Red Sox 2012 Spring Training Thread.

[mvp 78]

Felger is a talking head, not a writer.

[mvp 78]

Also, the point seems irrelevant as I haven't used sports writers as evidence for my thoughts on yhe Sox. Maybe just confusing me with someone else?

 

I'm firmly in the "don't take sports writers' words as gospel" camp. I could care less what Cafardo/Edes/et al has to say. More often than not, they are trying to break stories that don't come to fruition anyway. I don't trust crap that's written solely to sell papers.

[a700hitter]

Also, the point seems irrelevant as I haven't used sports writers as evidence for my thoughts on yhe Sox. Maybe just confusing me with someone else?

 

I'm firmly in the "don't take sports writers' words as gospel" camp. I could care less what Cafardo/Edes/et al has to say. More often than not, they are trying to break stories that don't come to fruition anyway. I don't trust crap that's written solely to sell papers.

It wasn't you. I didn't mean to imply that it was you. I agree with you on not taking the writer's words as gospel. They are either trying to sell papers or curry favor with team management or both.

[mvp 78]

It wasn't you. I didn't mean to imply that it was you. I agree with you on not taking the writer's words as gospel. They are either trying to sell papers or curry favor with team management or both.

 

Unfortunately, it was implied when you quoted my post.

[a700hitter]

Unfortunately' date=' it was implied when you quoted my post.[/quote']Sorry for the misunderstanding.

[User Name]

Also, the point seems irrelevant as I haven't used sports writers as evidence for my thoughts on yhe Sox. Maybe just confusing me with someone else?

 

I'm firmly in the "don't take sports writers' words as gospel" camp. I could care less what Cafardo/Edes/et al has to say. More often than not, they are trying to break stories that don't come to fruition anyway. I don't trust crap that's written solely to sell papers.

 

The funny thing is that i quoted "the expert writers" in an attempt to use the own ammo of people who take them as gospel against them.

 

He has me on ignore so he only reads some of the things i post, but obviously can't keep his big mouth shut about me.

[seabeachfred]

It's not personal Fred, if anyone's making it personal, it's you by telling me "swab Ben's deck". What's that s*** supposed to mean?

 

Also, don't you think you can make your complaints without it looking like you're at the top of an office building ready to jump off?

 

Hell, i'm worried the Sox are going to give you a heart attack one of these days and they aren't even playing.

 

Swab Ben's deck is just another way of saying of covering for the guy--a little more wordy but nothing meant to be personal. Let's see how this opening series with the Tigers work out. It would be nice if we could take two of three in Motown.

[User Name]

Swab Ben's deck is just another way of saying of covering for the guy--a little more wordy but nothing meant to be personal. Let's see how this opening series with the Tigers work out. It would be nice if we could take two of three in Motown.

 

Cover for what? He barely did anything

 

There wasn't enough space for him to execute an actual plan, which has been my point all along.

[jung]

While it looks like Beckett will start, I thought it interesting that he said his thumb has actually been bothering him for eighteen months now. I guess he has been getting shots for the pain regularly and when it did not respond as it has in the past, he decided to have it looked at more carefully.

 

I am beginning to wonder if most of these guys don't line up in front of nurse that has a chart for each player and the locations for their shots.

[seabeachfred]

Cover for what? He barely did anything

 

There wasn't enough space for him to execute an actual plan, which has been my point all along.

 

Maybe if Ross and Melancon and later Cook work out well Ben will win some points in these quarters. It is what it is User and we have to go into the season tomorrow with what we have. It would be very nice if the players rose to the occasion and over-achieved in the early going. It might breed confidence and give them the spark that could carry them on.

 

I wonder if Henry and Lucchino might open their wallets a little near the trading deadline if we need a pitcher or two for the stretch run? Of course we have to be in the running for that to happen, wouldn't we?

[seabeachfred]

While it looks like Beckett will start, I thought it interesting that he said his thumb has actually been bothering him for eighteen months now. I guess he has been getting shots for the pain regularly and when it did not respond as it has in the past, he decided to have it looked at more carefully.

 

I am beginning to wonder if most of these guys don't line up in front of nurse that has a chart for each player and the locations for their shots.

 

Oh boy Jung, one more thing to worry about. Let's pray that Josh has his head cleared because we are going to need a lot from this guy, not to mention Jon and Clay. In fact, we are going to need the whole kitchen sink to make a real run for it this season.

[SoxSport]

The Globe has been setting up conflict situations on the Sox--real or contrived--and then have their writers take different sides. This is usually accompanied by a readers poll.

 

They are now beginning to do this with the Celtics as well--the current issue is whether upstart Bradley should start over ageing Allen. This one is making Rivers look bad.

