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| Mookie (L), Rusney (R)—(USAToday Photo) |
Apparently,
John Farrell was serious about
Shane Victorino being his starting right-fielder. Accordingly, Farrell has made it plain that
Mookie Betts and Rusney Castillo will battle it out for the starting center-field job during Spring Training. Now, competition is a good thing—but the idea that Betts could be the odd-man out this year is agonizing. The kid proved he deserved to stay
last year. He would be the ideal lead-off hitter. Maybe
Ben Cherington knows that one of his many outfielders will be dealt by Opening Day, and he wants to keep
both Betts and Castillo ready. Said Farrell,
"They're going to get equal playing time. But I think it's important they both get comfortable with the combination of the guys on the flank because of communication, the responsibilities for balls in the gap, fly ball communication and those priorities." We shall see.
