JBJ's Spring

[bostopz]

B would be a disaster.

 

I'd make a gamble and if I can't get a 1 or 2 caliber pitcher at the trade deadline without saying good-bye to Betts or Swihart, I'd hold the line. I'd only say good-bye if I am getting someone who is "Bumgarner." But I don't think that caliber will be available.

 

Build a core of young kids. Then overpay to get a huge starter or two.

[sk7326]

I think that translates to him not being healthy. One wrong twist, check swing, or sprint to first base and he could be in trouble. That's why he isn't hitting lefty ... it hurts.

 

Most likely - although just as true is that he's bad at it.

[cp176]

Victorino's response was foolish. I believe the gist of what they are saying - that he wants less OF competition - but admittedly they are trying to maximize a story. Isn't that what writers and talk shows do? That's why I try not to listen too much.

 

I guess that when you put it that way, it is kind of like what we are all doing. I guess I read what Victorino said as being something that has already been said many times. Sadly, everyone knows what most writers , talk show hosts, and news reporters try to do. Sesationalize and sell most of the time.

[a700hitter]

I don't think. The Red Sox have any choice but to send Bradley to the minors, even if Victorino gets traded. He'd still have Ramirez, Castillo, Betts and Craig ahead of him. If it comes down to him and Nava, Bradley has options. If VIctorino is with us on opening day, Bradley goes down and Nava gets DFA'd and some team will claim him.

[Bellhorn04]

I don't think. The Red Sox have any choice but to send Bradley to the minors, even if Victorino gets traded. He'd still have Ramirez, Castillo, Betts and Craig ahead of him. If it comes down to him and Nava, Bradley has options. If VIctorino is with us on opening day, Bradley goes down and Nava gets DFA'd and some team will claim him.

 

Nava isn't getting DFA'd. Castillo starts in AAA. That's my prediction at least.

 

They would trade Nava rather than DFA him anyway.

[a700hitter]

Nava isn't getting DFA'd. Castillo starts in AAA. That's my prediction at least.

 

They would trade Nava rather than DFA him anyway.

 

They would have 10 days to trade him. After that he could be claimed. If he goes unclaimed, which would be unlikely, he would be assigne to Pawtucket. Castillo is not going to be sitting in AAA with $72 million unless he gets injured. Would you like to bet a case of beer on it?

[Spudboy]

I would hope that the Sox would be smart enough to trade Nava and to not just DFA him. He has value.

[SimplyMarie]

I would not sell low on JBJ if I were the FO. His defense is worth his weight in gold, and by all accounts, he looks a lot better at the plate. He's never going to be known as an offensive CFer, but if he can hit decently, he will be a valuable player. If the Sox are not given an offer that they are happy with, then I'd be fine stashing him in AAA for another season. In other words, don't trade him just for the sake of trading him because he is "expendable".

 

Well Said!!

[cp176]

Well Said!!

 

I still think that he has potential to be a decent offensive player. Above average maybe. He needed to make some changes. Maybe he has made them. I think that he still has a lot of excitement left in him!

[cp176]

Well Said!!

 

I still think that he has potential to be a decent offensive player. Above average maybe. He needed to make some changes. Maybe he has made them. I think that he still has a lot of excitement left in him!

[Spudboy]

I still think that he has potential to be a decent offensive player. Above average maybe. He needed to make some changes. Maybe he has made them. I think that he still has a lot of excitement left in him!

 

I'm with you on this.

 

Unfortunately it looks like he will be playing for someone else.

 

I enjoy watching him play CF. He seems to make at least one exciting play each game he starts.

 

I love it when someone runs on his arm. THAT is exciting baseball.

[Bellhorn04]

They would have 10 days to trade him. After that he could be claimed. If he goes unclaimed, which would be unlikely, he would be assigne to Pawtucket. Castillo is not going to be sitting in AAA with $72 million unless he gets injured. Would you like to bet a case of beer on it?

 

I will gladly bet that Nava is neither traded nor DFA'd. But a case of beer? Delivery would be the issue.

