Spring training

[cp176]

And has a bum shoulder and can't make the throws anymore.

 

There are multiple options right now for a utility third baseman in the Red Sox organization. I think that spring training counts. If, after watching Sandoval, throughout the course of st, the organization decides that he is not the right person to start the season at third base that tells me that he has been outworked and outplayed and the decision to move away from him was not one made in haste. He needs no additional time that could hurt the team come spring. I am just as concerned with what effect this has upon Shaw and the rest of our young ballplayers who have taken it upon themselves to do everything they could do to move forward. Sandoval only needs to prove himself to his coaches and his teammates not to the fan base.

[a700hitter]

Is Buccholz even in camp? Radio silent on him.

Yes, and he has not looked good, but that is not uncommon for Buch as he fine tunes his command.

[Spudboy]

I think the big issue right now with simply dismissing Pablo is that after Shaw, we really have exceedingly limited depth at the third base position.

 

If you don't give Pablo a fair chance, you're essentially putting the season up on a pass/fail judgment based on whether or not Shaw is what he looked like last year and this Spring. Which he might be, but he also might not.

 

If Pablo gets a chance and fails, Shaw is there to back up and provide depth, but if Shaw is your go to guy on day 1 and you have no faith at all in Sandoval, then you have no depth at third base and your only remaining failsafe at the position is Holt.

 

Sorry, I don't get this argument at all.

 

I think it is always a good idea to start with the best player available and then if necessary, move on to lesser options.

 

From what I have seen of Pablo ( 2015 season and ST this year ), he is roughly replacement level at best. Shaw may be as yet "unproven" but he has been far more productive ( at least at 1st base ) and appears to be competent at 3rd.

 

Let's say that Shaw starts the season at 3rd and fails miserably. The team has several viable options. Even with leaving Holt out of the discussion so he can be a utility guy. There are Pablo himself, Merrero, Hernandez, and Rutledge. Even Graig!

 

All of those guys should be able to provide close to replacement value and performance at 3rd.

 

Ditching Pablo in favor of Shaw now has very little downside and may provide the team with it's best chance offensively. And from what I have seen, decent defense at 3rd.

[cp176]

Sorry, I don't get this argument at all.

 

I think it is always a good idea to start with the best player available and then if necessary, move on to lesser options.

 

From what I have seen of Pablo ( 2015 season and ST this year ), he is roughly replacement level at best. Shaw may be as yet "unproven" but he has been far more productive ( at least at 1st base ) and appears to be competent at 3rd.

 

Let's say that Shaw starts the season at 3rd and fails miserably. The team has several viable options. Even with leaving Holt out of the discussion so he can be a utility guy. There are Pablo himself, Merrero, Hernandez, and Rutledge. Even Graig!

 

All of those guys should be able to provide close to replacement value and performance at 3rd.

 

Ditching Pablo in favor of Shaw now has very little downside and may provide the team with it's best chance offensively. And from what I have seen, decent defense at 3rd.

 

This makes sense!!!

[User Name]

It makes more sense to see how Pablo does in at least a limited time during the regular season. Shaw is unproven, Holt is needed elsewhere, Marrero can't hit, neither can Rutledge, Craig flat out sucks and has never played third base, Hernandez is not very good, at least in my opinion. They need to see what they actually have with Pablo. I'm with mvp on this one.

[cp176]

glad you added the "in my opinion" to Hernandez.

[a700hitter]

glad you added the "in my opinion" to Hernandez.

I saw him while I was in Fort Myers. I like the kid, and think that the initial projections for him may have under-rated him.

[cp176]

I saw him while I was in Fort Myers. I like the kid, and think that the initial projections for him may have under-rated him.

 

 

I read somewhere that he had gotten bigger during the off-season. He may very well start to get some real attention this year.

[Spudboy]

It makes more sense to see how Pablo does in at least a limited time during the regular season. Shaw is unproven, Holt is needed elsewhere, Marrero can't hit, neither can Rutledge, Craig flat out sucks and has never played third base, Hernandez is not very good, at least in my opinion. They need to see what they actually have with Pablo. I'm with mvp on this one.

 

Of course Shaw is unproven. Until he proves otherwise. Without a chance to succeed he will remain unproven.

 

I deliberately left Holt out of the equation.

 

Merrero is a lightweight bat from what we have seen. But he does have the glove and arm. Replacement level.

 

Rutledge is AAAA so by definition, replacement level.

 

Hernandez looks better than Pablo does by far, but is unproven. Replacement level or there abouts.

 

Graig hits as well as Pablo now. He is a competent infielder. Probably could provide replacement level performance.

