2009 Spring Training

[BSN07]

Well' date=' that is not entirely true. Dick Radatz was one of the most dominant reliever that anyone has ever seen. He completely dominated Micky Mantle. The story goes that one spring Ted Williams, who had done a bit of pitching before coming to the big leagues, gave a little advice to Radatz. He told him that he had a perfect motion for a sinker. Radatz started working on the sinker all spring. He claims that he developed a pretty good sinker, but when the bell rang for the season he found that he had lost a foot on his fastball. Was it a coincidence, or was it the result of a slight change in his delivery? Anyway, it was a fast crash to earth for the Monster after that. He went from being dominant to washed up in a very short period.[/quote']

 

Is Lester a clone of Dick Radatz? :dunno:

 

I don't think the Sox Brass or going to do anything to jeopardize his future. And like it was said before, he now has a grand total of 6BB. Try not to over react.

[a700hitter]

Is Lester a clone of Dick Radatz? :dunno:

 

I don't think the Sox Brass or going to do anything to jeopardize his future. And like it was said before, he now has a grand total of 6BB. Try not to over react.

Who is overreacting? My comment was that if the changeup causes his pitch count to be elevated, I'd recommend that he ditch the pitch. He has plenty of other weapons to attack hitters. I can assure you that I am not on a ledge. I told the Radatz story to illustrate that it is not always a good idea to develop a new pitch. Mo Rivera has done fine with one pitch. He never developed a slider. I have a heart attack when Papelbon throws a slider.

[CrespoBlows]

If the changeup starts resulting in 5 inning 100 pitch performances' date=' the coaching staff should cut off Tek's 4th finger.[/quote']

 

This is a good idea.

 

It's not like he's going to add anything with his bat.

[riverside sluggers]

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=4026851&name=gammons_peter

 

Couple of Sox tidbits from Gammons. Several Arizona ST teams are said to be interested in acquiring Manny Delcarmen. And Junichi Tazawa in his recent ST start threw 3, count them, 3 balls in his 3 innings of work. Now thats what I call control

[BSN07]

Who is overreacting? My comment was that if the changeup causes his pitch count to be elevated' date=' I'd recommend that he ditch the pitch. He has plenty of other weapons to attack hitters. I can assure you that I am not on a ledge. I told the Radatz story to illustrate that it is not always a good idea to develop a new pitch. Mo Rivera has done fine with one pitch. He never developed a slider. I have a heart attack when Papelbon throws a slider.[/quote']

 

I only mentioned the overreacting because the first thing you brought up was a pitcher who completely and utterly tanked. Has there never been a pitcher who worked on a pitch and ended up better because of it?

[BSN07]

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=4026851&name=gammons_peter

 

Couple of Sox tidbits from Gammons. Several Arizona ST teams are said to be interested in acquiring Manny Delcarmen. And Junichi Tazawa in his recent ST start threw 3, count them, 3 balls in his 3 innings of work. Now thats what I call control

 

If Ramirez pitches like he did against Philly(He was throwing some sick pitches, with a lot of movement), then I don't see why the Sox couldn't entertain moving him. I like MDC in the pen, but if he can bring in something over more value to the club(C prospect?), then they should listen.

 

 

Speaking of C prospects, Esposito has looked good this sping. He knocked 21HRS in A ball last season, anyone think he could take over in 2 years?

[Dojji]

I think Expo would need to prove he can get on base before we start deciding where he'll hit in the Boston lineup. I like everything about him but the .330 OBP. That's a good way to become Rod Barajas.

[jacksonianmarch]

Exposito has a lot of maturing to do before the sox would entertain starting him. He walked a total of 9 times in 235PAs in A+ ball last yr. That just doesnt fit with the patient approach that the sox preach. Also, it was really his first good season after a season of injury in 07 and a very poor debut in 06. I'd keep the jury out on him. But his power as a 21 yr old is something to keep an eye on

[Dojji]

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=4026851&name=gammons_peter

 

Couple of Sox tidbits from Gammons. Several Arizona ST teams are said to be interested in acquiring Manny Delcarmen. And Junichi Tazawa in his recent ST start threw 3, count them, 3 balls in his 3 innings of work. Now thats what I call control

 

 

Wouldn't be against trading MDC but I'd want to wait to see how the bullpen settled in together first. I'd be much more open to the prospect of trading Javy Lopez and moving Jones up to Boston as the last man in the pen.

[jacksonianmarch]

As always, it depends on what is on the table. That being said, the sox had a poor season with the pen last yr and one of the three headed monster at the end of that pen was Delcarmen. If they move him before the season, then see Ramirez come undone in the pressure that is Boston, then they will be royally fooked. I'd wait until Ramirez shows he's comfortable before entertaining offers for MDC.

[a700hitter]

Wouldn't be against trading MDC but I'd want to wait to see how the bullpen settled in together first. I'd be much more open to the prospect of trading Javy Lopez and moving Jones up to Boston as the last man in the pen.

I am against trading parts from the bullpen which is the strength of this team. I expect that Tazawa will get the call as a reinforcement this season. He was very impressive this Spring. He has excellent command and plus stuff.

