DENVER -- Boston manager Terry Francona chose to sit first baseman Kevin Youkilis as the World Series shifts to the National League city tonight where the designated hitter rule is not in play.
As a result, David Ortiz, Boston's regular DH, will play first base in Game 3 against the Colorado Rockies, and the pitchers will hit.
I haven't always agreed with Francona's approach -- such as when he's reluctant to put the game in motion -- but this was absolutely the right move.
It pains Francona to remove Youkilis from the lineup -- he's batting .396 in postseason play -- but it was the best decision when facing this conundrum. Ortiz is the heart and soul of the Red Sox, the team's undisputed leader and the game's best clutch hitter. You'd be crazy to take Ortiz out. They teach you that in the first semester at manager school -- Rule No. 1: Keep your best player in the game.
While Youkilis has played third base, he spent this season at first. Mike Lowell is one of the game's best gloves at third and is a terrific hitter with runners in scoring position. Plus he bats behind Manny Ramirez and helps protect the slugger. Even if Lowell wasn't having a tremendous year, I'm not sure you toss Youkilis in at third in the middle of a World Series. The position is too important defensively.
The change opens another door for former Oregon State star Jacoby Ellsbury, who will start in center field. Ellsbury will bat leadoff, and second baseman Dustin Pedroia will move down to the No. 2 hole, replacing Youkilis.
"We're hoping he'll give us a guy who gets on base a bunch of times tonight, maybe a couple stolen bases, runs scored," Francona said before the game.
Ellsbury, with his outstanding speed and plate discipline, is a natural leadoff hitter. It will be interesting to see if can attack Colorado on the bases tonight -- that is, if he doesn't freeze to death in the cavernous outfield at Coors Field.
Temperatures will dip well into the 30s tonight in Denver.
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