BOSTON - People really started to take a liking to the Jackie Bradley Jr.-Mookie Betts-Rusney Castillo outfield configuration the Red Sox were using for a bit.
And why not?
They're three exciting, young outfielders who are capable of making plays on most balls that come their way. They also got hot at the plate around the same time - especially Bradley who tore it up over a six-game stretch.
It turns out that new Red Sox President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski is also a fan of the three. He specifically mentioned liking them together in the outfield during his opening statement.
But in doing so, he left out Hanley Ramirez, the Red Sox' big offseason signing, with the hope that he could transition to left field. We're well into August, and Ramirez's struggles out there have never been more apparent.
Dombrowski also mentioned the importance of strong defense for a winning team. If that's the case, Ramirez can't remain in left field.
It sounds like Dombrowski has less faith than Ben Cherington did in Ramirez's ability to eventually become comfortable there.
"It's funny, I mean Hanley can swing the bat. I know his numbers aren't as good this year as they have been. He's been hurt a little bit. But he can hit," Dombrowski said. "What's his best position? I'm not sure at this point. I haven't seen him play left field very much and I know when I see. But the one thing you have to be careful about and I've had some experiences that even good athletes, you just can't assume they can play a new position. I've seen it not work at times.
"I can't speak for him specifically. But I was interested this winter time, I work out usually in the morning in the winter time and run the treadmill early at the ballpark. And I watch that Major League Baseball Network show religiously. And they had those commenters up there statistical guys and non-statistical guys. And they had the No 1. ranked left field going into 2015 as Hanley Ramirez, collectively. I remember at the time saying, 'How can people make that statement only to the sense they don't know if he can play left field or not.' So it's just interesting that a lot of other people there were making that summation that he could play left field."
Dombrowski understands sacrificing defense for a big bat. But he also noted that said player has to "crush the ball". Dombrowski was speaking in generalities, but it's obvious that the comparison works for Ramirez.
There's been plenty of talk about moving Ramirez from the outfield to the infield - first base or third base - but like Cherington, Dombrowski doesn't think that's a good idea at this point in the season.
"That would be tough to do at this time of the year," Dombrowski said. "I mean, it's hard to just move a guy to a different position at this time in the year. That takes a while to do, guys can get hurt. And really behind the scenes I don't know if they've been working out anybody at any other position. So I don't even know that until I sit down and talk with them."