This is where Easton is now, in the midst of his third full major-league season as the catalyst on a Sox team capable of contending. He is the guy who entered Thursday with a slash line of .312/.406/.435, seeing the ball so well that manager Robin Ventura was asked if he considered moving Eaton to the middle of the order. He reduced his strikeouts and improved his baserunning. Defensively, Eaton unselfishly switched to right field when the Sox acquired Austin Jackson, a move that he says required him to "put my pride aside.''