2013 Spring Training

[seabeachfred]

Phil Hughes' line in 2012 with zero fastball velocity was as follows..

1.56ERA 12K:3BB 1.10WHIP in Spring Training of 2012. He went on to post an ERA of 7.88 in April.

 

It is strange how that works sometimes, Hughes a prime example of what all seem to know about ST. In our case, though, with Papi out the Red Sox are going to have to band together as a team and be able to do the little things they've ignored the past few years if they are going to have any chance of making a run this year. For that reason, I kind of allow myself to amplify what SFF is saying. We have to be somewhat encouraged at least the way Lester, Buchholz and Dempster have performed so far this Spring. Without solid starting pitching no team stands a ghost of a chance so I would much rather see those guys performing well than getting lit up like a Christmas tree.

[Big Guy]

What do y'all think are the odds Iggy takes over at SS? I dont know too much about Drew but by all accounts it seems like Jose really worked on his approach at the plate and its paid off this ST. I know I'm rooting for him!

[rjortiz]

We just gave Drew a $9.5 million contract, so the chances are pretty low.

[Big Guy]

I thought big contracts werent supposed to hold back this team anymore? Oh well, I do wish him luck but Ill be pulling for Iglesias

[User Name]

They could move Drew quite easily to a team like the Cardinals if Iglesias were to force their hand. The problem is that a small sample in ST is definitely not enough to do so.

[mvp 78]

I'd send Iggy to Pawtucket (since we have Drew). If he's hitting .300 in Pawtucket in May, I'd move Drew. Until Iggy can actually hit (not just take good rips), he needs more time in Pawtucket. He's only 22, right? He still has lots of room to mature.

[Palodios]

I'd send Iggy to Pawtucket (since we have Drew). If he's hitting .300 in Pawtucket in May, I'd move Drew. Until Iggy can actually hit (not just take good rips), he needs more time in Pawtucket. He's only 22, right? He still has lots of room to mature.

 

Sounds pretty logical to me.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Phil Hughes' line in 2012 with zero fastball velocity was as follows..

1.56ERA 12K:3BB 1.10WHIP in Spring Training of 2012. He went on to post an ERA of 7.88 in April.

 

Well, the Sox SP have their velocity.

[SoxSport]

won't happen unless Drew gets hurt or is traded. Cardinals were interested in Drew pre-season, but I doubt they'll pay $9.5 mil for him to replace Furcal.

[Big Guy]

I'd send Iggy to Pawtucket (since we have Drew). If he's hitting .300 in Pawtucket in May, I'd move Drew. Until Iggy can actually hit (not just take good rips), he needs more time in Pawtucket. He's only 22, right? He still has lots of room to mature.

 

That's what I'm saying! Put it in the record books, Jose will be starting by June!

[rjortiz]

Save for an injury, I don't think he'll supplant Drew.

[a700hitter]

And I'm pretty sure I didn't mention you in my post. Funny how you assumed I was talking about you when discussing knee jerk reactions though.

 

And again, you are completely out of touch if you think someone who pitched 13 IP was going to earn a rotation spot. That is incredibly daft from someone who supposedly has a clue.

And I thought you had me on ignore. What can I say, I am a must read.

 

I realize that you didn't mention me by name in your post, but you did make a broad generalization about your perception of knee jerk reactions that I wanted to refute on my behalf since you mentioned no names. I have no idea who you were referring to with your perception. I don't think anyone said that De La Rosa was great and then flip flopped to say he stinks.

 

As for your comment about me being out of touch for "thinking" that "someone who pitched 13 IP was going to earn a rotation spot," I didn't say that I thought he would earn a rotation spot. I said that based on the high opinion others had held of De La Rosa that i had hoped he would dominate and impress and earn a spot. Hope is not an expectation. I realized that it was highly unlikely. What was daft was your reading ability.

[jung]

This is a new hitting stroke for Iggy. I like it and I think that he will be more successful using it than the two strokes I saw him using last year. It is enough different that I bet he still has to think about it when he is hitting. So even it is right and I think it is, it will probably be awhile before he gets any results. That still may not be enough. In any event, I think it would take an injury to see Iggy up some time in 2013. However IMO he has got to start to impress the Sox brass with his hitting regardless of where he is playing. He has got B's climbing up his butt. So his youth is not going to help him much longer at least not in this organization. I think he has got this year to impress. 22 years old is just out of teens. 23 is mid-twenties-ish and if he continues to be unable to cross the Mendoza line, the Sox brass may not have patience that extends beyond this year.

[BSN07]

And I thought you had me on ignore. What can I say, I am a must read.

 

I realize that you didn't mention me by name in your post, but you did make a broad generalization about your perception of knee jerk reactions that I wanted to refute on my behalf since you mentioned no names. I have no idea who you were referring to with your perception. I don't think anyone said that De La Rosa was great and then flip flopped to say he stinks.

