2013 Spring Training

[a700hitter]

You jump the gun with s*** players like Che-Hsuan Lin, Daniel Nava and JC Linares. A real prospect comes along you tell everyone else they are being premature?

Good point.

[MANNYHOF24]

You jump the gun with s*** players like Che-Hsuan Lin, Daniel Nava and JC Linares. A real prospect comes along you tell everyone else they are being premature?

 

This

[SCM33]

Vazquez is going to stay in the minors because he has at least an outside chance of developing a borderline starting caliber bat if he does, which combined with his arm makes him a starting catcher. Think Yadier Molina's early years. They're not going to throw a shot at getting that guy away in order to rush Vazquez to the big leagues 2 years too early.

 

Che-Hsuan Lin, Daniel Nava and JC Linares ....I forgot about Christian Vazquez and Iglesias.

 

Could you imagine if you got your wish and those guys made up the OF, SS and C? We would get no hit like every 5 days.

 

Yadier Molina was a starting MLB catcher at 22. Christian Vazquez has zero shot at being a MLB starting catcher. Zero.

[seabeachfred]

Che-Hsuan Lin, Daniel Nava and JC Linares ....I forgot about Christian Vazquez and Iglesias.

 

Could you imagine if you got your wish and those guys made up the OF, SS and C? We would get no hit like every 5 days.

 

Yadier Molina was a starting MLB catcher at 22. Christian Vazquez has zero shot at being a MLB starting catcher. Zero.

 

I think Swihart will be our starting catcher in a couple of years if Lavarnway doesn't get his act together or gets traded. Swihart (and I momentarily forgot his first name) can hit, has a power stroke and is rated very highly by the Red Sox. Well, that's my prediction.

[Dojji]

You jump the gun with s*** players like Che-Hsuan Lin, Daniel Nava and JC Linares. A real prospect comes along you tell everyone else they are being premature?

 

It's a completely different dynamic. The simple fact is that the top prospects will always find a way to get themselves to the big leagues eventually if they're any good, and many times even if they're not. No need to rush them. Jackie Bradley will eventually make the majors if he's anything close to what scouts and fans think he has the potential to be, no matter how cautious or aggressive you are. So since, for these guys, the minors are simply about learning how to be the best big leaguer you can be, it pays to go slow.

 

Guys like Nava and Linares, if they don't get their chances when they're ready to go, you never know what you might have had. THese guys have to claw for every chance they get, and when I think they deserve one, it always comes with the knowledge that their window to get that chance is going to be short, and based on their continued ability to play at a high enough level to keep themselves in the back of the GM's mind. For a guy like Linares the minors isn't necessarily a through road, so I'm always excited to see guys like that break through and make their mark

[Dojji]

I think Swihart will be our starting catcher in a couple of years if Lavarnway doesn't get his act together or gets traded. Swihart (and I momentarily forgot his first name) can hit, has a power stroke and is rated very highly by the Red Sox. Well, that's my prediction.

 

I've heard good things about Swihart, that said I haven't seen nearly enough to make any judgments of his future.

 

I'm certainly concerned about the way Lavarnway is trending. As a guy who values defense at catcher I'm not as enamored of Lavs as I have been and I'm not sure he has what it takes to push Salty for a job in the areas where it matters, which is defensively.

 

The catcher who has me most excited right now is obviously Christian Vazquez. I'll be monitoring his offensive progress closely to see if he has any chance to hit enough to squeak by as the catching version of Jose Iglesias. That throwing arm is a generational tool and a catcher doesn't need much more than an arm like that to be a backup catcher. He'll make the majors at some point, I have no doubt at all. My question is can he hit at least a little, because if he can, he can build a case to start even on a team like this one.

[Dojji]

Christian Vazquez has zero shot at being a MLB starting catcher. Zero.

 

Ridiculous statement. Have you seen the level of talent the bottom half of the league generally works with at the catching position? Vazquez has every chance to compete at least with those. Personally I think he has more potential than that but that's just my opinion. And as much as I can't find it in me to hate Salty, I'd take a black hole in the lineup if it put a better catcher behind the dish for our pitchers, considering what doing the exact opposite has looked like over the past 2 seasons.

 

Vazquez has a great chance to become a backup catcher. Unless he gets hurt, that arm alone guarantees someone will give him a shot, so I honestly hope that someone is us. He has to hit this year and next in the minors in full years in AA and AAA respectively to get himself into the discussion of a starter, and he may or may not, but to sound off right now about how he has zero chance, does nothing more than reveal your ignorance.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Ridiculous statement. Have you seen the level of talent the bottom half of the league generally works with at the catching position? Vazquez has every chance to compete at least with those. Personally I think he has more potential than that but that's just my opinion. And as much as I can't find it in me to hate Salty, I'd take a black hole in the lineup if it put a better catcher behind the dish for our pitchers, considering what doing the exact opposite has looked like over the past 2 seasons.

