2013 Spring Training

[mvp 78]

I think he looked at the rotation and figured he'd be guaranteed a spot.

[Spitball]

I dont think Lohse is an option either, they have went this long without giving up their draft pick i dont see them blowing it on Lohse who i still believe will go back to the Cardinals. With Carpenter going down i think Boras is just holding out for more money for Lohse.

 

Plus i dont believe he will sign for 9 million, then the draft pick money goes on top of that so that would put us over the cap. So it a no for me on Lohse. We r not one pitcher away from contending, we are in the business of hoping we stay healthy and everyone else in the AL east goes down with injury that seems to be our only logical hope.

 

Good points. For the Red Sox, the draft pick would be their second rounder, but they still don't need Lohse at an inflated/Boras price.

 

Besides, he could possibly end up with a one-year deal similar to the ones signed last year by Boras' clients Edwin Jackson and Ryan Madson. If so, he will sign with a team in a league where he can put up good numbers to make a run a next year's free agent market. Boston and the AL East would not be the place to do that.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Gentlemen, Emmz and VA, lets put away our differences. Stop with the petty fighting, embrace our enemies, yes, even you Jackso.

 

For this week, THERE WILL BE BASEBALL!!!!!!!

[seabeachfred]

Good points. For the Red Sox, the draft pick would be their second rounder, but they still don't need Lohse at an inflated/Boras price.

 

Besides, he could possibly end up with a one-year deal similar to the ones signed last year by Boras' clients Edwin Jackson and Ryan Madson. If so, he will sign with a team in a league where he can put up good numbers to make a run a next year's free agent market. Boston and the AL East would not be the place to do that.

 

That makes perfect sense to me too Spitball, but it pisses me off that Doubrant comes into Spring Training looking like a beached whale. The guy is a pro and the team needs him to step up this season since starting pitching is our biggest concern, but instead he risks injury and ineffectiveness by coming in out of shape. Didn't he do this last year or the year before as well? I hope Farrell reads him the riot act, puts him in a rubber suit and runs the bum until his tongue hangs out.

[wyo-sox]

For this week, THERE WILL BE BASEBALL!!!!!!!

 

YES!!!!!!!!!!

 

I've been designing a new covered patio with a gas fire pit in the middle to designate as my game watching center this year. No room for a man cave in the house so I will make an outdoor one.

[jacksonianmarch]

Lohse is a guy I don't offer money to. He's your typical St. Louis reclamation project who came up aces. His success in the AL was minimal at best and he's in his mid 30s if he's shooting for a 1 yr deal, it won't be in boston since he knows his numbers would suffer.

[jung]

Lohse has to be a no. The guy would be a double overpay when you add in the Boras factor. Its not worth it. I just want the Sox to get through this year re-establishing some level of respectability. Maybe next year for anything else.

 

Might be a good year to try to clean out any more bad blood or whatever poison there is still infecting this team.

[jacksonianmarch]

I agree there jung. Lohse might be a mild upgrade, but the only way he'd come to the bean is for multiple yrs at 8 figures per yr. If Boras can't drum up interest in a long term deal, I could see him going to the Mets on a 1 yr deal at high money.

[Spitball]

The Mets are a possibilty, but I would not rule out St. Louis on a one or even a two year discount deal. I believe the Cards have to be Boras's first choice, but they are letting him dangle. They know they have him by the 'nads on this one.

[SoxSport]

TwitterPete Abraham @PeteAbe

If there is a baseball god, Jose Iglesias will hit. He's putting on a show in the infield this morning.

 

He'll hit better if he stops reading the news stories saying he can't hit.

[SoxSport]

Seem like the Sox have plenty of options for starters right now. The question is whether their starters will pitch to their potential and stay healthy. You figure 1 or 2 of their 3-4 prospects will get a shot at some point when the starters begin hitting the DL.

[a700hitter]

He isn't as fat as Colon. He isn't in that great of shape either. During warmups, he looks kind of out of shape. I would not say he is extremely overweight, but he could lose a few pounds. He is not in better shape like Lackey.

 

Don't forget we are stetching out Aceves and Morales as well. We realistically have seven options. If Doubront shows any signs of fatigue early on, my guess is Aceves or Morales would fill-in. We still are about 9 million under if you count all of Napoli's 13 million. It is possible we can sign or trade for someone, but probably not likely. Lohse is likely out of the equation.

I don't think Morales and Aceves are realistic options for anything beyond some spot starts. They are not good options for a rotation spot, IMO.

[Palodios]

I don't think Morales and Aceves are realistic options for anything beyond some spot starts. They are not good options for a rotation spot, IMO.

 

Other important note-- Aceves is playing in the WBC. Could affect his durability.

[a700hitter]

Other important note-- Aceves is playing in the WBC. Could affect his durability.

Yeah, nothing good can come from that for the Red Sox.

[wyo-sox]

So did you see the latest on Aceves? Trade him now. Been hearing so much positive from camp then he goes and adds drama. He is very good, but starting to think he is not worth it.

[a700hitter]

So did you see the latest on Aceves? Trade him now. Been hearing so much positive from camp then he goes and adds drama. He is very good, but starting to think he is not worth it.

