But now that the roster is beginning to get back to its full potential, with Darnell McDonald recently coming off the disabled list and the much-anticipated return of Carl Crawford and Jacoby Ellsbury just weeks away, Gonzalez has been able to settle back into regular playing time at his preferred position, first base.
The switch back to first may not be permanant for Gonzalez, though. Sox manager Bobby Valentine indicated that we would see the three time Gold Glove winner in the outfield again, just not anytime soon. Maybe sometime in, let's say, October.
"Yes," Valentine told Boston Globe reporter Nick Cafardo when asked if Gonzalez would be playing the outfield again this season. "In the World Series."
So much for one game at a time.
Perhaps Valentine is just being optimistic. Or confident — very, very confident. So confident, in fact, that he disregarded the fact that there is still over half a season left before the playoffs start.
Regardless, you have to appreciate his enthusiam. But let's hope that the Sox finally have a fully healthy outfield when, not if, they make it to the World Series. That way, they can use Gonzo at first.
