Spring training

[SoxHop]

Me too, It's a godsend to us over the pond. Coverage always works fine and compared to NFL is very good value for money.

 

How do you post a quote in a quote?

 

Are you and wyo-sox talking about the same thing I am? The MLB.TV live streaming on a computer? If so that blows my mind. I've had it on multiple computers, multiple locations, and probably with better internet speed and connectivity than any of you in Japan and it always was bad for me.

 

hmmmmm?

[Kimmi]

Just heard a report from a couple of local guys who have just come back from spring training. There has been quite a bit of positive stuff written about Hanley these days but not so much about Pablo. There take on things after watching them put in their work is that Sandoval works on all aspects of his game as much as anyone and actually looks good doing it.

 

Thank you for posting this.

[cp176]

Thank you for posting this.

 

I am cheering for him. I am actually cheering for both of them but if I had to bet, I would bet that Shaw will be at one of those corners before bunker hill day.

[a700hitter]

I was at the last 2 games. Pablo is not going to be making any big turnaround. He looks awful in the field. In addition to his two errors today, on Sunday he made a misplay on a steal of third base. Hanigan made a very accurate throw that had the base runner beat. Pablo arrived at the base in time to take the throw, but he could not stop the momentum of his massive body and over ran the base and had to reach back for the throw and couldn't apply the tag. He looked ridiculous

 

I think DD should convince JH to eat Pablo's contract and move Hanley to third base. Hanley just cannot pick balls out of the dirt. I like Travis Shaw and Sam Travis. I think both can handle first base and hit well.

[Spudboy]

I was at the last 2 games. Pablo is not going to be making any big turnaround. He looks awful in the field. In addition to his two errors today, on Sunday he made a misplay on a steal of third base. Hanigan made a very accurate throw that had the base runner beat. Pablo arrived at the base in time to take the throw, but he could not stop the momentum of his massive body and over ran the base and had to reach back for the throw and couldn't apply the tag. He looked ridiculous

 

I think DD should convince JH to eat Pablo's contract and move Hanley to third base. Hanley just cannot pick balls out of the dirt. I like Travis Shaw and Sam Travis. I think both can handle first base and hit well.

 

That throw from Hannigan was dead nuts. Pablo looked foolish.

[cp176]

I was at the last 2 games. Pablo is not going to be making any big turnaround. He looks awful in the field. In addition to his two errors today, on Sunday he made a misplay on a steal of third base. Hanigan made a very accurate throw that had the base runner beat. Pablo arrived at the base in time to take the throw, but he could not stop the momentum of his massive body and over ran the base and had to reach back for the throw and couldn't apply the tag. He looked ridiculous

 

I think DD should convince JH to eat Pablo's contract and move Hanley to third base. Hanley just cannot pick balls out of the dirt. I like Travis Shaw and Sam Travis. I think both can handle first base and hit well.

 

All reports keep saying the same thing about Sam Travis - hitting machine. What do you think? Love to see a a spring training game with Shaw at third and Travis at first.

[mvp 78]

All reports keep saying the same thing about Sam Travis - hitting machine. What do you think? Love to see a a spring training game with Shaw at third and Travis at first.

 

Shaw looks ok at 3b. He doesn't look like a natural.

[cp176]

Shaw looks ok at 3b. He doesn't look like a natural.

 

Third base might be the landing spot for Moncada if he keeps progressing. That is just my hope.

[jung]

I was at the last 2 games. Pablo is not going to be making any big turnaround. He looks awful in the field. In addition to his two errors today, on Sunday he made a misplay on a steal of third base. Hanigan made a very accurate throw that had the base runner beat. Pablo arrived at the base in time to take the throw, but he could not stop the momentum of his massive body and over ran the base and had to reach back for the throw and couldn't apply the tag. He looked ridiculous

 

I think DD should convince JH to eat Pablo's contract and move Hanley to third base. Hanley just cannot pick balls out of the dirt. I like Travis Shaw and Sam Travis. I think both can handle first base and hit well.

