2013 Spring Training

[seabeachfred]

Holy Cannoli!!!!

 

Just a scare, nothing torn, nothing broken!!!

 

Thank goodness!!!

 

@TimBritton: Middlebrooks said no pain as of now, probably could have stayed in game. Just an awkward feeling on an awkward swing in spot of break.

 

Screw it!!!!! Check this guy out tomorrow, Friday, Saturday and Sunday if we have to. Make sure he is fully healed before they put him back in a game. They might also try teaching their players to simply drop the bat when they attempt a check swing. This is taught in many of the high school and college programs in California. Checking your swing can be a very dangerous maneuver since it puts tremendous pressure on the wrist. I always worked with my players to avoid doing that by simply letting the bat fall. It might look funny but it a helluva lot safer than injuring your wrist.

 

I also wonder if Middlebrooks has had trouble with his wrists before. Some severe wrist exercises can also help.

[a700hitter]

Wow Vaz was impressive throwing runners out from behind the plate. Somebody educate me on him? Where is he at developmentally on his journey to the bigs?

Nice quick release. It was unusual to see from a Red Sox catcher.

[Dojji]

If Middlebrooks is out for a couple of months and Bogey gets off to a hot start, you don't think they might give him a chance?

 

Not out of camp. If Bogaerts makes it obvious he belongs in the majors before WMB gets back, we'll see.

 

For now, I strongly suspect the plan will involve letting Holt and/or Ciriaco try to make the job their own. Which is going to create a window for Bogaerts if he gets out the gate well in AAA. There's no denying that if Bogearts is in any way ready, he can outperform those players. But I feel comfortable saying there is no chance at all that Bogaerts breaks camp with the team. It's a bridge too far for a very conservative franchise when it comes to promotions.

[Dojji]

Wow Vaz was impressive throwing runners out from behind the plate. Somebody educate me on him? Where is he at developmentally on his journey to the bigs?

 

Vazquez is probably going to be in AA, behind Lavarnway developmentally. He's a guy who isn't going to provide much offense at the big league level unfortunately. He has solid OBP ability but no power, and that lack of ability to drive the ball will catch up with him at the big league level.

 

Unless you're committed to being perfectly content with a .230 hitter in your everyday lineup, you're looking at a backup catcher.

 

With that said, he's quite young, going to be 22 this year, and maybe he does have the ability to provide something more than I expect offensively. And the Iglesias Rule applies. If you're sure Vazquez can stand 120 games as the starting catcher without his defense slipping, you might take that tradeoff and count yourself happy. Since he played exactly 120 games last year between various levels -- a number I feel is no accident -- it seems possible.

 

Vazquez is certainly one of the more interesting dark horses this spring. It doesn't hurt that those not wowed by Lavarnway's D are desperate for an alternative, but Vazquez hasn't hurt his own chances either.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

I bet we don't see middlebrooks until june

 

I'd hate to see that happen, but as long as he's present July 19-21, I'm good.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Will Middlebrooks said that the pain is probably just from scar tissue breaking up.

 

I'm not sure how that feels, I know that he said he had to get some scar tissue broken up from his hammy and it hurt, and Pedroia said that he had some scar tissue broken up in his hand and it hurt really bad, so I would assume that's just what happened.

[a700hitter]

Will Middlebrooks said that the pain is probably just from scar tissue breaking up.

 

I'm not sure how that feels, I know that he said he had to get some scar tissue broken up from his hammy and it hurt, and Pedroia said that he had some scar tissue broken up in his hand and it hurt really bad, so I would assume that's just what happened.

We dodged a huge bullet if it was just scar tissue. He is a major cog in the lineup.

[a700hitter]

Is Middlebrooks starting to remind anyone of J.D. Drew from a Mr. Glass perspective?

 

We need WMB in the lineup everyday and producing. If he does not step up as an offensive threat, there is really no protection in the order for Ortiz. If WMB misses substantial time or underperforms, Papi will walk 130 tome this year. Napoli is not a cleanup hitter. He just is not.

