2007 Spring Training Game Thread

[ORS]

I'll take these remarkably above average stats against the Yankees:

Category G  AB  R  H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS OBP  SLG AVG TB SF SH HBP IBB GDP 
vs. NY-A 19 81 14 31  6  0 0  11   8  8  2 0 .433 .457 .383 37 1  1  0   0   2 

 

Loretta is a pro that gave the team what it needed. He wasn't out there to pad his stats. If the team needed the runner moved to third with less than two outs, he gave himself up every time. He was very aware of who he had batting behind him. He didn't need to try to jack an Xtra base hit. Pedroia is wet behind the ears and he has limited physical skills.

Just for shits and giggles.....DP last year against the Yankees:

 

.375/.500/.625

 

And 2/3 today.

 

Thoughts?

[a700hitter]

Just for shits and giggles.....DP last year against the Yankees:

 

.375/.500/.625

 

And 2/3 today.

 

Thoughts?

We need him, so I hope he goes on a tear. It would be nice if he got those hits against ML pitchers.

[a700hitter]

The inning starts witha rope against Hansen.

[ORS]

Mmm'bop in.

[ORS]

Nice slider to get Thompson looking.

[ORS]

Still looks like he's aiming the FB.

 

Slider to induce the DP.

 

Ballgame.

[Anuj09]

Hansen's stuff decent at least today? Only his second outing though it is good to see he got out of the inning with only a basehit

[Anuj09]

just wondering how many innings has Correy pitched? his era is 0.00

[Beckett95]

This is where you want to insert the sarcasm brackets.

 

ya i forgot that part

 

just seeing who was really paying attention to this thread

[seabeachfred]

I didn't say that Batting Average and errors were the only indicators of a player's worth. I don't think OPS is the be all and end all as an indicator of value' date=' especially for the #2 hitter on the Red Sox who is needed to get on base, put the bat on the ball, and make productive outs. Loretta fit that bill perfectly. Pedroia is still a ?. As for fielding, Loretta had the seond highest fielding percentage. (meaningless to you) in the league for second basemen with more than 100 games played. He also finished 2nd in DP's (also meaningless?). He was third in chances (also meaningless?). His range factor was better than Luis Castillo, Jose LoPez, Cantu, Iguchi and Brian Roberts. Is this also meaningless?[/quote']

 

If you read the box score today 700 you would have noticed that Pedroia went two for three against the Yankees with a key RBI. I have said from my experience watching last year at Yankee Stadium that this kid seem to like playing against this team. He won a game for us in that series with a clutch hit, almost took Johnson out of the yard with a booming double off the wall, got another key hit and played well even though he did commit an error. You keep selling the kid short. I think you ought to wait on that. It is only my opinion but I really believe Dustin is going to be a solid player for us. :D :D

[seabeachfred]

3 run 1st for Yanks. No hard hit balls' date=' 3 runs... typical Wakefield inning. He tends to have one or two of those a game.[/quote']

 

That is exactly right Ex. He has two every game. Why I don't know but he seems to have them. We have to be sure we can get five or six runs when he pitches or else we could be in trouble. Again, I hope when Lester is ready he takes over the fifth spot in the rotation.

[CrespoBlows]

funny how on some stats one player is way better than the other ' date=' and vice versa on other stats[/quote']

 

I think it's funny how I can't find one that validates your point of view. Every single one has Loretta well-below average.

[seabeachfred]

I gotta say that I like how JD Drew approaches his at-bats... (I'm writing before I see what he does)...

 

EDIT: nice pitch for the K

If the fans give J.D. a chance they will be very pleasantly surprised. I really kind of pissed that so many people here and other other boards believed the ******** the Dodger fans were dispensing. The guy can play baseball and I think he is going to have some real good years for us, and the thing we can all do is if some Braves, Cards or Dodger fan comes on here bagging on Drew we tell all of them to f*** off. You don't think the Cards would like Drew in CF now that Edmonds won't ready by Opening Day? You think the Dodgers would rather have Luis Gonzales out there instead of J.D? You don't think the Braves could use the guy in their starting outfield? Sorry my fellow Red Sox fans but anyone who thinks differently is full of s***.