 

Vazquez has a great chance to become a backup catcher. Unless he gets hurt, that arm alone guarantees someone will give him a shot, so I honestly hope that someone is us. He has to hit this year and next in the minors in full years in AA and AAA respectively to get himself into the discussion of a starter, and he may or may not, but to sound off right now about how he has zero chance, does nothing more than reveal your ignorance.

 

Didn't you know? Only perennial all star, MVP candidates are allowed to start.

[jacksonianmarch]

Vazquez is a guy you don't want to have to start. He's a solid defensive catcher who would upgrade the position defensively immediately, but his bat would be a black hole

[SoxFanForsyth]

Vazquez is a guy you don't want to have to start. He's a solid defensive catcher who would upgrade the position defensively immediately, but his bat would be a black hole

 

Right now? Yes. But that certainly doesn't mean he can't develop into a league average (offensively speaking) catcher.

 

Just to be clear, here are the league average production numbers for AL Catchers over the past few years:

 

2012: .242/.310/.397

2011: .237/.304/.389

2010: .243/.311/.372

 

League average offensive production is horrendous for catchers. That's why Russell Martin was able to put up a .713 OPS last year and still get 2 year/$17mm deal. Defense behind the dish is extremely valuable.

[Bellhorn04]

Right now? Yes. But that certainly doesn't mean he can't develop into a league average (offensively speaking) catcher.

 

Just to be clear, here are the league average production numbers for AL Catchers over the past few years:

 

2012: .242/.310/.397

2011: .237/.304/.389

2010: .243/.311/.372

 

League average offensive production is horrendous for catchers. That's why Russell Martin was able to put up a .713 OPS last year and still get 2 year/$17mm deal. Defense behind the dish is extremely valuable.

 

LOL look at those numbers. That works out to an average OPS of .700. You have to figure for backup catchers the average OPS is not much more than .650.

[Bellhorn04]

I'm really not saying this to poke the bears here, but Nava's OBP for the spring games is up to .424. He's doing what he has to to stick around in some capacity. Or maybe he will get traded at some point.

[BSN07]

Also when it comes to Vazquez we have to remember he's 22. We all know most C develop offensively a bit later then most. If he's 26+ hitting around the Mendoza line then his window to be a league starter is probably closing rapidly. He still has time to develop offensively.

[BSN07]

I'm really not saying this to poke the bears here, but Nava's OBP for the spring games is up to .424. He's doing what he has to to stick around in some capacity. Or maybe he will get traded at some point.

 

He's having a good spring and has worked to make himself as versatile as possible. I agree that he has a good chance to make the team or that some GM calls up interested in him.

[a700hitter]

I'm really not saying this to poke the bears here, but Nava's OBP for the spring games is up to .424. He's doing what he has to to stick around in some capacity. Or maybe he will get traded at some point.

I think they will bring Overbay north regardless of how Nava is doing. If Overbay doesn't make the team, he will opt out of his contract and undoubtedly go to the Ya,kees who have a complete nobody journeyman penciled in at first base.

[jacksonianmarch]

I think they will bring Overbay north regardless of how Nava is doing. If Overbay doesn't make the team, he will opt out of his contract and undoubtedly go to the Ya,kees who have a complete nobody journeyman penciled in at first base.

 

I have a feeling Boesch starts at 1b for us should Mesa continue to play well enough to turn heads in the OF. That being said, I guarantee Overbay is looked at should you guys cut him

[SoxFanForsyth]

I have a feeling Boesch starts at 1b for us should Mesa continue to play well enough to turn heads in the OF. That being said, I guarantee Overbay is looked at should you guys cut him

 

According to BBRef, Boesch hasn't played a single professional baseball game at 1B. Minors or majors.

[a700hitter]

I have a feeling Boesch starts at 1b for us should Mesa continue to play well enough to turn heads in the OF. That being said, I guarantee Overbay is looked at should you guys cut him

If we cut Overbay when camp breaks, my two predictions are that he will be in the Yankee starting lineup against us in the opening series against us, and he will tear us up.

[jung]

The only thing Overbay looks like he could tear up would be a king size bottle of Geritol.

[a700hitter]

Red Sox Looking For Starting Pitching Depth

 

Posted by Steve Adams on Monday Mar 18th at 8:41pm

 

As ESPN's Jayson Stark notes in his latest column, Boston's 2012 rotation posted the worst ERA of any Red Sox rotation in history at 5.19. Stark's colleague Gordon Edes writes that despite the strong Spring Training performances of the projected rotation, the team is still on the lookout for organizational depth in the rotation.

