Spring training

[Dojji]

Who is this slim looking player?

 

 

http://fotos.fotoflexer.com/c4b1a0775396a6398d7e7fea54be4af6.jpg

 

Photoshop is an amazing thing

 

JK. I think.

[Station 13]

That's definitely look shopped, check the blurry edges around Panda compare to that frame he is holding. The aliasing gives it away.

[Kimmi]

I resemble that remark young lady!!!!!

 

I don't totally disagree with you on this. Certainly the Sox rotation can use whatever qualified help it can get. Maybe Price is a super guy and has mentoring and teaching qualities. That is cool. But do we really think that he will have a significant affect on game performances of his peers? Maybe! I'm all for it. I just think that historically fans have given this process to much credit and mention.

 

It's interesting that with all the stats I post, the response that I always get is that stats can't capture the human element of the game, things like heart, grit, leadership, etc. Then, whenever I post something about the human side of the game, people tell me that they don't really buy it. This statement is not directed at you, but just a general observation.

 

I am a strong believer in the stats, obviously. But I am also a strong believer in qualities in players such as the ones mentioned above. I think having a great leader on the staff will make a difference. I think people perform better under great leadership/mentorship than they do under weak leadership.

[Kimmi]

Panda loses weight every offseason and gains it back during the year. There is also no correlation to lower weight and higger performance for him. Some guys need a year to transition to a new league. I hope that's all he needs.

 

I agree with your first sentence. The key is for Panda to keep the weight off throughout the season.

 

I agree that there is no correlation between Panda's weight and his offensive performance, but I think the lower weight will help him defensively. His range has to be hampered by extra pounds. With his weight loss, I am hopeful that he will return to being an average defender.

[Kimmi]

Photoshop is an amazing thing

 

JK. I think.

 

It is quite possible that this pic is photoshopped.

 

Here is the article that I found it in, which states that Pablo posted the pic on Instagram. I have no idea how legit this is.

 

http://www.barstoolsports.com/boston/red-sox-fan-asks-bruce-bochy-to-take-pablo-sandoval-back-at-giants-fan-fest/

 

That said, Farrell has been in contact with Panda, and Farrell says that he looks great.

[mvp 78]

I agree with your first sentence. The key is for Panda to keep the weight off throughout the season.

 

I agree that there is no correlation between Panda's weight and his offensive performance, but I think the lower weight will help him defensively. His range has to be hampered by extra pounds. With his weight loss, I am hopeful that he will return to being an average defender.

He was a fatty in SF and fielded the position just fine. I think he struggled so much at the plate that it affected him in the field. I think he'll be better this year, but he still won't produce like it's the 2014 postseason.

[mvp 78]

The rotation definitely needs a leader. Price should help in that regard.

[cp176]

It's interesting that with all the stats I post, the response that I always get is that stats can't capture the human element of the game, things like heart, grit, leadership, etc. Then, whenever I post something about the human side of the game, people tell me that they don't really buy it. This statement is not directed at you, but just a general observation.

 

I am a strong believer in the stats, obviously. But I am also a strong believer in qualities in players such as the ones mentioned above. I think having a great leader on the staff will make a difference. I think people perform better under great leadership/mentorship than they do under weak leadership.

 

I agree with you. We all know that Price isn't going to be throwing the ball for the rest of the boys but his overall approach to the game - his fitness level - his work habits- concern for teammates - could be a major difference maker. Sometimes talented people need a little incentive , a little shove to be better. Having a leader on the staff who has high expectations for everyone else could be a big key for a player like Buchholz. In a perfect world, highly paid athletes always perform up to the standards or maybe even to the level the stats say they should without having to be pushed. The world isn't perfect. Major League Baseball is filled with highly paid numbskulls. Some of them still need some guidance!

[cp176]

Photoshop is an amazing thing

 

JK. I think.

 

 

Sadly, on second glance, this is not a picture of someone weighing as much as we know Sandoval still weighs. He would have had to have lost about 1/3 of his body for this to be accurate. They got us with this one.

[a700hitter]

Pablo was never d that good of a player that he should have gotten the contract that he got. And he has been declining precipitously against lefties.

[Kimmi]

That's definitely look shopped, check the blurry edges around Panda compare to that frame he is holding. The aliasing gives it away.

 

I re-sized the pic I originally posted here to make it smaller. I think that's what caused the blurry edges. The original picture, posted below, does not have that. It might still be photoshopped, but the blurry edges were my fault.

 

 

http://cdn.barstoolsports.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/13/Screen-Shot-2016-02-13-at-3.19.32-PM.png?5e1a7c

[Kimmi]

He was a fatty in SF and fielded the position just fine. I think he struggled so much at the plate that it affected him in the field. I think he'll be better this year, but he still won't produce like it's the 2014 postseason.

 

It's possible that his weight had no affect on his range, but I think he will be able to move better if he can keep the weight off. I am not expecting 2014 postseason numbers, but I am expecting approximately a 2 War player, which would be 4 wins better than he was last year.

[Station 13]

I re-sized the pic I originally posted here to make it smaller. I think that's what caused the blurry edges. The original picture, posted below, does not have that. It might still be photoshopped, but the blurry edges were my fault.

 

 

http://cdn.barstoolsports.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/13/Screen-Shot-2016-02-13-at-3.19.32-PM.png?5e1a7c

 

Well he is shielding his gut behind that frame.

