2013 Spring Training

[SouthieFanatic]

The bench is so thin that it wouldn't surprise me if Bogaerts was playing up here before August/September too. If they can get Bradley on the field 75% of the time then keep him up here. Ellsbury will get dinged up this year at least once or twice, let's be real about this. I don't know what the Sox think long term of Ellsbury, but my guess is they are probably gonna take a good amount of calls regarding Ellsbury. Do the sox really need Gomes as an everyday player? Of course not, give it to the kid who has more to gain, and from what i've seen is a way better player. Bradley is a great athlete, changing from CF to LF or RF will not be a problem

[Cano In Dodger Blue]

The only position on the bench that's thin is 3B. We've got the best backup catcher in baseball, we've got Brock and Ciriaco competing for the middle infield. We've got Nava, Carp and Overbay competing for first.

 

No need to call Bradley up to begin the season. We're better off letting him play full time in the minors, at least until we delay his arbitration clock another year.

[SouthieFanatic]

The only position on the bench that's thin is 3B. We've got the best backup catcher in baseball, we've got Brock and Ciriaco competing for the middle infield. We've got Nava, Carp and Overbay competing for first.

 

No need to call Bradley up to begin the season. We're better off letting him play full time in the minors, at least until we delay his arbitration clock another year.

 

Brock and Ciriaco? I rest my case. This is the Boston Red Sox we're talking about here not the Pittsburgh Pirates. That's the luxury we have here in Boston, not having to worry about their arbitration clock. There are players in the minors who are better than some of the opening day roster players. I keep hearing people worrying about the "Service Clock". I'm sure Bradley won't get up and leave Boston the first chance he gets

[mvp 78]

The same BoSox that won 69 games last year. Holt and Coriaco are fine for a non-playoff bound team like the Sox. Worrying about the 25th man is wasted effort. There are way more important issues on this team.

[SouthieFanatic]

The same BoSox that won 69 games last year. Holt and Coriaco are fine for a non-playoff bound team like the Sox. Worrying about the 25th man is wasted effort. There are way more important issues on this team.

 

Yeah, like finding Bradley some playing time. I don't understand why people are not arguing Bradley over Gomes. I mean for one Bradley needs playing time, he has shown he can be productive at every level so far, and with all due respect to Gomes but he sucks compared to Bradley. Just shift him over there for a year, it's not that drastic of a change from CF. It's not like he's going from CF to 3B or anything

[mvp 78]

If I were GM, Ells would have been gone by now. Victorino could takeover in CF with JBJ coming up when ready.

 

Gomes is an ok option for a no glove/power bat in LF.

[SouthieFanatic]

If I were GM, Ells would have been gone by now. Victorino could takeover in CF with JBJ coming up when ready.

 

Gomes is an ok option for a no glove/power bat in LF.

 

Well I can't argue with that first line. Maybe they'll move him long before the deadline

[mvp 78]

Also, after going through his twitter feed, I'm now a huge Brock Holt fan...

[wyo-sox]

I would call the Dodgers and offer to trade Ells, then play Bradley everyday... they need an outfielder Crawford is already injured I hear....I'm sure they would like another glass outfielder from Boston.

[SouthieFanatic]

I would call the Dodgers and offer to trade Ells, then play Bradley everyday... they need an outfielder Crawford is already injured I hear....I'm sure they would like another glass outfielder from Boston.

 

3000 Miles isn't enough distance from Jacoby for me

[jung]

If I really felt like JBJ vs Gomes would be the dif between really going somewhere this season and not, I think I would be forced to risk it and bring up JBJ sooner rather than later. As it is I just don't think that is the dif. Too many other unknowns on this team and the payoff for many of the unknowns just does not seem that great. Plus it will take a grand total of one thing to send this season into a complete tailspin....Ortiz has his balky Achilles finally just explodes on him or he sustains some other injury that keeps him out of the lineup for an extended period. The Sox just don't have an answer for that one and the risk seems pretty high given his age and what has transpired with Ortiz since the Achilles injury.

 

There is a big difference between the rigors of a ML season and bouncing around playing AA or even AAA ball. Would really like to see a bit more meat on JBJ's bones before exposing him to a full ML season. I would be OK with seeing him come up after the June deadline this year if they are going to have him up this year. The problem is that he does need to play. So if he is up here he has to play. Hence, I would rather see him up later rather than sooner.

