A Realistic View at 2017 Part II

[Fisk]

Tomorrow we get Bogey back, hopefully Hanley on Tuesday and Bradley is day to day.

[cp176]

I missed today's game. Hernandez with 3 hits and Leon doing what he keeps on doing. not bad for the proverbial utility guy and our fat little backstop. i'm one good game from Pomeranz away from being fan fanatical. Let's go.

[moonslav59]

Pretty nice being 3 and 2 with all these guys out.

 

I still think we have one of the best benches in all of baseball, especially when you count guys we have in AAA that are ready to step in, if needed (Marco, Travis, Swihart, Selsky...)

[Nick]

after watching 3 sub par starting pitching performances, I'm ready for Sale. What if tomorrow was Clay's turn? Ugh....

[Kimmi]

I missed today's game. Hernandez with 3 hits and Leon doing what he keeps on doing. not bad for the proverbial utility guy and our fat little backstop. i'm one good game from Pomeranz away from being fan fanatical. Let's go.

 

I thought about you while Hernandez and Leon were doing their things in yesterday's game. Good for you.

 

Have I mentioned that I love Leon?

[moonslav59]

I thought about you while Hernandez and Leon were doing their things in yesterday's game. Good for you.

 

Have I mentioned that I love Leon?

 

He's still hitting the ball hard. Many pointed to his unsustainable BAbip last year, but they missed his huge increase in Line Drive % and Hard Hit%.

 

I'm not suggesting Leon will stay above .800 all year, but I think he's showing he will no longer be a .600 guy either.

[Nick]

He's still hitting the ball hard. Many pointed to his unsustainable BAbip last year, but they missed his huge increase in Line Drive % and Hard Hit%.

 

I'm not suggesting Leon will stay above .800 all year, but I think he's showing he will no longer be a .600 guy either.

 

Of all the problems I can think of right now for the Sox, catching ain't it.

[Nick]

Is it time to convert one of infielders to outfield? What happens if Bradley Jr is out for an extended time?

 

Do we have another "Betts" in the system? I'm looking for defense.

 

I'm thinking Hernandez....

[moonslav59]

Of all the problems I can think of right now for the Sox, catching ain't it.

 

Which nice to say, because after VTek retired, our catching status has always been a concern.

 

With Leon doing well and Vaz & Swihart in the wings, I really like our catching corps right now.

 

From day one of the off season, I have said our pen is our biggest concern. Hopefully we will improve once our injured pen arms return, and our rotation begins to take the pressure off the pen by going longer and handing over bigger leads.

[moonslav59]

Is it time to convert one of infielders to outfield? What happens if Bradley Jr is out for an extended time?

 

Do we have another "Betts" in the system? I'm looking for defense.

 

I'm thinking Hernandez....

 

I can't see Marco becoming Pablo's platoon partner or beating him out of a job anytime soon, so maybe he's the logical choice to start "learning" LF.

 

Since he's probably our #2 SS, #2 or 3 2Bman and #2 or 3 3Bman, I can see why we might not want to be too hasty distracting him with a new position.

 

Learning LF would make Holt more expendable.

[Kimmi]

He's still hitting the ball hard. Many pointed to his unsustainable BAbip last year, but they missed his huge increase in Line Drive % and Hard Hit%.

 

I'm not suggesting Leon will stay above .800 all year, but I think he's showing he will no longer be a .600 guy either.

 

Exactly Moon. His BABIP from last year is definitely not sustainable, but there are other indicators that he is a better hitter than he was prior to last year.

[Emp9]

Is it time to convert one of infielders to outfield? What happens if Bradley Jr is out for an extended time?

 

Do we have another "Betts" in the system? I'm looking for defense.

 

I'm thinking Hernandez....

 

Extended time? I'd say Young.

[mvp 78]

Is it time to convert one of infielders to outfield? What happens if Bradley Jr is out for an extended time?

 

Do we have another "Betts" in the system? I'm looking for defense.

 

I'm thinking Hernandez....

 

They worked Hernandez out in the OF in Pawtucket last year. They quickly moved him back to IF because it wasn't going well. (This was noted in the most recent Sox Prospects podcast.)

 

They were doing the same with Dubon and decided that Dubon was a better UTIL fit for both IF and OF, so I'm not sure why they moved on from him.

[moonslav59]

From soxprospects.com...

 

Prospects updates:

 

Fifth-ranked prospect Bobby Dalbec was 3 for 4.

 

Henry Owens pitched well, allowing a run in five innings with two strikeouts and two walks.

 

Brandon Workman looked strong in relief with 2 1/3 scoreless innings, punching out one.

 

Trey Ball struggled on the mound, allowing four runs on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings.

 

Jamie Callahan was great in relief, striking out three in 1 2/3 perfect innings.

[moonslav59]

They worked Hernandez out in the OF in Pawtucket last year. They quickly moved him back to IF because it wasn't going well. (This was noted in the most recent Sox Prospects podcast.)

 

They were doing the same with Dubon and decided that Dubon was a better UTIL fit for both IF and OF, so I'm not sure why they moved on from him.

 

Thanks.

 

I must have missed or forgotten that podcast.

 

I guess we go with Young, which forces Moreland to play vs wrong-handed pitchers, at times.

