By BRENDAN MCGAIR

Sports writer

PAWTUCKET – Turns out Triple-A ballplayers share a common thread with marketing folks: they are all about promoting the heck out of their product in order to maximize its value.
From the standpoint of the Pawtucket Red Sox, it means shuffling around the diamond and exposing oneself to positions that may have not been in the repertoire prior. A perusal of the roster reveals many of the players manager Ron Johnson interacts with fall into the category of “have multiple gloves, will travel.”
Very few of the PawSox are locked into one position or one role. That’s by design, for Johnson is fond of shuffling the deck, the idea being “to get exposure in all sorts of situations. This level is all about exposure, so you want to keep moving guys around.”
Two notable PawSox alums who got drafted in one position before winding up elsewhere are Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis. Pedroia was a shortstop coming out of Arizona State while Youkilis was a third baseman. As the pair progressed through the minor-league ranks, both experienced a position change. Now Pedroia and Youkilis are Gold Glove recipients at second and first base, respectively.
The current crop of PawSox is trying to follow in the steps of the aforementioned Red Sox stars. Chris Carter, who started the season in Boston, is taking a crack at learning a new position (right field). Prior to this year Carter was regarded primarily as a first baseman/leftfielder.
“Playing (right) gives me more of an opportunity to play on the best team in baseball. Plus I like the challenge of (learning the ropes of a new position),” said Carter, who manned first base Friday night. “(Former Red Sox first base coach) Luis Alicea pulled me aside one day and said to take fly balls in right. Alex Cora told me to do it, so too did Coco Crisp. They did it in a way that was serious, saying that it’s about giving yourself opportunities.  
Jeff Natale, who was activated off the disabled list Friday, is another Pawtucket position player who is falls in line with the multiplicity act the organization preaches to its farmhands. There’s been talk of Natale, an infielder by trade, getting some reps in the outfield, a place he hasn’t ventured since his days at Trinity (Conn.) College.
“Any experience at any position helps. Anytime you’re in an organization as competitive as the Red Sox, if you get that extra dimension by being able to go out there and play different positions in a pinch, obviously that adds to your game,” said Natale owner of first baseman’s mitt in addition to an infielder’s glove. “I’ve been taking outfield during batting practice. It’ll be interesting but at the same time fun.”
As highly-touted prospect Daniel Bard has found out, pitchers can also be thrust into different assignments. Bard has earned rave reviews to date, doing so by performing the as Pawtucket’s setup guy and closer (three saves heading into last night).
“I was exposed to a lot of roles last year, mainly because I needed the work,” said Bard. “Being a young guy, you’re going to see a lot of roles. You aren’t going to have a set role initially, you have to prove yourself.”
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Pawtucket first baseman Paul McAnulty is being exposed to how the other half of the lower United States enjoys baseball. Born and raised in California, McAnulty switched coasts after spending the previous the seven years in the San Diego system.
“Baseball is different here on the East Coast. It’s more intense, which I enjoy,” said McAnulty. “The fans, they don’t need a scoreboard to get loud. They are actually watching the game, they know the situations.”
McAnulty also holds the distinction as being the first player Jason McLeod signed. McLeod is currently the director of amateur scouting for the Red Sox.
“When we first started talking about me coming here, Jason and I both agreed upon that the relationship between us wouldn’t come up. It was more of a business decision,” said McAnulty. “I felt I could bring something to the table in Pawtucket and in the big leagues.
“Jason and I have stayed in contact over the last several years. We talked a lot about me coming to the Red Sox whenever I became a free agent.”