Official 2006 Spring Training Game Thread

[mtbykr]

Good. Nothing a little Imodium won't cure. Better than hearing a report that his arm was stiff.

 

 

Or that his knees were giving him problems!

[riverside sluggers]

damn a rain delay

 

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

great to hear todays lineup will be the same lineup for Monday afternoon

 

CF Coco Crisp

2B Mark Loretta

DH David Ortiz

LF Manny Ramirez

RF Trot Nixon

C Jason Varitek

3B Mike Lowell

1B Kevin Youkilis

SS Alex Gonzalez

[RedSoxRooter]

damn a rain delay

 

Well, I'm surprised. Remdawg Unleashed actually had me laughing. :thumbsup:

[riverside sluggers]

Good to see, lowell crushes one to left field !!

 

EDIT haha: Yooooouk... Lowell & Youkilis deliver back to back shots. Its a 3-2 ballgame now

[RedSoxRooter]

Youk goes deep. Crowd goes "yoooooouuuuuuuuuuuu".

[riverside sluggers]

At least we get to focus on the offense & defense

 

Double A Portland prospect David Pauley is looking lost, got saved in the 2nd inning with a double play

 

2 innings- 7 Hits, 5 Runs

[a700hitter]

Foulke has given up 2 runs but had 2 k's. Are they showing his velocity on NESN?

 

Lowell has had three knocks today. That is very encouraging to see. I don't think the bottom of the order will be as bad as everyone is anticipating. Gonzo just needs to get going a little bit.

[mtbykr]

Well this sucks! The game was blacked out on NESN for me, saying it was not available in my area. :wtf: Of course it wasn't on any other channels and YES worked if i wanted to watch the yanks-arizona:rant:

[riverside sluggers]

today's stats from the 9-5 loss to the Phillies. Spring record is at 9-20-1

 

Double A Portland pitching prospect David Paul had started, giving up 5 runs on 8 hits in 4 innings of work. Though all of that came in the first 2 innings. Keith Foulke had allowed his first spring runs, his pitches stayed up in the zone instead of down around the knees. Timlin pitched a 1-2-3 inning of relief. Note that Seanez has now given up 5 HRs in just 12 innings, a short leash he should have in beginning of season. Papelbon had allowed a run in the lone inning he was in there for.

 

Offense- Mike Lowell continues to roll out his newfound swing going 3 for 3 including a solo HR. Beginning with a 3 for 21 slump, he has siunce raised his avg from .143 to .320. Kevin Youkilis hit his 4th HR and finished with 2 RBis, Trot hit his 2nd and also finished with 2 RBIs.

 

Coco Crisp- 0 for 2, Walk (.431 avg)

Wily Mo Pena- 0 for 2 (.296 avg)

Mark Loretta- 0 for 3 (.353 avg)

Alex Cora- 0 for 1, Walk (.208 avg)

David Ortiz- 0 for 2, Walk (.364 avg)

J.T. Snow- 1 for 2, Double (.286 avg)

Manny Ramirez- 0 for 2, Walk (.311 avg)

Willie Harris- 0 for 2 (.175 avg)

Trot Nixon- 2 for 3, Double, HR, 2 RBIs (.296 avg)

Jacoby Ellsbury- 0 for 1

Jason Varitek- 1 for 3, Double (.188 avg)

Ken Huckaby- 0 for 1 (.200 avg)

Jeff Bailey- 0 for 1 (.417 avg)

Mike Lowell- 3 for 3, HR, RBI (.320 avg)

Enrique Wilson- 0 for 1 (.263 avg)

Kevin Youkilis- 2 for 2, HR, 2 RBIs (.234 avg)

Alex Gonzalez- 1 for 3 (.130 avg)

Dustan Mohr- 0 for 1 (.342 avg)

 

David Pauley- 4 innings, 8 Hits, 5 Runs, 4 Ks, 8.18 ERA

Keith Foulke (L, 0-1)- 1 inning, 3 Hits, 2 Runs, 2 Ks, 4.50 ERA

Mike Timlin- 1 inning, K, 5.40 ERA

Rudy Seanez- 1 inning, 1 Hit, 1 Run, Walk, K, 6.75 ERA

Jonathan Papelbon- 1 inning, 2 Hits, 1 Run, K, 5.48 ERA

[ORS]

...a short leash he should have in beginning of season.

Master Yoda, is that you?

[Anuj09]

Foulke letting up 2 runs scares me

[MANNYHOF24]

Foulke letting up 2 runs scares me

 

It doesnt scare me at all. Keith Foulkes ERA in spring training of 04- 15.34. I thought he actually looked decent today he had nice Zip on the fastball and threw a couple good change ups. The first double off him was a bloop, nothing was hit to hard. I will be scared if he lets up runs in his first apperance, Spring training means nothing to closers, you cant simulate bottom of the ninth 1 run lead at yankee stadium, when the adreniline is going, like it will be Monday or Tuesday in Texas is when we will beable to gage where Foulkie is at.

[RedSoxRooter]

Well, the Sox are down 3-0 in the 5th against Philly. Am I the only one who's really worried about this offense??? I think they've scored in double digits only once all spring.

[a700hitter]

I'm not worried at all. For the first two weeks of Spring Training, they were without Ortiz and Varitek, and even after they returned the starters rarely went beyond the 5th inning. The Sox offense usually feasts on teams bullpens in the second half of games.

