Will we see Mookie Betts at second base in the World Series?
By Cody Rivera
The Red Sox have to decide how they will keep J.D. Martinez in the lineup in the National League city, and moving Mookie Betts to second base might be the answer.
The Boston Red Sox breezed through the New York Yankees in the ALDS, and then did the same with the Houston Astros in the ALCS, and they now find themselves facing an interesting dilemma heading into the World Series.
After the first two games at Fenway Park, they will then have to travel to a National League city for the next three games, meaning they will no longer be able to use their precious designated hitter in the lineup. As a result, one of the regular position players will have to sit for those three games so that the Red Sox can keep J.D. Martinez’s bat in the lineup.
An interesting scenario that has come up in conversation has been the idea of putting Martinez in right field, and moving right fielder Mookie Betts to second base. Obviously, Boston has to keep Mookie’s bat in the lineup as well as he’s the soon-to-be American League MVP. If this happens, then Ian Kinsler and Brock Holt, who have been platooning second base this postseason, would be on the bench for three games.
Manager Alex Cora hasn’t ruled out this possibility.
“I don’t know, man,” Cora said, via ESPN.com. “He already played second in the regular season. There’s always a chance, I guess.”
That is very true. Betts did make a very brief appearance as a substitute second baseman this year. But when he was in the minor leagues, Betts played second base regularly. It wasn’t until he joined the Red Sox roster that he was moved to the outfield and subsequently became a Gold Glove right fielder. If he had to play second base for a few games, it wouldn’t be the end of the world.
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If you ask me, however, I wouldn’t want to take Mookie’s outstanding defense out of right field. It’s hard to tell if Martinez would be able to hold down the fort at first base, seeing as how he’s never played the position. But if he had any capabilities to play first base at all, I would easily play him there for three games and put Steve Pearce and Mitch Moreland on the bench.
This dilemma was much easier to solve in the past when the Red Sox could just stick David Ortiz at first base and it was no problem. But hey, that’s National League baseball for you.