Monday’s Jays Lineup: Martin in Left

With the lefty on the mound for the Red Sox, Gibby has an all right-handed lineup, including Russell Martin in left field.

I was there to watch John McDonald play left back in Cito’s days, so I think this is a step up. I was at a game in Philadelphia when McDonald played left and there was a line drive hit towards him, but McDonald didn’t run to intersect the ball, he ran parallel to it. The Phillies fan sitting beside me asked ‘what’s wrong with your left fielder?’. I said he really wasn’t a left fielder, but he was a heck of a shortstop, who’s bat wasn’t good enough to get him playing time at short.

I know there will be complaining, but Martin has plenty of arm for the position and I’d think he would have enough range for left at Fenway. If Sanchez is on his game, he should be getting ground balls.

It will be interesting.