 

I like Van Buren. He has reallhy good stuff and he gets lots of swings and misses. I also like guys with funky motions. It is very difficult for hitters to pick up the ball and time a herky jerky motion. With all the talking on these boards about DelCarmen and Hansen, this guy is flying under the radar, but if he dominates at AAA he may contribute at the ML level before the other two.

[riverside sluggers]

I'm not worried at all. For the first two weeks of Spring Training, they were without Ortiz and Varitek, and even after they returned the starters rarely went beyond the 5th inning. The Sox offense usually feasts on teams bullpens in the second half of games.

 

True but like all fans even if it is just ST, we still want to see wins. The Sox are 1 out away from having just 9 wins in 30 ST games. The worst mark it has been in awhile

 

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

today's stats from the 5-0 shutout loss to the Phillies. The Sox end spring training with a record of 9-20-1.

 

Matt Clement looked shaky in his first inning. After 2 easy groundball outs, he had then allowed 3 runs on 3 hits & 2 Walks. Clement had a 1-2-3 2nd inning but had no work after that. Julian Tavarez in relief had pitched 2 solid hitless innings while striking out 3. He didnt allow any runs in 5.2 innings. DelCarmen's struggles are still there as he allowed a run on 2 walks, 1 hit. Manny walked 10 in his 14 spring innings. Jermaine Van Buren had done a good job following that with hitless 1.2 inning.

 

Offense- 6 Hits, 0 Runs. Dustan Mohr & Chris Durbin had the only hits that went beyond 1st base. Tito had pulled all regulars after they had at least 2 ABs.

 

Coco Crisp- 1 for 2 (.434 avg)

Adam Stern- 0 for 2.333 avg)

Mark Loretta- 0 for 2 (.340 avg)

Alex Cora- 0 for 2 (.192 avg)

David Ortiz- 0 for 2 (.333 avg)

Wily Mo Pena- 0 for 2 (.276 avg)

Trot Nixon- 1 for 1, walk (.309 avg)

Trent Durrington- 0 for 2 (.143 avg)

Jason Varitek- 0 for 1 (.176 avg)

Josh Bard- 0 for 2 (.212 avg)

Chris Durbin- 1 for 1, Triple (.333 avg)

Mike Lowell- 1 for 2 (.327 avg)

Enrique Wilson- 1 for 2 (.275 avg)

J.T. Snow- 0 for 2 (.270 avg)

Jeff Bailey- 0 for 1 (.385 avg)

Dustan Mohr- 1 for 2, Double (.350 avg)

Ron Calloway- 0 for 1 (.217 avg)

Alex Gonzalez- 0 for 2 (.125 avg)

Jed Lowrie- 0 for 1 (.400 avg)

 

Matt Clement (L, 0-3)- 2 innings, 3 Hits, 3 Runs, 2 Walks, 2 Ks, 5.51 ERA

Julian Tavarez- 2 innings, 3 Ks, 0.00 ERA

Manny Delcarmen- 1.1 inning, 1 Hit, 1 Run, 2 Walks, K, 5.14 ERA

Jermaine Van Buren- 1.2 inning, K, 0.00 ERA

Tim Bausher- 0.2 inning, 4.91 ERA

Mike Bumatay- 0.1 inning, 1 Hit, 1 Run, 9.53 ERA

[a700hitter]

Clearly, Francona has not been managing for wins, and by the time the games are over the stars like Manny, Papi etc. are gone from the ballpark. It is much more important to see that Foulke's knees are good, and that Schilling and Beckett are healthy, and that there are surplus arms in case of injury. It has been a very optimistic Spring Training in that regard.

[riverside sluggers]

I guess. Lowell's bat has sped up to where he just about wants it.

 

Start of spring training

3 for 21 (.143 avg)

 

End of spring training

17 for 52 (.327 avg)

[See Red]

At least we get to focus on the offense & defense

 

Double A Portland prospect David Pauley is looking lost, got saved in the 2nd inning with a double play

 

2 innings- 7 Hits, 5 Runs

 

Damn, that's too bad too hear... I was in his P.E. class when I was a Freshman at Longmont High School and he was hanging out at my house with my brother about a year after he got drafted by San Diego. Sounds like he got settled down in his last two innings of work.

[jsinger121]

I guess. Lowell's bat has sped up to where he just about wants it.

 

Start of spring training

3 for 21 (.143 avg)

 

End of spring training

17 for 52 (.327 avg)

 

With Lowell he has made some adjustments holding the bat in which he has turned on the offense recently. I would probably give some of that credit to Papa Jack.

[mtbykr]

I guess. Lowell's bat has sped up to where he just about wants it.

 

Start of spring training

3 for 21 (.143 avg)

 

End of spring training

17 for 52 (.327 avg)

 

 

Saturday's home run was the first time this spring that i have seen his bat look fast. Let's hope this trend continues for the next 7 months:D

[riverside sluggers]

haha it feels like the night before Christmas

[Cityofchampions33]

i cant wait

[riverside sluggers]

With Lowell he has made some adjustments holding the bat in which he has turned on the offense recently. I would probably give some of that credit to Papa Jack.

 

He is in essence, a "Theo" type of guy. He took the most pitches of any batter in spring training and struck out just 5 times in 52 ABs. Hence he has averaged 66 Ks per season. He also led the team in walks with 9, an OBP of (.435)