A Realistic View at 2019: Part I

[Bellhorn04]

Not a "comeback", bellhop, simply the truth..............

 

The truth is you're a troll, always have been, always will be.

[BillyWilliams]

The truth is you're a troll, always have been, always will be.

 

Wow, great comeback!

[Station 13]

LOL you're the king of posting articles like this here.

 

He wouldn't post this piece. It isn't disparaging the Red Sox in it.

[Slasher9]

[moonslav59]

Not at all.........

 

Your response was about past OF WAR. The article was about the 2019 possibility.

[moonslav59]

Stev Adams on Pedey...

 

Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia will open the season on the injured list, manager Alex Cora announced to reporters today (link via WEEI’s Rob Bradford). Cora stressed that there have been no setbacks for Pedroia in his return from the knee issues that limited him to three games last season. Rather, the veteran is simply still in the process of building up to be able to handle a full workload. He’ll play in games every other day for the remainder of exhibition games before returning to extended Spring Training to continue building up strength. Pedroia, Bradford writes, feels he will be sufficiently built up but didn’t voice frustration with the team’s decision to proceed with caution. Based on his comments, it doesn’t sound like he’s looking at a particularly lengthy absence to open the year. “It’s only, I think, a week or something, the plan that they set,” said Pedroia. “If it’s being smart for a week and we make sure I respond great to everything thrown at me then it’s a good decision.”

[moonslav59]

Stev Adams on Pedey...

 

Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia will open the season on the injured list, manager Alex Cora announced to reporters today (link via WEEI’s Rob Bradford). Cora stressed that there have been no setbacks for Pedroia in his return from the knee issues that limited him to three games last season. Rather, the veteran is simply still in the process of building up to be able to handle a full workload. He’ll play in games every other day for the remainder of exhibition games before returning to extended Spring Training to continue building up strength. Pedroia, Bradford writes, feels he will be sufficiently built up but didn’t voice frustration with the team’s decision to proceed with caution. Based on his comments, it doesn’t sound like he’s looking at a particularly lengthy absence to open the year. “It’s only, I think, a week or something, the plan that they set,” said Pedroia. “If it’s being smart for a week and we make sure I respond great to everything thrown at me then it’s a good decision.”

 

This pushes the need to trade or DFA Leon or Swihart back a week or more.

[kenmeister]

This pushes the need to trade or DFA Leon or Swihart back a week or more.

 

My first thought as well, that it had nothing to do with Pedroia and everything to do with those two.

[moonslav59]

My first thought as well, that it had nothing to do with Pedroia and everything to do with those two.

 

It wouldn't surprise me, if Pedey stays on the DL longer, and not just for this reason.

 

Someone else might be added to the DL (or phantom DL), when Pedey returns.

[notin]

This pushes the need to trade or DFA Leon or Swihart back a week or more.

 

Except that Cora said if Pedroia starts the year on the IL, the Sox would carry an extra bullpen pitcher, not a third catcher...

[moonslav59]

Except that Cora said if Pedroia starts the year on the IL, the Sox would carry an extra bullpen pitcher, not a third catcher...

 

I must have missed that. With so many bubble pitchers out of options, that makes sense, too.

[vegasbob]

Except that Cora said if Pedroia starts the year on the IL, the Sox would carry an extra bullpen pitcher, not a third catcher...

 

yes, Cora said 13 pitchers indicating some of the marginal guys will still be in "earn the job" mode during the first 11 road games. The move with Pedey was highly predictable to keep him out of the cool, often wet opening road trip . Not a bad idea at all, let him open his season back in Boston.

With the 13 pitchers being carried, the Swihart-Leon pick'em goes down to the wire.

[FredLynn]

My first thought as well, that it had nothing to do with Pedroia and everything to do with those two.

 

I think it has everything to do with Pedroia....how long has he had now to recover from his last surgery? A very long time. At some point you reach diminishing returns where further improvement and strength are less likely to happen. I have been pessimistic about him for a long time and this delay only reinforces that position.

[notin]

I must have missed that. With so many bubble pitchers out of options, that makes sense, too.

 

 

It makes sense until we learn the 13th pitcher is someone like Marcus Walden...

[oldtimer]

I think it has everything to do with Pedroia....how long has he had now to recover from his last surgery? A very long time. At some point you reach diminishing returns where further improvement and strength are less likely to happen. I have been pessimistic about him for a long time and this delay only reinforces that position.

 

The hope for him was 90 or 100 games this year for $13 million. Not much of a bargain. After opening on the IL he will have a potential 152 games to fit in 90 to 100 starts. I am hoping for the best here.

[d-money]

This team has been awful in spring training. I know it’s spring training but you wanna see some good stuff out there. I just hope they’re not the Boston Celtics of this year.

