Most modern sports fans see “chemistry” as overrated.

Good teams have good chemistry. Bad teams have bad chemistry. Duh.

Exceptions? Sure. The Oakland A’s of the early 1970s always were battling each other, but it didn’t stop them from winning three straight World Series. And while cranky Hall of Fame reliever Gramps Gossage speaks of make-believe good old days when everyone respected the game, it so happens he played on Yankees teams with combustible clubhouses. Yet they won championships.

But attempt a chemistry experiment with the 2016 Red Sox and things get complicated.

Man, do they ever.

As always, any discussion of these Red Sox begins with Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez. They’re the big-ticket acquisitions from 2015 whose horrendous play contributed to a last-place finish and a severance check for exiled general manager Ben Cherington. Now they present new challenges to returning-on-a-short-leash Manager John Farrell and the new boss of baseball operations, Dave Dombrowski.

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There’s not much to rehash here, other than to point out Sandoval is the overweight third baseman trying to hold onto his job and Ramirez is the shortstop-turned-laugh-riot-left-fielder whose latest stop is first base. Oh, and here’s the kid, Travis Shaw, tearing it up in spring training.

Shaw can play first and third. He can even play left field if need be. He’s big on versatility. What he’s not big on is the ol’ wait-your-turn credo because he wants to play now. And has said as much.

This is where chemistry enters the equation. With Opening Day just 11 days away, it’s a storyline all Red Sox fans need to follow. We’ve all heard about how Shaw is going to get at-bats, leading to speculation he’ll step in for Sandoval if the big fella can’t scoop up those slow rollers. Or that he’ll play first if Hanley can’t scoop up those throws from across the diamond.

That’s the easy part.

The hard part is what will happen if and when Sandoval and/or Ramirez wind up being the most overpaid bench players this side of Carl Crawford, the former Sox outfielder who will earn $21.6 million this season to be a Dodgers understudy.

Sandoval has said he’s OK with a “competition,” that he’ll show fans, management, etc. he’s up for the job. Ramirez, by most accounts, has been the ultimate happy camper, doing what needs to be done to get ready for a new season.

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Awesome.

That’s just want Sox fans want to see and hear. But let’s see how this plays out once the season starts and the games are played for real. Because if either of these guys falters, and if Shaw continues to hit in the regular season and in so doing becomes a regular presence in the lineup, that’s when team chemistry will be challenged.

Will Sandoval sulk if his playing time is reduced? Will Ramirez? If Ramirez has trouble playing first, will that cause problems with his infielders? Possibly even Sandoval?

I’m not sold yet on Shaw as an everyday big league player. Again, it’s spring training. But we had a taste last year of what he can do in the big leagues (13 home runs in 226 at-bats), just as last year’s regular season showed Sandoval and Ramirez at their worst.

It’s not just a case of them bringing storm clouds to the clubhouse. Also at issue will be how the rest of the team handles any problems.

Remember, this is the Grand Farewell Tour for David Ortiz, who undoubtedly would like his last plate appearance to be on the World Series stage. To get there, he’ll need help from Sandoval and Ramirez.

Or failing that, he’ll need for them to get out of the way and be gracious while doing so.

Maybe “chemistry” will wind up being what it often is: unimportant. The talk has been mostly upbeat this spring, and that’s certainly a good sign.

But here’s what Ramirez said during spring training last year: “I’m a left fielder. I just want to have a freakin’ trophy in my hand. I can’t wait. So if I have to catch or pitch, whatever it takes to win. That’s why I’m here with this organization, so I can play left field.”


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