A Realistic View at 2018: Part II

[Emp9]

Wright might go to the pen as well, but the pen will be overloaded, if everyone, including Thornburg are healthy.

 

5 man rotation: Sale, Price, Pom, ERod, Porcello

 

7 man pen: Kimbrel, Smith, Thornburg, Barnes, Kelly, 2 from: Hembree, Johnson and Wright (all out of options)

 

Pom, Wright, ERod, Thornburg... all these guys haven’t had Spring training to speak of (Pom had a few innings). What are the rules on extented ST? I suspect all of these guys won’t be ready at the exact same time. Could we have 2 Long relief BP guys (BJ & SW?). Would that even be wise?

[moonslav59]

Pom, Wright, ERod, Thornburg... all these guys haven’t had Spring training to speak of (Pom had a few innings). What are the rules on extented ST? I suspect all of these guys won’t be ready at the exact same time. Could we have 2 Long relief BP guys (BJ & SW?). Would that even be wise?

 

True, they won't all come back at the same time, but eventually they may all be healthy at the same time. It's not a bad thing to have choices to make like these, but we may have to trade someone or create a phantom DL for someone.

 

We also have Workman, Maddox and Scott who might deserve some time as well.

 

We are not going to go all year with no pitching injuries. It's almost impossible, but there is a chance we have everyone or close to everyone for a stretch or two.

[Nick]

Starting pitching.....check

Closer.......check

Relievers......little concerning with couple of them but this is where we have 'depth' in the minors (see Moon's post above). Would like to see 8th inning guy not named Kelly or Barnes emerge.

Hitting.......Vaz came up with big hit. But there's no denying what a homer does to team morale. We play in AL East. Must have power bats. And I think we have enough if everyone hits to their potential.

 

Martinez (40) Hanley (30) Betts (30) Xander (25) Beni (25) Devers (25) JBJ (25) Moreland (15) Nunez (10) Pedey (10) Vaz (10)

Edited April 3, 2018 by Nick

[mvp 78]

Wright might go to the pen as well, but the pen will be overloaded, if everyone, including Thornburg are healthy.

 

5 man rotation: Sale, Price, Pom, ERod, Porcello

 

7 man pen: Kimbrel, Smith, Thornburg, Barnes, Kelly, 2 from: Hembree, Johnson and Wright (all out of options)

 

I'd let Wright walk if everyone else is healthy.

[Emp9]

Ya’ll don’t like Barnes either? 2.2 IP, era 0.00, whip 0.75, hits 0, BB 2, SO 3

[Nick]

http://www.weei.com/blogs/rob-bradford/why-jd-martinez-red-sox-and-giancarlo-stanton-isnt

 

Why J.D. Martinez is with Red Sox and Giancarlo Stanton isn't......................by Rob Bradford (WEEI)

 

Here's a good read on DD's pursuit/non pursuit of Stanton. I think Kimmi would like the fact that Sox did not want to empty out the farm any further.

Edited April 3, 2018 by Nick

[Maxbialystock]

I'd let Wright walk if everyone else is healthy.

 

You could be right, but in 2016 he put up some pretty good numbers.

[Nick]

Ya’ll don’t like Barnes either? 2.2 IP, era 0.00, whip 0.75, hits 0, BB 2, SO 3

 

I just remember his second half last year. Lack of control. He did not make the playoff roster. Someone agreed with me.

 

I WANT HIM TO BE GOOD. AS WITH KELLY. Just haven't seen the consistency to warrant 8th inning spot. Hell I want them all to be closer caliber.

Edited April 3, 2018 by Nick

[cp176]

I'd let Wright walk if everyone else is healthy.

 

Me too - I don't want Wright in the pen unless he is there for mop up middle inning work.

[a700hitter]

I'd let Wright walk if everyone else is healthy.

You can never have enough pitching.

[cp176]

I'm just going to say this and it might not be popular - oh well . I would like to know what Benintendi's workout schedule consisted of this winter. He does not look the same to me at all and yup that worries me. Obviously he has gained a lot of weight. If he dd it through concentrated weight work, maybe it all works out. But when I look at him it is just not his upper body that looks bigger it is his face as well. I liked what he looked like last year. A combination of very quick muscles. I hope that weight gain winds up being to his benefit because he put it on in a pretty short time. He looks to me like he is trying to get used to working with a new body. I hope he does start hitting because he is needed.

[Bellhorn04]

I'm just going to say this and it might not be popular - oh well . I would like to know what Benintendi's workout schedule consisted of this winter. He does not look the same to me at all and yup that worries me. Obviously he has gained a lot of weight. If he dd it through concentrated weight work, maybe it all works out. But when I look at him it is just not his upper body that looks bigger it is his face as well. I liked what he looked like last year. A combination of very quick muscles. I hope that weight gain winds up being to his benefit because he put it on in a pretty short time. He looks to me like he is trying to get used to working with a new body. I hope he does start hitting because he is needed.

 

He was raking pretty well in spring games FWIW. I think he'll be fine.

[mvp 78]

You could be right, but in 2016 he put up some pretty good numbers.

 

Ok? He's a 34 year old knuckleballer with one good season. He can go away.

[cp176]

He was raking pretty well in spring games FWIW. I think he'll be fine.

 

I really hope that you are right. I'm just not a big fan of anyone gaining or losing that amount of weight in that short a period of time and I don't care how they do it.

[Emp9]

Ok? He's a 34 year old knuckleballer with one good season. He can go away.

