Official 2006 Spring Training Game Thread

[a700hitter]

Bill James has a job for a reason. Scouting is vital, but every team employs statisticians who are constantly creating newer and better statistical tools for modeling performance on the field. The Sox hired Bill James, the father of modern statistical analysis (sabermetrics); the Cardinals hired Micheal G. Lichtman, referred to as MGL, the creator of UZR (ultimate zone rating) which is considered the best defensive statistic ever created. The list goes on and on. Scouting identifies the those with the tools to perform. Stats guys identify those that are actually performing. Teams need both.

I'll admit that statistical analysis has its place in building a major league roster, but its reliability is highest when used with major league players. There is little validity to statistical measures applied at the minor league level, and that validity decreases exponentially as you go down the levels of the minor leagues, because there is no way of telling if a player will develop at a fast or slow rate or if he will develop at all.

[ORS]

That's all I was saying, and I agree that he could get to the majors faster than 2-3 years, but I don't think he will be a major contributor before 2-3 years.

FWIW, no scouts or scouting systems are predicting major contributions before then. Hell, in 2-3 years he'll only be 23-24. It is rare for a pitcher to make major contributions before then. Fortunately, we traded for one of the one's that has done it.

[riverside sluggers]

Papelbon has now allowed 8 ER in 8 innings pitched

 

Like Schilling's start yesterday, Papelbon started out solid then crumbled to the opposing team's bats. Heres hoping he has a clean outing next time around, and hoping I actually get to see a win. I know its just spring training, still like to see wins none the less

[RedSoxRooter]

I'm pissed. I can't watch on mlb.com because the link is dead. And the audio feed is just weei in the studio.. was the game cancelled or something?

[Sox Fan on Cape]

I'm pissed. I can't watch on mlb.com because the link is dead. And the audio feed is just weei in the studio.. was the game cancelled or something?

I'm watching it on NESN.

5-2 Minn.

[stocker323]

Sox lose 6-3 and Minnesota wins the Mayor's cup. Remy was at his best again today mocking the whole idea of the Mayor's Cup for pretty much the last 2 innings. Damn I miss real baseball.

[a700hitter]

Papelbon has now allowed 8 ER in 8 innings pitched

 

Like Schilling's start yesterday, Papelbon started out solid then crumbled to the opposing team's bats. Heres hoping he has a clean outing next time around, and hoping I actually get to see a win. I know its just spring training, still like to see wins none the less

He looked real good in the first 2 innings, and that's probably how he will be used in the early part of the season--- as a late inning bridge to Foulke on the days that Timlin needs a break. The third inning would not have amounted to much if the starting 2nd baseman and SS were in the game. The starters easily would have turned the DP on that one ball. Gonzalez is money. He does everything right in the field.

[riverside sluggers]

yesterday's stats in the 6-3 loss to Minn. The relief core behind Papelbon was solid allowing 5 hits & 1 run over 6.2 innings.

 

Coco Crisp- 0 for 3 (.429 avg)

Adam Stern- 1 for 1 (1.000 avg)

Tony Graffanino- 0 for 3 (.182 avg)

Josh Pressley- 0 for 1 (.222 avg)

Brandon Moss- 0 for 1 (.222 avg)

Trot Nixon- 1 for 3 (.421 avg)

Manny Ramirez- 1 for 3 (.500 avg)

Ron Calloway- 1 for 1 (.214 avg)

Mike Lowell- 1 for 3, Double (.263 avg)

Rodney Nye- 0 for 1 (.313 avg)

Kevin Youkilis- 1 for 3, HR, 2 RBIs (.158 avg)

Luis Jimenez- 0 for 1 (.100 avg)

Enrique Wilson- 1 for 2, Double (.400 avg)

Zachary Borowiak- 0 for 2

Alejandro Machado- 0 for 2 (.417 avg)

Jed Lowrie SS- 1 for 2, Doubloe, RBI (.400 avg)

Dusty Brown- 0 for 2 (.200 avg)

Trent Durrington- 0 for 1 (.167 avg)

 

Jon Papelbon (L 0-2)- 3.1 innings, 6 Hits, 5 Runs, Walk, 2 Ks, 10.13 ERA

Franklin Nunez- 0.2 inning, 2 Walks, 3.38 ERA

Craig Breslow- 1 inning, 1 Hit, 0.00 ERA

Phil Seibel- 1 inning, 2 Hits, 4.50 ERA

Abe Alvarez- 1 inning, 0.00 ERA

Mike Holtz- 1 inning, K, 4.50 ERA

Tim Bausher- 1 inning, 2 Hits, 1 Run, Walk, 4.50 ERA

[MC Hammer]

Gonzalez is money. He does everything right in the field.

