2007 Spring Training Game Thread

[a700hitter]

Dice K pitches great for 5+ innings and MDC immediately gives up a gopher ball. We should have packaged him and Hansen in the Helton deal or for Chad Cordero. These two guys are pitching themselves off the ML roster and losing their lustre as prospects. Also,Pedroia is down to .200. How many AB's does he have? I am really starting to worry about him.

[redsoxrules]

Varitek had the opportunity to do that all summer in '06' date=' yet he did nothing. What makes you think, he'll do anything this year? Varitek may be one of the more overrated defensive catchers in baseball.[/quote']

 

yeah and his offense is going down the shitter too

[CrespoBlows]

you should see the arm MLB07theshow gave him. Its pretty funny.

 

It's not his arm I'm taking issues with, it's his game calling skills. He has a fairly strong arm, but I don't get this praise he gets for handling pitchers.

[a700hitter]

Pedroia got a couple of hits and got on base 4 times. He was down to .200 and I was getting really nervous.

[ORS]

It's not his arm I'm taking issues with' date=' it's his game calling skills. He has a fairly strong arm, but I don't get this praise he gets for handling pitchers.[/quote']

I think that comes from the pitchers themselves. I don't have links but the sentiment seems to be that his former battery mates hold him in high regard.

 

All that said, I think the pitcher should call the game. Varitek got shook off a lot by Beckett, so despite the game plan, JB went with what made him comfortable. Maybe last year's results have opened his eyes a little. He's definitely throwing a lot more curves and changes than last year.

[TheKilo]

Dice K pitches great for 5+ innings and MDC immediately gives up a gopher ball. We should have packaged him and Hansen in the Helton deal or for Chad Cordero. These two guys are pitching themselves off the ML roster and losing their lustre as prospects. Also' date='Pedroia is down to .200. How many AB's does he have? I am really starting to worry about him.[/quote']

 

 

[CrespoBlows]

Pedroia got a couple of hits and got on base 4 times. He was down to .200 and I was getting really nervous.

 

Yeah, I'm getting nervous about Lowell. I think his .200 batting average is a foreshadow of things to come. He struggled badly during the second half, and I think that's only going to continue.

 

Vartiek is hitting .080. I didn't know he was a Kevin Cash duplicate.

[a700hitter]

Varitek may be one of the more overrated defensive catchers in baseball.

He catches the ball very well, blocks the plate like an NFL lineman, and he is a great handler of pitches. He can't throw out my grandmother on the bases, even on a pitch-out. His release is so slow, and his arm is not that strong. However, his value behind the plate is incalculable. The only two times that he has had extended DL stints the team took unbelievable nosedives. I don't think that is a coincidence. Pedro attributed the first nose-dive to Tek's absence.

[a700hitter]

Yeah, I'm getting nervous about Lowell. I think his .200 batting average is a foreshadow of things to come. He struggled badly during the second half, and I think that's only going to continue.

 

Vartiek is hitting .080. I didn't know he was a Kevin Cash duplicate.

Yes, surely 10 year veterans have as much to prove in ST as a Rookie with 90 ABs and a .191 average. That's a fair comparison.

[CrespoBlows]

He catches the ball very well' date=' blocks the plate like an NFL lineman, and he is a great handler of pitches.[/quote']

 

Why do our pitching imports seem to fail with great regularity? Surely, Jason Varitek sees what we see in Josh Beckett, yet he continually called for fastballs in 2006.

 

 

The only two times that he has had extended DL stints the team took unbelievable nosedives. I don't think that is a coincidence. Pedro attributed the first nose-dive to Tek's absence.

 

No, the lack of talent on the team was the downfall the first time, the second one was due to the injury bug that hit the entire team. I don't give a s*** if Jesus is the catcher, he's not going to turn Kyle Snyder into a glass of wine.

[ORS]

I don't know, Crespo. I saw Josh shaking his head a whole lot last year. It was like clockwork. JB shakes his head, the hitter digs in, here comes the heater, and a souvenir is born.

[CrespoBlows]

Yes' date=' surely 10 year veterans have as much to prove in ST as a Rookie with 90 ABs and a .191 average. That's a fair comparison.[/quote']

 

I was being sarcastic. I'm surprised you place so much emphasis on spring training stats.

[CrespoBlows]

I don't know' date=' Crespo. I saw Josh shaking his head a whole lot last year. It was like clockwork. JB shakes his head, the hitter digs in, here comes the heater, and a souvenir is born.[/quote']

 

Isn't that part of his job description? To handle the pitching staff? I hear endless praise about Varitek's handling of the pitching staff, and game calling skills, but at the first failings, it's attributed to the pitcher.

