Spring training

[Dojji]

Seriously jung, there's time later to invent reasons to hate, we don't need that right now.

[mvp 78]

Hanley brought the Napoli glove. He had it since last season. He brought the glove. There were no reports saying he didn't bring a glove.

 

Why would the Sox tell anyone to only get balls hit right to them? Crazy talk.

 

I had to hold my phone behind my head while typing this because my eyes rolled so far back in my head...

[User Name]

Hanley brought the Napoli glove. He had it since last season. He brought the glove. There were no reports saying he didn't bring a glove.

 

Why would the Sox tell anyone to only get balls hit right to them? Crazy talk.

 

I had to hold my phone behind my head while typing this because my eyes rolled so far back in my head...

 

Genuinely funny, and a suitable reaction too. Two points to the gentleman with the weird taste in music and beers.

[mvp 78]

Sam Travis' nickname is Dr Chill. I didn't know he was a comic book villain from the 50's...

[Thunder]

Davey O is ditching y'all today. He's up in Orlando, calling the UConn game today! I'll take it. He's one of ESPN's biggest game guys.

[User Name]

Sam Travis' nickname is Dr Chill. I didn't know he was a comic book villain from the 50's...

 

Two points for the gentleman with the weird nickname and sweet swing.

[Kimmi]

Spring training is kind of ********........ yea.... everyone looks great.........or was bad because they were trying something new.......... players that do well are only doing great against other players that are getting their work in............

 

I'm think spring ball is my least favorite baseball of the year.... it's ********............ and means nothing.... but then does in a way... if you can sifter through the ********.

 

It's like dry humping....

 

ST serves its purpose, you just have to know not to take ST stats at face value.

 

You must also realize that the correlation between ST W-L record and regular season W-L record is very weak.

[Kimmi]

I suspect that Hanley in limited action looks better than Pablo in the field as well. But that is not saying much. They don't want Pablo to do more than catch the balls that are hit right at him deciding that Pablo has gone beyond limited range to no range whatsoever. That is one hell of a 3rd baseman for you.

 

They are not letting Hanley handle any pop ups and are arranging to have whoever catches cover Pop ups out toward 1st and Pedey handle pop ups behind first. That is a hell of 1st baseman for you. By the time our middle infielders get done covering at corner infield they may have a heard time covering their own territory!

 

As for the glove, the reports were that Hanely showed up with no 1st baseman's glove, not his, not Napoli's not anybodies.

 

As far as not putting in any work adapting to first base in the off season is concerned....Hanley seemed quite willing to work from the Shortsstop position though nobody was going to ask him to play Shortstop. I seriously doubt Hanley asked the Sox if he could do work at Short. It was just want Hanley wanted to do. Hanley always does what Hanley wants to do. While playing or not playing winter ball is a decision an MLB team can have a part in, Hanley could have worked at adapting to 1st without playing for a team just as he worked at Short without playing for a team. But NOOOOOOOOOO. Maybe he could find pop ups now if he had. Maybe he would have been able to at least start the process of developing footwork around 1st base if he had....but NOOOOOOOOO.

 

People need to understand that Hanley simply does whatever pops into his mind that sounds good to him, like swinging for fences every single AB of his 2015 campaign for example. He lied his way into this contract, convincing BC that he would "WORK" at LF and he didn't do that either. Remember, Hanley went to BC, not the other way around. He went to BC hat in hand willing to say anything to get BC to sign on the line that was dotted which is how we end up with this stiff in the first place.

 

You are entitled to your opinion, but seriously, there is nothing to substantiate what you are saying. As UN likes to say, quit making stuff up.

[Kimmi]

Points from today's broadcast:

 

1. Remy said that Hanley and Pablo are on a back field every morning at 8:30, before team workouts, working on their defense.

 

2. Remy on Hanley - "If he doesn't succeed, it won't be because of lack of effort."

 

3. Hanley made a nice catch on a pop up in foul territory in front of the 1B dug out.

[Northern Star]

 

2. Remy on Hanley - "If he doesn't succeed, it won't be because of lack of effort."

 

 

Didn't they say that before the start of last season? I think the effort waned throughout the season.