I'm sorry, and this isn't just directed at you, when did Alex Gonzalez become Ozzie Smith? Every thread I open I read about how magnificent AGon is defensivly. Now, I think the guy is more than a solid SS, but you guys are making it out like he's the best SS in the league.

 

ERents came in here as a better defensive SS and I didn't hear half of these comments about him.

 

Just take a break on the Kool Aid drinking ... it's gonna be a long summer.

[riverside sluggers]

today's stats of the 7-5 loss to the Dodgers, the Sox now stand at 3-8 for spring training. The fielding was off again with 4 errors, 3 of them came from expected opening day regulars (Crisp, Youk, Bard). Loretta continues his solid hitting, comeback season is almost looking like definite. Youkilis homered for his 2nd straight game. Alex Gonzalez connected with his first HR of the spring. Non-roster invitee Ron Calloway also had a 2 run HR which for the very short time had tied up the game in the 9th inning.

 

Pitching, Clement's first official spring start was a successful one, 4 scoreless with 3 Ks. Craig Hansen added another scoreless inning to his stats, and guess what.... Rudy Seanez had a clean outing. No wait he did give up a run, sorry false alarm.

 

Coco Crisp- 0 for 3 (.429 avg)

Adam Stern- 0 for 2 (.333 avg)

Mark Loretta- 3 for 3, Double (.600 avg)

Willie Harris- 0 for 2 (.176 avg)

Trot Nixon- 1 for 3, Double (.421 avg)

Luke Allen- 0 for 2 (.188 avg)

Manny Ramirez- 0 for 2 (.444 avg)

Trent Durrington- 0 for 2 (.143 avg)

Mike Lowell- 0 for 5 (.190 avg) He stands just 3 for 19

JT Snow- 0 for 2 (.400 avg)

Ian Bladergroen- 1 for 1 (.500 avg)

Kevin Youkilis- 1 for 1, HR, 2 RBIs (.176 avg)

Enrique Wilson- 0 for 1 (.357 avg)

Josh Bard- 0 for 3 (.200 avg)

Ron Calloway- 1 for 1, HR, 2 RBIs (.214 avg)

Alex Gonzalez- 1 for 3, HR, RBI (.133 avg)

Jed Lowrie- 1 for 1, Double (.429 avg)

 

Matt Clement- 4 innings, 2 Hits, 3 Ks, 0.00 ERA

Rudy Seanez- 1 inning, 1 Hit, 1 Run, 2 Walks, 12.60 ERA

Manny Delcarmen- 1 inning, 2 Hits, 2 Runs, Walk, K, 3.60 ERA

Craig Hansen- 1 inning, 0.00 ERA 5 scoreless innings

Mike Bumatay- 1 inning, 1 Run, Walk, 5.79 ERA

Matt Ginter- 1 inning, 1 Run (0 ER), 2 Walks, K, 13.50 ERA

Jimmy Serrano (L 0-1)- 1 inning, 2 Hits, 2 Runs, Walk, K, 4.50 ERA

[jsinger121]

Mike Lowell's spring is concerning so far. He has done nothing to show last season was an abberation.

[KeepTheFaith1229]

I saw him, he showed good hustle everywhere, and incredible awareness in the field. The hits will come...

[jsinger121]

He was great in the field last year. It the hitting part that is the concern and he really has not shown much of it lately.

[riverside sluggers]

Alex Gonzalez showed some good glove today as well, CBS news had shown 2 web gem plays. One of which he had dove for a groundball, then on one knee threw a one-hopper to J.T. Snow

[MC Hammer]

I hate to say I'm concerned about anything in ST, but Lowell better find his swing.

[jsinger121]

Especially when Marte has a .421 average and an OPS of .1244 for the Guardians.

 

Mike Lowell is hitting .158 with an OPS of .554

[a700hitter]

Alex Gonzalez showed some good glove today as well, CBS news had shown 2 web gem plays. One of which he had dove for a groundball, then on one knee threw a one-hopper to J.T. Snow

He's the real deal. Great range, hands, footwork --the whole package.

[a700hitter]

Especially when Marte has a .421 average and an OPS of .1244 for the Guardians.

 

Mike Lowell is hitting .158 with an OPS of .554

In his 3rd AB on Monday he hit an absolute bullet that the SS made a great short-hop pick going to one knee and turning a DP. He hit a very solid double on Sunday in his last AB.

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

One of the real problems with spring training is knowing what players are doing. Jonathan Papelbon was pitching to get his arm strength up but not really pitching the way he would in a game. The stats in spring training can be incredibly mis-leading.

 

Mike Lowell is probably working on his swing and trying some stuff to get his act together. Thats one of the reasons he is getting so many at-bats this spring so he can work on stuff. On March 13th it is not a concern.....by June-July if he is batting around .230 it is a problem. Baseball is not about 20 at-bats in spring training. Its about the 500 at-bats he will see in the season.

