2014 Spring Training Game Thread

[Divinity]

Sox vs Yanks game just started.

[Wasatch]

Yup, Go Redsox.

[VA Sox Fan]

Sox are down 3-0 in the 5th!!!!! The sky is falling...we're losing the NYY.....

 

........in a meaningless game.....Season is OVER!!!

 

Que the whiners......

[Station 13]

Sox are down 3-0 in the 5th!!!!! The sky is falling...we're losing the NYY.....

 

........in a meaningless game.....Season is OVER!!!

 

Que the whiners......

 

here here

 

LOL

[seabeachfred]

Sox are down 3-0 in the 5th!!!!! The sky is falling...we're losing the NYY.....

 

........in a meaningless game.....Season is OVER!!!

 

Que the whiners......

 

Au contraire VA. You remember 2009 and 2011 when he had miserable Spring records. It carried over into the regular season....2-9 and 2-11. It could happen again. These games don't count in the standings, that's very true, but when you see the guys seemingly going at half speed it can be a cause for concern---as for instance when David Ross loafed into second base on a force play that he would have been safe on had he hustled and slid. He didn't so when Pedroia hit one up the alley with two down and the runners moving we got only two runs instead of three. We're not playing in some horseshit division either; the AL East is loaded this season and if we don't play tough competitive baseball we may not get to the Playoffs. Don't get too comfortable yet.

[Station 13]

At this point in spring training all regulars play more, consistently. I expect them to get their s*** together within the next week. Spring training in the first 2-3 weeks are deceiving. It's mostly fillers who f***ed up s*** that makes things look worse than they actually are.

[Palodios]

Au contraire VA. You remember 2009 and 2011 when he had miserable Spring records. It carried over into the regular season....2-9 and 2-11. It could happen again. These games don't count in the standings, that's very true, but when you see the guys seemingly going at half speed it can be a cause for concern---as for instance when David Ross loafed into second base on a force play that he would have been safe on had he hustled and slid. He didn't so when Pedroia hit one up the alley with two down and the runners moving we got only two runs instead of three. We're not playing in some horseshit division either; the AL East is loaded this season and if we don't play tough competitive baseball we may not get to the Playoffs. Don't get too comfortable yet.

 

Fred, take a look at the Spring schedule and maybe you may feel a bit better. Many of the losses were from the first week of spring training when the team was playing minor leaguers and not at full strength. They've been playing much better, and are closer to .500 lately, with two of their losses against Lee and Price.

[a700hitter]

Based on what I observed during my week in Fort Myers, I don't think complacency will be much of a problem. There are a lot of young guys who are busting their tails to make an impression-- Xander, Bradley, and Middlebrooks. Sizemore is working like heck to get his career back. I said it that first week of March after seeing him that he will have a big impact on the 2014 team. Victorino is always engages and always busting his tail. We have enough guys bringing an energy to the team so I am not worried about complacency taking root. Ortiz is sleep walking through camp in energy saver mode. He thinks that he can turn it on when the bell rings. I hope that he is right. At his age, that is not that easy.

 

I don't see the signs of 2009 and 2011.

[Bellhorn04]

Man, old Cliffy Lee sure mows us down most of the time doesn't he?

[Bellhorn04]

Man, old Cliffy Lee sure mows us down most of the time doesn't he?

 

I hexed him.

[seabeachfred]

At this point in spring training all regulars play more, consistently. I expect them to get their s*** together within the next week. Spring training in the first 2-3 weeks are deceiving. It's mostly fillers who f***ed up s*** that makes things look worse than they actually are.

 

Right on Station, and we seemed to have our share of f***ups this Spring, especially those nobodies on the relief corps. I'm not pushing the panic button either, last year cured me of that. What I do believe though is that we have to build a little momentum entering the regular season and not get off to a bungled start as we have in the recent past. I had to laugh when some of the so-called "experts" claimed that there were now divisions at least as good as ours is----a total and complete crock of poo. Our AL East is a meat grinder and I think four teams can win it, and, yes, that includes the Yankees. Hell even Toronto could make a comeback. We have to be ready to get off to as good a start as we can manage.

[seabeachfred]

Fred, take a look at the Spring schedule and maybe you may feel a bit better. Many of the losses were from the first week of spring training when the team was playing minor leaguers and not at full strength. They've been playing much better, and are closer to .500 lately, with two of their losses against Lee and Price.

 

Right Pal......you made some good points on that score. We do need to start hitting a little better though and maybe with that new extension Papi will start his cannonading likity split. That point I am adamant on; we need Ortiz leading the charge at the plate. If he gets off to a slow start we are in deep water. You think the CF job has been won by Sizemore? I'm still on the fence with that, and as I wrote to Station 13, our division is a meat grinder and it would do us a world of good to get out of the gate with a bang.

