Spring Training 2018 Thread

[mvp 78]

It need not be an either - or.

 

It does when there are only 25 people on a roster.

[Emp9]

I see your point. But I'm still struck by Astros committing 21 more errors than the Twins but giving up 18 less unearned runs. Maybe it just took one pitch to induce double plays.

 

Could also be that the Atros simply pitched better than the Twins after committing errors. Astros did have better team pitching. For example, Hou pitching was 2nd in MLB in SO 1593, Min was 2nd to last w/ 1166. Good look up though. It’s interesting to see. Also, the timing of the error(s) comitted could have a lot to do with it.

[moonslav59]

It does when there are only 25 people on a roster.

 

4 man bench:

 

Moreland: 1B/LF

Swihart: C/ 1B/ LF

Marrero: SS/ 2B/ 3B

Leon: C

 

If someone gets hurt, Holt is called up in a flash.

 

What's the problem with this alignment?

 

Having Holt & Marrero is redundant. Besides, Leon may be a better hitter than both these guys two anyways.

 

Since JD can play OF, HRam can play 1B, and Nunez can play just about anywhere, we'll have all the one day flexibility we need.

 

[mvp 78]

4 man bench:

 

Moreland: 1B/LF

Swihart: C/ 1B/ LF

Marrero: SS/ 2B/ 3B

Leon: C

 

If someone gets hurt, Holt is called up in a flash.

 

What's the problem with this alignment?

 

Having Holt & Marrero is redundant. Besides, Leon may be a better hitter than both these guys two anyways.

 

Since JD can play OF, HRam can play 1B, and Nunez can play just about anywhere, we'll have all the one day flexibility we need.

 

 

I don't like that bench. I'd rather Sandy's spot be utilized by another super utility guy like Lin or Holt. It just gives you more options.

[moonslav59]

I don't like that bench. I'd rather Sandy's spot be utilized by another super utility guy like Lin or Holt. It just gives you more options.

 

Options for what?

 

The only players who need to be PH for are our catchers.

 

To me, that's more important than having a poor fielding Holt sitting on the bench every inning of every game.

 

Holt is only needed, if there is an injury.

 

Marrero can be used as a late inning defensive replacement, and I guess once in a great while, you may want to PH for him in extra innings, but I'll take the flex a third catcher who can play 1B and LF over Holt 7 days a week.

[oldtimer]

4 man bench:

 

Moreland: 1B/LF

Swihart: C/ 1B/ LF

Marrero: SS/ 2B/ 3B

Leon: C

 

If someone gets hurt, Holt is called up in a flash.

 

What's the problem with this alignment?

 

Having Holt & Marrero is redundant. Besides, Leon may be a better hitter than both these guys two anyways.

 

Since JD can play OF, HRam can play 1B, and Nunez can play just about anywhere, we'll have all the one day flexibility we need.

 

 

I think the Sox do need a sub who can handle SS/2B/3B. Nunez could do it in a pinch but having a better fielder at those positions on the 25 man makes sense. In my view, that could be Marrero or Lin as Holt can be held in AAA. Those are the 3 backup options for opening day.

[moonslav59]

I think the Sox do need a sub who can handle SS/2B/3B. Nunez could do it in a pinch but having a better fielder at those positions on the 25 man makes sense. In my view, that could be Marrero or Lin as Holt can be held in AAA. Those are the 3 backup options for opening day.

 

Yes. I chose Marrero, since he is out of options and the best fielder of the bunch. Our IF defense is weak, but I doubt we use Marrero much, even as a late inning defensive replacement. He'll sit on the bench as pre or in game injury insurance.

 

Holt is barely an upgrade on defense at 3B or 2B, so I don't see the use of choosing him over Marrero.

 

I'd give Swihart a chance and keep Leon as Sale's caddie.

[Kimmi]

Swihart may end up supplanting Leon eventually, but I cannot emphasize enough the folly of doing that based on spring training results.

[jad]

Just looking at the box today, and noticed the #P and walks. No walks, and if my math is correct (e.g., a guy goes 0-3, with 1 K,and sees 5 pitches), does this mean that the RS were essentially all swinging at the first pitch? Or was something wrong with the box score?

[Spudboy]

Swihart may end up supplanting Leon eventually, but I cannot emphasize enough the folly of doing that based on spring training results.

 

Let alone that this "battery" is pretty good and f***ing with it at all is not a good idea.

 

I love me some Swihart but in no way do I get rid of Leon at this point regardless.

 

Don't f*** with what ain't broken.

[Kimmi]

Let alone that this "battery" is pretty good and f***ing with it at all is not a good idea.

 

I love me some Swihart but in no way do I get rid of Leon at this point regardless.

 

Don't f*** with what ain't broken.

 

Completely agree Spud.

[Spudboy]

Completely agree Spud.

 

Of course you do.

 

You value defense and handling of pitchers. Two functions of a catcher that supersede offensive production at this position.

 

The Sox infield defense will have enough challenges as it is with Devers and Nunez starting. I don't care if Leon is hitting .210 with a .300 OBP. He is a proven value on the field.

 

I hope Swihart can find a role somewhere or catch on with another team somehow. That kid can hit and run.

[Kimmi]

Of course you do.

 

You value defense and handling of pitchers. Two functions of a catcher that supersede offensive production at this position.

 

The Sox infield defense will have enough challenges as it is with Devers and Nunez starting. I don't care if Leon is hitting .210 with a .300 OBP. He is a proven value on the field.

 

I hope Swihart can find a role somewhere or catch on with another team somehow. That kid can hit and run.