[riverside sluggers]

Okkk so coming into today's game, Bronson has made 2 shaky starts--10 hits, 4 Walks, 8 Runs in 3.2 innings (19.64 ERA)

 

Today in the 1st inning against the Reds, he plain & simple hasnt gotten better

 

1 inning- 3 Hits, Hit Batter, Walk, 5 Runs

 

Last start he made an excuse that the long bus trip had tired him out, like in August where he blamed his performance on rock show the night before. Whats the excuse this time Bronson?

 

updated stats- 13 Hits, 3 Hit Batters, 5 Walks, 13 Runs in 4.2 innings pitched

[MC Hammer]

Yeah it's more than time to move Bronson. Like I've said before when you're 29 and you still haven't learned to locate your fastball it's over. The Pirates not even wanting this guy should have been some indication of Bronson's skill.

[riverside sluggers]

Dustan Mohr has hit his 3rd HR to bring the Sox closer, 7-5. He leads the team in HRs for the spring, is batting around .500, and has shown some great "D" plays.

 

The Red Sox lose 9-7, their 4th straight loss, dropping their record to 3-9

------------

today's stats

 

Coco Crisp, Trot Nixon, & Dustan Mohr continue to hit well this spring. Mike Lowell had went 0 for 2, he is now batting 3 for 21 (.143 avg). In pitching, Bronson as noted got rocked in his 3rd straight start. DiNardo didnt have a good return. Breslow added another 1.1 scoreless innings to his stats. Riske had himself a scoreless inning, 1st one this spring.

 

Coco Crisp, 2 for 3 (.455 avg)

Adam Stern- 1 for 1 (.500 avg)

Tony Graffanino- 0 for 3 (.100 avg)

Zachary Borowiak- 0 for 1

Trot Nixon- 1 for 3, 2 RBIs (.429 avg)

Luke Allen- 0 for 2 (.118 avg)

Manny Ramirez- 1 for 2, RBI (.455 avg)

Enrique Wilson- 0 for 3 (.267 avg)

Mike Lowell- 0 for 2 (.143 avg)

Jim Buckley- 0 for 2

JT Snow- 0 for 2, RBI (.313 avg)

Jeff Bailey- 1 for 1, HR, RBI (1.000 avg)

Dustan Mohr- 1 for 3, HR, RBI (.471 avg)

Ron Calloway- 1 for 1 (.267 avg)

Alejandro Machado- 0 for 2 (.409 avg)

Jed Lowrie- 1 for 1 (.462 avg)

Trent Durrington- 2 for 4 (.222 avg)

 

Bronson Arroyo (L 0-2)- 3 innings, 3 Hits, 5 Runs, 2 Walks, 3 Ks, 17.55 avg

Lenny DiNardo- 1.2 innings, 3 Hits, 2 Runs, 2 Walks, K, 10.80 ERA

Craig Breslow- 1.1 inning, K, 0.00 ERA

David Riske- 1 inning, 1 Hit, 9.00 ERA

Cla Meredith- 1 inning, 1 Hit, 1 Run, 3.60 ERA

Mike Holtz- 1 inning, 1 Hit, 1 Run, 3 Ks, 5.40 ERA

[mtbykr]

I will give lowell a pass on his bat for now---but what i won't do is give him a pass on his defense. He just looks really slow out there; when he get's to the ball he's great, but i am wishing that "the pro" was still rocking 3rd for us!

[riverside sluggers]

Even if Mike Lowell wasnt sent here, I still think Mueller wouldve left anyway. Besides the fact that Youk is ready to play every day, Mueller was looking for a mult-year deal. The Sox were said to at most offer him an incentive-laden 1 season contract.

 

Lowel's defense is what Im not worrying about at all, he & Gonzo will form one of the best left sides of the infield in the AL this season.

[Red85]

Just wondering how many of you guys think Boston Red Sox will have another chance to World Series this years?

[jsinger121]

there is always a chance in this market.....accomplishing it is another thing

[Red85]

Since we lost Johnny Damon from Red Sox to Hater Yankees, who is gonna take his place, and how many player do we have beside him?

[riverside sluggers]

Well... I might be wrong, but I think its Coco Crisp taking his place

[riverside sluggers]

Rudy Seanez has followed David Riske, and pitched his first scoreless inning, took him until his 6th inning of the spring to do so. I hope this is the beginning of the 2 turning it around.

[jsinger121]

Since we lost Johnny Damon from Red Sox to Hater Yankees, who is gonna take his place, and how many player do we have beside him?

 

Have you followed any of the Red Sox offseason? If you did you would have your answer