Red Sox 2012 Spring Training Thread.

[iortiz]

I thought that Cook was going to be in the Roster.

[pedroias laser]

I thought that Cook was going to be in the Roster.

 

I think Cook will be in Boston sooner then everyone thinks especially with the way he

looked this spring.

[iortiz]

DK will pitch more in 2012 than 2011

Lackey sucked

Jenks is a non-entity

Paps was a big loss

Wheeler was underwhelming to say the least

Scutaro isn't much better than Aviles

CC will be better this year

Kalish didn't play for Boston last year

Bailey was supposedly the replacement for Paps

 

No mention of losing Drew, Tek, or Wake?

 

The only loss was Paps. Closers are overrated.

 

As I said, they were losses by injuries/underperformance, part time/full time, but losses in the end.

 

I do not know who overrates closers, but IMO closers are a key part of the game; they several times mark the difference between win/lose a game, go/no-go to playoffs; no more, no less.

[pedroias laser]

As I said, they were losses by injuries/underperformance, part time/full time, but losses in the end.

 

I do not know who overrates closers, but IMO closers are a key part of the game; they several times mark the difference between win/lose a game, go/no-go to playoffs; no more, no less.

 

You don't feel that we couldn't plug Melancon to do the same job as Bailey?.

I agree with the closer statement 100 percent but i tend to lean towards the

statement of if you are a pitcher you can close or at least give it a shot.

[a700hitter]

You don't feel that we couldn't plug Melancon to do the same job as Bailey?.

I agree with the closer statement 100 percent but i tend to lean towards the

statement of if you are a pitcher you can close or at least give it a shot.

Lots of guys can pitch the 8th inning but can't close. Those last 3 outs are the toughest. You need a steel spine and a short memory.

[pedroias laser]

Lots of guys can pitch the 8th inning but can't close. Those last 3 outs are the toughest. You need a steel spine and a short memory.

 

 

Who would you plug in there then 700?. I'm still thinking Melancon any thoughts?.

[a700hitter]

Who would you plug in there then 700?. I'm still thinking Melancon any thoughts?.

I don't like any of the available options. I am guessing that they'll go closer by committee until someone wins the job.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Lots of guys can pitch the 8th inning but can't close. Those last 3 outs are the toughest. You need a steel spine and a short memory.

 

Kind of like Alfredo Aceves?

 

Aceves is our best option to close this year, with Padilla taking over Aceves's role as the multi inning guy. Melancon and Morales play matchups in the 8th. When Hill gets back, he can play matchups as well, and move Morales/Albers to the 7th inning role.

 

Just takes a little creativity, but this bullpen can take the bump.

[iortiz]

You don't feel that we couldn't plug Melancon to do the same job as Bailey?.

I agree with the closer statement 100 percent but i tend to lean towards the

statement of if you are a pitcher you can close or at least give it a shot.

 

IMO only a few can be called natural/real closers. This is not a trivial job IMO. This is a specialty. You need guts. You need nerves of steel. You need to handle tons of pressure; arguably they handle the most pressure situations in a baseball game.

[a700hitter]

Kind of like Alfredo Aceves?

 

Aceves is our best option to close this year, with Padilla taking over Aceves's role as the multi inning guy. Melancon and Morales play matchups in the 8th. When Hill gets back, he can play matchups as well, and move Morales/Albers to the 7th inning role.

 

Just takes a little creativity, but this bullpen can take the bump.

I don't know if he is a consistent enough strike thrower and he doesn't have an overpowering fastball. I'd prefer to swap Aceves into the rotation and put Bard in the pen as the closer.

[SoxFanForsyth]

I don't know if he is a consistent enough strike thrower and he doesn't have an overpowering fastball. I'd prefer to swap Aceves into the rotation and put Bard in the pen as the closer.

 

I think an argument could be made that he was actually the most consistent reliever in our bullpen last year, especially last September.

