2014 Spring Training Game Thread

[Palodios]

Lester one of the firsts to arrive to camp, as usual. XB, WMB, Miller, Wilson, Nava there too. Jackie Bradley reportedly arrived in December.

 

Xander got #2 on his back.

 

Let Spring Training begin!

[BornToRun]

Not gonna lie, Xander wearing 2 kind of annoys me but whatever.

[mvp 78]

Not gonna lie, Xander wearing 2 kind of annoys me but whatever.

 

Why? Ells? It's not like they have a reason to retire the number.

[BornToRun]

Why? Ells? It's not like they have a reason to retire the number.

 

No. Jeter.

 

It's irrational and juvenile, I know, but it still irks me anyway.

[Thunder]

Wow, that offseason flew by. Hard to believe it's already spring training. Like BTR, I'm also psyched out by XB wearing #2.

[a700hitter]

Wow, that offseason flew by. Hard to believe it's already spring training. Like BTR, I'm also psyched out by XB wearing #2.

The off season is a lot shorter when you are still playing on October 30th. In 2012, our off season started before August ended. That off season dragged on and on.

[Thunder]

The off season is a lot shorter when you are still playing on October 30th. In 2012, our off season started before August ended. That off season dragged on and on.

 

True, but I guess part of it is that I've been so busy.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

The off season is a lot shorter when you are still playing on October 30th. In 2012, our off season started before August ended. That off season dragged on and on.

 

Yup, I agree. Will you be coming down to Ft.Myers this year?

 

I'm so glad baseball is coming back. Here's to another great year!

[seabeachfred]

No. Jeter.

 

It's irrational and juvenile, I know, but it still irks me anyway.

 

Give Bogaerts #21 if you want my opinion on it. It is high time we reissued that number and not treat that filthy phony Roger the Codger like some icon. I have never understood why we withheld doing that and even less so now since that druggie and rotten liar is not going into the Hall of Fame any time within most of our lifetimes.

[mvp 78]

Give Bogaerts #21 if you want my opinion on it. It is high time we reissued that number and not treat that filthy phony Roger the Codger like some icon. I have never understood why we withheld doing that and even less so now since that druggie and rotten liar is not going into the Hall of Fame any time within most of our lifetimes.

 

Dude, he was just inducted into the Sox HOF...

[jacksonianmarch]

Spring Training is always great to hear about and it signals hope while we're dealing with this s*** weather. Then I remember that from report date to opening days is 6-8 weeks. Regardless, its a beacon in the storm.

[SoxSport]

Just think, we have a whole season to enjoy the Red Sox being World Champions.

[Bellhorn04]

Just think, we have a whole season to enjoy the Red Sox being World Champions.

 

Ha...if only it worked that way for everybody. I remember in the 2005 season people ragging on Francona for sticking with Millar, ragging on Epstein for Clement and Wells and 'Rent-a-Wreck', ragging on Foulke for sucking, ragging on Manny for being a malcontent etc. I remember 2008 for people ragging on Francona for getting outmanaged by Madden etc.

Edited February 8, 2014 by Bellhorn04

[sk7326]

Ha...if only it worked that way for everybody. I remember in the 2005 season people ragging on Francona for sticking with Millar, ragging on Epstein for Clement and Wells and 'Rent-a-Wreck', ragging on Foulke for sucking, ragging on Manny for being a malcontent etc. I remember 2008 for people ragging on Francona for getting outmanaged by Madden etc.

 

Personally, I think a title does buy you some time ... and the playoffs are such crapshoots that repeating, even with a better team, is tough. Hell, Baltimore was a lot better than they were in 2012 and missed the playoffs. Life happens.

 

But a lot of fans lack perspective. The Sox fans deserve a contender for the prices they pay (or at least the aggressive pursuit therein). But it takes so much luck and health to win a title that you have to be reasonable.

 

In 2008, Tampa was the best team in baseball - I am not sure (and I am not saying you agree with the outmanaging) how much Maddon over Francona mattered (if any). Hell, the Red Sox forcing that 7th game was remarkable the way that series went.

[seabeachfred]

Dude, he was just inducted into the Sox HOF...

 

Yes, I know, but in my opinion he shouldn't have and he shouldn't be allowed within a block of Fenway Park. He spent most of his Yankee years running down the Red Sox and saying how great it was to be a Yankee and play for a real team. Well let the Yankees put him in their HoF. To me he is a jonah, a liar, chear and clear cut phony. I know you disagree but I hold the guy in complete repute.

[seabeachfred]

Ha...if only it worked that way for everybody. I remember in the 2005 season people ragging on Francona for sticking with Millar, ragging on Epstein for Clement and Wells and 'Rent-a-Wreck', ragging on Foulke for sucking, ragging on Manny for being a malcontent etc. I remember 2008 for people ragging on Francona for getting outmanaged by Madden etc.