 

Right, he’s 34 year old Knuckleballer. I think that makes him 29 then? Or a 34 year old with 29 year old’s arm

[Emp9]

I'm just going to say this and it might not be popular - oh well . I would like to know what Benintendi's workout schedule consisted of this winter. He does not look the same to me at all and yup that worries me. Obviously he has gained a lot of weight. If he dd it through concentrated weight work, maybe it all works out. But when I look at him it is just not his upper body that looks bigger it is his face as well. I liked what he looked like last year. A combination of very quick muscles. I hope that weight gain winds up being to his benefit because he put it on in a pretty short time. He looks to me like he is trying to get used to working with a new body. I hope he does start hitting because he is needed.

 

I get it. Beni didn’t really need to change a thing, in my mind.

[Bellhorn04]

FWIW, Xander also put on some muscle this offseason, I think. Maybe not as noticeable as Beni's.

[moonslav59]

Ok? He's a 34 year old knuckleballer with one good season. He can go away.

 

He's actually had several decent short years and minor league seasons. He's hardly ever been bad for a long time, if the sample size is over 25 inning:

 

2017: 8.25 in 24 IP

2016: 3.33 in 157

2015: 4.09 in 73 (3.81 in 52 IP at AAA)

2014: 2.57 in 21 (3.42 in 100 IP at AAA & AA)

2013: (3.46 in 135 IP at AAA)

2012: (2.54 in 143 IP at AAA & AA)

 

That's 5 straight seasons of good pitching. Much better than Johnson's yo-yo career, IMO.

 

His career MLB numbers are 21-14 3.97 in 288 innings.

 

[Bellhorn04]

You can never have enough pitching.

 

That's the truth.

[moonslav59]

That's the truth.

 

You can, if everyone is good and healthy and nobody has options.

[sk7326]

Ok? He's a 34 year old knuckleballer with one good season. He can go away.

 

Wright can help over the season - provide a lot of bulk and is probably good for a hot streak. Obviously, like Wakefield, hard to trust him at all in any sort of tight spot ... nature of the beast.

[mvp 78]

Wright can help over the season - provide a lot of bulk and is probably good for a hot streak. Obviously, like Wakefield, hard to trust him at all in any sort of tight spot ... nature of the beast.

 

I don't think he provides anything special to the table. I don't see any reason to keep him over Hembree or Johnson.

[Bellhorn04]

You can, if everyone is good and healthy and nobody has options.

 

Sure. And for pitchers, health is here today, gone tomorrow.

[cp176]

FWIW, Xander also put on some muscle this offseason, I think. Maybe not as noticeable as Beni's.

 

He did and he looks good. I still think that it looks unusual in Beni's case. Holt also looks bigger to me - sadly just heavier and slower. If you are really in to fitness, it is not natural at all to gain weight simply as you grow older once you have stopped actually growing. You are taking in more than you are shoving out so to speak. Betts looks like he always has - strong, quick, and wired - He looks what I consider to be physically fit. I think that he will stay that way. Here is hoping Benintendi makes me look like a fool for even bringing this up.

[cp176]

I get it. Beni didn’t really need to change a thing, in my mind.

 

 

I was thinking that I might be the only one here who felt this way. Glad I'm not. I liked his 20 homers and 20 or so potential stolen bases just fine.

[Spudboy]

I read and saw in interviews a while back that both Bennie and Holt put on weight intentionally because they believe that they will better be able to withstand the long season physically.

 

Bennie bulked-up his upper body coming into the 2017 season. Now he says he has gained mass on the rest of his body. Also, he cropped his hair so his head does appear different even if he had not gained weight.

 

Before the ST report date for position players Holt was in camp and he had the midriff of Butthead's Father. He looked f***ing porky. Now he looks a little more fit but he continues to carry more weight than last year.

 

Holt does not "look" as fast but that could be just an impression aided by getting gun down by a large margin at the plate. I don't know.

 

I think Bennie has the same swing and approach. He was hitting well in ST and is in a mini-slump ( as compared to Louis Apericio sp ). He will start hitting soon, I think.

[Slasher9]

You can, if everyone is good and healthy and nobody has options.

 

that makes them tradeable.

[dgalehouse]

Scoreboard says - 4 - 1 , First place in the A.L. East. Not the least bit surprising. So far , I have not seen anything that is a cause for concern going forward. This is a very good team that should have a smooth ride to the post season.

[mvp 78]

I read and saw in interviews a while back that both Bennie and Holt put on weight intentionally because they believe that they will better be able to withstand the long season physically.

 

Bennie bulked-up his upper body coming into the 2017 season. Now he says he has gained mass on the rest of his body. Also, he cropped his hair so his head does appear different even if he had not gained weight.

 

Before the ST report date for position players Holt was in camp and he had the midriff of Butthead's Father. He looked f***ing porky. Now he looks a little more fit but he continues to carry more weight than last year.

 

Holt does not "look" as fast but that could be just an impression aided by getting gun down by a large margin at the plate. I don't know.

 

I think Bennie has the same swing and approach. He was hitting well in ST and is in a mini-slump ( as compared to Louis Apericio sp ). He will start hitting soon, I think.

 

Holt still likes noticeably bigger in the mid section to me. I don't think his issue staying on the field had anything to do with his conditioning before.

 

As for Beni, I'm just going to go out on a limb here and say that Nomar was much better before he bulked up. I'm not sure how this will impact Beni if at all.

[kenmeister]

I just found this article on Benitendi's bulk up: https://www.mlb.com/news/benintendi-hopes-added-bulk-means-more-homers/c-266327630