[a700hitter]

I think an argument could be made that he was actually the most consistent reliever in our bullpen last year' date=' especially last September.[/quote']I agree. He was invaluable in the pen last season. but I don't know if that translates to a 9th inning role. I'd switch him and Bard. I think Aceves has a better starter's mentality than Bard.

[iortiz]

Kind of like Alfredo Aceves?

 

Aceves is our best option to close this year, with Padilla taking over Aceves's role as the multi inning guy. Melancon and Morales play matchups in the 8th. When Hill gets back, he can play matchups as well, and move Morales/Albers to the 7th inning role.

 

Just takes a little creativity, but this bullpen can take the bump.

 

I like Aceves and he is great eating tons of innings but he is not a closer. On the other hand, we need to be creative. I do not like Melancon as closer but he has had experience closing and he probably will be the "natural next option" until Bailey backs. We'll see.

[Bellhorn04]

I think an argument could be made that he was actually the most consistent reliever in our bullpen last year' date=' especially last September.[/quote']

 

Aceves was lights out from mid-August to the end of the season. 37.1 innings, 1.21 ERA, batters hit 160/272/248 against him.

[Bellhorn04]

I think Aceves could be a closer if they give him a shot. He knows how to get hitters out and he doesn't seem bothered by pressure. Plus he would be motivated because this could be his chance to make some big money down the road.

[mvp 78]

Derrick Lowe was an adequate closer. It was scary at times, but adequate.

 

You don't need an all star to get 35 saves.

[SoxFanForsyth]

I like Aceves and he is great eating tons of innings but he is not a closer. On the other hand' date=' we need to be creative. I do not like Melancon as closer but he has had experience closing and he probably will be the "natural next option" until Bailey backs. We'll see.[/quote']

 

What about Aceves do you not like as a closer? Last year he had 16 games that qualified as save situations and posted a 2.74 ERA in those games. In 1 run games, he allowed a .636 OPS. In 2 and 3 run games, he allowed a .633 OPS. In Late and Close games, he allowed a .639 OPS.

 

To put that into perspective, Pap had a 2.94 ERA last season in save situations (34 games), and Bard had a 3.05 ERA (40 games).

[BornToRun]

What about Aceves do you not like as a closer? Last year he had 16 games that qualified as save situations and posted a 2.74 ERA in those games. In 1 run games, he allowed a .636 OPS. In 2 and 3 run games, he allowed a .633 OPS. In Late and Close games, he allowed a .639 OPS.

 

To put that into perspective, Pap had a 2.94 ERA last season in save situations (34 games), and Bard had a 3.05 ERA (40 games).

 

Plus I think Aceves has been good enough that he has at the very least earned a shot at closing games. There hasn't been one role hes failed in out of the bullpen so far so why not give him a shot?

[a700hitter]

Plus I think Aceves has been good enough that he has at the very least earned a shot at closing games. There hasn't been one role hes failed in out of the bullpen so far so why not give him a shot?

At this point it might be too disruptive to switch Aceves and Bard. Aceves will probably be the guy for now. The pen is really a huge step down from last season. Last year, we could go to Aceves in the 6th or 7th with Bard and Paps in the 8th and 9th. This year the starters will have to go deep into games.

[SoxFanForsyth]

At this point it might be too disruptive to switch Aceves and Bard. Aceves will probably be the guy for now. The pen is really a huge step down from last season. Last year' date=' we could go to Aceves in the 6th or 7th with Bard and Paps in the 8th and 9th. This year the starters will have to go deep into games.[/quote']

 

Agree. I think Valentine will be putting pressure on the SP to go deeper into games, bumping their pitch counts from 105 to around 120 each game, which is probably a good thing.

 

I still think guys like Morales, Rich Hill, Melancon, and Albers can step up and solidify the bullpen. Not to mention guys like Alex Wilson who may be ready before too long.