 

He does look trimmer.

[Kimmi]

I agree with you. We all know that Price isn't going to be throwing the ball for the rest of the boys but his overall approach to the game - his fitness level - his work habits- concern for teammates - could be a major difference maker. Sometimes talented people need a little incentive , a little shove to be better. Having a leader on the staff who has high expectations for everyone else could be a big key for a player like Buchholz. In a perfect world, highly paid athletes always perform up to the standards or maybe even to the level the stats say they should without having to be pushed. The world isn't perfect. Major League Baseball is filled with highly paid numbskulls. Some of them still need some guidance!

 

I still think you're being a little hard on Buchholz, but other than that, we agree on the type of impact that Price could have on the rest of the staff.

[Kimmi]

Sadly, on second glance, this is not a picture of someone weighing as much as we know Sandoval still weighs. He would have had to have lost about 1/3 of his body for this to be accurate. They got us with this one.

 

I'm not so sure it is a fake. I guess we'll see when he reports to camp.

[Kimmi]

Pablo was never d that good of a player that he should have gotten the contract that he got. And he has been declining precipitously against lefties.

 

I don't think anyone thinks he should have gotten the contract that he got. He had a terrible year last year. I'm willing to give him a chance to redeem himself this season, and at least give him some credit for trying.

[Kimmi]

Well he is shielding his gut behind that frame.

 

He does look trimmer.

 

LOL

 

Well here's a picture of Pineda, who isn't shielding his gut behind a frame.

 

This one's for Jacko.

 

http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/rr254/jonredsox/CbHP5fLW8AA-_7y_zpsgiawjo7t.jpg

[cp176]

I kind of agree with you but if that isn't him in the pic (which i don't think it is) all bets are off. If that is him, he has been eating about as often as one of those burmese pythons they have been catching in the everglades which isn't all that often.

[cp176]

LOL

 

Well here's a picture of Pineda, who isn't shielding his gut behind a frame.

 

This one's for Jacko.

 

http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/rr254/jonredsox/CbHP5fLW8AA-_7y_zpsgiawjo7t.jpg

 

 

nice! he just looks like he is worth millions to me. Maybe it is his contract year and everything will be ok.

[Kimmi]

I kind of agree with you but if that isn't him in the pic (which i don't think it is) all bets are off. If that is him, he has been eating about as often as one of those burmese pythons they have been catching in the everglades which isn't all that often.

 

Even if that's not him, Farrell has visited him recently, and reports from both Farrell and Dombrowski are that Panda looks good. Farrell has also stated that it is very important to Panda to make amends for last year and to show fans that he is worth his contract. I realize that he has lost weight during the offseason before only to gain it all back, but he has never had a season as bad as he did last year. He deserves the chance to make amends before being written off by everybody.

[cp176]

Even if that's not him, Farrell has visited him recently, and reports from both Farrell and Dombrowski are that Panda looks good. Farrell has also stated that it is very important to Panda to make amends for last year and to show fans that he is worth his contract. I realize that he has lost weight during the offseason before only to gain it all back, but he has never had a season as bad as he did last year. He deserves the chance to make amends before being written off by everybody.

 

Oh I'm pretty sure that he will get that chance. All that being said, I would be just as excited to see Shaw playing third(which he has an can) with Sam Travis at first. I'm anxious for the day that we can put the "hope they play to their potential" and the "they just can't be as bad as last year" guys are somewhere else. As for Farrell, he knows that his job is on the line. If anyone gets off to a bad start, the pressure will be such that he won't give them half a season to get it together. I realize that this is a minority opinion and I don't need to hear about how good we are going to be if-if-if-if. It is what it is and I will be cheering for Sandoval and Ramirez as loudly as any other fan. The day will come when we will be younger, faster, stronger and more mentally complete than we are right now. I am anxious for that day.

[Thunder]

Pineda looks terrible, Panda looks encouraging. He did make some great strides at the plate in August and September IIRC, so hopefully, this helps is hitting as well as his mobility.

[Station 13]

Kelly won't arrive in time for pitcher and catcher report with his wife expected to have their kid any time now.

 

but he looks good

 

 

is that a Citgo sign shirt?

[Station 13]

 

Can you spot Price?

[mvp 78]

Nope. Maybe he didn't report.

[Station 13]

Nope. Maybe he didn't report.

 

Perhaps his doppelganger did for him.

 

http://c.o0bg.com/rf/image_960w/Boston/2011-2020/2016/02/10/BostonGlobe.com/Arts/Images/David%20Price%20Sprint.jpg

[Kimmi]

Thanks for posting the ST pictures. Seeing them gets me pumped up for the season.

 

The boys are looking good!

[Behindenemylines]

It was a good article for Red Sox fans to read. Gave a little insight into the kid's makeup. He seems motivated. Have to love that.

 

You have to believe Price will be a big influence on him.

[Behindenemylines]

He was a fatty in SF and fielded the position just fine. I think he struggled so much at the plate that it affected him in the field. I think he'll be better this year, but he still won't produce like it's the 2014 postseason.

 

The older you get the harder it is play with the extra weight. Lets hope he lost some pounds and comes to ST ready to have a productive season.

[Spudboy]

Thanks for posting the ST pictures. Seeing them gets me pumped up for the season.

 

The boys are looking good!

 

I love seeing players wearing leggings. Lol.