 

I never said any of these guys would light it up at 3rd. My point is that the Sox do have players in-house that could replace Pablo if needed and probably not be much worse off.

 

Like your post, this is only opinion.

[mvp 78]

@iamjoonlee Travis Shaw has been unreal this spring but:

Jackie Bradley Jr. Spring Training ’13: .419/.507/.613

Shaw Spring Training ’16: .419/.455/.677

[a700hitter]

@iamjoonlee Travis Shaw has been unreal this spring but:

Jackie Bradley Jr. Spring Training ’13: .419/.507/.613

Shaw Spring Training ’16: .419/.455/.677

Reddick had one incredible Spring for us too, and then he went back to the minors and had a huge slump. Shaw did get some very good MLB experience last year.

[User Name]

Of course Shaw is unproven. Until he proves otherwise. Without a chance to succeed he will remain unproven.

 

I deliberately left Holt out of the equation.

 

Merrero is a lightweight bat from what we have seen. But he does have the glove and arm. Replacement level.

 

Rutledge is AAAA so by definition, replacement level.

 

Hernandez looks better than Pablo does by far, but is unproven. Replacement level or there abouts.

 

Graig hits as well as Pablo now. He is a competent infielder. Probably could provide replacement level performance.

 

I never said any of these guys would light it up at 3rd. My point is that the Sox do have players in-house that could replace Pablo if needed and probably not be much worse off.

 

Like your post, this is only opinion.

 

But if we try to root our opinion in reality, the Sox aren't going to flush that contract down the toilet without at least trying to get something out of Panda.

[cp176]

But if we try to root our opinion in reality, the Sox aren't going to flush that contract down the toilet without at least trying to get something out of Panda.

 

Reality sucks - screw reality!

[Dojji]

Of course Shaw is unproven. Until he proves otherwise. Without a chance to succeed he will remain unproven.

 

He's a good bench player, and he'll probably get chances. He just hasn't gotten enough of them yet for me to be fully comfortable with him as my starting 3B in a year when I want to compete.

[cp176]

He's a good bench player, and he'll probably get chances. He just hasn't gotten enough of them yet for me to be fully comfortable with him as my starting 3B in a year when I want to compete.

 

He is a good player

[Spudboy]

But if we try to root our opinion in reality, the Sox aren't going to flush that contract down the toilet without at least trying to get something out of Panda.

 

Oh I agree with that. I don't expect the Sox to be smart and play Shaw now. They will do the obvious and dumb thing which is to put the big contract on the field.

 

I was just attempting to point out that the Sox do not have a dearth of talent available to play 3rd.

 

This team is going nowhere without a an upgrade in starting pitching very soon.

 

I'll still watch all the games and I'm pretty much done with Pablo. I don't even call him Fatboy anymore. I'm not one that likes to be redundant in pointing out the obvious.

[Elktonnick]

It is interesting, because the early reports out of camp from the beat writers was that Pablo was moving very well and looked better than last season. Did he lose that ability in a two week period? Or maybe he's working on his footwork or something, which is causing him to appear to be less agile right now, while he's working on it.

 

Again, give him a fair chance in some real games. If he stinks, I'll drive his bus out of town.

 

I don't know which "beat writer" wrote that unless it was Rob Bradford. I saw Pablo early in ST and he looked much worse than last year. Guys who have seen every game say he looks terrible. Every time I've seen him he looked terrible.. He obviously hasn't impressed the Red Sox brass who are obviously are hedging their bets on Sandoval in a way unlike any other player.

[cp176]

The statements that came out today pretty much declared an open season for the third base job. If Shaw outplays Sandoval over the next couple of weeks, he starts. The statement made by Farrell was so out of character for him that it just looks like they have accepted the fact that there might be quite a disparity between the two. If not, they wouldn't have said a thing. Regardless of what any of us think about the importance of spring training, it looks like they have paved the way just in case. Which ever - it looks like the better player wins the job. What an odd thought!

[a700hitter]

I don't know which "beat writer" wrote that unless it was Rob Bradford. I saw Pablo early in ST and he looked much worse than last year. Guys who have seen every game say he looks terrible. Every time I've seen him he looked terrible.. He obviously hasn't impressed the Red Sox brass who are obviously are hedging their bets on Sandoval in a way unlike any other player.

Apparently the Red Sox don't believe that report of his increased mobility either. I think the report attributed that remark to someone from Team Pablo. I don't think anyone reported that he has been moving better and looking more mobile.

[Elktonnick]

The statements that came out today pretty much declared an open season for the third base job. If Shaw outplays Sandoval over the next couple of weeks, he starts. The statement made by Farrell was so out of character for him that it just looks like they have accepted the fact that there might be quite a disparity between the two. If not, they wouldn't have said a thing. Regardless of what any of us think about the importance of spring training, it looks like they have paved the way just in case. Which ever - it looks like the better player wins the job. What an odd thought!

