Creating a baseball lineup with Patriots’ roster on Red Sox Opening Day
It is Opening Day Weekend for Major League Baseball, and in the spirit of the Boston Red Sox kicking off their 2022 season against the division-rival New York Yankees, why don’t we have some fun?!
Fans of the New England Patriots are certainly rooting on the Sox this Friday, so why not draw some parallels between these two successful franchises that have captured a total of 10 championships since 2000?
We’ve created a batting order with the Patriots’ roster and determined where a number of the stars on New England would fit on the diamond. Taking into account their best attributes, here’s where we landed.
Creating a baseball lineup with the Patriots’ roster on Red Sox Opening Day
It's (finally) #OpeningDay!
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) April 8, 2022
Good luck this season, @RedSox 👏 pic.twitter.com/xxlbQ2Y3iF
Batting First: Kendrick Bourne, Right Field
The fan-favorite receiver made quite an impression during his first season in New England. To bat leadoff, you need to be quick and shifty, and Bourne fits that bill perfectly. A threat to steal bases and run amok comes with KB’s game, plus his hand-eye coordination should work well in Fenway Park’s funky right field.
Batting Second: Kyle Dugger, Center Field
The Lenoir-Rhyne product came into New England with the ability to play in the box, but has been used as a center fielder occasionally. That explains why putting him in center field can be the best for this team. With Fenway’s jagged center field dimensions, Dugger can make the athletic play in the field and on the base paths due to his versatility and athleticism.
Batting Third: Matt Judon, Third Base
One of the best defensive players in the entire NFL, Judon should be able to slide in and play the hot corner, one of the hardest defensive positions in baseball. Having Judon bat third should be able to have him utilize his power and speed appropriately.
Batting Fourth: Trent Brown, Designated Hitter
Defensively, Brown would be a liability, so keeping him on the bench to just hit would be a good idea. His big frame would make for a good cleanup hitter, and his brute strength should be enough to hit 30+ home runs.
Batting Fifth: Christian Barmore, First Base
I guess I’m running with the lineman theme in the middle of this order. Barmore is agile enough to man first base defensively. He will be able to contribute on offense, but will also be a candidate to play some designated hitter, too, with his size and power.
Batting Sixth: Jonnu Smith, Left Field
Coming over from Tennessee last offseason, Smith struggled in his first year with the Patriots. However, he’s versatile enough to find a way to contribute. That’s the same reasoning here. He can utilize his athleticism in left field and surprise us with his speed and power at the plate.
Batting Seventh: Devin McCourty, Shortstop
Shortstop needs a veteran to play it, as the position is known as the “captain of the defense.” Well, Devin McCourty is the captain of this New England defense and is rangy enough as a safety to be able to make the tough plays in the infield. He should hit for contact, too, knowing his style of play on the gridiron.
Batting Eighth: David Andrews, Catcher
The one player on the diamond that suits up from head to toe in pads should also be one of the linemen on this Patriots squad. With Andrews being the best one, he’s a surefire pick to take over duties behind the plate. Just like a center commands the offensive line, he should be able to command the pitcher throughout the game.
Batting Ninth: JJ Taylor, Second Base
The last hitter in the order should be quick on the base paths and flip the order back to the top. Usually, the nine-hole hitter is stereotypically a shorter player, and Taylor is the perfect man for the job with his speed. His frame and athleticism would also profile perfectly on defense at second base.
Starting Pitcher: Mac Jones
This is the easiest one. Jones is the one throwing the ball for the Patriots and should be doing the same job on the mound. The second-year QB also is reportedly working out with quarterback guru Tom House, so his arm strength should be much improved. 95+ MPH fastball? We think so.
Let’s go Red Sox!!
