There's a great paid-link on Baseball Prospectus today addressing the Papi-Lowell-Youkilis dilemma that points to a nearly-forgotten solution from the 1968 World Series. Tigers Manager Mayo Smith moved Mickey Stanley from CF to SS - where he'd never played - and it worked fine. BP knows Francona won't move Youkilis there, and I can think of one reason why - 2007 is not 1968. In a media-satured individualistic age, the message sent by putting Julio Lugo on the bench, and putting Youkilis at SS (where he has never played a professional game) embarasses a pro having a bad year. And it broadcasts a message to veterans who might come here that their manager won't stand by them.

But it's such a disruptive innovation that I bet Michael Lewis would write a big article about it in The New Yorker. I think the human side is what Francona thinks about much more than (a) not thinking about it in the first place, (b) getting razzed by Dan Shaughnessy if a ball goes through Youk's legs. People matter, that's a good thing for a manager to remember.