 

I also read the quote. If it is accurate then I'd say that the Sox basically agree with the position that some us have advocated that is that Sandoval's fair chance is that he has to prove himself now not later. They aren't giving him the whole month of April or more as some others want. This certainly is an unusual move for Boston. If it is true, then there really is a new sheriff in town.

[Kimmi]

I don't see those "obvious financial reasons" for playing P.S. You are paying two 3B about $20million. That's what you pay regardless of which one you put on the field. Why does it make "financial" sense to play the more expensive one?

 

Fair point, provided that the team chooses to keep Pablo.

 

That statement was more in terms of the Sox choosing to part ways with Pablo and eating his contract. That might not happen this year, but if Pablo stinks, I'm sure the Sox would prefer to move him rather than keep him as a bench player.

 

It is financially in the best interest of the Sox if Pablo plays well.

[Kimmi]

What bothers me the most about all of the Pablo vitriol is that many have you have made assumptions about him as a person, based on him being fat.

 

I am done trying to defend Pablo to you guys. You have obviously made up your minds about him, and nothing I say will change that.

 

I will leave you with some quotes from him regarding the competition for 3B. I hope that you can see that he at least has the right attitude about it.

 

“I'm just getting ready to do my job,” said Sandoval. “I don't have a problem competing for (anything). You're going to compete for everything out there. Every single day we're going to compete as a team. I love that.”

 

If anything, Sandoval said, the competition is a positive.

 

“It helps me play hard every single day,” Sandoval said. “No matter what the situation is, I'm going to compete every single day to win and show my teammates, the fans and the (coaching) staff that I'm going to compete and work hard.

 

“Every single day, you have to show everything you can show. You have to maintain your work, keep your head on (straight) and work hard to do all the things you can do.”

 

“Every year, I come here to compete,” said Sandoval. “Compete to be better at third base, be better at offense, and do everything better on the field, so I don't have a problem with that. I've been working at everything -- defense, offense. That's my goal, to keep working.”

 

“I feel pretty good with my offense,” he said. “I've been working hard in the cage.”

 

“I can't manage those things,” he said, “so I'm just going to go out and compete.”

 

“First two weeks (of spring training),” he offered, “we're getting ready. The last two weeks, we have to work hard to be ready for the season. But I don't feel pressure. I'm just going to keep working hard to help this team win.”

 

Asked how confident he is that he'll be in the starting lineup in Cleveland on April 4, Sandoval said: “I don't make that decision. It's not in my hands, so I'm going to keep working hard. They'll make the decision and I'm going to be happy. I don't expect (anything regarding playing time). I expect to help my team, help my teammates to win games. That's where I'm focused right now.”

[Kimmi]

Go Pablo!!!

[a700hitter]

Speaking for myself, I have made up my mind that PS's upside is just not worth waiting and hoping. He was never that good. With regard to his character, I make no judgment. Maybe he is a generous fun loving wonderful selfless individual, but that means nothing to me as a fan. Edited March 20, 2016 by a700hitter

[Spudboy]

Go Pablo!!!

 

Yes. I agree.

 

Pablo should go.

[a700hitter]

yes. I agree.

 

Pablo should go.

lol!!!

[cp176]

Sandoval still has a chance to earn the right to play. If Shaw gets the nod, it will be because he clearly has outplayed Sandoval. That will mean that he truly deserves to be out there. I think that it is important to note that this can't be easy on him. He has worked very hard to get to the level he is at. The better of the two should be the one who starts. It goes really without saying that whichever one it is, the better player regardless of contract size or available options will give his team the better chance to win. Maybe the Red Sox are seeing things a little differently this year.

[jung]

JBJ again with a very solid AB against a LH pitcher. Fights to keep the shoulder from flying open...nice balanced swing, not trying to do too much...doubles in two runs. If he would just go to the plate with the same attitude against RH pitchers, his career as an everyday player would be made.

 

JBJ follows that with the best AB against a RH pitcher I have seen from him this spring and rips a single to RF. Maybe he is finally getting it.

 

Crap...Carston Smith comes out of the game very quickly flexing his pitching arm and wearing that Oh s*** look on his face. Whatever it is, it can't be great.

Edited March 21, 2016 by jung

[User Name]

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/168661356/red-sox-mookie-betts-answers-twitter-questions

 

A question from SoxFanForSyth to Mookie posted in MLB.com. I lol'd.

[Spudboy]

So with the off day Porcello threw 6 solid innings against the Ray's AAA team.

 

See, I can be optimistic.