 

Personally, I don't think Varitek makes much of a difference at all on the pitching staff. If he's shipped off to Kansas City, I doubt anyone is going to be praising his game calling skills there.

[riverside sluggers]

I think you may be overstating the case a bit. Only one new starting pitcher was acquired. The other new starter (Papelbon) came to the rotation at a huge cost to the bullpen' date=' which is in a shambles. As for the offense, the bottom of the lineup is weak. I don't agree with the 87 win prediction, but I am not ready to believe that this team is a powerhouse.[/quote']

 

I said they immensely upgraded the rotation from what it was at the end of last season, and that is true

 

Schilling

Beckett still learning the East

Wakefield

Tavarez

Hansack

 

--

Schilling

Beckett

Matsuzaka

Papelbon

Wakefield

[riverside sluggers]

Pedroia got a couple of hits and got on base 4 times. He was down to .200 and I was getting really nervous.

 

Last night's game he also got on base 2 times in 4 ABs. He is now up to a .243 avg/.383 obp

 

Dusty's just showing his track record. Thus far in the Sox system whenever he is promoted or starts a new season, he has a slow start and then he just needs one game to put everything into cruise control.

 

Case in point, his majors debut:

4 for 41 (.091 avg) 1 Double, 1 RBI, 1 Run, 1 Walk, 3 Ks

 

Sept 9 game vs KC, hit first Homerun

13 for 48 (.276 avg) 3 Doubles, 2 HRs, 6 RBIs, 6 Runs, 6 Walks, 4 Ks

[ORS]

Isn't that part of his job description? To handle the pitching staff? I hear endless praise about Varitek's handling of the pitching staff, and game calling skills, but at the first failings, it's attributed to the pitcher.

 

Personally, I don't think Varitek makes much of a difference at all on the pitching staff. If he's shipped off to Kansas City, I doubt anyone is going to be praising his game calling skills there.

To a degree, I agree. However, Varitek can't make the pitcher throw anything. They gameplan before the game. I think the reports about Beckett being told to dump the change and warm up with a band-aid (which gave him less feel for the curve), contributed to him not being confident throwing those pitches. Therefore, he shakes the catcher off and does what he wants.

[a700hitter]

I said they immensely upgraded the rotation from what it was at the end of last season, and that is true

 

Schilling

Beckett still learning the East

Wakefield

Tavarez

Hansack

 

--

Schilling

Beckett

Matsuzaka

Papelbon

Wakefield

It's still one acquisition and taking a stud from your bullpen to the detriment of the bullpen. The rotation looks a lot better on paper, but overall is the entire staff that much stronger? We added Dice K to a s***** staff. That was it-nothing more unless you want to turn cartwheels over Donnelly and Okajima.

[riverside sluggers]

Im sure if docs OK'd Papelbon to remain the closer, the Sox wouldve kept him there

 

I dont think Okajima is going to be a bust signing. He could very well be an under the radar good reliever for Boston with a lot of K's early on

[a700hitter]

No' date=' the lack of talent on the team was the downfall the first time, the second one was due to the injury bug that hit the entire team. I don't give a s*** if Jesus is the catcher, he's not going to turn Kyle Snyder into a glass of wine.[/quote']

I don't agree with your opinion. I don't think it is a coincidence that the two most precipitous nose-dives in recent Red Sox history occurred while Tek was on the DL. The teams in '99 and 2000 may have been even worse than the 2001 team and neither of them went into a tailspin like 2001. The 2001 team was holding it together until two things happened:1:Tek got injured, 2: Jimy Williams got fired. I hated Jimy Williams, but he got a lot out of some crappy teams. Pedro attributing the collapse to Tek's injury means more to me than either of our opinions. Last year, they were holding it together with bubble gum and rubber bands until Tek went out. That is precisely when the dam burst.

[a700hitter]

I was being sarcastic. I'm surprised you place so much emphasis on spring training stats.

I put little or no emphasis on ST for the veterans, but I do like to see something positive from the rookies if they are going to come north. Some of the kid pitchers will be left behind solely because they had lousy springs. Too many people, including the FO are treating Pedroia like he has veteran status when he has done nothing to earn it.