 

As for your comment about me being out of touch for "thinking" that "someone who pitched 13 IP was going to earn a rotation spot," I didn't say that I thought he would earn a rotation spot. I said that based on the high opinion others had held of De La Rosa that i had hoped he would dominate and impress and earn a spot. Hope is not an expectation. I realized that it was highly unlikely. What was daft was your reading ability.

 

No, I found the ignore to useful at first but in the end it just messes with the layout of the screen as I can still see your posts.

 

Definition,

Hoping: the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best: to give up hope. a person or thing in which expectations are centered:

 

Thank you Seems you need a brush up on your English.

[SoxSport]

http://bostonherald.com/sports/red_sox_mlb/boston_red_sox/2013/03/jackie_bradley_s_time_is_now

 

Tomase says throw caution to the wind--for a change--and start Bradley right now in LF.

He characterizes the Red Sox as too cautious lately. Just the word that reminds you of Cherington.

 

This kid is the best player in spring training. The team needs a spark. It is dullsville. The hell with the extra FA year. It's about winning. He says the Angels wish they had Trout last April. They might have made the playoffs. Actually, Pujols' slow start was what killed them in April.

 

Can you imagine these guys spending $170 million in payroll, and then worrying about extending a kid's control 7 years out?

[SoxFanForsyth]

The Tigers have released Brennan Boesch.

 

That's an extremely intriguing player that the Sox could/should look into for a LH bat in LF. He's got a solid opposite field swing that could play well at Fenway.

[BSN07]

http://bostonherald.com/sports/red_sox_mlb/boston_red_sox/2013/03/jackie_bradley_s_time_is_now

 

Tomase says throw caution to the wind--for a change--and start Bradley right now in LF.

He characterizes the Red Sox as too cautious lately. Just the word that reminds you of Cherington.

 

This kid is the best player in spring training. The team needs a spark. It is dullsville. The hell with the extra FA year. It's about winning. He says the Angels wish they had Trout last April. They might have made the playoffs. Actually, Pujols' slow start was what killed them in April.

 

Can you imagine these guys spending $170 million in payroll, and then worrying about extending a kid's control 7 years out?

 

That's why he's writing stories and not a GM of a Baseball team. It's not just one year. If he hits super 2 early then each year after that is an further increase on what they will have to pay every year in arb. That's probably an extra 10M over 5 years in arb and the loss of a controlled season which is probably like 15M by that time. That's 25M for bringing him up a month or two early.

 

Nationals: Richest owner in Baseball, waited on Harper

 

Angels: Spent like drunken sailors, still waited on Trout

[mvp 78]

They were both called up on 4/27 last year. Is that the date they can be called up this year?

[BSN07]

They were both called up on 4/27 last year. Is that the date they can be called up this year?

 

It will be somewhere around that date.

[SoxFanForsyth]

That's why he's writing stories and not a GM of a Baseball team. It's not just one year. If he hits super 2 early then each year after that is an further increase on what they will have to pay every year in arb. That's probably an extra 10M over 5 years in arb and the loss of a controlled season which is probably like 15M by that time. That's 25M for bringing him up a month or two early.

 

Nationals: Richest owner in Baseball, waited on Harper

 

Angels: Spent like drunken sailors, still waited on Trout

 

He makes a very good point, though. If the Angels had it to do over again, they would bring up Trout on Opening day 10 times out of 10.

 

If its the difference between a PS berth and missing the playoffs, you bring him up, and you do it now. And with the AL East as tightly wound as it is, I would agree with Tomase that you bring him up now. You worry about 2019 when it rolls around. What happens when you take the road like Pedroia, Lester, or Buchholz, and you buy out his arbitration years and extend him? Then his super two status and years of control go out the window outside of a very slight amount of leverage, which the Sox will quickly combat with guaranteed years and dollars. Not to mention that Bradley is engaged. Buchholz didn't sign an extension until he got married and realized that he wanted stability in his finances for he, his wife, and his children. There's a good chance that Bradley could be in that same boat.

[Palodios]

The Tigers have released Brennan Boesch.

 

That's an extremely intriguing player that the Sox could/should look into for a LH bat in LF. He's got a solid opposite field swing that could play well at Fenway.

 

I saw this, and he seemed like a good fit initially, but the problem is that he's a real mess defensively. Do the Sox really need another sub .700 OPS outfielder who has no business in Fenway RF?

 

Sweeney has better splits against LHP, plays all defensive positions, and plays them well. Overbay also provides more versatility, and experience as well. If we're going on potential, Mike Carp is probably a better choice as well.

[jung]

As I recall, the old Super 2 deadline was set at 17% of the season or 27 games. I think it is now 22% in the new CBA or 35 games. Based on 17% it would be 4/27. Based on 35 games it would be 5/6 I think.

[Palodios]

As I recall, the old Super 2 deadline was set at 17% of the season or 27 games. I think it is now 22% in the new CBA or 35 games. Based on 17% it would be 4/27. Based on 35 games it would be 5/6 I think.