 

I have no idea what people did not look at Pablo's massive body in a baseball uni...which was the real proof for me and would not acknowledge that he is without question bigger than he was at the beginning of last season and quite possibly so close to his end season weight that it is hardly worth discussing a difference. That is SCARY!

 

Hanley, another case of Red Sox hope overarching reason...why I am not surprised he is having trouble picking it. There is NOTHING about footwork at shortstop that is remotely similar to footwork at 1st. The only shot Hanley really had at being relevant as a 1st baseman was to have at least worked hard at it in the off season. BUT NOOOOOOO!......not Hanley....not in your or my lifetime. I actually think Hanley will be no better at 3rd but could do less damage there and it takes one of the terrible two off the field.

 

We look at what we had done under the last of Larry/BC and then for some reason wonder why we end up eating AL East exhaust. Hanley, Pablo, Porcello resigning, Castillo (who IMO is not even a baseball player of any kind), Lackey mess, Lester mess, and the coupe de grace, Farrell who we should have bumped someplace last year so he could have kept his health insurance through his cancer fight. Bringing John back as manager was flat stupid.

 

People age in their jobs and like it or not, father time catches up and they just are not what they were. Something needs to revitalize JH and TW I think.....with Larry now gone. Larry was a great President that JH refused to corral allowing him to run amok in Baseball Ops where we ended up with BC, heaven help us.

 

As for Hanley actually playing 3rd base, I don't think Hanley can throw anymore...as in across the diamond with something on it anywhere near 1st base. You would get Pablo off the the field all together and Hanley off of 1st but you would need to send your new 1st baseman out there with a step ladder!

Edited March 8, 2016 by jung

[mvp 78]

I think Castillo still has a good deal of upside. I believe there is a better chance that he succeeds than either Hanley or Panda.

 

Not sure how the Sox messed up with Lackey. He's an ok pitcher, but nothing you lose sleep over if they walk out the door.

[User Name]

He needs to whine. That's what's wrong. Hanley will be fine at 1B. No amount of "offseason work" can simulate game conditions, and he wanted to play 1B in winter ball, and the Red Sox were the ones who said no. Stop making stuff up.

 

Porcello's extension hasn't even kicked in. He had a down year. Let him pitch and then we'll know whether or not he was a bust. Pablo is not that fat. Hyperbole much?

 

Saying Castillo "isn't a baseball of any kind" is just another reason why people on this site (even though most people won't dare say it out loud) think you're extremely annoying jung. It's okay to criticize the team, but be fair, be realistic, and most important of all, be goddamned concise. Jesus.

[jung]

Unfortunately that says more about Hanley and Pablo that it does about Castillo.

 

Castillo for one thing simply can't hit breaking balls. Generally speaking if you are 29 years old and are this feeble against the breaking stuff....you are on your way to your window washing career. The only reason they are stuck now fooling with Castillo is because they are paying him. Also, he takes poor paths to the baseball in the OF and he has an Ole' glove. He has a cannon arm though not JBJ's but he has this odd knack for taking balls of the the Monster.....better with his back to the infield than even Yaz was with his back to the infield. So how much are they going to put up with for a guy that is meat for any breaking ball, has a so-so at best glove hand, a cannon arm that only comes into play on caroms off the Fenway Wall?

 

How many guys do they have that they are stuck dealing with because they are paying them....Castillo, Hanley, Pablo, Craig....Geez. Clearly they are paying Porcello more than they should by a fair amount because the Sox insisted on extending him for some ridiculous reason mid season. Usually when you make bad FA signings you worry about how much time you are going to lose off the back end of the deal. We can't get past the front end of these deals, never mind the back end.

[mvp 78]

How many guys do they have that they are stuck dealing with because they are paying them....Castillo, Hanley, Pablo, Craig....Geez. Clearly they are paying Porcello more than they should by a fair amount because the Sox insisted on extending him for some ridiculous reason mid season. Usually when you make bad FA signings you worry about how much time you are going to lose off the back end of the deal. We can't get past the front end of these deals, never mind the back end.