[TheKilo]

Sox had a poor season in their bullpen? How so?

[Dojji]

Well I've already stated my opinion on calling up Tazawa -- if it happens it'll be in the second half because they want to get his innings up. I don't think they see him as just a reliever. I think he's going to grace our rotation at some point.

[CrespoBlows]

As always' date=' it depends on what is on the table. That being said, the sox had a poor season with the pen last yr and one of the three headed monster at the end of that pen was Delcarmen. If they move him before the season, then see Ramirez come undone in the pressure that is Boston, then they will be royally fooked. I'd wait until Ramirez shows he's comfortable before entertaining offers for MDC.[/quote']

 

In a span of ten minutes, you have managed to churn out two of most exaggerated claims this site has seen in its five year existence.

[Dojji]

Sox had a poor season in their bullpen? How so?

 

Yeah that one confuses me too. The only guy who really finished below his normal numbers is Papelbon and Masterson picked up a lot of Mike Timlin's slack.

[jacksonianmarch]

Poor was the wrong word. Average is the right word

 

7th in AL in ERA

6th in AL in BAA

6th in AL in Sv%

8th in AL in WHIP

4th in AL in K/9IP

6th in AL in K/BB

[Dojji]

Poor was the wrong word. Average is the right word

 

7th in AL in ERA

6th in AL in BAA

6th in AL in Sv%

8th in AL in WHIP

4th in AL in K/9IP

6th in AL in K/BB

 

So what you're saying is a dominant bullpen this year will pick us up a number of marginal wins.

[jacksonianmarch]

I am saying that the sox have the possibility of having a very good bullpen, especially if Saito can get through the yr and Ramirez continues what he did last yr. But subtracting Delcarmen and his 74 very solid innings from last yr, before the season starts is a recipe for disaster.

[Dojji]

I am saying that the sox have the possibility of having a very good bullpen' date=' especially if Saito can get through the yr and Ramirez continues what he did last yr. But subtracting Delcarmen and his 74 very solid innings from last yr, before the season starts is a recipe for disaster.[/quote']

 

Yeah, I don't think you'll find too many people calling for trading him before we know what our bullpen really looks like. If Dan Bard develops like we think he will he might make Delcarmen expendable though.

 

We'll see how the season goes. You're right about one thing, though, Jacko, if there's an underappreciated player on this board it's Delcarmen. He's a horse who throws a lot of quality innings and is dominant when used correctly.

[TheKilo]

I'm pretty confident Bard can give the Sox what MDC does, and I like Manny.

[Dojji]

I'd like to give Bard some time in AA-AAA this year to prove that he's definitely improved his command as much as Spring Training made it look like he had. If it has, then all's good and he needs to be fast-tracked to the bigs. But I don't mind holding Bard in reserve either in case we need to replace Takashi Saito sometime in the middle of the season.

 

Certainly Saito's elbow makes it problematic to want to trade relief pitchers right now. Sure it looks healthy, but so did Brendan Donnelly in '07 and look how that turned out.

[jacksonianmarch]

I'm pretty confident Bard can give the Sox what MDC does' date=' and I like Manny.[/quote']

 

can Bard give them those innings in 2009 though? Thats the question that needs to be answered. To be honest with you, I see Bard as a guy the sox go one level at a time with after seeing him fall flat on his face initially. AAA 2009, then maybe breaks camp with the club in 2010. If all goes well, I think he replaces Okajima as primary setup man, not Delcarmen. Remember, Oki is 33 and has a lot of miles on his arm. There is a reason why reliever's careers are shorter.

[TheKilo]

I'm not advocating a trade for Delcarmen at all, I'm just very high on Bard's abilities.

[BoSox21]

In the past two years, MDC has only had about two months where he hasn't been dominant. I'd say he's one of the more valuable cogs to making this bullpen work. I don't know if I'd ask Bard to come in and perform on that level right away.

[a700hitter]

In the past two years' date=' MDC has only had about two months where he hasn't been dominant. I'd say he's one of the more valuable cogs to making this bullpen work. I don't know if I'd ask Bard to come in and perform on that level right away.[/quote']No one from the bullpen should be traded except maybe Lopez.

[Dojji]

I'm not advocating a trade for Delcarmen at all' date=' I'm just very high on Bard's abilities.[/quote']

 

The beautiful thing is that you can have both.

 

CL: Papelbon

SU: Oki

SU: Saito

MR: Bard

MR: MDC

MR: RamRam

LR: Masterson

 

That, mes amis, is a loaded bullpen. Loaded I tell you! And if Saito goes down, you call up Jones and have your second lefthander back.

[BoSox21]

One lefty?

[Dojji]

Who exactly do you take out of that hypothetical bullpen to put in a LOOGY?

 

That bullpen is so dominant I doubt the platoon disadvantage burns them too often. Besides, other than Lopez our only half-decent lefthanded option is Hunter Jones, and they both have a reverse split.

[Dojji]

Carter makes the cut. Green will be our Lugo replacement.

 

Boston Herald

[a700hitter]

Bucholz's spring ended with a real clunker. He allowed six runs on nine hits and a walk in 5 1/3 innings.