Spring Training 2018 Thread

[a700hitter]

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

Marrero is our best fielder, but he will not make the team. I guess that Nunez would be an improvement over Devers at 3rd and if Devers spit in the batting order comes around with the game still on the line, Nunez is not an automatic out like most defensive replacements.

 

Where we miss Pedroia most is in the field. He is still a top defender.

 

Swihart is still not an MLB catcher— not even close. If he is our backup catcher, get ready for the opposition to have lots of runners in scoring position. He has hit well and run well this spring. This is the highest his trade value has been in years. Maybe DD can get a nice return for him.

[OH FOY]

Saw Devers play last year in the Minors, made sure I watched him between innings, and warm-ups, he has the hands and feet, his problem is he is young, need repetitions, to get his throwing down. He'll get better. Just needs more work. Have to have patience. Lot of times he thinks he has to make the play instead of just eating it, that's shows his immaturity. Most kids feel this way. Better than being lazy.

He hits 35+ HRS, over 100 RBI's, and .300 should help. He can do it, especially in Fenway, with that swing of his.

Edited March 13, 2018 by OH FOY!

[Emp9]

Swihart is still not an MLB catcher— not even close. If he is our backup catcher, get ready for the opposition to have lots of runners in scoring position. He has hit well and run well this spring. This is the highest his trade value has been in years. Maybe DD can get a nice return for him.

 

Swihart had a really nice block catching Porcello the other day. I didn’t watch yesterday’s game though.

[SoxnCycles]

With who, Holt?

 

My first choice would be Marrero, if he's on the roster.

Then Lin. Then Nunez, if Pedrioa is playing.

[OH FOY]

Devers can also score from 1st to home on a Double, he's more athletic than most think.

[a700hitter]

Saw Devers play last year in the Minors, made sure I watched him between innings, and warm-ups, he has the hands and feet, his problem is he is young, need repetitions, to get his throwing down. He'll get better. Just needs more work. Have to have patience. Lot of times he thinks he has to make the play instead of just eating it, that's shows his immaturity. Most kids feel this way. Better than being lazy.

He hits 35+ HRS, over 100 RBI's, and .300 should help. He can do it, especially in Fenway, with that swing of his.

I agree. I think he has the tools to be a good 3B, but he will be working through his growing pains this year and we need to have a late inning plan to limit damage. Edited March 13, 2018 by a700hitter

[moonslav59]

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

 

Marrero, if he makes the roster. That would mean Holt starts in AAA.

[cp176]

Marrero, if he makes the roster. That would mean Holt starts in AAA.

 

This I for one could easily live with. Other than being able to sort of play most positions on the field what does he give us? I don't think that his defense at any of the positions he plays makes him a real viable defensive replacement. Marrero would be my choice. He plays 3 infield positions well enough to make us better later in games when we might not need anything but defense. Glad I don't have to make these choices.

[moonslav59]

This I for one could easily live with. Other than being able to sort of play most positions on the field what does he give us? I don't think that his defense at any of the positions he plays makes him a real viable defensive replacement. Marrero would be my choice. He plays 3 infield positions well enough to make us better later in games when we might not need anything but defense. Glad I don't have to make these choices.

 

Holt has options. I'd go with the glove (Marrero) to start the season. Marrero is out of options, and while I agree finding guys like marrero are easy to pick up, Holt should not ever be used as a defensive replacement late in a game. His offense is not good enough to play any IF position for us. Nunez and Swihart can cover the 4th OF'er slot, and JD can play OF in NL parks. Holt's OF availability is no longer needed, nor is his ability to play 1B.

 

Holt gives us good minor league ML ready depth at several positions.

 

Marrero, Swihart, Moreland and Leon should be our opening day bench, as I see it.

 

Holt, Travis and Lin give us good minor league depth.

Edited March 13, 2018 by moonslav59

[cp176]

Holt has options. I'd go with the glove (Marrero) to start the season. Marrero is out of options, and while I agree finding guys like marrero are easy to pick up, Holt should not ever be used as a defensive replacement late in a game. His offense is not good enough to play any IF position for us.

 

Holt gives us good minor league ML ready depth at several positions.

 

Marrero, Swihart, Moreland and Leon should be our opening day bench, as I see it.

 

Holt, Travis and Lin give us good minor league depth.

 

I've pretty much felt this way with respect to the bench all along. i'm with you here.

[cp176]

I agree. I think he has the tools to be a good 3B, but he will be working through his growing pains this year and we need to have a late inning plan to limit damage.

 

 

I agree that he has to have a long leash with plenty of room to grow but his defense needs to grow or we better score one pant load of runs. Ultimately I think that he gets there, but based on what we tend to see from posters here, he won't be cut much slack if he is good for an error a game. Might have to just hold your nose for a while be patient and wait until he gets to the plate.

[moonslav59]

I agree that he has to have a long leash with plenty of room to grow but his defense needs to grow or we better score one pant load of runs. Ultimately I think that he gets there, but based on what we tend to see from posters here, he won't be cut much slack if he is good for an error a game. Might have to just hold your nose for a while be patient and wait until he gets to the plate.

 

I'm hopeful but not too optimistic on Devers on defense. I'm thinking he may end up at 1B or DH, when all is said and done.

 

I'm hoping he can get to a decent level by playoff time.