[a700hitter]

I am making a special request of all TalkSox members for the good of the team. Please reach out to any contacts that you may have in the Sox organization or the press to get SFF flown down to Fort Myers for a one on one session of Frisbee with Salty.

[SoxFanForsyth]

WMB was checked this morning by the trainers, no ill effects from last night. No swelling, no pain. Looks like he's in the clear.

 

He's meeting with a wrist specialist today just to be 100% sure, and they're making a protective glove for him, but other than that he's all set. Said he could hit in the cage today but they're going to give him a day off.

 

Not sure I'd compare him to JD Drew because he came out of a spring training game for precautionary reasons.

 

He had a couple hammy issues early last year, but those were resolved until he got HBP. Nothing he could do about that.

 

Time will tell if he's got the injury bug, but for now I don't think there's anything pointing in that direction, IMO anyway.

[BSN07]

Will Middlebrooks said that the pain is probably just from scar tissue breaking up.

 

I'm not sure how that feels, I know that he said he had to get some scar tissue broken up from his hammy and it hurt, and Pedroia said that he had some scar tissue broken up in his hand and it hurt really bad, so I would assume that's just what happened.

 

Tearing scare tissue is very painful. I have a player who is coming back from shoulder surgery and he's just getting back into throwing and hes had some scar tissue build up and tear away.

 

 

Glad to hear Middlebrooks is looking better. I saw the swing when it happened last night and it look awful.

[SoxFanForsyth]

It's a beautiful thing. This is from today.

 

http://d3j5vwomefv46c.cloudfront.net/photos/large/738277155.jpg?key=8611148&Expires=1362073333&Key-Pair-Id=APKAIYVGSUJFNRFZBBTA&Signature=BHBH7x9s68-iL1iehecLEa2smh-Wpu7Wgy5jTu7ukD~eKW7W8w3gO3Fz2zlN6oS-KaHtritHR7WA14iJtOaAdi8pbehPQuw9OR53m~ei2pW~Rm9H6xVlf5FKqM1BmfS7qUPPxpn-Q3akWWgGxStiiZ-eBFog0I-Km7W7NTpNQaU_

[Station 13]

He should take it easy, no swinging till the weekend or after at least.

[BSN07]

They are saying he could play tomorrow.

[Station 13]

They are saying he could play tomorrow.

 

How that work out for Ortiz last season with 1 game and out again, yet to play a ST game?

[dupree]

How that work out for Ortiz last season with 1 game and out again, yet to play a ST game?

 

Yeah its just ST. I would hope he would not push it too much to get back in we need him more during the season to be healthy no need at all to rush back now.

 

Has anyone seen any time frame for Ortiz to be penciled into the lineup? Napoli is debuting tomorrow against the Pirates so im interested in seeing him for the 1st time this year.

[BSN07]

How that work out for Ortiz last season with 1 game and out again, yet to play a ST game?

 

Ya I didn't see why they couldn't give him a few days off. Maybe they will but they are basically saying its not a serious injury and if we wanted to he could play tomorrow. Not sure what context Farrell was using the phrase.

[SoxFanForsyth]

If he got checked out twice by the trainers and then an additional time by a wrist specialist and all of them said it's nothing other than some scar tissue breaking apart, and he feels completely fine, then why wouldn't we let him get back in the cage and get to playing again?

 

You don't have to be cautious just to be cautious. If the situation needs caution, fine, but don't just hold him out for no reason.

[BSN07]

It's the first week of an extended ST. And and all bumps, soreness, ripping of scar tissue should be handled carefully. There's no reason push it now. I'm not saying he should be stopping baseball activities. He should continue to hit and field, but kept out of live games for a couple days. I don't think it's a huge deal either way if they play him tomorrow or later this weekend.

