2013 Spring Training

[rjortiz]

Bradley goes yard.

[seabeachfred]

Going back 20 years

The Red Sox have won the division in 1995, and 2007.

The Red Sox won the WS title in 2004 and 2007.

The Red Sox have had a AL League title zero times.

 

Essentially what you're saying is that you think the Red Sox have failed 90% of the time. If that's how you see this team, then we're going to argue a lot.

 

I respect you a lot Palodios and want no beef with you except a friendly argument now and then. We each have our own idea of what constitutes success and failure and I think the old coach in me simplifies things such as winning and losing. More extreme than you? Yes!

More extreme than normal? Yes again. There are teams that think that way like the Yankees, the Dodgers, the Angels, the Cardinals and maybe one or two others. Do I want to be like them? Hell no!!!!, but I want to see our team in title contention every year. OK, we don't have to win every year but we have to better than one division title in 17 years, two AL Pennants in 26 years and two WS Titles in 94 years. I think we should expect a little better success than that.

[Bellhorn04]

Bradley goes yard.

 

Looks like it really is gonna be hard to keep this guy down on the farm...

[seabeachfred]

I had a front row seat for another forum (Sawxheads) blowing up because the 'positives' and the 'negatives' developed such a hate for each other. It got to the point where the posts were much more about people fighting with each other than they were about baseball. It was sort of funny but mostly ridiculous.

 

Bellhorn, tell the story in full instead of creasing at the margins. Unlike here where no one completely predicted accurately what exactly was going down in 2012, on Sawxheads there were predictions and one side called it down to a tee while the other insisted that we were wrong, disloyal, off our rockers and predicted total success. Remember the post on July 26 2011? If you don't you don't remember anything of what riled both camps. It was after one side proved itself correct and a couple of posters came out with I TOLD YOU SO'S, and the other side's refusal to accept it, it was then they fled to another board.

 

Now personally I think it has gotten a little hot here and I would suggest we should all try to cool down a little, 700, Jung, me, Sox Sport and the rest of the crew. I can't help thinking that if we were coming off a much better season than we were, the feelings here wouldn't seem to heated as they are now. I'm suggesting now that we shitcan whether Ortiz should have been signed or not, and maybe try soft peddling the last five years and get down to the nitty gritty of the here and now, what is needed to restore the Red Sox to prominance---something that would make all of us smile.

 

Any chance of the 2013 Red Sox becoming an over-achieving team???? I think that would relieve a lot of angst, tension and frustration.

[iortiz]

I didn't gloat down the stretch in 2011 even though I warned that we were circling the drain on or around September 1st. You were here then, so you know that too. I don't know why you are jumping in to pick fight with me with really nothing to back up what you are saying? Do we need to go doen this road? As for the offseason 2011, it was brutal, but you were part of it. My recollection is that the biggest argument that offseason was over whether DC was a big market-- not even a Red Sox topic.

 

Predict the exact record is near to the impossible; important thing to notice is that that our team is going to likely accomplish a lustrum of failure with one of the top payrolls in baseball.

 

Now, what worries me more going forward, is that I have no clue how much more time is going to take to right this ship, a decade?

[rjortiz]

Bradley draws a walk. Another great AB by him. They should just cut Gomes and play him in LF.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Bradley draws a walk. Another great AB by him. They should just cut Gomes and play him in LF.

 

Followed by an RBI Double in his 3rd PA.

 

That would be 2-2 with a HR, an RBI Double, and a BB.

 

He's now hitting .520.

 

Say what you want about the competition, I don't care. What's the expectation for a good hitter against a bad pitcher? Domination. And that's exactly what Bradley is doing.

 

Point blank, this kid needs to be the LH bat in LF, especially while Ortiz is down and out.

 

And it's not close.

[BSN07]

Please accept my personal congratulations BSN on your adopted country's win over those Communist bastards. A good day for all of us.

 

lol thanks Fred

[iortiz]

Followed by an RBI Double in his 3rd PA.

 

That would be 2-2 with a HR, an RBI Double, and a BB.

 

He's now hitting .520.

 

Say what you want about the competition, I don't care. What's the expectation for a good hitter against a bad pitcher? Domination. And that's exactly what Bradley is doing.

 

Point blank, this kid needs to be the LH bat in LF, especially while Ortiz is down and out.

 

And it's not close.

 

I wouldn't mind to give our prospects a chance this year since this year looks like we ain't going anywhere. This year could help them to gain some experience.

[RedSoxNC84]

Ugh can't get the game here, so I have to watch the Yankees and Cardinals

[VA Sox Fan]

Bradley's tearing it up in today's ST game!

[BSN07]

I wouldn't mind to give our prospects a chance this year since this year looks like we ain't going anywhere. This year could help them to gain some experience.

 

So your selling on the season already before even seeing what this group can do together? Ok well you have no reason to be back on here until October. See you then.

[rjortiz]

RuBBBy De La RosAAA

[Palodios]

I respect you a lot Palodios and want no beef with you except a friendly argument now and then. We each have our own idea of what constitutes success and failure and I think the old coach in me simplifies things such as winning and losing. More extreme than you? Yes!

