Spring Training 2018 Thread

[Spudboy]

Cora spoke with Kimbrel today and Kimbrel said that his daughter is 'doing better'. Nice touch by the team today to wear shirts to show their support for her.

 

Carson Smith threw and inning today and supposedly looked really good. He could turn out to be huge piece in our pen.

 

I saw his inning. Unfortunately my Binky Blake lost a blocked ball and a K became a runner at 1st.

 

Smith struck out 3 in the inning and looked really good.

 

Boy that arm angle / delivery is f***ed looking.

[Spudboy]

Woot!

 

That f***ing ball was trans-sonic when it left the bat.

 

That kid has so much leverage with the puny body and quick swing some of his shots look like a true big guy slugger hit it on the nuts.

 

Much of what he does is exciting. Not much of it is a big surprise given his physical skills.

 

But that power is kind of freaky for a guy his size.

 

That's what I see, anyway.

[Natick to NC]

Bogey has looked like s*** on breaking balls 3 times today -- 3 k's and 1 against a lefty!!! Trade him for Machado while he still has a high value for his "potential".

 

Yesssssss this !!!!!!

[Natick to NC]

Porcello .Pom,Erod.Wright ,Price , all are sketchy at best ....hope for the best but the pen needs to be amazing and the offense needs to have as many impact bats that can score in bunches ....Thorny ,Nunez ,Swihart and really hope Rick has a great year . Edited March 12, 2018 by Natick to NC

[moonslav59]

Porcello .Pom,Erod.Wright ,Price , all are sketchy at best ....

 

I guess we have different ideas on what the word "sketchy" means.

 

Sure, there are doubts about just about every pitcher in MLB, but our rotation is solid... one of the best.

 

Fangraphs projects us as #8 with only 3 other teams ahead of us having 4 pitchers with a 2.5+ WAR.

[Nick]

I guess we have different ideas on what the word "sketchy" means.

 

Sure, there are doubts about just about every pitcher in MLB, but our rotation is solid... one of the best.

 

Fangraphs projects us as #8 with only 3 other teams ahead of us having 4 pitchers with a 2.5+ WAR.

 

It better not be 'sketchy' with $31M, $20M, $7.5M investments.

[notin]

It better not be 'sketchy' with $31M, $20M, $7.5M investments.

 

$7.5mill is middle reliever money...

[harmony]

Porcello .Pom,Erod.Wright ,Price , all are sketchy at best ....hope for the best but the pen needs to be amazing and the offense needs to have as many impact bats that can score in bunches ....Thorny ,Nunez ,Swihart and really hope Rick has a great year .

A blogger offers his opinion on the top five starting rotations in baseball:

 

https://thekzonenews.com/2018/03/09/top-5-starting-pitching-rotations-heading-into-2018/

[Hugh2]

Do you really think that there is a human alive who would not criticize a GM for what they think is a bad decision. Once again just word play. Believe me I will criticize him when I think that he makes a truly bad decision. To date, I don't think that he has.

 

I can't think of a good example in baseball but have you heard of Bill Belichik of the Patriots? There are many fans who will call into WEEI and always say you can't question the pats because....well...look at the results.

[Bellhorn04]

I can't think of a good example in baseball but have you heard of Bill Belichik of the Patriots? There are many fans who will call into WEEI and always say you can't question the pats because....well...look at the results.

 

Many fans will say that, sure.

 

But Belichick has been questioned pretty sharply about some things as well, the most recent being the benching of Butler in the Super Bowl.

 

No one gets a free pass.

[mvp 78]

http://m.mlb.com/player/606019/jesus-quiroz?year=2018&stats=career-r-hitting-minors

 

I guess we don't have to worry about the Quiroz buzz anymore?

[moonslav59]

A blogger offers his opinion on the top five starting rotations in baseball:

 

https://thekzonenews.com/2018/03/09/top-5-starting-pitching-rotations-heading-into-2018/

 

I might put the Cubs 5th, Sox 6th and Yanks 7th, but poor health may do us in.

