Red Sox Spring Training thread

[Imperial59]

Really? I read in a article saying he looked better then he had ever come in before. Weird...

 

http://cache.boston.com/bonzai-fba/Globe_Photo/2010/02/16/4-beckgut__1266347199_4297.jpg

 

And the gut makes it's annual debut.

[riverside sluggers]

Go get 'em, boys!!

 

http://cache.boston.com/bonzai-fba/Globe_Photo/2010/02/19/539_big-3__1266616961_9785.jpg

[Dipre]

^Enough firepower to get to the playoffs tight there.

[Imperial59]

Looks like Daisuke's back is feeling better.

 

[VA Sox Fan]

Kelly impresses, as does Varitek

 

Posted by Peter Abraham, Globe Staff February 20, 2010 11:01 AM

 

The goal today was to see Casey Kelly pitch and that was accomplished. It's easy to see why the Red Sox invested so much in him. Kelly seems to produce his velocity without effort and has good command. His athletic ability serves him well and he has the sort of frame that will easily handle more muscle and probably add some bada-bing to his fastball.

 

Kelly threw in the bullpen to Victor Martinez as a bevy of team executives, including Theo Epstein, watched closely.

 

While watching the pitchers throw in the bullpen, it was hard not to notice the chemistry between Martinez and Jason Varitek.

 

As catching instructor Gary Tuck put his charges through their drills, Varitek and Martinez stayed at each other's side, giving words of encouragement. One of the drills involved catching little gumball-sized baseballs with your fingers to improve hand/eye coordination. As Tuck flips the balls one after another, it's virtually impossible to keep up and the balls skip away. Varitek stayed around to help Martinez gather them up and Martinez did the same for Varitek.

 

Once the bullpens were other and the last drill finished, the catchers jogged off to another field for conditioning. Four of the young catchers took off, but Varitek stayed behind to wait for Martinez to load up his equipment bag and they headed off together.

 

It's just a little courtesy and probably no big deal. But it speaks to Varitek being comfortable with Martinez and working to the common good of the team as opposed to being worried about losing his job as a starter. It's that sort of thing that fosters good team chemistry over a long haul.

[MANNYHOF24]

I actually think Tek will have a good season on a limited basis. He has had really good April and Mays the last two years, and it seems he got worn out by the work load. If he is only in the lineup here and there, maybe he will stay fresh all season and be a productive player for us.

[Imperial59]

I actually think Tek will have a good season on a limited basis. He has had really good April and Mays the last two years' date=' and it seems he got worn out by the work load. If he is only in the lineup here and there, maybe he will stay fresh all season and be a productive player for us.[/quote']

 

I agree, I could see him as the backup catcher for years ala Doug Mirabelli.

[a700hitter]

Beckett' date=' however, like every year, is sporting his "ST beer gut". Lol Beckett.[/quote']To paraphrase Mickey Lolich, he's a pitcher not an athlete.

[Spudboy]

To paraphrase Mickey Lolich' date=' he's a pitcher not an athlete.[/quote']

 

LOL!

 

As if any more than four members ever saw Lolich pitch.

[Dojji]

Long as he can bring it at 96, I dun care how tubby he gets.

[a700hitter]

LOL!

 

As if any more than four members ever saw Lolich pitch.

I am sure that a few of them googled him.

[Imperial59]

* Daisuke Matsuzka (sore back) will play catch from 60 feet tomorrow and is moving closer to getting back on the mound. The Sox shut him down for precautionary reasons earlier in the week.

 

* Hideki Okajima ("fatigued" legs) skipped the conditioning test yesterday but will run with the position players on Tuesday.

 

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2010/02/matsuzaka_on_hi.html

 

He did shuttle runs yesterday and he'll be throwing again tomorrow. Sounds like Daisuke's fine.

[riverside sluggers]

Not surprised. If he had a mild back strain the week before season opener, then Id be concerned. But its 6 weeks away, a number of players probably have aches and pains they have to work through as they get ready

[riverside sluggers]

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/feb10/600_ortiz.jpg

[Imperial59]

Daisuke Matsuzaka reported no back soreness after throwing 25 times from 60 feet and 90 feet, according to WEEI.com.

Dice-K said he will take no time off from the throwing program, suggesting that his back is doing fine. "The plan for now is for me to throw every day," Matsuzaka said. "It’s not like the time I went on the D.L. last year when it was a shoulder issue where we did incorporate some rest. This time being a back issue I really couldn’t get into my natural delivery, but I felt I was able to do that today. I was able to focus on that, work on that, and I think that was the biggest thing for me today."