More extreme than normal? Yes again. There are teams that think that way like the Yankees, the Dodgers, the Angels, the Cardinals and maybe one or two others. Do I want to be like them? Hell no!!!!, but I want to see our team in title contention every year. OK, we don't have to win every year but we have to better than one division title in 17 years, two AL Pennants in 26 years and two WS Titles in 94 years. I think we should expect a little better success than that.

 

Much appreciated Fred. We just see things differently-- I think that going to the playoffs is a solid season, and I think it'd be silly to consider that a failure. The problem we seem to face in New England is that we always look at two teams.... The Yankees, and the Patriots. Both teams are arguably the best-run franchises in their respective sports and our expectations end up too high.

 

The Rays are well-run, but their PR department is has less talent than the Red Sox's talent evaluatprs. The Angels have the best player since Barry Bonds, and still couldn't make the playoffs. World Series titles are some combination of luck, organizational skill... and often picking up elite players in the draft.

 

There will be peaks and valleys. This is definitely a valley. The problem is, many of us ballwashers don't want to be reminded of misery. They need some luck, and maybe some organizational skill, but based on the players here and the weakness in the AL East, this team has a chance to make the playoffs. Don't forget that.

[kapsis21]

RuBBBy De La RosAAA

 

is he pitching today, dang i am at work..

[rjortiz]

No control of his pitches today.

[rjortiz]

Wow, he's getting destroyed.

[RedSoxNC84]

RDLR Not looking so hot right now.

[kapsis21]

Wow, he's getting destroyed.

 

we have the worst fuking luck with pitching prospects. glad its only ST

[iortiz]

So your selling on the season already before even seeing what this group can do together? Ok well you have no reason to be back on here until October. See you then.

 

it's not just me, most of people think that way.

 

On the other hand, I really wish we make PO this year.

[RedSoxNC84]

Another hit by Bradley

[VA Sox Fan]

Wow, he's getting destroyed.

 

At least Lester pitched well today.

[BSN07]

This is why some of us have been saying all along DLR needs time in the minors and shouldn't be rushed into the rotation after one good outing in ST.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

it's not just me, most of people think that way.

 

On the other hand, I really wish we make PO this year.

 

Most people think the season won't be good. At least let the season play out and then criticize.

[Big Guy]

i think we will be great this year! The Sox will battle for the ALE crown and a WC spot right down into the last week of the season! WHO KNOWS WHAT WILL HAPPEN! But we can hope! I have high hopes for Lester, Buch, WMB and Ells in particular! LETS GO!

[seabeachfred]

Much appreciated Fred. We just see things differently-- I think that going to the playoffs is a solid season, and I think it'd be silly to consider that a failure. The problem we seem to face in New England is that we always look at two teams.... The Yankees, and the Patriots. Both teams are arguably the best-run franchises in their respective sports and our expectations end up too high.

 

The Rays are well-run, but their PR department is has less talent than the Red Sox's talent evaluatprs. The Angels have the best player since Barry Bonds, and still couldn't make the playoffs. World Series titles are some combination of luck, organizational skill... and often picking up elite players in the draft.

 

There will be peaks and valleys. This is definitely a valley. The problem is, many of us ballwashers don't want to be reminded of misery. They need some luck, and maybe some organizational skill, but based on the players here and the weakness in the AL East, this team has a chance to make the playoffs. Don't forget that.

 

Ballwasher???? Not you my friend. I have never considered you one. You are cautiously optimistic with the glass half full and not half empty. Nothing wrong with that and that is admirable as far as I'm concerned. Believe me, though, I wish we could blot out the last year and that month from our collective memories---and maybe we can if we can get off to a decent start and make a surprise run in the AL East. With Papi maybe gone, we need hitting and why not put Jackie in the lineup. I know ST phenoms often flame out when the real pitching starts but I'm convinced Bradley is the real thing. Another hitter with speed on the bases with add another dimension to the team. We can then keep Gomes as our RH DH and platoon him with one of our lefties. Something I think we should start thinking about.

[seabeachfred]

we have the worst fuking luck with pitching prospects. glad its only ST

 

It's got to get better kapsis and I think it will Barnes and Webster look like they could come into their own as solid starters and we can sure us some luck in that department because, as you said, we have the worst efen luck with pitching prospects.

 

As for DeLaRosa I mentioned yesterday the chorus of some angry retorts that while this guy has a power arm, he does not know how to pitch yet and he also isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer. It may take a little more time with him---and just in case you don't know I have said relief pitching is the best place for him. That also brought down the house a little. Today we saw why we shouldn't get carried away with him yet.

[mvp 78]

I wouldn't mind to give our prospects a chance this year since this year looks like we ain't going anywhere. This year could help them to gain some experience.

 

Yeah, I wanted open competition for SS and RF. Salty should have been traded and Lavs should catch 50% of the games.

 

In 2014, a SP slot should be open for Webster/Rubby/Barnes/whoever is most ready. I don't think any of them are ready right now. If Webster pitches well in AAA, I'd bring him up in the 2nd half of this year.

[mvp 78]

This is why some of us have been saying all along DLR needs time in the minors and shouldn't be rushed into the rotation after one good outing in ST.

 

Yeah, he's a 2nd half reliever call up at best as I'd be wary of increasing his innings too much.

[mvp 78]

At least Lester pitched well today.

 

If he can return to form, it'd be such a big help to this team. "If" he and Buchholz could pitch to their potential and the others don't fall apart, this team could indeed play meaningful games in September.