2013 Spring Training

[VA Sox Fan]

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.

 

A very big help. I'm looking forward to seeing how our SP does. I, like a lot of us, would be so psyched to have meaningful games in September. Maybe they'll all actually stay healthy this season. Need as many positives that we can get with Papi's uncertain status.

[jung]

I can see why so many experts see Rubby's upside as a reliever and not a starter. I have already commented several times regarding his inconsistency.

 

If I had to guess, Rubby pre-injury had lived off his stuff for too long. He seems so disinterested on the mound, like his expectation is that he can turn it on anytime he wants to and just blow people away whenever he feels like it. The truth is you can almost get all the way to the ML doing that kinda' s*** if your stuff is good enough. However if a pitcher has that kind of head attached to that kind or arm, he often ends up getting in his own way too much to truly learn how to become a pitcher instead of a thrower. I would love to know how Rubby handles bad outings. Is he willing to look in the mirror and tell himself he really stank up the place today or does he have every excuse under the sun ready. The home plate ump screwed me. The wind was blowing out. Stupid left fielder dropped the ball etc etc.

[who]

Sox have a lot of questions heading in to this season.

 

It appears they have given up on Iglesias as a top of the line prospect, the Sox media group is pumping Bradley and Ruby down our throat while Iglesias seems to be an afterthought.

[a700hitter]

Rubby with 2 stinkers in a row.

[who]

Rubby with 2 stinkers in a row.

 

He throws hard. He is not Pedro II. No way LA was giving him up if they truly valued him knowing they were taking on that amount of salary. In LA's mind, they got rid of a bunch of spare parts to take on the amount of salary they were taking on in that trade.

[jung]

I really wish they had shortened Iggy's stroke earlier than this. He definitely looks better swinging the bat than I have ever seen him but he is not really getting anything for it. I don't think he really has more than this year to impress with B's right on his tail. I still think he will eventually play for somebody....less and less likely that it will be the Sox.

[a700hitter]

He throws hard. He is not Pedro II. No way LA was giving him up if they truly valued him knowing they were taking on that amount of salary. In LA's mind, they got rid of a bunch of spare parts to take on the amount of salary they were taking on in that trade.

Yep, salary dump was a great move, but whether it can even be called a trade depends on what Rubby and Wester can do.

[who]

I really wish they had shortened Iggy's stroke earlier than this. He definitely looks better swinging the bat than I have ever seen him but he is not really getting anything for it. I don't think he really has more than this year to impress with B's right on his tail. I still think he will eventually play for somebody....less and less likely that it will be the Sox.

 

You are right, he will most likely play for a ton of people. Those people will be most likely AA baseball fans.

[seabeachfred]

I can see why so many experts see Rubby's upside as a reliever and not a starter. I have already commented several times regarding his inconsistency.

 

If I had to guess, Rubby pre-injury had lived off his stuff for too long. He seems so disinterested on the mound, like his expectation is that he can turn it on anytime he wants to and just blow people away whenever he feels like it. The truth is you can almost get all the way to the ML doing that kinda' s*** if your stuff is good enough. However if a pitcher has that kind of head attached to that kind or arm, he often ends up getting in his own way too much to truly learn how to become a pitcher instead of a thrower. I would love to know how Rubby handles bad outings. Is he willing to look in the mirror and tell himself he really stank up the place today or does he have every excuse under the sun ready. The home plate ump screwed me. The wind was blowing out. Stupid left fielder dropped the ball etc etc.

 

 

Again Jung, this was brought up by me yesterday and it got some people's balls all in an uproar. I saw him pitch for the Dodgers a lot two years ago when they brought him up. Hell, they were on TV every night out here in Los Angeles. To be perfectly honest, DeLaRosa was crappy. He threw, he did not pitch. He went into the deep count on most hitters and got hit hard because his fast ball was as straight as a tack. Now he was younger then and immature but we have to keep in mind that he hadn't learned to pitch and then underwent TJ surgery and that may have taken some heat away from his pitches. He still doesn't know HOW to pitch but if he learns and they work with him he has a good enough arm to become a good relief pitcher....HE IS NOT A STARTER BY ANY MEANS.

[who]

Yep, salary dump was a great move, but whether it can even be called a trade depends on what Rubby and Wester can do.

 

Regardless, that deal had to be made. It would have been nice if Ruby turned out to be Pedro II, but that was not likely. The fact they got rid of those contracts was a miracle for the Redsox.

[mvp 78]

He throws hard. He is not Pedro II. No way LA was giving him up if they truly valued him knowing they were taking on that amount of salary. In LA's mind, they got rid of a bunch of spare parts to take on the amount of salary they were taking on in that trade.

 

They gave up the prospects for AGon, the player they valued the most (big name, Mexican heritage, from SoCal).

[who]

They gave up the prospects for AGon, the player they valued the most (big name, Mexican heritage, from SoCal).

 

Were they really considered prospects, or just filler?

[mvp 78]

Were they really considered prospects, or just filler?

 

Webster and Rubby have been top 100 prospects. Sands was more of the filler type (fringe prospect).