 

Craig is firmly entrenched in AAA. Not sure how they are stuck playing him with regards to the big league club. He'll probably be still in Pawtucket when his contract ends in 2017. Plus, he's only being paid about $6M per so it's not really breaking the bank.

 

Porcello pitched better towards the end of the year when he had a consistent catcher. My guess is that he pitches more like the second half of 2015 going forward.

 

For Castillo, he needs to be at least given a full season before we can call him a bust...

 

Hanley was injured last year and hasn't shown himself to be completely incompetent at 1b. Sure, he didn't pick a bounced throw, but every other Sox 1b this spring has done the same thing during a game so far. He has work to do, but should be athletic enough to be a mediocre 1b.

 

I hope Pablo gets off to a hot start in April and shuts everyone up. It would be best for all involved.

[Bellhorn04]

I think Castillo still has a good deal of upside. I believe there is a better chance that he succeeds than either Hanley or Panda.

 

Not sure how the Sox messed up with Lackey. He's an ok pitcher, but nothing you lose sleep over if they walk out the door.

 

He was a lot better than anything else we had last year though. It just didn't matter much because we sucked either way.

[jung]

So paying Castillo $11m a year for what is it......7 years was worth what he gave us in a basement dwelling season! Much like Castillo possibly being better than Hanley and Pablo says more about them....Castillo being better than anything we had anywhere says more about our vaunted farm system than it does about Castillo, Without moving Mookie to the OF, it has produced all of one OF guy of late.....JBJ.

 

On a brighter note, seeing Vaz for the first time today. Unlike Pablo who could lose a 20lb dif under one arn, Vaz looks solid as a rock with the 20lbs gone.

[mvp 78]

So paying Castillo $11m a year for what is it......7 years was worth what he gave us in a basement dwelling season! Much like Castillo possibly being better than Hanley and Pablo says more about them....Castillo being better than anything we had anywhere says more about our vaunted farm system than it does about Castillo, Without moving Mookie to the OF, it has produced all of one OF guy of late.....JBJ.

 

On a brighter note, seeing Vaz for the first time today. Unlike Pablo who could lose a 20lb dif under one arn, Vaz looks solid as a rock with the 20lbs gone.

 

C'mon, be a little fair. This vaunted system produced Xander and Mookie, two guys that look to be All Star locks for the foreseeable future. They have great organizational depth at C and 2b/SS. They were also able to move high value pieces to get a premium arm and didn't really suffer for it.

[Bellhorn04]

So paying Castillo $11m a year for what is it......7 years was worth what he gave us in a basement dwelling season! Much like Castillo possibly being better than Hanley and Pablo says more about them....Castillo being better than anything we had anywhere says more about our vaunted farm system than it does about Castillo, Without moving Mookie to the OF, it has produced all of one OF guy of late.....JBJ.

 

Does it really matter if Mookie was moved to the OF though? I'm sure they realized it was a possibility. I don't think points should be deducted.

[jung]

Well actually it does matter but OK whatever.

 

I am beginning to think JBJ actually has a chance to pull a career out of his ass. He hit a ball today that he does not get close to 2 years ago with that previous ridiculous swing. He was not trying to go the other way today...there was no effort to get his hands inside the ball. But without that stupid over rotating torso he can get the bat into the hitting zone so much faster and keep it in a little longer. So today his swing was a tad late which was the reason the ball went opposite field. but He still got a a hit out of a ball that he would have been a foot away from 2 years ago.

[User Name]

C'mon, be a little fair. This vaunted system produced Xander and Mookie, two guys that look to be All Star locks for the foreseeable future. They have great organizational depth at C and 2b/SS. They were also able to move high value pieces to get a premium arm and didn't really suffer for it.

 

Apparently that's too much to ask around these parts.

