2009 Spring Training

[BoSox21]

The Boston Herald reports that Josh Bard is "penciled in" as Tim Wakefield's personal catcher.

Bard struggled to catch the knuckleball back in 2006, but Wakefield expressed confidence in him Thursday. "I said three years ago that I never had somebody work as hard as he did to try to catch me and do the right things," Wakefield said. "He was truly a professional with his attitude and his preparation for the way he went about his work. I look forward to working with him again."

[Dojji]

Uggh, LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES Theo!!! Bard was a MISTAKE last time, he's a MISTAKE this time too!!!!!

 

And for the love of all that is holy, give Kottaras and Brown a chance to show you what they are before committing yourself to the journeyman veteran!

[italstallianion]

Oh boy, this is going to be an adventure, and not in a positive way.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

Bard was a MISTAKE last time' date=' he's a MISTAKE this time too!!!!![/quote']

 

Conjecture.

[Cocos Disciples]

I would have put Kottaras there, no doubt. We'll see...

[Dojji]

Probably the best news so far this Spring -- Big Papi got littler!

 

http://cache.boston.com/bonzai-fba/Globe_Photo/2009/02/06/ortiz_04__1233941519_8916.jpg

[diony]

Maybe Bard has improved defensively. The manager and the FO know more than we do. Bard catched Wake 2 years ago and he only lasted a month. Plus he's more of a sure thing than Kottaras right now.

[Dipre]

Wow, 'Tek is in great shape, dude looks f***ing ripped.

[BSN07]

Maybe Bard has improved defensively. The manager and the FO know more than we do. Bard catched Wake 2 years ago and he only lasted a month. Plus he's more of a sure thing than Kottaras right now.

 

They said all along that he had the capability of catching Wake. The Sox could not afford the time it would have taken though. Therefore the rushed the trade for Dougie.

 

But they seem to think that it can be handled between now and the start of the season.

[BSN07]

Look at some pics of Penny over the last couple years. He has always had a spare tire.

[BoSox21]

Wow' date=' 'Tek is in great shape, dude looks f***ing ripped.[/quote']

 

Yea, I noticed that too. Tek kept himself in terrific shape

[Dojji]

Yea' date=' I noticed that too. Tek kept himself in terrific shape[/quote']

 

Would love to see him feel he has something to prove and make a bounceback.

 

I've heard people blame Tek's awful year on that May flu that also affected Delcarmen, and say it took some weight off him -- and that he looked thin/wan for most of the year. How much credibility do you guys give that?

[BoSox21]

I can't say I've ever had a bad flu so I don't know really how it affects you but if its bad enough to make you lose a lot of weight, I don't see where a guy can find enough time to rest to properly recuperate considering how long and grinding the season is, especially considering how taxing physically the position of catcher is

[a700hitter]

Varitek is a tough guy. He missed a full week twice during the season. It had to be a very bad viral bug.

[rician blast]

The guys look good...Smoltz looks to be in good shape...Chris Carter is a rock.

[TheKilo]

Wow' date=' 'Tek is in great shape, dude looks f***ing ripped.[/quote']

 

Clearly roided out of his mind.

[riverside sluggers]

http://soxblog.projo.com/2009/02/spring-training-34.html

 

J.D. Drew is still having back issues, but says he believes he can "play through the pain this season"

 

The Sox do have the right to void his contract after the season, but I believe its only if his shoulder is in bad shape

[jacksonianmarch]

JD Drew is encouraged that he can play through pain???

 

http://www.majhost.com/gallery/DarkRonin03/Boardz/fat_dance.gif

[a700hitter]

Great news that Drew is already talking about being injured.

[Cocos Disciples]

Good thing Rocco Baldelli can play every day.

[riverside sluggers]

Right Fielders that are free agents at the end of the season-- Bobby Abreu, Xavier Nady

 

Jermaine Dye and Magglio Ordinez have option years for 2010 but not locks to have those picked up

 

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http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/baseball/red_sox/view/2009_02_16_Julio_Lugo_believes_starting_job_is_his__not_Jed_Lowrie_s:_Short_answer/

 

This is going to be a cool ST battle to watch. Jed Lowrie is already on record, saying he's ready to be the starting shortstop. Lugo now has said to reporters that he already has the job. My fav quote from him is that "everyone faces competition, even Alex Rodriguez"

[diony]

Good thing Rocco Baldelli can play every day.

 

Wilkerson's signing looks brilliant now.

[Dojji]

Would still rather have Brandon Moss, poor post-trade showing or no. Or better yet, Murphy, since that doesn't suggest I'm regretting the Bay trade (which I absolutely don't). I always prefer to roll the dice on a mediocre young guy rather than a mediocre old guy given the choice.

 

Honestly? I'd rather see Van Every as the emergency 6th OF rather than Wilkerson. At least JVE puts up consistently good minor league numbers. He's a "tweener," not enough power for the corners, not enough speed for CF, but if given half a chance I've always thought he could put a good year together off the bench.

[TheKilo]

The same Jonathan Van Every who strikes out over 25% of the time in the minors?

[Dojji]

The same Jonathan Van Every who strikes out over 25% of the time in the minors?

 

Yep, that one. The guy who also hit 20+ HR's and plays CF.

 

Strikeouts are an out.

[italstallianion]

If we're that desperate where we'd have to rely on someone as a 6th OF, I don't think a 25% K rate is that bad....They'd be willing to take homeless guys off the street at that point...that's how we got Damon to start with...

[diony]

Yep, that one. The guy who also hit 20+ HR's and plays CF.

 

Oh based on that, they should trade Ellsbury. Van Every is the guy.

 

For some reason he made his debut at age 29 as a September call up. Go figure.

[ORS]

Oh based on that, they should trade Ellsbury. Van Every is the guy.

 

For some reason he made his debut at age 29 as a September call up. Go figure.

This proves something? Why he never got a shot before this past Semptember appears to be a scouting blunder. His performance, at least in terms of OBP and the ability to move runners has been consistently good throughout the minors. Why Cleveland didn't try him out with the parade of suck they've had at corner OF spots isn't really something I care about.

[TheKilo]

Yep, that one. The guy who also hit 20+ HR's and plays CF.

 

Strikeouts are an out.

 

25% against MiLB pitching.

 

Do I need to spell this out further?

[Dojji]

25% against MiLB pitching.

 

Do I need to spell this out further?

 

Why don't you go ahead and keep digging? A lot of very good big league players struck out a lot in the minors. What matters is what he does with the rest of his PA's.