 

Maybe a perfect situation would be Ells plays well and injury free allowing the Sox to dangle him for something decent coming back. At this point they might be better off getting something for him instead of having him the full season and then getting nothing for him. They make a trade and bring up JBJ.

[NYlove4BoSox]

Ells has no trade value. We have more to gain from a year of production from him than trading him. This is not a lost year by any means. I say the AL East is the most open division in baseball. Let Bradley mature at a normal rate.

[Cano In Dodger Blue]

Also, after going through his twitter feed, I'm now a huge Brock Holt fan...

 

Holt should make for a solid utility infielder. It's not everyday you get someone who's hit .317/.381/.427 (.808) in the minors as a throw-in. And his numbers have gotten better as he' worked his way up in the levels. He hit .344/.406/.453 last year between AA and AAA.

[BSN07]

3000 Miles isn't enough distance from Jacoby for me

 

And there it is. I was wondering when your agenda would pop up. Your emotional tie up with Ells is whats not letting you see logic when it comes to Bradley.

[Cano In Dodger Blue]

Brock and Ciriaco? I rest my case. This is the Boston Red Sox we're talking about here not the Pittsburgh Pirates. That's the luxury we have here in Boston, not having to worry about their arbitration clock. There are players in the minors who are better than some of the opening day roster players. I keep hearing people worrying about the "Service Clock". I'm sure Bradley won't get up and leave Boston the first chance he gets

 

What does you expect from a backup middle infielder, a .800 OPS and gold glove caliber defense? Free agents go where they're paid. The idea that we should't worry about his arbitration clock because he'll be loyal to a team he's yet to play a game for is ridiculous.

[rjortiz]

Brock and Ciriaco? I rest my case. This is the Boston Red Sox we're talking about here not the Pittsburgh Pirates. That's the luxury we have here in Boston, not having to worry about their arbitration clock. There are players in the minors who are better than some of the opening day roster players. I keep hearing people worrying about the "Service Clock". I'm sure Bradley won't get up and leave Boston the first chance he gets

 

JBJ has had about 200 AB's at AA ball, and posted an .807 OPS. He's probably not even ready yet.

[mvp 78]

Holt should make for a solid utility infielder. It's not everyday you get someone who's hit .317/.381/.427 (.808) in the minors as a throw-in. And his numbers have gotten better as he' worked his way up in the levels. He hit .344/.406/.453 last year between AA and AAA.

 

You could do far worse for a back up...

[Cano In Dodger Blue]

JBJ has had about 200 AB's at AA ball, and posted an .807 OPS. He's probably not even ready yet.

 

Ah, the voice of reason. A player out of AA, hitting well in 5 February Spring Training games is meaningless. I have serious doubts about the baseball knowledge of anyone who would draw conclusions from Spring Training performance on March 1st.

[jung]

Ells probably does not have much trade value...who knows....depends on which team is on the other end and and what they intend. Not a decision they have to make today. JBJ vs Gomes is still not the dif for the 2013 edition of the Sox.

 

Lester and Buch in the rotation and Ortiz in the lineup are just about the whole story for the 2013 Sox. Don't like at all the way the Ortiz Achilles situation has been playing out as the dialog has not even once matched his ability to get back onto the field since the 2012 re-injury. If I had to guess, I would guess that his Achilles is resting on a hair trigger. The clock just seems to keep ticking as we apparently wait for it to finally feel comfortable enough to David. Even when that day comes, it could still explode on him.

[mvp 78]

Runner up to 2011 MVP has no trade value?

[SouthieFanatic]

Ah, the voice of reason. A player out of AA, hitting well in 5 February Spring Training games is meaningless. I have serious doubts about the baseball knowledge of anyone who would draw conclusions from Spring Training performance on March 1st.

 

I'm not drawing a conclusion. I'm simply stating facts here. Gomes vs Bradley hmmm that's a real tough one. So many people try to baby these guys through the minors. Also AA ball is a huge step up from Single A ball, nobody will argue that. As far as the difference between AA and AAA though? Very little difference. The competition level between AA and AAA is way closer than A to AA

[jung]

It is the time remaining under contract that is the one issue against his value in the short run. A team trading for him has his rights till the end of the 2013 season only. He is a FA after this season.

