Spring training

[SoxHop]

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.

 

How bad are we talking????? Are you talking left field type of bad??????

[a700hitter]

How bad are we talking????? Are you talking left field type of bad??????

He picked a couple of practice throws in the dirt today. I don't think he will be LF bad on throws in the dirt, but no one will be comparing him go Boomer Scott. On pop-ups he looks lost. I am just hoping that it is the sun and high sky of day games. I am betting that he will let a few foul pops drop in, and maybe even a fair pop up. Hopefully, the IF rule will be in effect.

[SoxHop]

He picked a couple of practice throws in the dirt today. I don't think he will be LF bad on throws in the dirt, but no one will be comparing him go Boomer Scott. On pop-ups he looks lost. I am just hoping that it is the sun and high sky of day games. I am betting that he will let a few foul pops drop in, and maybe even a fair pop up. Hopefully, the IF rule will be in effect.

 

Blows my mind.......... any real shortstop prides themselves on being the badass who will get that high popup.

[SoxHop]

What I do is just run overly long posts through a Word grammar check and watch my computer melt.

 

I usually google translate it to Mandarin or Portuguese, then translate it back into English........... it makes more sense to me when I do that.

[SoxHop]

It was kind of a dumb idea to say Young would get every AB against lefties. JBJ should have the opportunity to show he can hit lefties and be an everyday CF.

 

I can't really believe Farrell would take that many AB's from JBJ unless he gets off to a bad start against lefties.

 

We will see...maybe what Farrell really meant to say was that all Young's AB's will be against lefties (LOL)

 

Voice of reason........ I swear you must be a Vulcan.

[Spudboy]

I look forward to Ted's ST reports each year.

 

I think I remember him saying that Travis Shaw had a live bat last ST.

 

Never would have known that by looking at his MiLB stats.

[SoxHop]

I look forward to Ted's ST reports each year.

 

I think I remember him saying that Travis Shaw had a live bat last ST.

 

Never would have known that by looking at his MiLB stats.

 

I'd agree with this. Some people can detect player instinct. If you are a ballplayer on the field, you need to detect who on the other side is going to give you trouble. Who is going to make the play and who is not, who is going to be a tough opponent, you watch for that stuff. Good players and people who know the game can sum up a player very quickly by looking at the very small stuff.

 

Mr. 700 has that intuition.

[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.

 

not a ramirez endorsement but heaven forbid a pitcher get off the mound and make a play. Are they becoming NFL quarterbacks? Just yesterday they were the best athletes on the field. There I go again - old guy stuff.

[jung]

That Hanley would have trouble holding the bag with one foot and picking it was predictable. That is a 1st baseman's meat and potatoes play. But one only makes it regularly or even often IF HE PRACTICES IT. The neophyte 1st baseman, especially one with his ego will either look down at the bag afraid to look stupid pecking at with his foot or will in fact peck at it with his foot. Even when he finds it he will not feel comfortable dealing with a baseball skipping in to him when he can't move! He will often find himself off balance for one thing and No Hanley, you can't all time out and try to get your crotch adjusted. That is the big difference. Shortstops are used to being able to step to baseballs to make plays. Sundance Kid line "I am better when I am moving". Taking throws at 2nd is completely different and no preparation. But since Hanley won't work at anything that opportunity is out the window. So he can't take popups, I seriously doubt he can throw accurately to save his skin any more and struggles with everything but straight up ground balls and the occasional liner around 1st. Terrific....

 

And Pablo...a beached whale would actually be an improvement

[Dojji]

You're off base here Jung. you're right that he's by no means proficient, you're wrong that not being proficient after maybe a couple months worth of reps means he'll never get it, and super wrong that that would mean he doesn't care.

[mvp 78]

But since Hanley won't work at anything that opportunity is out the window. So he can't take popups, I seriously doubt he can throw accurately to save his skin any more and struggles with everything but straight up ground balls and the occasional liner around 1st.

 

If this is the case, why are the Sox coaches commending him on the amount of work he is putting in and that he is night and day from last year?

 

Also, I found it hard to believe that he spent his whole time at SS ignoring fly balls...

[jung]

Who cares when he gets it...they won't let him even get near pop-ups ...are you kidding me. Why even try...there is no plan for him to play 1st past this year. This is the guy Farrell should have announced would be platooned every opportunity. Hanely will only actually care about playing 1st to the extent of not "looking" uncoordinated out there. His ego is about all we can count on. But does that mean he will "work at it"....NO. We already saw what that means...he just won't try to make a play that he deems potentially embarrassing. Hanley is an all loss proposition except for the opponents. We loss, Farell losses, the team losses, the other infielders definitely loss.