[seabeachfred]

Youk is in a hitting groove all spring. Maybe the Rockies will settle for Youk and Tavarez.

 

What is it with you my friend? You don't think Pedroia is worth a s*** and you want to trade Youk? My God, the guy is ready to have some real top notch years for us. Stop underrating the guy. We keep Youk and trade Lowell if we can make the Helton trade. We only have to add a prospect or two, one of our relief pitchers and an outfielder and we can get it done......if the Rockies are still interested.

[a700hitter]

What is it with you my friend? You don't think Pedroia is worth a s*** and you want to trade Youk? My God' date=' the guy is ready to have some real top notch years for us. Stop underrating the guy. We keep Youk and trade Lowell if we can make the Helton trade. We only have to add a prospect or two, one of our relief pitchers and an outfielder and we can get it done......if the Rockies are still interested.[/quote']Sell high, my friend. What is it with you and some of the other posters with this devotion to slow guys with no power and very limited physical skills? Is it an underdog thing? At least Youk has proved he can handle the majors although he is no star. He's in excellent physical shape for a non-athletic-type, so he should have a big year. The problem is that a big year for him is not as good as a sick and injured year for Helton.

[a700hitter]

What is it with you my friend? You don't think Pedroia is worth a s*** and you want to trade Youk? My God' date=' the guy is ready to have some real top notch years for us. Stop underrating the guy. We keep Youk and trade Lowell if we can make the Helton trade. We only have to add a prospect or two, one of our relief pitchers and an outfielder and we can get it done......if the Rockies are still interested.[/quote']Sell high, my friend. What is it with you and some of the other posters with this devotion to slow guys with no power and very limited physical skills? Is it an underdog thing? At least Youk has proved he can handle the majors although he is no star. He's in excellent physical shape for a non-athletic-type, so he should have a big year. The problem is that a big year for him is not as good as a sick and injured year for Helton. Fred, I just want to see the team improve itself. Why do you insist on settling for these extremely average players?

[a700hitter]

If you read the box score today 700 you would have noticed that Pedroia went two for three against the Yankees with a key RBI. I have said from my experience watching last year at Yankee Stadium that this kid seem to like playing against this team. He won a game for us in that series with a clutch hit' date=' almost took Johnson out of the yard with a booming double off the wall, got another key hit and played well even though he did commit an error. You keep selling the kid short. I think you ought to wait on that. It is only my opinion but I really believe Dustin is going to be a solid player for us. :D :D[/quote']If by "solid" you mean average, I would agree that he has the ability to be an average second baseman. Most of the posters who have been debating Pedrioa with me seem to think that he will be"solid" or average. I have no disagreement that "average" is his upside. In most of my posts that is how I describe him. I don't think he stinks. What makes me uncomfortable is that he might not be ready to hit his "average" potential this year. I think they should have made him win the job. If he won the job, Loretta could have been moved to another team.

[ORS]

The reason's pretty simple 700, he's been extremely above average everywhere he's played. We just happen to have patience that lasts longer than the 5 minutes you have. One could ask why you are so willing to accept proven mediocrity over giving someone with Pedroia's performance history a chance?

[TheKilo]

I don't want to do the whole Loretta/Pedroia argument.

 

I think Pedroia will be better in the field and with the stick that Loretta was last year.

 

I also think anyone who doesn't want Adam Dunn on their team needs to get their head checked.