 

HEY, don't talk about me that way!!!!!!

[mvp 78]

Yes, I know, but in my opinion he shouldn't have and he shouldn't be allowed within a block of Fenway Park. He spent most of his Yankee years running down the Red Sox and saying how great it was to be a Yankee and play for a real team. Well let the Yankees put him in their HoF. To me he is a jonah, a liar, chear and clear cut phony. I know you disagree but I hold the guy in complete repute.

 

I didn't say "I" disagreed, just that this ownership group clearly doesn't mind his presence as much as you do.

 

Clemens was a great Red Sox, then turned into a malcontent and fled elsewhere to get hopped up on steroids and win a few more CY's. I can celebrate his great seasons and two 20 K games, but he definitely left most fans with a sour taste in their mouths (along with Boggs, Damon, Nomar et al).

[seabeachfred]

I didn't say "I" disagreed, just that this ownership group clearly doesn't mind his presence as much as you do.

 

Clemens was a great Red Sox, then turned into a malcontent and fled elsewhere to get hopped up on steroids and win a few more CY's. I can celebrate his great seasons and two 20 K games, but he definitely left most fans with a sour taste in their mouths (along with Boggs, Damon, Nomar et al).

 

Well we are at least in agreement on the second part of it.......the sour taste Damon and Nomar left in our mouths. I'll give you the Clemens salad years with the Red Sox because you were there and I wasn't on board then. It just seems to me that he went out of his way to bag on our team, and when you combine that with the fact that he was with the Yankees, it really sticks in your craw. I just hope they never retire his number because he doesn't deserve it IMHO. Let the Yankees retire his; they seem to retire everyone else's.

[Bellhorn04]

HEY, don't talk about me that way!!!!!!

 

You don't get enough credit for your sense of humor, Fred.

[VA Sox Fan]

You don't get enough credit for your sense of humor, Fred.

 

He needs to display it more often as opposed to the "they better do this or that" and "you'll be sorry" schtick. A sense of humor trumps all!

[SoxSport]

I'll give credit to Clemens for his clean years with the Red Sox. But not for the rest.

Who knows? He may have left Boston because they said no to steroids.

I suspect the media knows a lot more about steroids history than they let off. After all, that's where the money comes from to pay for it.

 

Conditioning was probably part of it, too. I know that tire around his middle disappeared in Toronto.

 

I'll give him credit for this. I'll never believe he left that 6th WS game in '86 because of a "blister." He denied it. Plus he had been dominant to that point with a lead. No, it was that dumbass MacNamara who overmanaged and put in that rookie closer--then lied about the reason. Mrs Yawkey fired him in ST.

 

Managers are still overmanaging, taking out cruising starters for dumbass closers--and getting burned. Leyland did it twice to Verlander in April last season. Cost him 2 wins.

Edited February 16, 2014 by SoxSport

[SoxFanForsyth]

NESN airing their first Live from Spring Training tonight \o/

[seabeachfred]

NESN airing their first Live from Spring Training tonight \o/

 

But I can't get that on my computer because my MLB package doesn't kick in until late March......nuts!!!!!!!!

[Navafan29]

When is the first televised spring training game going to be?

[Jaddy]

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2014/02/updated_spring_training_television_schedule.html

[NativeBostonian]

I went to go see them for the first spring training game yesterday. The pitchers struck out the Twins betters a lot. That's a good sign. I believe I wrote 13 times on my scorecard.

[Navafan29]

Nice dead-center bomb today from Nap. JBJ surprised me with a quality opposite field hit off the monster. Pedey and Ortiz are doing better than when that college kid struck them out a few days ago...

[wyo-sox]

But I can't get that on my computer because my MLB package doesn't kick in until late March......nuts!!!!!!!!

 

Are you sure? I've watched yesterday and todays Spring Training games with my mlb.tv access account.

[Spitball]

Are you sure? I've watched yesterday and todays Spring Training games with my mlb.tv access account.

 

I have watched also, but Fred may have a different kind of account. Maybe it makes a difference when you sign up or what package you buy. I don't remember how my billing works.

[seabeachfred]

Are you sure? I've watched yesterday and todays Spring Training games with my mlb.tv access account.

 

Check signals Wyo. I got on Yesterday just in time to see the Red Sox look like a pack of clowns against the Twins. Well it's only Spring Training and these games don't mean much except to get in shape and get in shape for the real season. The only thing to be aware of is not to get into a big losing streak in these games. As it happened to the Angels last season and us in 2011, a bad streak can be a very bad sign for the coming year......my opinion only.