 

Per rotoworld

[BoSox21]

I'd be more interested in how Dice-K's back feels tomorrow morning as opposed to immediately after playing catch

[Imperial59]

I'd be more interested in how Dice-K's back feels tomorrow morning as opposed to immediately after playing catch

 

He's supposedly going to throw on a daily basis now so we shall see.

[Imperial59]

Ortiz says he's ready to do damage next year:

 

All you guys know me, all you guys know what I'm capable to do. Everybody know what I'm capable to do, you know? People struggle sometimes. People know how to bounce back? Not too many. So I'm very excited about this season. I'm positive. My focus point right now is do some damage."

 

He says he wasn't comfortable last year:

 

"I guess you have a lot of games too early last year, important games, like the WBC, you wasn't ready for, you putting pressure on yourself just because you want to produce and you're not ready for the time and that cuts you off from doing what you gotta do at this time of the season to get prepared for the season. It's a lot of things that you get caught into and next thing you know the season gets started the way it did for me last year, but it's a totally different situation right now."

 

And he sounds like he wants back into the third spot in the order, when asked about whether he'd get the protection he wants next year, he said:

 

"I'm not making out the lineup, I can't tell you right now... ask Tito, he would tell you."

 

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2010/02/ortiz_ready_to.html

 

This sounds like a man on a mission. He he is able to post a .900+ OPS as he's been able to do over the majority of his career, we'd have a lethal offense to go with our lethal rotation and defense. If not, we'll still have a top 5 offense as we did last year.

[a700hitter]

He was in top shape coming into camp last year. We'll have to wait and hope. They all feel great now. If a player isn't optimistic in the last week of February, he's in for a bumpy ride.

[riverside sluggers]

Dice-K showed up to camp last year, showing some extra pounds he gained in the offseason. He was also gearing himself up for the mighty WBC. Sox had totally regain control of his workout program because of that

 

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http://cache.boston.com/resize/bonzai-fba/Globe_Photo/2010/02/23/1266904327_3357/539w.jpg

[BoSox21]

I read from some Sox writer on Twitter this morning that Dice-K has gone from 24% body fat last ST to 17% this year. Shocked that he can get away with having 24% body fat.

[Dojji]

That'll cause a lower body injury,

[Imperial59]

That'll cause a lower body injury' date='[/quote']

 

Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised if he pulled his groin getting out of his car with that kind of body fat.

[riverside sluggers]

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2010/02/red_sox_provide.html

 

Sneak peek at the Sox's soon to be Spring Training Facility

 

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/february10sports/600newsoxcomplex1bview.jpg

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/february10sports/600newsoxcomplex.jpg

[a700hitter]

What year does the new facility open?

[jacksonianmarch]

now for the new ballpark...

[riverside sluggers]

They wont start up talks about a new ballpark until Fenway celebrates its 100th anniversary. The real question is where to put a brand spanking new ballpark.

[a700hitter]

They wont start up talks about a new ballpark until Fenway celebrates its 100th anniversary. The real question is where to put a brand spanking new ballpark.

There's not enough prime real estate in Boston to put a new park. Plus, there's too much corruption for it to be economically feasible. .

[jacksonianmarch]

How bout you move it....gasp....outside of Boston?? Easier to get to, and the majority of your buyers are going to be suburbians anyway. Put it outside of a green line stop a few miles outside of Boston. It isnt like downtown Boston needs sprucing up. But moving Fenway or Red Sox Stadium or what-have you to a developing neighborhood could significantly improve the neighborhood. Hell, just look at Foxboro for the Pats at Patriots Place. That place is a hub for shopping, food, etc, even when the Pats arent playing.

[a700hitter]

How bout you move it....gasp....outside of Boston?? Easier to get to' date=' and the majority of your buyers are going to be suburbians anyway. Put it outside of a green line stop a few miles outside of Boston. It isnt like downtown Boston needs sprucing up. But moving Fenway or Red Sox Stadium or what-have you to a developing neighborhood could significantly improve the neighborhood. Hell, just look at Foxboro for the Pats at Patriots Place. That place is a hub for shopping, food, etc, even when the Pats arent playing.[/quote']

Blasphemy!! Yankee devil!