What happened with Aceves?

[mvp 78]

So did you see the latest on Aceves? Trade him now. Been hearing so much positive from camp then he goes and adds drama. He is very good, but starting to think he is not worth it.

 

Overreact much?

[dupree]

I dont think it is an overreaction at all MVP. Report says that Aceves was lobing the ball to players in batting pratice. When the pitching noticed it he talked to Aceves about it and then Aceves still did it after the talk. John Farrell saw what what happening and got pissed and called Aceves out on it then it stopped. Maybe Aceves was seeing how far he could push the new coaching, i believe Farrell showed him that his drama queen half assed workouts would not be tolerated anymore. We will see how this goes this team dont need anymore drama.

[Spitball]

The Mets are a possibilty, but I would not rule out St. Louis on a one or even a two year discount deal. I believe the Cards have to be Boras's first choice, but they are letting him dangle. They know they have him by the 'nads on this one.

 

Also, the Cardinals are the only team that would not have to surrender a high draft pick.

[Palodios]

So did you see the latest on Aceves? Trade him now. Been hearing so much positive from camp then he goes and adds drama. He is very good, but starting to think he is not worth it.

 

Aceves is a strange case. The Red Sox have gone through every single malcontent on the team. Beckett, Shoppach, Agon, Crawford, Valentine, and to a lessor extent Youk. They've revamped the medical staff, and the coaching staff. But for some strange reason, Aceves is still hanging around.

[mvp 78]

I dont think it is an overreaction at all MVP. Report says that Aceves was lobing the ball to players in batting pratice. When the pitching noticed it he talked to Aceves about it and then Aceves still did it after the talk. John Farrell saw what what happening and got pissed and called Aceves out on it then it stopped. Maybe Aceves was seeing how far he could push the new coaching, i believe Farrell showed him that his drama queen half assed workouts would not be tolerated anymore. We will see how this goes this team dont need anymore drama.

 

The article says "his first few pitches" were thrown at bp speed. It didn't say "players" (just Salty) or "lobbed."

[mvp 78]

"But when Alfredo Aceves took the mound on Field 4 Sunday afternoon, his first few pitches to Jarrod Saltalamacchia were batting-practice speed and right over the plate.

 

After a bit, it became obvious that Aceves either didn't understand the point of the drill or wasn't trying. Pitching coach Juan Nieves visited the mound and their conversation lasted about a minute.

 

Aceves then fired a real fastball and the rest of his time on the mound was uneventful. When the righthander came off the mound, manager John Farrell was waiting for him."

 

Writers just need stories. Spring training is boring so everything is blown out of proportion.

[mvp 78]

Abraham the says "@PeteAbe: @Tcav222 i don't think it's a big deal"

[dupree]

The article says "his first few pitches" were thrown at bp speed. It didn't say "players" (just Salty) or "lobbed."

 

Thats not the report i saw... on redsox.com the report said he lobbed the ball for a large part of his session on Field 4 before he was confronted by the pitching coach and after the talk he lobbed the ball more, than Farrell stepped in for a talk.

[jung]

Perhaps Felix and Alfredo are trying to start their own bottom of the rotation/bullpen version of 2011 the top of the rotation debacle.

 

I would not be surprised to find that this is a continuation of Aceves pouting over the fact that once again he is in the bullpen, not even closing at this point and only lined up to spot start if anything. This could easily be just the beginning of the Aceves antics for 2013.

[seabeachfred]

Aceves is a strange case. The Red Sox have gone through every single malcontent on the team. Beckett, Shoppach, Agon, Crawford, Valentine, and to a lessor extent Youk. They've revamped the medical staff, and the coaching staff. But for some strange reason, Aceves is still hanging around.

 

Palodios, earlier Farrell said he wanted Aceves to stay on the team and felt he could work with him. If there are any more incidents like this he is risking the well being of the team's seemingly new found team spirit because of one rotten apple. If Aceves cannot get with the program he needs to go. I think his actions bear watching this Spring Training. The Red Sox do not need any head cases or any more bad actors on the team.

[Palodios]

Perhaps Felix and Alfredo are trying to start their own bottom of the rotation/bullpen version of 2011 the top of the rotation debacle.

 

I would not be surprised to find that this is a continuation of Aceves pouting over the fact that once again he is in the bullpen, not even closing at this point and only lined up to spot start if anything. This could easily be just the beginning of the Aceves antics for 2013.

 

I understand when good players expected people to bend over backwards for them, but I don't understand it when mediocre players like Aceves get upset about losing opportunities. Someone hand him a stat sheet.

[Spitball]

The article says "his first few pitches" were thrown at bp speed. It didn't say "players" (just Salty) or "lobbed."

 

This is one article but there are plenty more that say he continued on past Saltamalacchia. He apparently went on through Salty, Gomes, and Gomez.