[mvp 78]

What a waste of a pick Trey Ball was...

[mvp 78]

He has a Shawn Green look to him when he's hitting, with an easy stroke that should add power as he matures. He runs well and plays a good outfield to boot, making Ball one of the most intriguing prospects in the 2013 Draft class. Ball had his multiple skills on display all over the country this past summer.

 

Should have just let Ball hit.

[Slasher9]

What a waste of a pick Trey Ball was...

 

the name is money though.

worth it just for that.

[moonslav59]

Ben's short history on drafting:

 

2012

24- Marrero

31 Johnson

37 Light (traded for Abad)

87 Callahan

 

2013:

7 T Ball

45 Stankiewicz

81 Denny

263 K Martin

 

2014:

26 Chavis

33 Kopech (Big part of Sale trade)

67 Travis

103 Cosart

164 Ockimey

 

2015

7 Beni

81 A Rei

171 Lakins

201 B Taylor

[moonslav59]

MLBTR...

 

Red Sox left-hander David Price threw a 20-pitch bullpen session today and came away from the workout feeling good, he told reporters (via Chad Jennings of the Boston Herald). The key for the former AL Cy Young winner, however, will be seeing how he feels tomorrow. Price has yet to pitch for the Sox this season after a forearm issue led to a scare during Spring Training and, prior to today, hadn’t thrown off a mound since Feb. 28, Jennings notes. Farrell said that if Price feels strong tomorrow, another mound session would be lined up for Wednesday. There’s still no definitive timeline when it comes to Price’s return, but Jennings notes that he won’t pitch in the Majors until at least May.

 

In a Red Sox bullpen that has quite a bit of uncertainty throughout its ranks, right-hander Matt Barnes has emerged as the primary setup option for closer Craig Kimbrel, writes Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal. That could change, potentially, when Tyler Thornburg is ready to come off the disabled list, but Barnes’ early showing and the struggles of many of his teammates have him primed for a big role in the Boston ’pen. ““A guy that’s maybe a little bit more seasoned than some others in some of those big spots, he’s going to be a pivotal guy in our bullpen,” said Sox manager John Farrell to MacPherson. The 26-year-old Barnes averaged 9.6 K/9 against 4.2 BB/9 with a 45.6 percent ground-ball rate out of the bullpen last season, and he’s logged a 5-to-1 K/BB ratio through his first 3 2/3 shutout innings in 2017.

[Nick]

We just need to stay relevant while everyone gets healthy, including Carson Smith.

 

I would love to see a salary dump pick up at mid season. We can't trade any more of our blue chip minor leaguers.

[moonslav59]

We just need to stay relevant while everyone gets healthy, including Carson Smith.

 

I would love to see a salary dump pick up at mid season. We can't trade any more of our blue chip minor leaguers.

 

I think that's why trading Buch and freeing up so much tax budget space was important. Since the trade deadline is about at the 2/3rds point of the season, we can "afford" to trade for a player(s) with a yearly salary near $30M, since the pro-ration will be only about $10M. That could be even 2 pretty talented players like Todd Frazier, Gio Gonzalez, Pineda, CC Sabathia, Darvish, A Cobb, W Davis, Clippard, Cishek and many more from teams considered out of it.

[cp176]

I thought about you while Hernandez and Leon were doing their things in yesterday's game. Good for you.

 

Have I mentioned that I love Leon?

 

yes you have mentioned that by the way!!!

I think that I am beginning to be contrary just for the sake of it. I would love nothing more than to see Pomeranz come back and pitch well. For the Red Sox sake of course but also for Pomeranz and so that I could have a good laugh.

[Kimmi]

yes you have mentioned that by the way!!!

I think that I am beginning to be contrary just for the sake of it. I would love nothing more than to see Pomeranz come back and pitch well. For the Red Sox sake of course but also for Pomeranz and so that I could have a good laugh.

 

I'm hoping for the same. Go Pomeranz!

[harmony]

Kyle Kendrick looked good at Spring Training but the righthander had a rough debut today at Pawtucket:

 

http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?gid=2017_04_10_syraaa_pawaaa_1&t=g_box&sid=milb

[Fisk]

Kyle Kendrick looked good at Spring Training but the righthander had a rough debut today at Pawtucket:

 

http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?gid=2017_04_10_syraaa_pawaaa_1&t=g_box&sid=milb

 

Shows how important spring training stats are.

[Benintendi]

Trey Ball said he wanted to reach the Hall of Fame. Does anyone know if he visited yet? Only way he is going to accomplish that goal.

[moonslav59]

I'm hoping for the same. Go Pomeranz!

 

Me too, and for the record, my dislike for the trade has nothing to do with any negative feelings toward Pom. I like him and think he'll be fine.

 

I just was super high on Espi.

[Nick]

I must admit this stat line is Owenisque....just saying, ugh

 

Jay Groome: 1.1 IP, 7 H, 9 R, 3 BB, 1 K

[Emp9]

I must admit this stat line is Owenisque....just saying, ugh

 

Jay Groome: 1.1 IP, 7 H, 9 R, 3 BB, 1 K

 

He has a Latissimus dorsi (back to arm) injury. Don't think it's serious.