Hitting coach Dave Magadan, in his fourth year with the Red Sox, oversaw an offense that -- though ravaged by injuries -- finished second in the American League with 818 runs and led the AL with a .790 OPS. The Sox have finished in the top three in runs scored each of his four years in Boston.

Magadan took 10 questions from WEEI.com readers. Here are his thoughts on the impact of a potential adjustment to the dimensions at Fenway, the challenges of the strike zone in 2010, players who opened his eyes this year and more.

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If the Red Sox do move in the right field fences, whom do you think it might affect the most? Does 6-9 feet make that much of a difference?"

- Dr. Jeff

When you think about how many balls during the course of a season are hit to within 6-9 feet of the fence in right-center, I think you can't help but think it's going to make somewhat of a difference, but not huge. Jed Lowrie and Victor Martinez I think can be helped by the move. They both hit a lot of balls to that spot from both sides of the plate. But I think most of our hitters will welcome the change with open arms.

Was there anything identified in terms of ways to get David Ortiz off to a better start? What was the biggest problem this past April in that regard?

- Ryan

In 2009 he was not able to to hit in the offseason because of his injured wrist from 2008. He came into spring training behind most of the hitters on the team and it lingered into the start of the season. Struggles at the beginning of the season aren't hidden with a lot of at-bats like they are in the middle to late part of the season. A 2-20 stretch in June drops your batting average from .280 to .275. Do it in April and you're hitting .100. And you have to look at it everyday on the scoreboard.

David, like most, started to press when that happened. To his credit, he battled back and ended up having a productive year. This year he wanted so bad to prove the naysayers wrong that he started trying to get two hits in every at-bat. The doubts around baseball started with his first 20 at bats in the spring. Both years he pressed, but for different reasons.

It appears the days of taking a strike when trailing late is over. Why has that 'unwritten rule' faded away?

- Gary

I don't think it has. I think it depends on the reliever. The ones that have a history of walking hitters, we try and make them throw the ball over the plate. But most of your closers are strike throwers, and when you get behind them they can be tough. We have confidence that our hitters know the zone, and more often than not if they swing early the pitch is usually a good pitch to drive.

Who is the one hitter you would love to coach that you haven't had the opportunity to yet?

- Josh

I've always had a lot of respect for Albert Pujols. What he's done to start a career is simply amazing. Just to talk to him and pick his brain would be a lot of fun.

When walking on 5th and 52nd in New York City, do people a) recognize you; b) recognize you as a Met; c) recognize you as a Red Sox coach; d) recognize you as the greatest hitter in Alabama history?

- Batting Stance Guy

I do get recognized a lot in NY, mostly for being an ex-Met.

What is your take on players suggesting the strike zone was expanded this season?

- Luis

I'll pass on that one, since I don't want to start my offseason with a fine from MLB. But I will say that our hitters know the strike zone as well as anyone.

From your perspective, which Red Sox player made the most strides in his hitting approach this past season?

- Dave

Two guys: Jed Lowrie and Adrian Beltre. Jed had a lot to prove to himself and to the organization. The way that he drove the ball, especially from the left side, showed that his wrist injury was a major culprit in his struggles in 2009. Adrian slowed himself down, took his hits the other way when he needed to drive in a run, and didn't miss mistakes. He was as consistent as anyone I've ever seen over the course of a season.

In my opinion, J.D. Drew should have more of an open stance. Has he changed his stance/approach much over the past few years, and what was his biggest obstacle in getting on a roll last season?

- Brady

J.D.'s stance is actually almost identical to the stance he had at Florida State. I think his biggest obstacle was what he perceived as the expansion of the strike zone against him. He felt that it got him out of his game of swinging at strikes, and in turn caused some mechanical issues for him. I can't say I would argue with him.

Have you ever seen a player so dominant against lefties as Victor Martinez was last season? Why was that and what can he do differently to even off the success against righties?

- Frank

Victor was incredible from the right side this year. It propped up his year until he got his left side straightened out. But Jeff Bagwell in 1994, the year that he won the MVP, hit 18 HRs in a little over 100 at bats against lefties. He had an OPS of over 1.600 that year against LHP. I think Victor, like most switch hitters, is a "feel" guy. He felt great from day one on the right side, and left-handed he just couldn't get comfortable until the end of the year. He's had years where it was completely the opposite, but I think for the most part he's been very consistent from both sides throughout his career. Overall he's been a little better from the right side.

Who is the best hitter you have ever seen, and what should hitters take away from that player's approach?

- Jay

Barry Bonds stands alone. Regardless of the cloud over his career, he was in a class by himself. His movements at the plate were slow and deliberate and always on time. His path was direct to the ball, and always inside the ball. He could keep a ball fair that was four inches from his stomach. He never chased balls out of his zone. He could take two total swings in a game and still hit two home runs with those swings.