[Kimmi]

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

 

He probably could have used some more time in AAA working on defense.

 

But somebody panicked.

[Kimmi]

Swihart had a really nice block catching Porcello the other day. I didn’t watch yesterday’s game though.

 

Swihart, at one point, was projected to be an above average defender. He got yanked around a bit by the team, sometimes out of necessity, sometimes out of panic. With enough playing time behind the plate, I think he could be a solid defender. He won't reach Vazquez level, but he could be solid.

[Kimmi]

Holt has options. I'd go with the glove (Marrero) to start the season. Marrero is out of options, and while I agree finding guys like marrero are easy to pick up, Holt should not ever be used as a defensive replacement late in a game. His offense is not good enough to play any IF position for us. Nunez and Swihart can cover the 4th OF'er slot, and JD can play OF in NL parks. Holt's OF availability is no longer needed, nor is his ability to play 1B.

 

Holt gives us good minor league ML ready depth at several positions.

 

Marrero, Swihart, Moreland and Leon should be our opening day bench, as I see it.

 

Holt, Travis and Lin give us good minor league depth.

 

When it comes to bench guys and middle reliever types, those who have options start the season in AAA.

 

It might not be fair, but it's the smart thing to do.

[Hugh2]

Sometimes guys get rushed to the majors for how the perform on one side of the ball where's the other is lacking.

 

People forget that these players are developing defensively as well. I don't think Devers is a future GG but I've heard a lot of good things about scouts believing he has the tools and the work ethic to develop into an average defender. If his bat is close to being as special as they say it is (and so far how it has looked) that is more than acceptable.

[cp176]

Sometimes guys get rushed to the majors for how the perform on one side of the ball where's the other is lacking.

 

People forget that these players are developing defensively as well. I don't think Devers is a future GG but I've heard a lot of good things about scouts believing he has the tools and the work ethic to develop into an average defender. If his bat is close to being as special as they say it is (and so far how it has looked) that is more than acceptable.

 

They needed him. It was necessary to get that bat in the lineup. Most young players who get the call are in fact still developing. Holding him back I think hoping that his fielding would improve would have been a waste of time for both him and the organization. He really is quite athletic. He should come along. If you kept all of your youngsters back until they were fully cooked ai'm afraid that your teams would suffer on many occasions. It is possible that given time to grow into things that he becomes outstanding in all phases of the game.

[moonslav59]

Swihart, at one point, was projected to be an above average defender. He got yanked around a bit by the team, sometimes out of necessity, sometimes out of panic. With enough playing time behind the plate, I think he could be a solid defender. He won't reach Vazquez level, but he could be solid.

 

I think he was projected as a plus on defense too early, probably due to his extremely quick release time on throws to 2B amd strong arm. As we all know, throwing out base stealers is just a minor part of catcher defense.

 

I seriously doubt Swi will ever become good enough on defense for my liking, but if his bat develops into something special, he might not have to get beyond barely decent on D

[Emp9]

When it comes to bench guys and middle reliever types, those who have options start the season in AAA.

 

It might not be fair, but it's the smart thing to do.

 

Yeah but the sox leaving Holt off the 25???... I’ll believe it when I see it.

[Spudboy]

Swihart, at one point, was projected to be an above average defender. He got yanked around a bit by the team, sometimes out of necessity, sometimes out of panic. With enough playing time behind the plate, I think he could be a solid defender. He won't reach Vazquez level, but he could be solid.

 

Hmm. I just wonder why you think Swihart "won't reach Vasquez level" defensively.

 

And how is it not likely that he can be an average catcher with a pretty good stick?

[Spudboy]

Yeah but the sox leaving Holt off the 25???... I’ll believe it when I see it.

 

Yeah I don't see that happening unless he is hurt.

 

Although Cora and DD could become ruthless and just dump him, I guess.

[Nick]

Yeah I don't see that happening unless he is hurt.

 

Although Cora and DD could become ruthless and just dump him, I guess.

 

Whats wrong with that? He's done nothing last two years.

[Bellhorn04]

Whats wrong with that? He's done nothing last two years.

 

He was respectable in 2016, and injured last year.

[moonslav59]

Yeah but the sox leaving Holt off the 25???... I’ll believe it when I see it.

 

It's an unhealthy love affair.

[Natick to NC]

It's an unhealthy love affair.

 

Yeah Boston has taken to Holt but the act that was once exciting and electric is now injury prone and mundane .

[Bellhorn04]

Thank God fans don't run the team LOL

[moonslav59]

Yeah Boston has taken to Holt but the act that was once exciting and electric is now injury prone and mundane .

 

Never excited me.

[Bellhorn04]

Holt was an excellent value in 2014 and 2015. Not so much since.

[cp176]

Holt was an excellent value in 2014 and 2015. Not so much since.

 

Anyone might have been an excellent value in those two years. If memory serves, we were really bad- really. I'm not suggesting that Holt had much to do with this but his greatest achievement during those two years may have been simply to keep fan interest. He was a curiosity - How many different positions can a guy play? Having him not on the 25 man to start the season might really be the best decision. We pretty much know what he has to give us. I'm not impressed.

[moonslav59]

Holt was an excellent value in 2014 and 2015. Not so much since.

 

As a sub, yes, but even then, he never "excited" ,e.