[seabeachfred]

Regardless, that deal had to be made. It would have been nice if Ruby turned out to be Pedro II, but that was not likely. The fact they got rid of those contracts was a miracle for the Redsox.

 

I take it you might not be too aware of DeLaRosa at this time but I can tell you he is not and never will be another Pedro Martinez, and the proof is how they performed when they were first called up to the Dodgers. DLR was hit hard, overthrew and was behind most of the hitters. He simply looked crappy . Martinez came up in 1993 and if memory served me right went something like 7-2 with an ERA under 3.00. He was especially tough against the arch rival Giants that season but was traded when the portly and big mouth Tommy LaPasta LaSorda claimed he didn't have the size or strength to be a quality front line pitcher. Yes Tommy is a big hero out here but as far as I'm concerned he isn't worth s*** as a judge of talent. He's also the guy who traded young Paul Konerko for some over the hill closer named Jeff Shaw who pitched two average years and then retired.

 

DeLaRosa was dumped by the Dodgers. They felt Zack Lee and a couple of others were better gambles than DLR was. We may get lucky with the guy but we could easily get ourselves a real dud as well. The jury will be out awhile on him.

[mvp 78]

The Dodgers thought very highly of Rubby, didn't want to include him in numerous deals at the deadline and believed he was a future big league starter.

 

http://articles.latimes.com/2011/may/24/sports/la-sp-0525-dodgers-fyi-20110525

[a700hitter]

The Dodgers have been very effective throughout the years of overhyping their prospects.

[mvp 78]

The Dodgers have been very effective throughout the years of overhyping their prospects.

 

Not nearly as well as the Yanks though.

[a700hitter]

Not nearly as well as the Yanks though.

Both teams have been doing it for ages.

[mvp 78]

In the end though, outside sources like Keith Law think Webster and Rubby are the 2 best arms in the Sox minor leagues. Clearly, these guys weren't just filler or the result of a hype machine.

[mvp 78]

All teams have been doing it for ages.

FIFY

[who]

The Dodgers have been very effective throughout the years of overhyping their prospects.

 

Redsox are pretty good at it as well. Look at Casey Kelly and Jose Iglesias. My Cubbies did well with Anthony Rizzo thought

[Spitball]

Redsox are pretty good at it as well. Look at Casey Kelly and Jose Iglesias. My Cubbies did well with Anthony Rizzo thought

 

Though?

 

In fact, we do not know yet on Kelly, Iglesias, or Rizzo.

[a700hitter]

Redsox are pretty good at it as well. Look at Casey Kelly and Jose Iglesias. My Cubbies did well with Anthony Rizzo thought

Lars, Kalish

[SoxSport]

Pressure building for Bradley to play LF, Gomes DH. But bringing him up the end of April adds another control season. More likely the priority.

[jacksonianmarch]

Pressure building for Bradley to play LF, Gomes DH. But bringing him up the end of April adds another control season. More likely the priority.

 

I believe it is after May. The line moves on a yearly basis, but it usually is around June 1. Exactly the time the Rays are expected to call Will Myers up

[SoxSport]

I believe it is after May. The line moves on a yearly basis, but it usually is around June 1. Exactly the time the Rays are expected to call Will Myers up

 

Just read Myers is end of April. Thought Bradley would be the same. What is Bradley's date?

[SoxFanForsyth]

So, now because of a couple bad outings, De La Rosa is a no talent bum that was overrated? That's not very fair at all.

 

Can I remind some of you that Papelbon allowed 7 ER over 8 H in his first 1.2 IP this year?

 

Cole Hamels got obliterated by the Dominican team, 12 H, 8 ER in 2.2 IP.

 

Steven Strasburg, Clayton Kershaw, and Matt Cain all have ERA's over 5 in ST.

 

I understand pessimism is in some of the posters nature, but downplaying our prospects just to downplay our prospects is just silly.

[jacksonianmarch]

For established vets, ST means nothing. For rookies, it means next to nothing, but it is a little bit strange that a guy with a slim shot at stating the yr in the bigs has taken a nosedive. I still stand by my prediction with Rubby. He's more closer than starter

[SoxFanForsyth]

I find it very, very, very interesting that Rubby was throwing well until Farrell came out and told the media "He's going to start in the minors. He's either going to start in Portland or Pawtucket".

 

After Farrell made those comments, De La Rosa plunged. Not saying it's what caused his plunge, I'm just saying that it's an interesting order of events.

 

After having success at the MLB level in 2011, having to take the entire year off in 2012, and hearing that you're going to be demoted potentially to AA in 2013 has got to be pretty frustrating for a guy who likely was anticipating an early-to-mid season call up for at least a few spot starts.

[jacksonianmarch]

It could be. Thing is, when these fireballers show up in camp and start hitting triple digits, the casual fan goes gaga and these kids might not know what to do with the newfound notoriety. He's still gotta keep his location in check. He reminds me a lot of Jose Ramirez on the Yankee side. The only difference is that Rubby never had good command in the minors, while Ramirez is coming off his first minor league season where he located well