 

Again, I completely agree. Any offense that we get from our catcher is gravy. As I've said before, I'd bring Varitek back if I could.

[Larry Cook]

Porcello was very impressive today. If he regains his 2016 form, that would be a huge win for us!

[Bellhorn04]

Just looking at the box today, and noticed the #P and walks. No walks, and if my math is correct (e.g., a guy goes 0-3, with 1 K,and sees 5 pitches), does this mean that the RS were essentially all swinging at the first pitch? Or was something wrong with the box score?

 

They don't give the actual pitch counts in the box scores for spring games. Join the club of people who have been getting confused by it.

[jacksonianmarch]

Porcello was very impressive today. If he regains his 2016 form, that would be a huge win for us!

 

How was the velocity? To be honest with you, for pitchers expected to start for my team, I don’t care about performance in ST. I do care about their velocity. Many a pitcher came to spring down 3-4 mph and it turned out to be a serious shoulder issue

[jad]

They don't give the actual pitch counts in the box scores for spring games. Join the club of people who have been getting confused by it.

 

Thanks. The old ST boxes were indeed minimalist. But these gave a number for pitches. (Looking again, does "#P" simply mean 'the minimum number that could account for the hitter's line'? i.e., so if a guy goes 0-1 with three walks, the number is 13?) Would it be asking the computer too much to omit that??? (Sorry if I missed an earlier exchange explaining this).

[mvp 78]

How was the velocity? To be honest with you, for pitchers expected to start for my team, I don’t care about performance in ST. I do care about their velocity. Many a pitcher came to spring down 3-4 mph and it turned out to be a serious shoulder issue

 

For Porcello, location is far more important than velo. If he can stop leaving pitches in the "hit me" zone, he'll be better than 2017 easily.

[Emp9]

For Porcello, location is far more important than velo. If he can stop leaving pitches in the "hit me" zone, he'll be better than 2017 easily.

 

True dat. I’d even add movement as well over velocity for ... Porkchop(?). A sinker that doesn’t “sink” really just down right sucks.

[mvp 78]

@nickcafardo

 

Will Sox trade Leon to make room for Swihart?

 

@alexspeier

 

This is a question scouts following the Sox are mulling, at a time when Swihart has looked excellent. Sox are thin at catcher behind Vazquez/Leon/Swihart, which might encourage Sox to keep all 3. But, Sox have multiple 1Bs, LFs, and Cs in front of Swihart, making role unclear.

 

Either Nick Cafardo reads all my posts or others clearly agree with me.

[mvp 78]

True dat. I’d even add movement as well over velocity for ... Porkchop(?). A sinker that doesn’t “sink” really just down right sucks.

 

I don't like "Porkchop" and I definitely didn't like when people were calling him "ham sandwich" (cuz his name looks like porchetta).

[FredLynn]

How was the velocity? To be honest with you, for pitchers expected to start for my team, I don’t care about performance in ST. I do care about their velocity. Many a pitcher came to spring down 3-4 mph and it turned out to be a serious shoulder issue

 

And many a pitcher came to spring training down 3-4 mph and it turned out to be a matter of conditioning. In fact, I would guess that the vast majority of pitchers who come to ST are down below the velocity that they will achieve early in the season. The point is that ST is nearly meaningless. Its a time for players to work on things and you cannot judge much at all from the performance of the vast majority of players in ST.

[mvp 78]

And many a pitcher came to spring training down 3-4 mph and it turned out to be a matter of conditioning. In fact, I would guess that the vast majority of pitchers who come to ST are down below the velocity that they will achieve early in the season. The point is that ST is nearly meaningless. Its a time for players to work on things and you cannot judge much at all from the performance of the vast majority of players in ST.

 

With year round conditioning, ST is basically a company retreat where you hang out with a bunch of younger people you won't see after you leave and you spend more time golfing than actually doing work.

[FredLynn]

With year round conditioning, ST is basically a company retreat where you hang out with a bunch of younger people you won't see after you leave and you spend more time golfing than actually doing work.

 

I doubt very much that most pitchers throw during the offseason at the velocity that they expect to have during the regular season. That would pretty much destroy their arms. So it takes time to work their way up to normal velocity and I would guess that even at the start of the season most guys do not yet have full pitch speed. I do not know this for a fact; its just a guess. I agree with you that spring training is probably more like a country club for most regular players who are going to be on the roster. Those on the edge who are trying to make the team...its more performance based for them.

[Bellhorn04]

With year round conditioning, ST is basically a company retreat where you hang out with a bunch of younger people you won't see after you leave and you spend more time golfing than actually doing work.

 

Apparently unless you're Blake Swihart - then it's the time to take Sandy Leon's place on the team.

[oldtimer]

I doubt very much that most pitchers throw during the offseason at the velocity that they expect to have during the regular season. That would pretty much destroy their arms. So it takes time to work their way up to normal velocity and I would guess that even at the start of the season most guys do not yet have full pitch speed. I do not know this for a fact; its just a guess. I agree with you that spring training is probably more like a country club for most regular players who are going to be on the roster. Those on the edge who are trying to make the team...its more performance based for them.

 

There was a report that Synderguard of the mets was already throwing 100 mph fastballs, so some pitchers get their velocity back ealy in the season.

[Carter]

I find watching the Red Sox stomp the Cardinals in ST much less painful.

[Spudboy]

I find watching the Red Sox stomp the Cardinals in ST much less painful.

 

Thanks for the alert!

[RedSoxNC84]

Pomeranz just walked off the mound with the medical team. Didn't look bad but who knows.

[Spudboy]

So Pom Pom is pulled mid-inning in the second with an injury.

 

Oh joy.