 

What we are actually watching play out is the ultimate stupidity of telling a guy like Hanley Ramirez that he has this temporary role to fill and then expecting him to lift a finger to help himself fill that temporary role. That was never going to happen. Did not happen last year and is not happening this year. My biggest concern is not Hanley at 1st. I am hoping it only takes a few doses of that medicine in the regular season and I suspect Farrell and DD will be fully on board platooning him there. My concern is that Hanley will view the DH role with the same cavalier, this is easy, attitude within which he views everything and after wading through two years of the misery of Hanley in the field, we will find he is a lousy DH on top of everything else.

 

I suspect the only reason DD is even interested is that he desperately hopes he can move either the Whale across the diamond or Hanley to somebody....ANYBODY....PLEASE

[jung]

If this is the case, why are the Sox coaches commending him on the amount of work he is putting in and that he is night and day from last year?

 

Also, I found it hard to believe that he spent his whole time at SS ignoring fly balls...

 

Why because they are all part of the same Sox PR machine. Like Pablo and his 17% body fat.

 

That was the same report the "coaches" have been giving while reporters have been following Hanley around looking for him to put in the kind of individual work actually caring would demand....In fact caring would have demanded that Hanely gain at least a working knowledge of 1st in the off season....but NOOOOOOOOO. Hanley does not even show up with a glove....wondering what closet that thing was in gathering dust.

[a700hitter]

I'd agree with this. Some people can detect player instinct. If you are a ballplayer on the field, you need to detect who on the other side is going to give you trouble. Who is going to make the play and who is not, who is going to be a tough opponent, you watch for that stuff. Good players and people who know the game can sum up a player very quickly by looking at the very small stuff.

 

Mr. 700 has that intuition.

Thank you. As I said, I am hoping that Hanley's problem with pop-ups is largely attributable to playing day games, although the one that fell behind him was very easy and most of the crowd was murmuring. I was at the game with a good friend who only watches baseball when he us with me and he never played baseball beyond grade school. When the ball dropped, I said nothing. My friend commented to me that that looked like it should have been easily caught. It was alarming. Whether he didn't see the ball or whether he just decided not to chase it, either way it was concerning. I immediately looked at Pedey to see where he was and his reaction. He was just staring at Hanley.

[a700hitter]

Why because they are all part of the same Sox PR machine. Like Pablo and his 17% body fat.

 

That was the same report the "coaches" have been giving while reporters have been following Hanley around looking for him to put in the kind of individual work actually caring would demand....In fact caring would have demanded that Hanely gain at least a working knowledge of 1st in the off season....but NOOOOOOOOO. Hanley does not even show up with a glove....wondering what closet that thing was in gathering dust.

last year's PR cover story re Hanley was that he was brave for coming here to learn a new position. They are the masters of spin.

[mvp 78]

Why because they are all part of the same Sox PR machine. Like Pablo and his 17% body fat.

 

That was the same report the "coaches" have been giving while reporters have been following Hanley around looking for him to put in the kind of individual work actually caring would demand....In fact caring would have demanded that Hanely gain at least a working knowledge of 1st in the off season....but NOOOOOOOOO. Hanley does not even show up with a glove....wondering what closet that thing was in gathering dust.

 

Hanley showed up with the 1b glove he had used to practice with all last year. I'm actually glad that Pablo showed up as a fatty fatty fat fat, because 2 months of "Hanley is using Napoli's glove" stories would have been horrible.

 

Hanley wanted to play 1b in the winter league, but the Sox wouldn't let him. How is that Hanley's fault exactly?

 

Most reports from journalists outside of the Fenway/Globe faction have stated that Hanley looks better defensively than Pablo. Remy has stated that Hanley is getting better by the day. I think I'd trust the viewpoints of those who see him day in and day out before I'd harp on a missed pick in a ST game. At some point, you have to give the players a chance to succeed before you s*** all over them.

[mvp 78]

last year's PR cover story re Hanley was that he was brave for coming here to learn a new position. They are the masters of spin.

 

The only time it's brave to play LF at Fenway is when you have a linebacker playing 3b that doesn't mind taking out a LFer on a popup.

 

- Sir Frederick Du Beach

[a700hitter]

I look forward to Ted's ST reports each year.

 

I think I remember him saying that Travis Shaw had a live bat last ST.

 

Never would have known that by looking at his MiLB stats.

Thanks Pete. I think you will like Sam Travis even more than Travis Shaw when you see him. He has more of a compact swing and puts the barrel on pitches inside and outside. And the ball jumps off his bat too. I really like him. If it were my decision, Pablo would be gone, Hanley would move to 3B and Shaw and Travis would share 1B, with Shaw spelling Hanley at 3B.

[User Name]

Hanley showed up with the 1b glove he had used to practice with all last year. I'm actually glad that Pablo showed up as a fatty fatty fat fat, because 2 months of "Hanley is using Napoli's glove" stories would have been horrible.