[seabeachfred]

Based on what I observed during my week in Fort Myers, I don't think complacency will be much of a problem. There are a lot of young guys who are busting their tails to make an impression-- Xander, Bradley, and Middlebrooks. Sizemore is working like heck to get his career back. I said it that first week of March after seeing him that he will have a big impact on the 2014 team. Victorino is always engages and always busting his tail. We have enough guys bringing an energy to the team so I am not worried about complacency taking root. Ortiz is sleep walking through camp in energy saver mode. He thinks that he can turn it on when the bell rings. I hope that he is right. At his age, that is not that easy.

 

I don't see the signs of 2009 and 2011.

 

Our man in Fort Myers!!!!! Thanks for the update Ted. You were there; I wasn't and I hope when I see them in Boston in two weeks I will see the Red Sox that I got used to seeing in 2013.

[SoxSport]

The Yankees seem to be taking these games seriously down here. They had their starting lineup playing today except for Ellsbury.They are under terrific pressure to make the playoffs from the TV people. Almost all their ST games are on MLB network. And when they aren't on, the Mets are on.

 

The Red Sox seem to be focusing on the CF situation more than anything. They haven't made much effort yet to field their starting lineup.Of course, nobody knows who will start in CF. My feeling is Sizemore has a big advantage in being an experienced leadoff guy, which they need to replace Ellsbury. JBJ might leadoff eventually, but he'd be batting 9th if he makes the cut. Vic looks like an excellent no.2 guy, batting RHd exclusively now. What an athlete this guy is!

 

Interesting that there is no competition at SS. Bogaerts has it locked up. Herrera looks like a solid backup guy. Excellent fielder. You wonder if Ortiz can keep it going at his age. He had a remarkable run last year thru the playoffs, and you wonder if he isn't due for a letdown. Especially getting his extension.

[Bellhorn04]

The Yankees seem to be taking these games seriously down here. They had their starting lineup playing today except for Ellsbury.They are under terrific pressure to make the playoffs from the TV people. Almost all their ST games are on MLB network. And when they aren't on, the Mets are on.

 

The Yankees aren't using their starting lineup for these games any more than other teams do. For Thursday's game at Jet Blue the Yankee starting lineup was this:

 

Suzuki

Anna

Nunez

Teixeira

Cervelli

Sizemore

Solarte

Almonte

Wheeler

 

Like the Red Sox, they've been using their starters in home games but very few starters in away games.

[a700hitter]

Great play by Lackey today on a bunt. I thought there was no chance to get the batter.

[a700hitter]

Funny play. Freddie Freeman lines a shot off Lackey's backside. Lackey scrambles to pick it up and on his throw to first base he hit Freeman in the backside.

[Station 13]

Sox pitchers seems to throw too much fastballs with 2 strikes.

[Station 13]

Nava doesn't know how to run the bases.

[a700hitter]

Nava doesn't know how to run the bases.

Plus, he runs like a wounded duck.

[Station 13]

Nava you lame duck!

Seriously what a sloppy team it has been to watch this spring.

[a700hitter]

Nava you lame duck!

Seriously what a sloppy team it has been to watch this spring.

He's a horrible base runner. He pulled another rock getting caught of first base this time.

[Spudboy]

Yeah Nava did look bad in those two instances.

 

The entire team except for Pedroia and Victorino have looked like crap this spring. I know it's just ST but jeez. I want to see baseball. Not Gong show bloopers.

[seabeachfred]

Yeah Nava did look bad in those two instances.

 

The entire team except for Pedroia and Victorino have looked like crap this spring. I know it's just ST but jeez. I want to see baseball. Not Gong show bloopers.

 

Well at least we didn't lose again today Spudboy.

[rjortiz]

I haven't watched one inning this spring. After Jackie Bradley's Ted Williams impersonation last year, it is obvious how pointless those stats are. I don't remember their names, but it seemed that the Red Sox have awarded the final bullpen spot to a pitcher that had performed well in March, only to see him get destroyed once the season starts.

 

Honestly, I wouldn't be bothered if the Red Sox lost every spring training game. Performances against AA ball scrubs, prospects getting looks, and players working on specific things to improve should always be discarded. The only thing that would alarm me is if a pitcher is throwing 82 mph late in March.

[iortiz]

Regardless this is ST, TBR seems very solid. IMO our division is the toughest in baseball. Edited March 25, 2014 by iortiz

[Wasatch]

Today is the last game of Spring Training. Grady will be the starting CF on opening day (Monday).

[Wasatch]

2-0 Redsox bottom of the 4th. Doubront is pitching pretty good so far.

[Wasatch]

Excellent 4th for Doubront. Men on the corner's no out's. He strikes out the side with Mauer the 3rd strikeout.

[Wasatch]

Doubront get's in trouble again, with 2 men on base, no out's and leaves with no run's scored.