[cp176]

so - I am thinking fair and trying to be positive here. When talking about one of the wealthiest teams in baseball, I don't even like to use the word budget. They have thrown a lot around for awhile now. It's easy to look back and say that we didn't get what we wanted but doesn't do any good. I'll only be concerned when better players don't get the opportunities they should get because of the contracts going forward. If Sandoval and Ramirez produce both at the plate and in the field, no complaints at all but if they don't they need to be moved aside. Same goes for Castillo. In Porcello's case, I'm sure that he gets his chance as well. As an aside - I would love to see as many as these young players signed long term as we can. I grew up when part of this rabid loyalty was attributable to the fact that we saw the saw same players year in and year out. We grew with them. It is a great way to build your fan base.

[Spudboy]

That Travis kid looks to be the goods ( SSS ).

 

He can field and he makes good contact.

[cp176]

That Travis kid looks to be the goods ( SSS ).

 

He can field and he makes good contact.

 

good to hear!

[cp176]

That Travis kid looks to be the goods ( SSS ).

 

He can field and he makes good contact.

 

Every time I hear or read stuff like this I want to start beating the "move him to third" Moncada drum.

Also good to see my boy Hernandez playing and getting a good look. A utility player probably if he stays in Boston but the kid can play.

[a700hitter]

All reports keep saying the same thing about Sam Travis - hitting machine. What do you think? Love to see a a spring training game with Shaw at third and Travis at first.

Travis looks like the real deal. The ball explodes off his bat. He tracks and identifies pitches very well. He can handle pitches on the outside edge with authority and turn on the inside pitch.

 

As far as Craig is concerned, there is no place for him in this organization. If neither Travis or Shaw come North, they will be the everyday first baseman at AAA and AA. That would leave Craig nowhere. They should just cut him loose.

[cp176]

Travis looks like the real deal. The ball explodes off his bat. He tracks and identifies pitches very well. He can handle pitches on the outside edge with authority and turn on the inside pitch.

 

As far as Craig is concerned, there is no place for him in this organization. If neither Travis or Shaw come North, they will be the everyday first baseman at AAA and AA. That would leave Craig nowhere. They should just cut him loose.

 

Been in Boston all day. Been waiting for your take on what you are seeing down there. Sounds like it will be time to cut Craig loose for good. Is he doing anything that would make him keepable here or would he just be cluttering things up? Good stuff with Sam Travis.

[SoxHop]

That Travis kid looks to be the goods ( SSS ).

 

He can field and he makes good contact.

 

Spud, you in Florida now?

[User Name]

I like Travis better than Shaw. But that's just me.

[a700hitter]

Been in Boston all day. Been waiting for your take on what you are seeing down there. Sounds like it will be time to cut Craig loose for good. Is he doing anything that would make him keepable here or would he just be cluttering things up? Good stuff with Sam Travis.

Craig is just taking up space. Hernandez has looked good too. He swings the bat with authority and looks like he has major league tools. Other prospects may project ahead of him, but he is getting it done on the field.

[cp176]

Craig is just taking up space. Hernandez has looked good too. He swings the bat with authority and looks like he has major league tools. Other prospects may project ahead of him, but he is getting it done on the field.

 

 

I love guys like Shaw, Travis, and Hernandez. They deserve a shot whether it is with Boston or with someone else. No headline makers yet. No ridiculous signing bonuses. They go to work, they play hard. Soon enough this team is going to be loaded up with players that we will have a hard time finding fault with.

[jung]

Shaw is already 25 and Travis is already 27. Seems like they are what they are going to be. I would think they should be playing someplace. The shame of it is that at their ages they really need to sink or swim meaning they should get a shot at real ML play. Hernandez looks more like a traditional prospect should look...young...but where to play him. Both Shaw and Travis could probably play here right now. They would not be stars but would likely contribute more than the slugs ahead of them.

 

Travis would have to skip AAA to make it up now. But another year in the minors means he would be 28 before seeing ML time.

Edited March 9, 2016 by jung