 

Hanley wanted to play 1b in the winter league, but the Sox wouldn't let him. How is that Hanley's fault exactly?

 

Most reports from journalists outside of the Fenway/Globe faction have stated that Hanley looks better defensively than Pablo. Remy has stated that Hanley is getting better by the day. I think I'd trust the viewpoints of those who see him day in and day out before I'd harp on a missed pick in a ST game. At some point, you have to give the players a chance to succeed before you s*** all over them.

 

I'm going to start using your system.

[mvp 78]

I'm going to start using your system.

 

Point #2 is pulled from your earlier posts that were never responded to.

 

I am willing to admit that I am wrong when evidence disagrees with my belief, some just ignore those posts over and over and over. *additional snark deleted*

[Spudboy]

I think that it is very easy for fans to ( I use the Boston vernacular here ) "overexaggerate" things.

 

I can very easily visualize Hanley flubbing routine plays at 1st. But I also agree that he has to be given a legit chance to succeed before we all condemn him.

 

Yes, his reputation precedes him. But he was a very good athlete not long ago. And that bat should always play.

 

There will be plenty of time to s*** on him later.

[cp176]

Hanley showed up with the 1b glove he had used to practice with all last year. I'm actually glad that Pablo showed up as a fatty fatty fat fat, because 2 months of "Hanley is using Napoli's glove" stories would have been horrible.

 

Hanley wanted to play 1b in the winter league, but the Sox wouldn't let him. How is that Hanley's fault exactly?

 

Most reports from journalists outside of the Fenway/Globe faction have stated that Hanley looks better defensively than Pablo. Remy has stated that Hanley is getting better by the day. I think I'd trust the viewpoints of those who see him day in and day out before I'd harp on a missed pick in a ST game. At some point, you have to give the players a chance to succeed before you s*** all over them.

 

The average fan (speaking for myself I guess) has no real idea what to believe and what not to believe. Have heard mixed accounts and reports about both Sandoval and Ramirez. If I could follow behind them for number of days I might be able to state an educated opinion. I don't so mine are pretty much uneducated. What I do know is that I have have learned quite a bit about Sandoval since he came to Boston. Fitness for me is very important - he is a very highly paid athlete who has a terrible fitness level. I don't like players like that. What these two have going for them is that they have been pretty good mlb players. They should get a chance because that experience counts for something. Ultimately if them being on the field doesn't give us the best chance of winning, I don't think that they will be out there.

[Kimmi]

Preach sister Kimmi!

 

Amen, brother!

[Kimmi]

He's not going to get any of Betts ABs, Castillo is right-handed so he will not be playing for Castillo against lefties. That leaves Bradley.

 

I don't think it's a given that Castillo will be playing in games against lefties, just because he's a righty.

 

JBJ had very good splits against lefties last year.

[Kimmi]

It was kind of a dumb idea to say Young would get every AB against lefties. JBJ should have the opportunity to show he can hit lefties and be an everyday CF.

 

I can't really believe Farrell would take that many AB's from JBJ unless he gets off to a bad start against lefties.

 

We will see...maybe what Farrell really meant to say was that all Young's AB's will be against lefties (LOL)

 

Farrell has had more than his share of "not the brightest things to say" moments lately.

[Kimmi]

not a ramirez endorsement but heaven forbid a pitcher get off the mound and make a play. Are they becoming NFL quarterbacks? Just yesterday they were the best athletes on the field. There I go again - old guy stuff.

 

You and Goose Gossage would get along well.

[Kimmi]

Hanley showed up with the 1b glove he had used to practice with all last year. I'm actually glad that Pablo showed up as a fatty fatty fat fat, because 2 months of "Hanley is using Napoli's glove" stories would have been horrible.

 

Hanley wanted to play 1b in the winter league, but the Sox wouldn't let him. How is that Hanley's fault exactly?

 

Most reports from journalists outside of the Fenway/Globe faction have stated that Hanley looks better defensively than Pablo. Remy has stated that Hanley is getting better by the day. I think I'd trust the viewpoints of those who see him day in and day out before I'd harp on a missed pick in a ST game. At some point, you have to give the players a chance to succeed before you s*** all over them.

 

^^This.

 

Remy has complimented both both Hanley and Pablo on their defensive work in ST.

 

Hanley was still in a recent game in the 8th inning (the only regular player still in) so that he could get more practice. He had also asked to stay in a game earlier in the preseason.

 

Hanley may very well end up being a disaster at 1B, but the accusations that are being made regarding how much he cares or whether he even enjoys playing have no merit.

[SoxHop]

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....

Edited March 12, 2016 by SoxHop

[jung]

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.

[User Name]

Stop.Making.s***.Up.