[cp176]

I'm with you on this.

 

Unfortunately it looks like he will be playing for someone else.

 

I enjoy watching him play CF. He seems to make at least one exciting play each game he starts.

 

I love it when someone runs on his arm. THAT is exciting baseball.

 

It won't happen and I not 100% that it would be best case but if their outfield consisted of Ramirez, Betts, Castillo , and Bradley, I would be ok with it. I do think that Betts is getting better all the time but Bradley is gold glove for a long time. I think you need at least one arm out there like that.

[sk7326]

I would hope that the Sox would be smart enough to trade Nava and to not just DFA him. He has value.

 

I think it's POSSIBLE that Nava is the odd man out. But Nava makes much more sense to carry as a 4th outfielder than Castillo. I don't think any fan or chat show caller is wondering why Castillo is not playing ahead of Betts, so the PR pressure is not really there. There is plenty of PR cover to start Castillo in Pawtucket. He has just not played a lot of baseball - and his talent is super exciting but it'd be nice for him to face some guys who are trying to get him out for real.

 

Castillo tag teaming with Victorino and providing some defensive depth is a sensible way to go too - but I think having Nava on the big league roster makes more sense in the near term. The other option is to carry 11 pitchers, but I don't think that is happening immediately.

[jad]

Well, at least the powerful, .158-hitting Victorino has solved this problem by explaining that all these guys need to be traded for pitching, and oh yes to make RF comfortable for him (that is, on the 2 or 3 days this season when he is healthy enough to play).

[BSN07]

Vic's back is a ticking time bomb. He stopped switch hitting because or the soreness. That to me says his back is not close to 100% and it's going to be a ? all season long. If some team is offering something decent(BP arm?) they should jump on it. I'm a Vic fan and am grateful for what he's done for the Sox, but he's too risky to plug in as the everyday RF for me.

 

I'd trade Vic and Nava. Hanley, Betts, and Castillo as the starting OF with Craig being 4th OF and Bradley starting in AAA. I really wanna see what Craig has with the bat this year. He could be a good replacement for an aging Napoli next year. I'm not high on Bradley, but he has made it interesting enough to where I think he will be good depth if someone goes down or Craig flames out.

[sk7326]

I do think if Victorino gets hurt as the odd man out ... there should be enough ABs between 1B, LF, and DH that Craig can get 300 PAs in at least.

 

You figure that against certain LHPs, Hanley could take a "day or rest" at DH and get Craig in at LF.

[Bellhorn04]

Vic staying healthy in 2015 is pure fantasy. Even in 2013 he only started 117 regular season games and also missed a couple in the postseason. Now he's 2 years older coming off surgery.

[sk7326]

Vic staying healthy in 2015 is pure fantasy. Even in 2013 he only started 117 regular season games and also missed a couple in the postseason. Now he's 2 years older coming off surgery.

 

Agreed. I had no problem with Farrell backing the veteran coming into camp. Nobody will hold him to it, and easier clubhouse politics. I'd be stunned if Vic held on. Weirdly the choice to abandon switch-hitting will help him. As much as he wants to say he did it for health reasons, he had not been a good lefthanded hitter for years.

[mvp 78]

Ben: Girl bye.

Vic:

[Kimmi]

I think that translates to him not being healthy. One wrong twist, check swing, or sprint to first base and he could be in trouble. That's why he isn't hitting lefty ... it hurts.

 

 

You could very well be right Ogden. From what I was reading today, it sounded like Victorino could start the season on the DL. He certainly hasn't shown much this spring. All that said, if he is healthy, I still think he is our best option for right field.

[Kimmi]

I don't think. The Red Sox have any choice but to send Bradley to the minors, even if Victorino gets traded. He'd still have Ramirez, Castillo, Betts and Craig ahead of him. If it comes down to him and Nava, Bradley has options. If VIctorino is with us on opening day, Bradley goes down and Nava gets DFA'd and some team will claim him.

 

 

I can't see Nava getting DFA'd. Bradley is definitely going down, and right or wrong, I think Castillo is too, simply because he has options. DFA-ing Nava would not be a very smart move.