[cp176]

I can't think of a good example in baseball but have you heard of Bill Belichik of the Patriots? There are many fans who will call into WEEI and always say you can't question the pats because....well...look at the results.

 

Well you know what yes I have heard of Bill Belicek. For your record , I do not think that comparing DD to BB makes any sense whatsoever. A ml stretch if you will. I can tell you with great confidence that WITHOUT KNOWING ALL OF THE FACTS I would not question the person many have said is the greatest NFL coach of all time. Obviously there are plenty of people out there who are going to question everything about everything without sadly knowing anything. Oh and if you wren't comparing DD to BB, sorry I just did what you and a few others like to do. Shape other's words to suit me.

[Larry Cook]

Leon - the tater monster!

 

I suspect he will have to pee in a cup in the near future.

[Natick to NC]

A blogger offers his opinion on the top five starting rotations in baseball:

 

https://thekzonenews.com/2018/03/09/top-5-starting-pitching-rotations-heading-into-2018/

Thankyou ...good blog .I don't agree with the order and the Yankees are a cc and Tanaka hangnail away from tanking .The Redsox even with our Mash unit should be a top 5 rotation ....Cleveland ,Dodgers ,Houston,Boston ,Wash is my top 5 ....Boston could be as High as 2 and low as 5 but no lower .

Edited March 12, 2018 by Natick to NC

[mvp 78]

@chadjennings22

 

Alex Cora acknowledges, for right now, the Red Sox rotation is Sale, Price, Porcello, Johnson and Velazquez. Could change if Wright and/or Pomeranz is ready to open the season. Wright faces hitters Wednesday.

[Kimmi]

I saw his inning. Unfortunately my Binky Blake lost a blocked ball and a K became a runner at 1st.

 

Smith struck out 3 in the inning and looked really good.

 

Boy that arm angle / delivery is f***ed looking.

 

That f***ing ball was trans-sonic when it left the bat.

 

That kid has so much leverage with the puny body and quick swing some of his shots look like a true big guy slugger hit it on the nuts.

 

Much of what he does is exciting. Not much of it is a big surprise given his physical skills.

 

But that power is kind of freaky for a guy his size.

 

That's what I see, anyway.

 

Thanks for the game reports. I have been unable to get most of the ST games.

 

I'm so ready for the season to start.

 

I've been reading a lot of stuff about how sloppy our defense has been though. They have to get it together.

[Spudboy]

Thanks for the game reports. I have been unable to get most of the ST games.

 

I'm so ready for the season to start.

 

I've been reading a lot of stuff about how sloppy our defense has been though. They have to get it together.

 

I've seen over 2/3 of the games. The defense has been kind of crappy but it's hard to assess exactly what we have for defense with all these strange faces on the field.

 

I'll say this, Devers looks to have problems getting to balls when he has to move laterally. The Mexican League 2nd baseman has looked week in the field, too.

[Hugh2]

Well you know what yes I have heard of Bill Belicek. For your record , I do not think that comparing DD to BB makes any sense whatsoever. A ml stretch if you will. I can tell you with great confidence that WITHOUT KNOWING ALL OF THE FACTS I would not question the person many have said is the greatest NFL coach of all time. Obviously there are plenty of people out there who are going to question everything about everything without sadly knowing anything. Oh and if you wren't comparing DD to BB, sorry I just did what you and a few others like to do. Shape other's words to suit me.

 

I honestly don't know what you're trying to say here.

[a700hitter]

I've seen over 2/3 of the games. The defense has been kind of crappy but it's hard to assess exactly what we have for defense with all these strange faces on the field.

 

I'll say this, Devers looks to have problems getting to balls when he has to move laterally. The Mexican League 2nd baseman has looked week in the field, too.

devers looks especially shaky going toward the line.

[moonslav59]

devers looks especially shaky going toward the line.

 

He's got a long way to go on defense. A long way.