 

Long term, there are issues about his fragility and whether he can ever really be expected to duplicate those 2011 numbers ever again. A good, injury free first half could go a long way in that regard. But, at the end of the day, unless he signs an extension then the team trading for him has him till the end of this season only. Hard to expect a team to give up that much for half or less of a season of production.

 

I would be willing to bet the entire Sox front office has instructions to keep phone numbers for the LA Dodgers Brass available at all times. No telling how whacky that bunch might be willing to get.

[SouthieFanatic]

And there it is. I was wondering when your agenda would pop up. Your emotional tie up with Ells is whats not letting you see logic when it comes to Bradley.

 

I just saw this and no by no means am I a Jacoby-Hater. I just think he's too fragile to sign to a long term deal. And watch it be the Sox front office sign him to a long term deal after a great season this year. Of course he's gonna play well this season, it's a contract season. Then next year he'll go down with a suspect hamstring injury. Deja vu?

[Palodios]

But, at the end of the day, unless he signs an extension then the team trading for him has him till the end of this season only. Hard to expect a team to give up that much for half or less of a season of production. .

 

Let me put this into perspective you. How many prospects would you give up for one season of Cabrera? One season of Felix Hernandez? One season of Prince Fielder?

 

His 2011 value was better than the best season of any of those guys, and we're talking about 2-3 WAR difference from their best seasons.The question isn't in what value does one year of a player go for. The question is, can he prove to other teams that he can play to that level again.

[NYlove4BoSox]

Runner up to 2011 MVP has no trade value?

 

You gotta assume Cherry was/is getting offers. And then he assumes the potential upside is greater from keeping him. No one is going to offer MVP runner up type of trade bait. They'll focus the injury prone angle and offer accordingly. It seems like a 50/50 shot considering all possible outcomes, according to all the different oppinions of sports writers and such.

[mvp 78]

What's the upside to keeping Ells? Tv ratings? A 1st round pick after he leaves? Hoping he has a mediocre season so they can resign him?

[Cano In Dodger Blue]

What's the upside to keeping Ells? Tv ratings? A 1st round pick after he leaves? Hoping he has a mediocre season so they can resign him?

 

The chance to compete in a soft AL East, the chance to get more for him later if he's healthy and raises his value, the chance of getting a draft pick if he walks. I think we're probably something like an 81-85 win team, which puts a playoff spot within striking distance. Makes more sense to at least attempt to compete, and if not trade Ellsbury when his stock is higher.

[BSN07]

I just saw this and no by no means am I a Jacoby-Hater. I just think he's too fragile to sign to a long term deal. And watch it be the Sox front office sign him to a long term deal after a great season this year. Of course he's gonna play well this season, it's a contract season. Then next year he'll go down with a suspect hamstring injury. Deja vu?

 

If he has a good season Boras will price him out of Boston as weird as that sounds.

 

Ellsbury has value right now but it's hurt by his injury history. It's best to hold onto him and hope he stays healthy and produces to increase his trade value. It's good for all scenarios. Jacoby good, Red Sox stink, they trade him to a contender. A Beltran type return is very possible. If Jacoby is good and the Red Sox are good, they keep him, offer him a QO and collect the pick from Seattle after they give him 100M+ lol. If they both stink they can trade him for whatever as they probably won't be offering a QO anyways. And Bradley comes up to replace him, giving us all something to look forward to next season.

 

 

The other scenario is trade him now for probably lackluster return, rush Bradley from AA to ML and hope it doesn't screw him up.

[BSN07]

What's the upside to keeping Ells? Tv ratings? A 1st round pick after he leaves? Hoping he has a mediocre season so they can resign him?

 

Whats the upside in trading him now? Bradley has had like 300 AB's at AA. Last time I checked he wasn't Harper or Trout. So I don't see the need to create a spot for him when they really don't need to.

[Cano In Dodger Blue]

Whats the upside in trading him now? Bradley has had like 300 AB's at AA. Last time I checked he wasn't Harper or Trout. So I don't see the need to create a spot for him when they really don't need to.

 

Yup, this would be common sense.

 

Next time someone has an idea here, you should check out Sons of Sam Horn, see if other people there are being made fun of for suggesting a similarly ridiculous or outlandish idea and then proceed accordingly. That web site is like this one except they don't constantly troll/flame eachother and they know their baseball.