[Spudboy]

Points from today's broadcast:

 

1. Remy said that Hanley and Pablo are on a back field every morning at 8:30, before team workouts, working on their defense.

 

2. Remy on Hanley - "If he doesn't succeed, it won't be because of lack of effort."

 

3. Hanley made a nice catch on a pop up in foul territory in front of the 1B dug out.

 

 

I find it hard to believe that Hanley has played so many years and can't catch a pop-up. He may not have the instincts to play 1st yet. But I have to believe that he can catch a pop-up.

 

Still, Ted's observation is curious. I would hope that Hanley would make the required effort in any game situation.

[mvp 78]

Everyone's observation is clouded by bias some way or another.

[Spudboy]

Everyone's observation is clouded by bias some way or another.

 

This is true, of course.

 

As for Ted's observations, I tend to give it some credence. The guy does have some skill in evaluating baseball talent.

[Kimmi]

Didn't they say that before the start of last season? I think the effort waned throughout the season.

 

His effort probably did wane. However, someone (Farrell I believe) commented that Hanley put in extra practice whenever the team asked him to. The likely reason that the team didn't ask him to put in extra time a lot was to try to keep him from getting injured, especially after the shoulder injury.

[Kimmi]

I find it hard to believe that Hanley has played so many years and can't catch a pop-up. He may not have the instincts to play 1st yet. But I have to believe that he can catch a pop-up.

 

Still, Ted's observation is curious. I would hope that Hanley would make the required effort in any game situation.

 

Mattingly, who is very familiar with Hanley's athleticism and ability, commented yesterday that he thought Hanley would be fine at 1B. Of course, he also said that he thought Hanley would be fine in left field last year, but that's beside the point. It is difficult to believe that a player with Hanley's athleticism and experience at SS cannot or would not catch a pop up.

[cp176]

Today, he made a nice play on a line drive, but.....and this but really concerns me, he let a foul pop up fall behind first base. It was an easy play, and he barely made a move for it. By the time he reacted, it was too late, and he just stopped. Pop-ups are going to be a problem. On one of the first NESN broadcasts, the announcers said that Pedroia said that the strategy was for him to take whatever pop-ups that he could get to and not let Hanley handle popups. When I heard the story, I thought that it was a bit concerning.

 

There was a second play that was a foul pop-up between home and first toward the dugout and about 1/3 down the line. Swihart made the catch, but Hanley did not even attempt to run down that ball. It was not a difficult catch for Swihart, but very often, maybe more often than not, the first baseman takes that ball. He did not make an attempt. He jogged in to head toward the dugout.

 

 

I am concerned about him fielding pop-ups and picking throws out of the dirt. I don't think he will have trouble with ground balls. Our catchers will have a very big area to cover for pop-ups, because Pablo can't cover anything more than 2/3 to 3/4 down the line and Hanley has no idea where these balls are going to land. Our catchers will need to be catching pop-ups in fair territory possibly out as far as the mound.

 

In my case, I think I would have to see him myself like you are before offering an opinion about whether or not he can or cannot make certain plays. He certainly has caught enough infield popups over the course of his career in addition to having dug plenty of balls out of the dirt. I think that he can do what he wants to do. I really am more concerned with his footwork around the bag and whether or not his attention span will hold up when runners need to be held on. Sounded like he made some plays yesterday. i can see Petey telling him to let him field any pops on that side of the infield and I can see Hanley letting him do it. Not always a good thing. He is athletic. If he works, he should get it done.

[cp176]

Moncada getting another start today.

[mvp 78]

Moncada getting another start today.

 

Getting ready to deal Pedroia.

[cp176]

Getting ready to deal Pedroia.

 

rumor mill keeps on grinding. We just need to throw down a few more breadcrumbs!!!

[Dojji]

I'd hate to lose Pedroia but if he has to go it's nice to know we have some great depth behind his position.