 

http://live.boston.com/Event/2013_Red_Sox_spring_training/63728206

 

Alfredo Aceves in trouble, again

 

‘Cause I knew you were trouble when you walked in

So shame on me now

Flew me to places I'd never been

'Til you put me down, oh

I knew you were trouble when you walked in

So shame on me now

Flew me to places I'd never been

Now I'm lying on the cold hard ground

Oh, oh, trouble, trouble, trouble

Oh, oh, trouble, trouble, trouble

-- “I knew you were trouble” – Taylor Swift… clearly singing about Alfredo Aceves

 

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Red Sox righthander Alfredo Aceves caused a minor disturbance in camp on Sunday when he started to mail it in during live batting practice, lobbing meatballs to the plate in lieu of throwing the full arsenal of pitches to Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Jonny Gomes, and Mauro Gomez in the cage.

 

Pitching coach Juan Nieves interrupted the hitting session and spoke to Aceves in Spanish about getting back to working from a full windup and taking the velocity up a notch from behind the L-screen on field No. 4.

 

Red Sox manager John Farrell also happened to be on hand for the sloppy session and asked Aceves if he was OK while he watched the activity from the third base line.

 

After the conversation with Nieves, Aceves was throwing the ball markedly harder as you can see in the video above.

 

"The one thing I'll say is he didn't go through the drill as intended and we've addressed it," Farrell said after the workout. "He's healthy. With the designed effort level that every pitcher goes through, it was better the last few [pitches he threw]. And it's been discussed."

 

It was the big story line on a fairly quiet day at camp and Farrell made it clear that the players need to follow the rules of the road under his stewardship this year.

 

"There are 25 individuals on this team, but there are certain things that are going to be accepted," Farrell said. "If someone strays outside of that, that's my job to make it clear on what's expected."

 

Aceves didn't seem rattled by the events of the day, saying he was happy with the work he put in when it was all said and done.

 

Saltalamacchia didn’t really want to touch on the controversy when asked about it in the clubhouse.

 

“I don’t want to get into that,” Salty said when pressed. “We’re all out here trying to get ready. Ace is a special pitcher, he’s got some of the best stuff in the big leagues and he’s got that light switch, he can turn it on and he knows his body and he knows where he needs to be so the last 12 pitches he was throwing real well.”

 

Saltalamacchia went on to heap effusive praise on the contentious 30-year-old hard thrower from Mexico.

 

“Just getting to know the guy over the past two years, there’s nobody who cares more about his teammates than him and you’ve got to be with him full time to see that,” Saltalamacchia said. "A lot of people see what goes on the outside, they don’t see what comes in the clubhouse and he’s a different player but we all are. He’s got the ability to slow the game down and the pitches are unbelievable. He can throw any pitch at any point. We’ve see it. He’s a special pitcher.”

 

Outfielder Jonny Gomes had a little more fun with the situation.

 

“I don’t know what he was doing, you’ve got to talk to him,” Gomes said jokingly when asked if maybe Aceves was just trying to make him feel more comfortable out there. “But, yeah, got some good swings.”

 

If Aceves was trying to build Gomes’ confidence, the new Red Sox left fielder said he appreciated it.

 

Aceves is no stranger to controversy and erratic behavior.

 

Last September, when Aceves was taken out of a game in the seventh inning, he left it to Saltalamacchia to hand the ball to former manager Bobby Valentine. Aceves left the mound from the third base side, clearly to avoid locking eyes with Valentine.

 

On Sept. 1, Aceves got into a heated discussion with Dustin Pedroia in the dugout in Oakland after making a series of pickoff throws the second baseman wasn’t expecting. The two had to be separated.

 

Last August, Aceves was suspended for three games for an incident that included slamming the door of Valentine’s office after an angry discussion regarding his not being used in a game.

 

Now Farrell wants to start with a clean slate regardless of what transgressions took place under Valentine.

 

“Start everybody fresh,” Farrell said of his philosophy with the 2013 squad. “What took place last year, I can’t speak to first-hand. I can get background on certain situations. I think it’s important that not only Alfredo but every other guy in our clubhouse, we build that relationship and earn that trust along the way. Still getting to know [his personality]. Just from across the field, he’s a heck of a competitor and a very talented pitcher. I’m starting to gain my own personal history with him right now. We had a part of that discussion today.”

[jung]

Relievers don't make the kind of money starters make with closers usually somewhere in the middle. Some players lately seem to be getting really amped up about the kind of money that might be out there for them under the right set of circumstances.

 

Seems to me that Alfredo is pushing on a rope if this is the Alfredo should be starting thing all over again. Where in baseball will Alfredo get more exposure combined with a rotation that might just give him his shot? He really has the best situation he could hope for without having proven that he should be starting somewhere yet. He just needs to be ready for his opportunity if and when it comes. I would be shocked if a few spot start opportunities did not arise for the usual suspects this season. Maybe the Sox should put Alfredo at the head of that list.

[mvp 78]

The reports are really all over the place. Abraham and McAdam saying it's not a big deal. Cafardo mentioning BV (shocker there). Others stating more in line with what you guys have posted.

 

Frankly, we all know he's nuts. I don't think this issue has changed my mind about that. If seems that Farrell and Nieves handled it well. If it happens again, then ghere's a story. For now, I think it's being blown out of proportion.