2009 Spring Training

[BoSox21]

Sox went back-to-back-to-back-to-back again today off Brandon Lyon. Mike Lowell, Jason Bay, Chris Carter and Ivan Ochoa were the ones to do it. Second time Lowell was involved in that

 

Penny also made his debut, tossing 3 scoreless innings, allowing just a walk and striking out 3. He said he felt fine afterwards

[a700hitter]

Sox went back-to-back-to-back-to-back again today off Brandon Lyon. Mike Lowell, Jason Bay, Chris Carter and Ivan Ochoa were the ones to do it. Second time Lowell was involved in that

 

Penny also made his debut, tossing 3 scoreless innings, allowing just a walk and striking out 3. He said he felt fine afterwards

Who gets the last roster spot, Carter or Bailey. Both have knocked the cover off the ball recently. Carter has 5 HRs, but Bailey is a RH bat and the roster is probably a bit unbalanced with LH batters.

[David Bowie]

don't let that fool you. I'm here to tell you now that Brad Penny will not amount to anything and will cost you more than he gives if he has the chance.

 

you heard it here first

[a700hitter]

don't let that fool you. I'm here to tell you now that Brad Penny will not amount to anything and will cost you more than he gives if he has the chance.

 

you heard it here first

It's a low risk high reward move by management.

[David Bowie]

It's a low risk high reward move by management.

 

that's great, just don't let him in the rotation ever.

[CrespoBlows]

Mike Lowell looks like he's doing very well this spring. Third HR of the spring.

 

Have you seen him play?

[David Bowie]

how many balls does he have again? 1?

yeah, he sucks.

[a700hitter]

Mike Lowell looks like he's doing very well this spring. Third HR of the spring.

 

Have you seen him play?

When I was in Ft. Myers he hadn't yet appeared in a game, but I have seen him once or twice on TV. He was never a Gazelle, but at least he doesn't look like a wounded animal out there. He looks to be moving as well as he did before the injury. His bat certainly has been hot right out of the box. That's really good news.

[Cocos Disciples]

I'd add Bailey over Carter. Is Wilkerson playing in ST?

[diony]

It's a low risk high reward move by management.

 

$5 million for Penny is not a low risk move on this market.

 

And yeah, I know someone is going to mention Burnett, so ha! :harhar:

[a700hitter]

I'd add Bailey over Carter. Is Wilkerson playing in ST?

Wilkerson has made Varitek look like Manny this Spring.

[David Bowie]

I hate what the yankees do. Every year after they lose, they completely dismantle the team and build it up again. Then they wonder why they lose every year.

[diony]

I hate what the yankees do. Every year after they lose' date=' they completely dismantle the team and build it up again. Then they wonder why they lose every year.[/quote']

 

Two starters and a 1B is rebuilding for you?

 

When was the last time they did something similar?

[David Bowie]

Two starters and a 1B is rebuilding for you?

 

When was the last time they did something similar?

 

not rebuilding in the sense you're thinking of, but just messing things around every offseason. They seem to do it nearly every offseason.

[Dojji]

Who gets the last roster spot' date=' Carter or Bailey. Both have knocked the cover off the ball recently. Carter has 5 HRs, but Bailey is a RH bat and the roster is probably a bit unbalanced with LH batters.[/quote']

 

Think of the people the 1B/LF/DH types will be replacing.

 

Youkilis (RH)

Lowell (RH, by moving Youk to third)

Bay (RH)

 

The only LHH within Bailey's.... umm... bailiwick is Big Papi, and if he's not in the lineup we're in a certain amount of trouble.

 

With Drew already backed up by Baldelli I'd say Carter has a huge inside track.

 

That said, our bench is pretty lefthanded but it isn't as bad as it was a couple years ago when our only righthanded bench hitter was Doug Mirabelli. Baldelli has proven that he can be an effective RHH off the bench, and Kottaras and Carter are directly replacing players who hit righty (or hit righty much better) so I'd call that good. Once we get Lugo back that's two RHH's and two LHH's.

[riverside sluggers]

Plain and simple, the bench will be a huge upgrade from last years which was ranked as one of the worst in baseball

 

Opening Day 2007- Kevin Cash, Sean Casey, Alex Cora, Coco Crisp (only bright spot really)

Opening Day 2008- George Kottaras, Chris Carter/Jeff Bailey, Rocco Baldelli, utility infielder looks like Nick Green has an advantage over Angel Chavez/Ivan Ochoa until Lugo comes back

[diony]

Cora was good in 07 and I rather have Casey.

[Dojji]

Even if that's true Baldelli alone makes for an upgrade.

[CrespoBlows]

Cora was good in 07 and I rather have Casey.

 

Cora sucked in '08, which our mentally challenged resident of the site meant to say.

[diony]

Cora sucked in '08' date=' which our mentally challenged resident of the site meant to say.[/quote']

 

I meant 2008. He got the years wrong. Cora was .270/.371/.349 that's decent for a utility infielder.

[TheKilo]

Cora was awful and his OBP was severely inflated by his HBP, which is not a sustainable skill.

[CrespoBlows]

He also was a pathetic defender.

[BoSox21]

Cora was awful and his OBP was severely inflated by his HBP' date=' which is not a sustainable skill.[/quote']

 

Craig Biggio would say otherwise

[David Bowie]

craig biggio looks like kevin beacon to me.

 

am i wrong?

[YAZMAN]

craig biggio looks like kevin beacon to me.

 

am i wrong?

 

And his wife looks like Lori Singer, and his father-in-law looks like John Lithgow. Spooky.

[TheKilo]

Craig Biggio would say otherwise

 

How so? Just because Biggio got hit a lot doesn't mean it is a sustainable skill.

[BoSox21]

No, but it probably speaks to his balls to stay up on the plate time after time

[riverside sluggers]

Cora was good in 07 and I rather have Casey.

 

In terms of power... Cora and Casey combined for 0 HRs. It was a godsend if Casey got a double. Jeff Bailey/Chris Carter/Mark Kotsay will give much more offensively. Cora's offensive, especially defensive skills have been declining. Lowrie/Lugo, huge upgrade

 

It remains to be seen about Kott's defense, but can he give more than Cash's 3 HRs/15 RBIs close to mendoza avg, I think so

[a700hitter]

Wilkerson has lost any chance of making the team IMO. He has the better glove than Bailey or Carter, but that is not saying much. My money is on Carter because of his explosive power.

[Dojji]

I like Carter as a Brian Daubach type. I think he'd be a good choice.