[cp176]

I can't think of a good example in baseball but have you heard of Bill Belichik of the Patriots? There are many fans who will call into WEEI and always say you can't question the pats because....well...look at the results.

 

My comment was in response to the above statement made by you. I got the impression from what you wrote that you were kind of saying that I would never criticize a GM. Sorry you didn't understand what I wrote in my post.

[Hitch]

He's got a long way to go on defense. A long way.

 

Yep! It's going to be a very bumpy season defensively for him (and us) this year.

[Hugh2]

My comment was in response to the above statement made by you. I got the impression from what you wrote that you were kind of saying that I would never criticize a GM. Sorry, you didn't understand what I wrote in my post.

 

Ok, thank you for clarifying that. I also wasn't trying to be a dick I was just trying to respond. I'm by no means a shining example of spelling and grammar, and I know between spell check, being in a hurry, or just texting from a device it gets insanely easy for things to get jumbled up.

 

Personally, I don't think any G.M. should be safe from criticism and that is even truer in a fan forum. What I was trying to convey was that there is a feeling amongst some fans that a G.M. should never be criticized if he has attained a certain level of success and never be questioned. I meant to say there are some who feel this way, not you. I do think success commands benefit of the doubt but I also think one would be naive to believe a G.M. or a coach could never make a mistake. The greatest ones to ever live made ton of mistakes, they just made less ones than everyone else.

[cp176]

Ok, thank you for clarifying that. I also wasn't trying to be a dick I was just trying to respond. I'm by no means a shining example of spelling and grammar, and I know between spell check, being in a hurry, or just texting from a device it gets insanely easy for things to get jumbled up.

 

Personally, I don't think any G.M. should be safe from criticism and that is even truer in a fan forum. What I was trying to convey was that there is a feeling amongst some fans that a G.M. should never be criticized if he has attained a certain level of success and never be questioned. I meant to say there are some who feel this way, not you. I do think success commands benefit of the doubt but I also think one would be naive to believe a G.M. or a coach could never make a mistake. The greatest ones to ever live made ton of mistakes, they just made less ones than everyone else.

 

It's fine. You sound like a nice person and I certainly am too sensitive. More often than not, I'm a fan of whoever the current GM might be. From a personal perspective, I think that all of the talk be it criticism or praise that has been lobbed back and for at both BC and DD is foolish. Much of it has been lobbed with a heavy dose of hind sight. Ben has been praised here for building a strong farm and for his overall philosophy. If I were to make a comment on that, it would just be formulated on educated guess work. I don't know either of them nor do I really know what their philosophies are. When it comes to GMs in general, I try to stay in the present and I will say for sure that I do like the job that DD has done. He seems intelligent, respected and aggressive. Traits I like. I'm pretty sure that someone will try to turn what I have said into a criticism of Ben Cherington. It isn't. My comments are about DD.

thanks for clearing things up

[cp176]

Now back to spring training - I get the fact that most people don't place much importance on much that is done in spring training but when it comes to defense I think that you can learn a lot in spring training and right now without Pedroia in the lineup early our overall defense in the infield looks a lot like that of some of the teams I grew up with in the mid 60's. Other than Malzone at third, they were terrible. I really don't see Swihart catching for this team. It would not be worth the risk using him at all in a position that you can overlook the offense if the defense is outstanding. Ours right now is pretty good. I will say though that I would definitely keep this kid. I don't think that he could be any worse at any other infield position than we have there right now.

[Natick to NC]

He's got a long way to go on defense. A long way.

 

I can live with it ...but who's our Pokey Reese late inning D replacement for third ?

[Emp9]

I can live with it ...but who's our Pokey Reese late inning D replacement for third ?

 

Meh. You want to take Devers out the lineup at any point? I sure don’t.

[SoxnCycles]

Meh. You want to take Devers out the lineup at any point? I sure don’t.

 

If the Sox have a 1 or 2 run lead in the 8th or 9Th?

Yup.

[Emp9]

If the Sox have a 1 or 2 run lead in the 8th or 9Th?

Yup.

 

With who, Holt?