 

MLBTradeRumors show that it is mid-june right now. I don't think that is nearly as important as holding onto team control for the 7th year, which is in late April.

 

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/02/service-time-considerations-for-top-prospects.html

[BSN07]

He makes a very good point, though. If the Angels had it to do over again, they would bring up Trout on Opening day 10 times out of 10.

 

If its the difference between a PS berth and missing the playoffs, you bring him up, and you do it now. And with the AL East as tightly wound as it is, I would agree with Tomase that you bring him up now. You worry about 2019 when it rolls around. What happens when you take the road like Pedroia, Lester, or Buchholz, and you buy out his arbitration years and extend him? Then his super two status and years of control go out the window outside of a very slight amount of leverage, which the Sox will quickly combat with guaranteed years and dollars. Not to mention that Bradley is engaged. Buchholz didn't sign an extension until he got married and realized that he wanted stability in his finances for he, his wife, and his children. There's a good chance that Bradley could be in that same boat.

 

Ya in hindsight they would have brought him up. But given no "future" information, they would have sent him back down to the minors.

 

And you can't not bank on Bradley taking a team friendly extension that covers his arb years until the ink is dry on the contract. Until that point you go as if you only control him until 2019 at increasing amounts each season. And I don't see the point in making it 2018 for an extra few weeks in April when they have other options to fill in for that time period. Like it or not, it's a bad baseball decision to waste a year on one of your best young assets.

[jung]

You are right Pal....it is a 22% of service time calculation not 22% of a season. I just did not remember how those numbers are used. Anyway it was 17% and is now 22%. The date will change year to year. It should be close to what it was last year though. So maybe late June turns into early July or something like that.

[BSN07]

You are right Pal....it is a 22% of service time calculation not 22% of a season. I just did not remember how those numbers are used. Anyway it was 17% and is now 22%. The date will change year to year. It should be close to what it was last year though. So maybe late June turns into early July or something like that.

 

Ya it's a floating date. But I think we can all wait 22% of one season and not lose 100% of another season.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Ya in hindsight they would have brought him up. But given no "future" information, they would have sent him back down to the minors.

 

And you can't not bank on Bradley taking a team friendly extension that covers his arb years until the ink is dry on the contract. Until that point you go as if you only control him until 2019 at increasing amounts each season. And I don't see the point in making it 2018 for an extra few weeks in April when they have other options to fill in for that time period. Like it or not, it's a bad baseball decision to waste a year on one of your best young assets.

 

My point is that he is an MLB caliber player right now who can have a direct impact on this team making the post season this year. With Ortiz being out in April, he could well be a guy who helps this team succeed by getting on base at a high clip and playing elite defense, which is what the Sox will need to provide offense with the big bopper out.

 

And, for what it's worth, my suggestion is that Bradley plays 120-140 games in the MLB. Meaning 4-5 games/week spelling all 3 OF, but more often Gomes than any of them, specifically vs RHP.

 

Getting off to a good start and exploiting the injuries of the Yankees in April could prove to be invaluable in September when we're battling for a PS slot. Bradley would certainly help that cause tremendously.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Ya it's a floating date. But I think we can all wait 22% of one season and not lose 100% of another season.

 

This is not a cash strapped team. If Bradley is going to be the elite player that he's projecting to be, he will likely be making ~12-14mm in his final year of arbitration. If he gets a 7 year contract at ~18-20mm/year, you're only out 6-8mm total, and you're cutting his contract off at 35 rather than 36, which is incredibly beneficial for the team, even at a cost of $8mm.

[Palodios]

This is not a cash strapped team. If Bradley is going to be the elite player that he's projecting to be, he will likely be making ~12-14mm in his final year of arbitration. If he gets a 7 year contract at ~18-20mm/year, you're only out 6-8mm total, and you're cutting his contract off at 35 rather than 36, which is incredibly beneficial for the team, even at a cost of $8mm.

 

Bradley will probably miss about 25 games in April. Bradley provides, maybe 1-2 extra wins. So instead of going 14-11, they go 12-13. Are those one, maybe two wins really worth 5-7 wins when Bradley is in his prime?

 

Who do you think is more likely to be World Series bound, the 2013 Red Sox, or the 2019 Red Sox?

[BSN07]

This is not a cash strapped team. If Bradley is going to be the elite player that he's projecting to be, he will likely be making ~12-14mm in his final year of arbitration. If he gets a 7 year contract at ~18-20mm/year, you're only out 6-8mm total, and you're cutting his contract off at 35 rather than 36, which is incredibly beneficial for the team, even at a cost of $8mm.

 

My point is they can explore other options for the short time period. You really want to give up a year of one of the best prospects in the system right smack in the middle of his prime for a month in his rookie season? You act as though what he's doing in ST is going to directly transfer to when the games matter. He would have to come up and basically have a Trout like impact for it to be worth it. How often does that happen? You honestly think he is going to come up and carry the team for a month? And even if he is good not great, the production over a one month span will probably not be that much more significant then league average and they have players capable of doing that already.