[ORS]

Maybe if Ross and Melancon and later Cook work out well Ben will win some points in these quarters. It is what it is User and we have to go into the season tomorrow with what we have. It would be very nice if the players rose to the occasion and over-achieved in the early going. It might breed confidence and give them the spark that could carry them on.

 

I wonder if Henry and Lucchino might open their wallets a little near the trading deadline if we need a pitcher or two for the stretch run? Of course we have to be in the running for that to happen, wouldn't we?

Fred, I think you've hit on something that I've been thinking about for awhile and I've seen very little discussion about. I think the short stack of resources given to the young, rookie GM is indicative of the risk the upper management recognizes going into the season. They can't get hit with a bunch of injuries, and even if they don't, some very large question marks need to come up positive for this team to have the look of an October contender. The contingency is thin. With that being the case, I think any mid-season spending is absolutely dependent upon good early results. A poor April/May, and I think upper management packs it in for the year with sights set on 2013. If things go their way, I'm confident they'll be active addressing what they need for the stretch run and playoffs.

 

Also, remember, there is some built-in roster supplementation for the 2nd half as of right now. Matsuzaka, Hill, and Bailey will be there to bolster the pitching down the stretch.

[SoxSport]

Also, the point seems irrelevant as I haven't used sports writers as evidence for my thoughts on yhe Sox. Maybe just confusing me with someone else?

 

I'm firmly in the "don't take sports writers' words as gospel" camp. I could care less what Cafardo/Edes/et al has to say. More often than not, they are trying to break stories that don't come to fruition anyway. I don't trust crap that's written solely to sell papers.

 

This is true. They are just trying to make a living and sell advertising (= readership).

But you have to get your info from somwhere. Just try to separate fact from opinion. Most of it is opinion nowadays.

[Palodios]

Also' date=' remember, there is some built-in roster supplementation for the 2nd half as of right now. Matsuzaka, Hill, and Bailey will be there to bolster the pitching down the stretch.[/quote']

 

This team will be built for the second half, with a large number of guys coming back from the DL, and quite a bit of positional depth in the high minors. The problem is getting to the All-Star Break within distance of the rest of the division.

[iortiz]

This team will be built for the second half' date=' with a large number of guys coming back from the DL, and quite a bit of positional depth in the high minors. The problem is getting to the All-Star Break within distance of the rest of the division.[/quote']

 

The key will be the first haf of the season. ORS and I discussed this earlier.

 

Btw, the first half of the season seems to be easier so... If we stay close NYY and TB be careful with the Boston Red Sox in the second half.

 

Hell, if the stars align by then (d-k, bailey, Kalish, Hill, Crawford come back strong/healthy and no major injury in our top 3 and key players) I will put my money on this team.

[Dojji]

This team will be built for the second half' date=' with a large number of guys coming back from the DL, and quite a bit of positional depth in the high minors. The problem is getting to the All-Star Break within distance of the rest of the division.[/quote']

 

The problem there being, I've never known this team to specialize in second halves unless it is to suck at them. The rule is, if you're not leading the division handily at the deadline, you're done with at least the pennant race by the beginning of September. And quite frequently even if you are.

 

Our killer month is August. August is always where everything starts to go wrong. Always has been. I see no reason for that to change.

[a700hitter]

With 2 wild card spots, a lot more teams will be alive and in the playoff hunt at the trading deadline. There will be many more buyers than sellers than in past seasons. It will be very difficult to build during the season.

[boston22407]

With 2 wild card spots' date=' a lot more teams will be alive and in the playoff hunt at the trading deadline. There will be many more buyers than sellers than in past seasons. It will be very difficult to build during the season.[/quote']

 

Right on.I agree with this big time

[ORS]

The problem there being, I've never known this team to specialize in second halves unless it is to suck at them. The rule is, if you're not leading the division handily at the deadline, you're done with at least the pennant race by the beginning of September. And quite frequently even if you are.

 

Our killer month is August. August is always where everything starts to go wrong. Always has been. I see no reason for that to change.

Thats true of the recent years they have missed the playoffs, but it's far from the universal trend.

[Bellhorn04]

The problem there being, I've never known this team to specialize in second halves unless it is to suck at them. The rule is, if you're not leading the division handily at the deadline, you're done with at least the pennant race by the beginning of September. And quite frequently even if you are.

 

Our killer month is August. August is always where everything starts to go wrong. Always has been. I see no reason for that to change.

 

Don't trust your memory on things like that. Here are some very recent August records to make you feel better:

 

2004 21-7

2005 18-9

2008 18-9

2009 16-12

2011 17-12

[yeszir]

Today is opening day so that means this thread is closed.