[Spudboy]

Nava is a .300 hitter from one side of the plate, at least. That combined with his defensive versatility and a cheap contract makes him useful on this team. We know what we have in him. Unlike other players in question.

[a700hitter]

I can't see Nava getting DFA'd. Bradley is definitely going down, and right or wrong, I think Castillo is too, simply because he has options. DFA-ing Nava would not be a very smart move.

Unless two of our Outfielders get traded or injured in camp, Nava gets DFA'd. Mark it down. Castillo is not sitting in the minors with his $72 million.

[Ogden]

Victorino should be fifth on the depth chart behind Castillo, Craig, Holt, and Nava (even though he can't throw from RF). Too bad there isn't a health clause in Victorino's contract like there was with Lackey.

[seabeachfred]

Vic's back is a ticking time bomb. He stopped switch hitting because or the soreness. That to me says his back is not close to 100% and it's going to be a ? all season long. If some team is offering something decent(BP arm?) they should jump on it. I'm a Vic fan and am grateful for what he's done for the Sox, but he's too risky to plug in as the everyday RF for me.

 

I'd trade Vic and Nava. Hanley, Betts, and Castillo as the starting OF with Craig being 4th OF and Bradley starting in AAA. I really wanna see what Craig has with the bat this year. He could be a good replacement for an aging Napoli next year. I'm not high on Bradley, but he has made it interesting enough to where I think he will be good depth if someone goes down or Craig flames out.

 

I was impressed with what I saw from Alan Craig today. It looks to me as if he has some real sting back in his bat and believe the Red Sox should be very careful in dumping him unless they can get a top notch prospect back......and right now he doesn't have that kind of value. But it looks to me as if he is going to hit. Bradley is having a solid spring but we saw this in 2013 and right now he does have value. If he goes to Pawtucket and fails or is on the Red Sox and goes south again we lose whatever value he has. We really don't need him that badly. Betts can now play CF very well and Castillo is no slouch out there either. Now is the time to trade Bradley while he has some real value. He's not getting into our regular lineup in my opinion and he is shoehorned in there he will not keep his spot. Betts, Ramirez and Castillo have made him irrelevant, but he does offer some hope via a trade with a team like Atlanta that needs solid outfielders in the worst way.

[jacksonianmarch]

The sox have some serious depth when it comes to the OF and 1B. That being said, that depth all cannot be optioned to AAA. My bet is JBJ is in the minors and Castillo very well may end up there as well with Nava and Craig making the team. That would allow the sox to build their value for a potential deal, or if the sox are in playoff position, keep the status quo

[seabeachfred]

The sox have some serious depth when it comes to the OF and 1B. That being said, that depth all cannot be optioned to AAA. My bet is JBJ is in the minors and Castillo very well may end up there as well with Nava and Craig making the team. That would allow the sox to build their value for a potential deal, or if the sox are in playoff position, keep the status quo

 

Hey Jacko, you ever go to Fenway Park for a Red Sox-Yankees series? I just finished getting hooked up for that three game series July 10-12 at the Fens. Looking forward to it. I will be staying at the Copley-Marriott and will spend an extra day and a half in Boston before leaving on July 14th. Be nice if I could meet up with you and other colleagues from this board. It ought to be one helluva series this summer.

[a700hitter]

Hey Jacko, you ever go to Fenway Park for a Red Sox-Yankees series? I just finished getting hooked up for that three game series July 10-12 at the Fens. Looking forward to it. I will be staying at the Copley-Marriott and will spend an extra day and a half in Boston before leaving on July 14th. Be nice if I could meet up with you and other colleagues from this board. It ought to be one helluva series this summer.

Fred, I will be going to the game on the 11th. We must arrange to meet.

[seabeachfred]

Fred, I will be going to the game on the 11th. We must arrange to meet.

 

That would be great Ted. Maybe we could have dinner that night as well as talk some serious baseball. I wasn't aware you were going to that series but that is just great to hear.