The answer, of course, was Double A Portland's Hadlock Field.
As if a special game show moment were not enough, Youkilis landed a bonus on the cruise. He got the girl. Or, more accurately, a girlfriend, who since has left her job working with children on the ship and has found herself in Fort Myers near Youkilis.
Now, he dearly would like the answer to one greater question: When will he play in Fenway Park?
"I'm ready to come to Fenway and I'd love to come up," Youkilis said yesterday after doing what he does best, reaching base in three of his four plate appearances in a 9-4 exhibition victory over the Twins. "It's only about a 40-minute drive from Pawtucket. Hopefully, I'll get there as soon as possible."
Easier said than achieved, since Youkilis finds himself on a depth chart that starts with Bill Mueller, the reigning American League batting champion. But if he takes longer than anticipated to make it to the bigs, it won't be for lack of recognition. Truth be told, Youkilis ranks among the most renowned minor leaguers of his time, both because of his accomplishments on the field and the highly publicized account in "Moneyball" of Oakland general manager Billy Beane's unrequited lust to pry him from the Sox.
With a .451 on-base percentage over his first three pro seasons, Youkilis epitomizes Beane's approach to the game, which just happens to be shared by Sox general manager Theo Epstein. Youkilis made headlines last year when he reached base safely in 71 straight games for Portland and Pawtucket, the longest streak in baseball since Kevin Millar's 71-game run over parts of three minor league seasons with the Marlins from 1997-99.
"That `Moneyball' book has turned out to be big," said Youkilis, who turns 25 next Monday. "Everyone talks about it. I don't know how many people have read it, but it seems like a lot more people know me and recognize me." During the American League playoffs last year, he figured his anonymity was intact when he and former Sox farmhand Mike Gambino strolled with the masses toward Fenway Park for a game against the A's.