[SouthieFanatic]

Jackie Bradley is ready right now! If Farrell is smart he'll get him a spot on the roster for this season. He can be a contributor to this team. I pray they don't start him in AAA. That's all, just needed to get that off my chest.

[BSN07]

Jackie Bradley is ready right now! If Farrell is smart he'll get him a spot on the roster for this season. He can be a contributor to this team. I pray they don't start him in AAA. That's all, just needed to get that off my chest.

 

It's pointless to start his service clock now. They can bring him up in May/June and not lose a year of team control. Some decisions are not all about the "now".

[SouthieFanatic]

It's pointless to start his service clock now. They can bring him up in May/June and not lose a year of team control. Some decisions are not all about the "now".

 

I think he's way above AAA competition at this point. To me it's pointless to keep him there

[dupree]

I think he's way above AAA competition at this point. To me it's pointless to keep him there

 

I have to say i agree with you to a point. I think bradley can help this team, but i dont think he has any experience in AAA the highest level he has been is AA and if a trade for Ellsbury is to be made they need to show him off in center. And the FO prolly likes not bringing him up early so to not lose a year of control.

 

But all that being said... I like what ive seen from him thus far in ST, if he continues to kill it in ST why not. Move Ellsbury to LF bradley in CF and Vic in RF let Gomes be the 4th outfielder and have either Carp or Nava be the 5th man that can also play 1B.

i just like the potential speed the outfield would have on defense and on the bases. It would definitely be a force to be reckoned with.

[mvp 78]

It's pointless to start his service clock now. They can bring him up in May/June and not lose a year of team control. Some decisions are not all about the "now".

 

Sox have enough money to not worry about the clock. They aren't KC...

[mvp 78]

I think he's way above AAA competition at this point. To me it's pointless to keep him there

 

Yeah, if he's ready to play, f***ing play him.

[BSN07]

I don't see the need to jump a guy right away from AA. It's ST. You can't judge if he's "ready" or not by these games. Especially in the first week. Pitchers are almost working exclusively on FB's. It's very easy to guess right in ST. There's no reason he should start out in AAA for a couple months.

 

And when your talking about the possible CF'er of the future who looks like he could be a game changer, you don't shave a year of control off him for an extra 2 months at the start of a season. I don't care if your KC or not. If he is as good as we all hope that would probably cost the team an extra 20M in the long run(5M estimate for Super 2 status, 15M for the year of control they lose at the end).

 

LAA and WAS both teams with plenty of money started Harper and Trout in the minors to start the season to save a year on control.

[NYlove4BoSox]

With all our injuries and necessary call-ups over the last couple years, I've seen a consistency: Guys come up. They hit the snot out of the ball for about a month. Pitchers adjust, and the batter does not. I believe in the concept that players need to learn to deal with struggles at AAA. Give him time.

[Bellhorn04]

With all our injuries and necessary call-ups over the last couple years, I've seen a consistency: Guys come up. They hit the snot out of the ball for about a month. Pitchers adjust, and the batter does not. I believe in the concept that players need to learn to deal with struggles at AAA. Give him time.

 

Seems reasonable to me.

[Station 13]

Yeah, if he's ready to play, f***ing play him.

 

They didn't do it with Tazawa or Bard in 2009 even though both had 0R/ER that spring training. His clock will not start till the cut off for Super 2 at least.

[SoxSport]

You don't figure Bradley to stick unless Ellsbury gets traded or there's an injury. Plus they will want to extend his "control" time--which is important these days.

 

A new stat cropping up on the fantasy sites is the performance against different levels of pitching in ST.

For example, what's Bradley hitting this spring against major league pitchers, AAA pitchers, etc.? If the kid is hitting ML pitchers, that's the important stat the FO looks at. Same with pitchers facing hitters--major vs minor league hitters.

 

ST performance can be misleading, so the above analysis is helpful in determining how ready a minor leaguer is for the major leagues--or for promotion to a higher level in the minor leagues.It's probably also helpful in assessing performance of major leaguers as well.