[mvp 78]

@peteabe - #RedSox pitching coming up:

Sunday: Porcello, Elias, Layne

Monday: Kelly, Johnson, Barnes, Ross, Marmol

Tuesday: Price, Kimbrel, Taz

 

I'm interested in seeing how Elias and Johnson perform. Marmol was in midseason form last time I saw him.

[a700hitter]

In my case, I think I would have to see him myself like you are before offering an opinion about whether or not he can or cannot make certain plays. He certainly has caught enough infield popups over the course of his career in addition to having dug plenty of balls out of the dirt. I think that he can do what he wants to do. I really am more concerned with his footwork around the bag and whether or not his attention span will hold up when runners need to be held on. Sounded like he made some plays yesterday. i can see Petey telling him to let him field any pops on that side of the infield and I can see Hanley letting him do it. Not always a good thing. He is athletic. If he works, he should get it done.

It is not uncommon for players in Spring Training to look bad on flyballs and high pops, because most of the games are day games. In the short period that I was there, two balls dropped next to left fielders who lost sight of the balls. The balls that Hanley botched were not very high and not one that would have been lost in the sky. His reactions to those balls were late/ very late. Hopefully, it was just the sun and sky, but what I saw and the statement that I heard from Pedroia re pop flies gives me some concern.

 

I have no bias against him. He seems to be swinging the bat very well. He is running the bases well, including stealing bases. He is in excellent shape. I am counting on him to be a big part of this team. He will not win any gold glove at 1B. I am just hoping for major league competence at the position. If I have a bias, it is that I don't think we should let Pablo continue to block 2 players (Shaw and Travis). I do not think Pablo has enough of an upside to block those guys.

Edited March 13, 2016 by a700hitter

[Bellhorn04]

Getting ready to deal Pedroia.

 

Yep, our infield defense will be tremendous with Panda or Shaw, Moncada and Hanley comprising 3/4 of it.

[Dojji]

I actually suspect Moncada will follow Betts into the outfield. If I have to play Betts or Moncada at 2b, I'm playing Betts. Out of practice or no, he seemed to have the better 2b toolset.

[cp176]

It is not uncommon for players in Spring Training to look bad on flyballs and high pops, because most of the games are day games. In the short period that I was there, two balls dropped next to left fielders who lost sight of the balls. The balls that Hanley botched were not very high and not one that would have been lost in the sky. His reactions to those balls were late/ very late. Hopefully, it was just the sun and sky, but what I saw and the statement that I heard from Pedroia re pop flies gives me some concern.

 

I have no bias against him. He seems to be swinging the bat very well. He is running the bases well, including stealing bases. He is in excellent shape. I am counting on him to be a big part of this team. He will not win any gold glove at 1B. I am just hoping for major league competence at the position. If I have a bias, it is that I don't think we should let Pablo continue to block 2 players (Shaw and Travis). I do not think Pablo has enough of an upside to block those guys.

 

I'm with you on this. Here's hoping for Hanley. We need him or at least someone like him at the plate. I really hope that Travis Shaw gets a chance to be an everyday starter. If he doesn't. hope that it means that Sandoval really does play well enough to justify being out there day to day. I don't think that using him every third day or so in two or three different positions is going to let us truly see whether or not he could be a good one. He has looked good for a while now.

[cp176]

I actually suspect Moncada will follow Betts into the outfield. If I have to play Betts or Moncada at 2b, I'm playing Betts. Out of practice or no, he seemed to have the better 2b toolset.

 

 

Moncada is put together like a corner infielder or outfielder. Corner infielder = third base (hint hint)

[Dojji]

Well I'm thinking that's a possibility CP, but we may also wind up needing a left fielder depending on what we get from the utter wildcard that is Rusney Castillo

[mvp 78]

Yep, our infield defense will be tremendous with Panda or Shaw, Moncada and Hanley comprising 3/4 of it.

 

Moncada looks good at 2b to me.

[Bellhorn04]

Moncada looks good at 2b to me.

 

Yeah, he's come a long way since those 23 errors he made in 71 games last year in A ball...

[User Name]

Moncada is put together like a corner infielder or outfielder. Corner infielder = third base (hint hint)

 

This.