[MANNYHOF24]

It's still one acquisition and taking a stud from your bullpen to the detriment of the bullpen. The rotation looks a lot better on paper' date=' but overall is the entire staff that much stronger? We added Dice K to a s***** staff. That was it-nothing more unless you want to turn cartwheels over Donnelly and Okajima.[/quote']

 

Do you really think that Beckett will suck as badly as he did last year? I think Schilling will be about the same, I think Beckett will be a lot better, and Papelbon is going to suprise a lot of people this year. Let's also not forget that wake was pitching with his injury for like 2months before he actually went on the D.L. His ERA was about 3.80 in April, May and Part of June. DiceK is a big unknown but from what I have seen he looks like the real deal. I will agree that our bullpen took a huge hit, however other than the closers role we have improved the 6th-8th from what it was in 2006. There is also a chance that Pinerio might do a solid job closing as well. The way I see it, is that the pitching rotation is a huge upgrade from last year.

[seabeachfred]

Pedroia got a couple of hits and got on base 4 times. He was down to .200 and I was getting really nervous.

 

Will you please relax about Dustin my friend. He is going to be fine. Did you watch him today? He hit and ran the bases well, even daring that lazy ******** Albert Castillo to try and get him at the plate on a routine grounder with the infield playing in. The kid has guts and gives 1000%, has hit well every place he's been, and brings an energy to our team. Oh yes, he made it home when the surprised Castillo made a piss-poor throw. A month ago some of the posters here might have been suggesting that he go and trade for this crumb to give us some experience at that position. Pedroia is going to be fine.

[seabeachfred]

I don't agree with your opinion. I don't think it is a coincidence that the two most precipitous nose-dives in recent Red Sox history occurred while Tek was on the DL. The teams in '99 and 2000 may have been even worse than the 2001 team and neither of them went into a tailspin like 2001. The 2001 team was holding it together until two things happened:1:Tek got injured' date=' 2: Jimy Williams got fired. I hated Jimy Williams, but he got a lot out of some crappy teams. Pedro attributing the collapse to Tek's injury means more to me than either of our opinions. Last year, they were holding it together with bubble gum and rubber bands until Tek went out. That is precisely when the dam burst.[/quote']

 

You have a point 700. 2001 was my first year following the Red Sox and I wondered what the hell did I get into when they crapped out late in the year. I even thought of shitcanning by ticket to their game with the Angels they were doing so poorly. Good news, though. I showed some hair and went anyway and we rallied in the eighth for four or five runs and won the game. BTW, in my section I don't think I saw an Angels fan all night. :D :D :D

[seabeachfred]

He looks damn good.

 

Hey Jacko, this is not meant to get you jealous but today in the mail I received a nice Ticket Info and Fan Guide plus a nice sketch of the ballpark. I could rub it in that my team thinks more of me than yours does of you, but in this case I can't. Why?

 

BECAUSE THE FAN GUIDE AND SKETCH CAME FROM YOUR MOTHER f***ING YANKEES!!!!!!!

 

No s***!! First I cursed to beat the band, then started laughing and wondering what the hell was going on. Then my wife told me why it happened. In early 2005, I got something in the mail from MLB asking if I wanted a Yankee Credit Card. Well I almost threw the damn thing away until I read if I said yes and got one I would get two tickets to a Yankee-Red Sox game that September10th. So I did. It was a beautiful game as Curt Schilling pitched an eight inning three hitter and I saw my guys hammer yours, 9-2.

 

After the game a I got together with a bunch of Red Sox fans and we cut the card to shreds and set on fire right outside Yankee Stadium with some of your pals flipping us off. Was a hell of sight to see. Some people out there think I'm a Yankee fan.

 

Well I won't rip this guide up and throw it away, but if you want it let me know and I'll send it to you. In the meantime eat your heart out my friend.

[Mr Crunchy]

nice effort by the savior this aft

 

did i read 5+ 1hit 1 earned 7ks??

i know its march and i know its pittsburg but i cant help but like these #s

[MANNYHOF24]

nice effort by the savior this aft

 

did i read 5+ 1hit 1 earned 7ks??

i know its march and i know its pittsburg but i cant help but like these #s

 

Yeah he was nasty today. This is the first time he really cranked up the fastball. He hit 95-96 several times today and his breaking pitches are also becoming more sharp.

[a700hitter]

Yeah he was nasty today. This is the first time he really cranked up the fastball. He hit 95-96 several times today and his breaking pitches are also becoming more sharp.

I couldn't see it. I was at work and it wasn't on MLB audio.

[jacksonianmarch]

he looked very solid.

[Mr Crunchy]

hey

its march and im a guy who actually remembers ted cox and sam horns 1st 45 games

sox fans can smile but it aint time to start sucking each other off just yet

[a700hitter]

hey

its march and im a guy who actually remembers ted cox and sam horns 1st 45 games

sox fans can smile but it aint time to start sucking each other off just yet

I am excited about the season, but this is a flawed team that needs work. Theo should have worked out some of those things already.