 

The projected rotation of Jon Lester, Ryan Dempster, Clay Buchholz, Felix Doubront and John Lackey are enjoying a strong Spring, but manager John Farrell told Edes that the organization is lacking depth in terms of pitchers who already have Major League experience. Franklin Morales is one such player who has that experience, but he's out indefinitely with a bulging disk in his back. Alfredo Aceves also has big league experience, but beyond that the options are thin.

 

Given that their rotation is already set, GM Ben Cherington is likely eyeing experienced veterans he could stash at Triple-A. As MLBTR's Transaction Tracker shows, Chris Young (currently with the Nationals) and Justin Germano (Blue Jays) are just a couple of the veteran starters that signed minor league deals this offseason but won't break camp on Major League rosters. Many players that are*still free agents*are currently injured, although Chien-Ming Wang enjoyed a healthy, productive World Baseball Classic. Bear in mind, of course, that these names are all my own speculation, as opposed to pitchers that Edes specifically connected to the Red Sox.

Cherries is a bit of a slow learner. Depth issues have been evident the entire off season. This guy is seriously short bus material.

[a700hitter]

The only thing Overbay looks like he could tear up would be a king size bottle of Geritol.

I agree. That is how he looks, but he is one of those guys who hits us better than he hits the rest of the league. Add in the ridiculous short RF porch at Yankee stadium and I stand by my prediction that he will hurt us in the opening series if he goes to the Yanks. He would be a big improvement over Dan Johnson.

[mvp 78]

Cherries is a bit of a slow learner. Depth issues have been evident the entire off season. This guy is seriously short bus material.

 

Not to worry, they have Steven Wright!

[a700hitter]

Not to worry, they have Steven Wright!

Thanks for reminding me. I feel much better.

[SoxSport]

Based on tweets about the starting lineup today, it looks like Iggy might start at SS opening day, but Gomes might be in LF and Sweeney DH.Still speculation at this point, but if so it might suggest the FO gets its way again on lineups. I recall last year at this time, the report was V wanted Iggy and Lav to stick, but the FO vetoed it. Is this happening again with Bradley? Hard to say at this point, but I can't believe they will start Gomes in LF in Yankee Stadium.

 

Farrell and the coaches are the only fresh faces in the organization this year. Farrell is critical to the success of this team, and I hope he gets his way on personnel.

[Palodios]

Cherries is a bit of a slow learner. Depth issues have been evident the entire off season. This guy is seriously short bus material.

 

I just don't understand why this team suddenly realized it needed depth now. Between its top options, three are injured all the time, one is a nutcase, and another came off TJ. There were plenty of things that could have gone wrong -- its a bit of a surprise that only one of them actually ended up hurt so far.

 

Maybe Cherries is looking at all those pitchers with minor league contracts and opt-out clauses if not on the opening day roster? Might be a good place to look for a #6 starter:huh:

[Palodios]

Based on tweets about the starting lineup today, it looks like Iggy might start at SS opening day, but Gomes might be in LF and Sweeney DH.

 

NWIH. Sweeney is a significantly better defender. They're just giving Gomes more reps in LF because he needs it much more.

[BSN07]

NWIH. Sweeney is a significantly better defender. They're just giving Gomes more reps in LF because he needs it much more.

 

Ya if anything I see Sweeney in the OF and Gomes DHing.

[SoxSport]

Cherries is a bit of a slow learner. Depth issues have been evident the entire off season. This guy is seriously short bus material.

 

Logic says you go to your best prospect for depth, which right now is Webster. He's there if needed. Pretty dumb to continue to go after "experience" =retreads, when you say you are youth oriented. Watch what they do, not what they say. Prospects seem to be a last resort?

 

"Cherries" is a guy who was stuck in the middle of FO organizations for a long time. The school is still out on him.

[SoxSport]

According to BBRef, Boesch hasn't played a single professional baseball game at 1B. Minors or majors.

 

 

Youks clearly can play 1B, if they have somebody to play 3B. But they probably want a LHd hitter at 1B. They look pretty desperate short term.

[BSN07]

When it comes to Cherries it is abundantly clear haters are just going to hate. He's looking for depth(like most other GM's) and gets crap for it. If he had come out and said " no we like our depth and aren't in the market" the same people would be calling him a baboon ass for believing the rotation could make it through the season unscathed. And let's not go the "but he should have already signed more depth during the off season" routine. We have no idea how many players the tried to bring in as depth signings. I don't think it's hard to believe that you can't convince every fringe SP to come to your team as depth and most likely start the season in the minors when there are other/better opportunities around the league to crack someone's 25 man roster.

 

I'm not saying Cherries is right, wrong, smart or dumb. I'm not a Cherries sympathizer, like I said before I'm pretty much indifferent on the guy. I like somethings, I don't like somethings and I move on. Just look at the situation for what it is. I just don't understand the stance of no matter what the guy does it's wrong.