 

Plus, you got DiceK and Cook in the back pocket so if Aceves and Melancon doesn't work out, you throw Bard in the closer role and they can come up and be the 5th man.

 

But regardless, I think Aceves will do well.

[jung]

Did the Sox announce Aceves moving to the closer's role today? I have not been near a TV or radio all day. Posts sound like the Sox made an announcement.

[a700hitter]

Agree. I think Valentine will be putting pressure on the SP to go deeper into games, bumping their pitch counts from 105 to around 120 each game, which is probably a good thing.

 

I still think guys like Morales, Rich Hill, Melancon, and Albers can step up and solidify the bullpen. Not to mention guys like Alex Wilson who may be ready before too long.

 

Plus, you got DiceK and Cook in the back pocket so if Aceves and Melancon doesn't work out, you throw Bard in the closer role and they can come up and be the 5th man.

 

But regardless, I think Aceves will do well.

When is Hill expected to be back?

[SoxFanForsyth]

When is Hill expected to be back?

 

May, from everything I hear. He's already thrown in a couple games, and is with Greenville right now.

[iortiz]

What about Aceves do you not like as a closer? Last year he had 16 games that qualified as save situations and posted a 2.74 ERA in those games. In 1 run games, he allowed a .636 OPS. In 2 and 3 run games, he allowed a .633 OPS. In Late and Close games, he allowed a .639 OPS.

 

To put that into perspective, Pap had a 2.94 ERA last season in save situations (34 games), and Bard had a 3.05 ERA (40 games).

 

Really? I didn't know that he pitched 16 times in the 9th inning with saving situations. I still prefer him eating innings, but if he takes the job as closer, I wonder who would eat those innings. Albers?

[jung]

If Aceves closes maybe Padilla becomes the "potential" innings eater out of the pen. Melancon would pitch the 8th inning I would guess. While he is very versatile, that also means Aceves is versatile enough to close an under the circumstances that might be the best way to use him for now. I would prefer Melancon in the 8th with Aceves in the 9th than the other way round.

 

Anyway I have been thinking the V has been considering Padilla a potential innings eater guy anyway.

[a700hitter]

If Aceves closes maybe Padilla becomes the "potential" innings eater out of the pen. Melancon would pitch the 8th inning I would guess. While he is very versatile, that also means Aceves is versatile enough to close an under the circumstances that might be the best way to use him for now. I would prefer Melancon in the 8th with Aceves in the 9th than the other way round.

 

Anyway I have been thinking the V has been considering Padilla a potential innings eater guy anyway.

Can Padilla go multiple innings 2-3 times a week?

[SoxFanForsyth]

Can Padilla go multiple innings 2-3 times a week?

 

Yeah, of course he can. He would essentially be doing that as a starter, no? He can throw 4-6 innings a week if needed. It wouldn't be every single week that he's throwing 3 games for 2 innings each. I think he'd do fine in that role.

[jung]

I really don't know if Padilla can or not. If I had to guess I would say yes to twice in a week and no to 3 times in a week. Then again, that was such an incredible (at least to me) performance by Aceves last year that if it turned out that he was thrust into the same situation and that even he could not repeat I would not be surprised.

 

I know that from the relief perspective baseball tends to "reward" closers with its accolades but I cannot think of a guy that turned in the season like the one Aceves turned in either in recent or not so recent memory. Guys have pitched as much but as much and as well....hard to duplicate what he did.

[a700hitter]

Yeah' date=' of course he can. He would essentially be doing that as a starter, no? He can throw 4-6 innings a week if needed. It wouldn't be every single week that he's throwing 3 games for 2 innings each. I think he'd do fine in that role.[/quote']I was asking because I know he has had arm trouble in the last few years. Some guys don't bounce back that well when they have had arm trouble. He'd also need to go in back to back games at times.

[iortiz]

Andrew Bailey examined yesterday in Boston & today in Cleveland. Surgery tomorrow in Cleveland to reconstruct ligament in R thumb.