ADDENDUM - Sox Opening Day Roster - Hitters Analysis

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So not a day goes by and already my post about the Sox Opening Day Roster is out of date.

Apparently Getz has been named the #2 hitter, which I actually like. As I said previously - w/o AJ in there, the middle of the order was extremely right-handed. Now AJ and Thome can be strategically used to break up the run of right-handers in CQ, Dye, Konerko, Alexei, and Fields.

And a lot is being made, rightfully so, about protecting these young kids so they can properly develop. Asking Getz to hit leadoff would have been a mistake, as he's not a natural leadoff hitter and the position is highly demanding. That could have lead him to do things he's incapable of and kept him from developing into a solid big leaguer.

But at #2, I think Getz is probably being helped. The #2 hitter, more than any other spot, can be productive without actually getting hits. Just by making contact, laying down bunts, seeing pitches, moving runners along, Getz can gain some confidence and feel like he's a significant factor in the Sox success. And that confidence is SO important to making the leap to the bigs.

This does further raise the question as to who will leadoff when Wise sits against left-handers. Apparently Getz has been hitting lefties, so he won't be platooning and instead will be the everyday #2.

So will they try to ask Anderson to do something he's not at all equipped for? He's never been great at working counts or getting on base. Will they see if Fields can do it? Not sure why - he seems more like a pure slugger, with an iffy batting average and a ton of Ks. Alexei? Again, not a guy who works counts, and probably too good of an RBI guy to bury in the leadoff spot. Lillibridge? But where does he play? Getz isn't platooning, you can't sit Alexei, and Anderson is your right-handed CF.

I guess you could get away with moving Lillibridge between second, short, and third when Wise sits, as Getz, Alexei, and Fields will need some days off. But I haven't seen anything to suggest that Ozzie sees Lillibridge is anything more than a bench player, not a semi-regular leadoff guy.

Well, it'll be interesting to see how Ozzie handles this lineup. But for now I'm feeling alright about the idea of Getz in the #2 slot.

Hopefully a review of the pitching staff will be up Thursday or Friday.