At Once
BOSTON (CBS) - The Boston Red Sox have a bit of a situation on their hands, with potentially seven outfielders all on the disabled list at the same time.
However, there could be a short-term fix that would allow Kevin Youkilis, who will likely be activated from the DL on Tuesday, rookie phenom Will Middlebrooks, and Adrian Gonzalez to be on the field at the same time.
CBS Sports MLB Insider Jon Heyman joined 98.5 The Sports Hub's Gresh & Zo for his weekly visit on Tuesday, and shed some light on a potential solution to the problem.
"I've heard there is at least one plan on the table where Middlebrooks stays. He's played so well that he is kind of forcing their hand," said Heyman. "In the plan I heard he plays third, with Youkilis playing some third and some first, with Adrian Gonzalez playing some outfield."
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"I'm of the understanding that Gonzalez is fine with it; he's already played in the outfield a little bit. They need to run it by Youkilis when he gets there though, and assuming he says OK that's the likely scenario at this moment. Who would have predicted seven outfielders on the DL right now? It's a very unpredictable situation right now."
Heyman doesn't see any chance that Youkilis shoots down playing first.
"He should be happy to have his job back on basically a full-time basis," said Heyman. "I think they're waiting for him to arrive and break it to him in person. I'd be shocked if he turns it down. It doesn't appear in this scenario he would be the one heading to the outfield, and he's well-acquainted with first base as well."
Despite their rash of injuries in the outfield, the Red Sox have actually been playing pretty good baseball; winning eight of their last 10 games. Is manager Bobby Valentine better when situations like this arise? Heyman thinks so.
"I almost think he does better when there is some kind of personnel crisis on the team," Heyman said of Valentine. "I remember times with the Mets when he got an outfield to the World Series where, at moments, Jay Payton was probably their best outfielder. He didn't really have any great outfielders"
"It's wasn't the kind of situation where you have seven outfielders hurt -- that's fairly unprecedented -- but I think the more Bobby has to think about, the better off he is," said Heyman.
"I have to say they're piecing it together pretty good considering. I don't know if there are lots of teams that can handle losing seven outfielders," he added.
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What does Heyman make of David Ortiz' respect comments? And what are his thoughts on the bullpen rounding into place? Tune in for that and much more with Baseball Insider Jon Heyman on Gresh & Zolak!
