OPINION

By John Rawlings

updated 9:13 p.m. ET June 30, 2008

When David Ortiz went on the disabled list with a damaged sheath that protects a tendon in his left wrist, it left a yawning gap in the middle of a powerful Red Sox lineup. It changed the very nature of the team — and in a surprising way. Everybody in baseball understood that the team's defense might benefit from a reconfigured lineup, but no one could have anticipated the offense would remain just as productive and that it even would fuel a rise in winning percentage.

Here's how the Red Sox are doing it.

Defense: Faster is better
Manager Terry Francona has Coco Crisp, who was the subject of trade discussions in the spring, playing regularly in centerfield — a move that pushed Jacoby Ellsbury from center to left and Manny Ramirez from left to DH to take Ortiz's spot. The faster Crisp-Ellsbury-J.D. Drew outfield alignment covers more ground, and the Red Sox are benefiting. Crisp does not throw well, but the defense overall is better because he is more engaged defensively than Ramirez.

And with better outfield defense, Red Sox pitchers have become more effective since Ortiz's injury.

Even with fewer runners on base, the Red Sox are turning one double play every 14.1 innings without Ortiz in the lineup versus one every 14.6 innings with him playing.

Offense: Drawing from Drew
The biggest boost — and the biggest surprise — has come from the performance of right fielder Drew, who typically batted sixth or seventh when Ortiz was hitting third. When Ortiz left the lineup after a May 31 game against Baltimore, Drew moved into the third spot — and produced eye-popping numbers in June.

"I know the perception about him, especially among fans," says a scout who concentrates on AL teams. "I think he does play hard, but it doesn't show. I won't say he has maxed out his talent because a lot of people thought he had Hall of Fame potential."

Another scout, who covers both leagues and has followed Drew's career closely, says, "He has always had the talent. He has stayed injury-free, and that's always been the big question about him. He's getting a lot better pitches hitting in front of Manny than down in the lineup."

Second half: Good to go
"I think Drew can take the pressure," says the major league scout. "He will produce hitting third as long as Terry needs him there."

Drew says, "I just have to keep doing what I do. I can't change to become David Ortiz. I just have to keep everything simple."

And Francona can live with that. "If a guy had to pick a time for this to happen ... the timing is impeccable," he says.

In the current situation, rookie Brandon Moss will continue to get more time as the No. 4 outfielder. "Moss is a fine outfielder, and he has a lot of potential," the AL scout says. "He can run, too, which gives them another weapon offensively."

But without Ortiz, the Red Sox will have less to offer if they go looking for pitching after the All-Star break. Crisp is the best chip they have to play, but the scout doesn't believe Moss is ready to be an everyday player — especially in a pennant race. With this defense, though, the Red Sox might be able to get away without trading for an arm.

"If this goes until August, and it could with that kind of injury, the difference in defense will really show because of all the games they have on the road," says the AL scout. "That lineup won't look bad to Terry at all."

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