[a700hitter]

The reason's pretty simple 700' date=' he's been extremely above average everywhere he's played. We just happen to have patience that lasts longer than the 5 minutes you have. One could ask why you are so willing to accept proven mediocrity over giving someone with Pedroia's performance history a chance?[/quote']Loretta would have been a safety net, if Pedroia is not ready. IMO Pedroia will be an average second baseman for a three or four years once he achieves his potential. He will not be more than that, because he doesn't have the physical equipment. As far as patience goes, you are the one expecting him to perform full time at a position now. I am saying that he might not be ready. I still think he should have been this years Cora. He could play about 80 or so games at the 3 IF positions. He could have built his confidence without having the pressure of being the every day starter. If he's as good as you think he is, he'd win the full time job by the AS break. It seems that even the scouting reports being posted here, describe his abilities as average.

[a700hitter]

I think Pedroia will be better in the field and with the stick that Loretta was last year.

And if you are right, I would either unload Loretta or relegate him to a utility role like he has in Houston. If you are wrong, you'll have to resort to Cora fulltime or you'll have to trade some prospects to get someone. I'd have Loretta. I think I am better positioned. You are exposed if Pedroia underperforms or gets injured. It happens.

 

We have established major league back ups at 5 positions in case of injury. WMP can handle any of the three OF positions if one of the starters go down. Is he a step down? Yes, but he is a proven MLer with some flaws in his game. At first and third, Hinske can step in. He's not a good player. He's average at best, but he has been a major league starter or platoon player at both postions. Cora is a temporary solution if there is an injury at short or second. If either guy were to go down for a prolonged period, the FO would have to make an acquisition. Lugo is a proven MLer, so the only risk is injury. With Pedroia, there is the risk of nonperformance in addition to the injury risk. We are more vulnerable at 2B than any position other than the bullpen. Just my opinion.

[jacksonianmarch]

you are right 700. There is no contingency plan in the event of Pedroia sucking. At the same time, how much do you really need from him?

[a700hitter]

you are right 700. There is no contingency plan in the event of Pedroia sucking. At the same time' date=' how much do you really need from him?[/quote']We need him to hit about .250+ and play solid second base. I'll be happy with that, although some posters think he will do substantially better.

[jacksonianmarch]

I think that is a reasonable expectation from yr 1.

[seabeachfred]

I don't want to do the whole Loretta/Pedroia argument.

 

I think Pedroia will be better in the field and with the stick that Loretta was last year.

 

I also think anyone who doesn't want Adam Dunn on their team needs to get their head checked.

 

Kilo, how the hell did Adam Dunn get into this discussion? Am I missing sometihing here? Are we talking to the Reds about this guy? Hard to believe that is so. This man is capable of hitting 50 homers. Is there trade talks going on? I knew we might be after Helton but Dunn I heard nothing about since the 2005 off season when his name was being mentioned in possible trades to the Red Sox.:dunno: :dunno: :dunno: :dunno: :dunno: :dunno:

[TedWilliams101]

Adam Dunn... O god. He's basically an older, white Willy Mo. Strikes out nearly 200 times a year, TERRIBLE BA. Average with the glove at best. I don't know why we would ever be interested in him. He doesn't even come close to our high OBP philosophy.

[riverside sluggers]

Actually Ted it may surprise you... but Dunn is a great OBP guy. Yes averages 160-200 Ks a year, but he also averages 100+ Walks a year. He has a career .245 avg, .380 obp

 

In his first six seasons he has amassed already 198 HRs, and he's just 27

[BSN07]

JD's HR was a pretty nice shot...

[TheKilo]

Adam Dunn... O god. He's basically an older' date=' white Willy Mo. Strikes out nearly 200 times a year, TERRIBLE BA. Average with the glove at best. I don't know why we would ever be interested in him. He doesn't even come close to our high OBP philosophy.[/quote']

 

*Shakes head*

 

You take Kevin Youkilis and I take Adam Dunn. Who scores more runs?

[jacksonianmarch]

Agreed Kilo. Adam Dunn is a player who can play 1b pretty well and a serviceable corner OF. He WILL hit 40-60HRs, he will drive in 100-120RBI and he will walk 95-120 times. His OPS is always over .900 and with some maturation his K's will come down. What I liked about him was that he was not afraid to set the K record. He didnt give two shits. And he is a tough mother f***er out there.