[moonslav59]

It makes sense until we learn the 13th pitcher is someone like Marcus Walden...

 

Could it be D Hernandez?

[S5Dewey]

Could it be D Hernandez?

It not only could be, from what I've heard it probably will be. I keep hearing that Hernandez has impressed Cora and the rest of the FO. Of course he doesn't have to look very good to be the best looking pup in the ugly litter of relievers we've seen thus far.

 

And while we're on the topic of pitching, it's looking to me like Mojica may be being tabbed to be the much dreaded closer.

 

Re: Pedey now...

His starting on the DL may be more cautionary than anything else. I've been watching him both during the innings and during the time when folks watching the games on TV are seeing commercials and I see no difference between the 2019 version of Pedroia and the pre-injury Pedey. His footwork looks good around the base, he's running the bases well, and his running off and on the field between innings looks like he's back to being the Pedroia we remember.

 

I'm not a doctor and I don't play one on television or in an internet chat room but he looks normal to me.

[moonslav59]

It not only could be, from what I've heard it probably will be. I keep hearing that Hernandez has impressed Cora and the rest of the FO. Of course he doesn't have to look very good to be the best looking pup in the ugly litter of relievers we've seen thus far.

 

And while we're on the topic of pitching, it's looking to me like Mojica may be being tabbed to be the much dreaded closer.

 

Re: Pedey now...

His starting on the DL may be more cautionary than anything else. I've been watching him both during the innings and during the time when folks watching the games on TV are seeing commercials and I see no difference between the 2019 version of Pedroia and the pre-injury Pedey. His footwork looks good around the base, he's running the bases well, and his running off and on the field between innings looks like he's back to being the Pedroia we remember.

 

I'm not a doctor and I don't play one on television or in an internet chat room but he looks normal to me.

 

Pedey did not have further surgery. He's had a long time to get ready for ST'ing and opening day. It seems weird he'd need a week more, but I trust Sox management on this.

 

(It's Mejia not Mojica.)

 

Soxprospects.com has Colten Brewer as the 13th pitcher.

[Bellhorn04]

Pedey did not have further surgery. He's had a long time to get ready for ST'ing and opening day. It seems weird he'd need a week more, but I trust Sox management on this.

 

I think Cora may be making the call on this. As we have seen he's a firm believer in erring on the side of caution.

 

And this is, needless to say, a critical juncture in Pedroia's career.

Edited March 19, 2019 by Bellhorn04

[notin]

It not only could be, from what I've heard it probably will be. I keep hearing that Hernandez has impressed Cora and the rest of the FO. Of course he doesn't have to look very good to be the best looking pup in the ugly litter of relievers we've seen thus far.

 

And while we're on the topic of pitching, it's looking to me like Mojica may be being tabbed to be the much dreaded closer.

 

 

I’d actually be surprised if it was Hernandez.

 

Those last pitching spots always go to some Lenny DiNardo type whose borderline talent at best, more for the idea of preserving some depth.

 

Hernandez has probably been the story of camp, but it’s not just about that. Most pitchers in camp are warming up and working on new pitches and doing other activities that lead to struggling, so the stats are not always so important. What usually is more important is the plan for the pitcher. If the Sox think of Hernandez as a starter - and they may need him as one next season - then they’re going to want him to build up some endurance on AAA or AA this year and to enhance his secondary offerings. Stamina being the key here. Hernandez has never thrown more than 107 IP in a season and has only thrown 6 IP above A ball.

 

And for all the pitching depth the Sox acquired, the only starters were Erasmo Ramirez and Josh Smith. And Smith sucks. This leaves the Sox with starter depth of Johnson, Velasquez, Ramirez and maybe Sharwyn. (And the forgotten man in Chandler Shepherd, who will continue to be forgotten.). That’s actually not a lot of depth, especially since there are no guarantees about who will be healthy when needed.

 

The Sox are probably better off letting Hernandez build up some stamina in the minors rather than making him a stopgap pitcher while Pedroia recovers. The 2 or 3 innings he pitches in that time won’t make any difference to anyone.

 

 

As for Mejia, why not? He’s the most experienced closer in the entire organization. I’m a bit surprised they’d go to him after a 3 year hiatus, but if he can pick up where he left off, that’s a huge booon for Boston’s bullpen. And if he can’t or he sucks without “help,” he can be quickly cut with no real commitment...

Edited March 19, 2019 by notin

[jacksonianmarch]

I think Cora may be making the call on this. As we have seen he's a firm believer in erring on the side of caution.

 

And this is, needless to say, a critical juncture in Pedroia's career.

 

If you’re ever going to get anything useful out of Pedroia, you need to treat him like fine china and save him from himself. If I ran the Sox, I’d have him stay in Florida til the weather warmed up. Arthritic knees and cold weather are not friends. I’d also cap him at 90 games or so. The goal is to have Pedroia healthy come October, when cold games are inevitable, but if you can spare him the cold early, it increases his chances of staying around

[notin]

Pedey did not have further surgery. He's had a long time to get ready for ST'ing and opening day. It seems weird he'd need a week more, but I trust Sox management on this.

 

(It's Mejia not Mojica.)

 

Soxprospects.com has Colten Brewer as the 13th pitcher.

 

 

The Sox do have 2 open spots on the 40 man roster, but I doubt they add anyone at this point. (They might be holding them for someone like Feltman, Mejia, or Ramirez.)

 

So that last spot will probably go to someone already on the roster, and probably not Reyes or Shepherd. Walden, Brewer, Hernandez and Poyner are the top candidates in my eyes. Last year, it was Walden...

[S5Dewey]

The Sox do have 2 open spots on the 40 man roster, but I doubt they add anyone at this point. (They might be holding them for someone like Feltman, Mejia, or Ramirez.)

 

So that last spot will probably go to someone already on the roster, and probably not Reyes or Shepherd. Walden, Brewer, Hernandez and Poyner are the top candidates in my eyes. Last year, it was Walden...

 

Speaking of Durbin (and who else do you know named Durbin??) Feltman, I think he's only appeared twice. Since one of those was on the road I've only seen him once but I like his mix. He's got a FB that topped out in the mid/high 90's and he mixes in an 80 mph slider.

 

I'd expect him to start in Portland (!!!) this year and progress quickly.

[moonslav59]

If you’re ever going to get anything useful out of Pedroia, you need to treat him like fine china and save him from himself. If I ran the Sox, I’d have him stay in Florida til the weather warmed up. Arthritic knees and cold weather are not friends. I’d also cap him at 90 games or so. The goal is to have Pedroia healthy come October, when cold games are inevitable, but if you can spare him the cold early, it increases his chances of staying around

 

Good points, but we are starting on the warm west coast.

[jacksonianmarch]

4 games in Seattle where the highs are likely to be mid 50s during the day is not warm. The goal for the Sox and the Yanks is one and the same. Try to win the division, but ensure good health at the end of the year as both teams are making the post season. If you’ve got a performing Pedroia in october, who gives a f*** if he even plays prior.

[Slasher9]

It not only could be, from what I've heard it probably will be. I keep hearing that Hernandez has impressed Cora and the rest of the FO. Of course he doesn't have to look very good to be the best looking pup in the ugly litter of relievers we've seen thus far.

 

And while we're on the topic of pitching, it's looking to me like Mojica may be being tabbed to be the much dreaded closer.

 

Re: Pedey now...

His starting on the DL may be more cautionary than anything else. I've been watching him both during the innings and during the time when folks watching the games on TV are seeing commercials and I see no difference between the 2019 version of Pedroia and the pre-injury Pedey. His footwork looks good around the base, he's running the bases well, and his running off and on the field between innings looks like he's back to being the Pedroia we remember.

 

I'm not a doctor and I don't play one on television or in an internet chat room but he looks normal to me.

 

just like every year - thank you for the inside info from the Fort. i love reading this stuff.

[notin]

Speaking of Durbin (and who else do you know named Durbin??) Feltman, I think he's only appeared twice. Since one of those was on the road I've only seen him once but I like his mix. He's got a FB that topped out in the mid/high 90's and he mixes in an 80 mph slider.

 

I'd expect him to start in Portland (!!!) this year and progress quickly.

 

I think Feltman makes his MLB debut before July 1...

[BillyWilliams]

It not only could be, from what I've heard it probably will be. I keep hearing that Hernandez has impressed Cora and the rest of the FO. Of course he doesn't have to look very good to be the best looking pup in the ugly litter of relievers we've seen thus far.

 

And while we're on the topic of pitching, it's looking to me like Mojica may be being tabbed to be the much dreaded closer.

 

Re: Pedey now...

His starting on the DL may be more cautionary than anything else. I've been watching him both during the innings and during the time when folks watching the games on TV are seeing commercials and I see no difference between the 2019 version of Pedroia and the pre-injury Pedey. His footwork looks good around the base, he's running the bases well, and his running off and on the field between innings looks like he's back to being the Pedroia we remember.

 

I'm not a doctor and I don't play one on television or in an internet chat room but he looks normal to me.

 

Just curious who you keep hearing this from?

[moonslav59]

4 games in Seattle where the highs are likely to be mid 50s during the day is not warm. The goal for the Sox and the Yanks is one and the same. Try to win the division, but ensure good health at the end of the year as both teams are making the post season. If you’ve got a performing Pedroia in october, who gives a f*** if he even plays prior.

 

I'm all for caution, but he's either ready or he's not.

 

To me, it doesn't seem like another week matters, but again, I trust Cora & DD.