A Realistic View at 2019: Part I

[mvp 78]

Just curious who you keep hearing this from?

 

Lots of quotes from Cora on twitter regarding Hernandez. Says he’ll be up this year, but not opening day.

[notin]

Lots of quotes from Cora on twitter regarding Hernandez. Says he’ll be up this year, but not opening day.

 

 

That’s what I figured.

 

I am not sure they even see him as a reliever...

[BillyWilliams]

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.

 

That's kinda what I thought. I'm no Dr. but it doesn't seem to me that another week is really going to change anything.

[mvp 78]

That’s what I figured.

 

I am not sure they even see him as a reliever...

 

They do, but are hoping he sticks as a starter. Will stretch him out and only call up if it looks like his ceiling is a reliever.

[moonslav59]

They do, but are hoping he sticks as a starter. Will stretch him out and only call up if it looks like his ceiling is a reliever.

 

I agree, but if we really need a RP'er later in the year and DH is doing well, I could see them maybe calling him up for the pen and to limit his IP over the full season.

 

I want to keep him starting. Porcello will likely be gone next year, and if we want to keep Sale, Betts and maybe JD, we will need some talent on the roster making squat.

[Kimmi]

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.

 

I think it's a combination of not pushing Pedroia too fast and not pushing our pitchers too hard to open the season. The Sox play 11 games in a row, with no off day, which is kind of unusual to start the season.

 

If I'm not mistaken, I think Cora mentioned wanting to have that extra pitcher to go with a 6th starter the first time through the rotation.

[Kimmi]

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.

 

We have the worst record in the Grapefruit League!

[oldtimer]

We have the worst record in the Grapefruit League!

 

I thought you said that Spring Training record doesn't matter. My take is what our regular players do in spring training does matter. I find it difficult to imagine they will go from 0 for 3 to solid hitters overnight. I guess that remains to be seen.

[Bellhorn04]

I thought you said that Spring Training record doesn't matter. My take is what our regular players do in spring training does matter. I find it difficult to imagine they will go from 0 for 3 to solid hitters overnight. I guess that remains to be seen.

 

Kimmi was being facetious.

[Nick]

We have the worst record in the Grapefruit League!

 

You always want to be the best....we have the best worst record.

[moonslav59]

What's the magic number in the Grapefruit league, now?

[vegasbob]

I thought you said that Spring Training record doesn't matter. My take is what our regular players do in spring training does matter. I find it difficult to imagine they will go from 0 for 3 to solid hitters overnight. I guess that remains to be seen.

 

Do you really play like you practice, a la Parcells ? Or do they have a switch they can throw and wipe the clubhouse latrine with the Mariners, A's and D'Backs. Don't think so. A 6-5 record going home to Boston would be a win, given the ST performances.

[S5Dewey]

What's the magic number in the Grapefruit league, now?

 

It doesn't matter. The Sox lost the Commissioner's cup trophy (which goes to the team playing in Ft. Myers with the most wins) with their recent loss to the Twins.

 

The season may as well be over.

 

[S5Dewey]

Do you really play like you practice, a la Parcells ? Or do they have a switch they can throw and wipe the clubhouse latrine with the Mariners, A's and D'Backs. Don't think so. A 6-5 record going home to Boston would be a win, given the ST performances.

 

I know it's easy to think that way but this is a different team with "real" pitchers on the mound. One also has to remember that many/most ofthese ST games are won and lost by players most fans have never heard of before..... and never will again.

 

I would agree that the Won/Lost records are meaningless, but the performance of the starters is a better indication of what will happen in the regular season. And yes, I know that Mookie was 0-19 (or some such thing) last season and JDM has been cold this year, but that doesn't worry me. Good hitters don't just forget how to hit. The only player who comes to mind who actually just forgot how to hit over one winter was Alan Craig.

[mvp 78]

Betances to start year on dl.

 

Back to back to back to back

[Bellhorn04]

Do you really play like you practice, a la Parcells ? Or do they have a switch they can throw and wipe the clubhouse latrine with the Mariners, A's and D'Backs. Don't think so. A 6-5 record going home to Boston would be a win, given the ST performances.

 

You seem like a guy whose #1 sport is football and who tries to apply a lot of football knowhow to baseball.

 

But we will see if the Sox ST record indicates that they're not ready for the regular season.

[notin]

I have my doubts that JD Martinez will have a .516 OPS for very long...

[moonslav59]

Betances to start year on dl.

 

Back to back to back to back

 

Seems like the Yanks are dropping like flies.

 

Let's hope our health stays well.

[Bellhorn04]

Let's hope our health stays well.

 

Amen to that.

[Nick]

I agree, but if we really need a RP'er later in the year and DH is doing well, I could see them maybe calling him up for the pen and to limit his IP over the full season.

 

I want to keep him starting. Porcello will likely be gone next year, and if we want to keep Sale, Betts and maybe JD, we will need some talent on the roster making squat.

 

You have it correct, Moon. This is what DD has said all along.

 

No one has said that they don't think he's a starting pitcher. Just that THIS YEAR, he may become a reliever to help the big league club.

 

My guess is he will replace Porcello in the rotation next year.

Edited March 20, 2019 by Nick

[moonslav59]

You have it correct, Moon. This is what DD has said all along.

 

No one has said that they don't think he's not a starting pitcher. Just that THIS YEAR, he may become a reliever to help the big league club.

 

My guess is he will replace Porcello in the rotation next year.

 

If DHernandez & Chavis or Dalbec can fill Porcello, Pearce & Moreland's shoes next year, we may be able to keep more stars than we thought was possible while still staying competitive.

 

$36M Betts

$35M Sale

$31M Price

$25M JD

$25M Bogey

$17M Eovaldi

 

That's about $170M for 6 players. Add Pedey's $13M and we're up to about $183M for just 7 players. Add the player pension and 40 man roster scrubs in the minors and we're up to $200+M.

 

That leaves about $5M to fill in the other 18 players on the 25 man roster and stay under the luxury tax for one year.

 

$25M to stay under the $20M penalty line.

 

$45M to stay under the $40M max line.

 

We'd need to say good bye to JBJ & Nunez. Keeping Holt & Vaz might be hard.

 

Barnes & Beni will start getting arb salaries with Devers not too far away either.

 

It won't be easy. I think we lose Bogey and/or JD.

[Slasher9]

What's the magic number in the Grapefruit league, now?

 

one of my yankees friends texted me last week that based on how many ST games the yankees are winning that they may go 162-0 this season. i asked him when the ticker tape parade for winning grapefruit league was being held so that i can avoid Manhattan that day.......

[S5Dewey]

one of my yankees friends texted me last week that based on how many ST games the yankees are winning that they may go 162-0 this season. i asked him when the ticker tape parade for winning grapefruit league was being held so that i can avoid Manhattan that day.......

 

You have Yankees friends?? You need to start hanging out with a better class of people.

[Slasher9]

You have Yankees friends?? You need to start hanging out with a better class of people.

 

hahahah. so true. unfortunately here in dirty jerzee most folk are supporters of the Evil Empire. the past 15 years have been very nice for me......

[Bellhorn04]

one of my yankees friends texted me last week that based on how many ST games the yankees are winning that they may go 162-0 this season. i asked him when the ticker tape parade for winning grapefruit league was being held so that i can avoid Manhattan that day.......

 

The Yanks are going to add '2019 Spring Training Champs' to their '2018 Luxury Tax Champs' and '2018 Bullpen Champs' banners.

[notin]

The Yanks are going to add '2019 Spring Training Champs' to their '2018 Luxury Tax Champs' and '2018 Bullpen Champs' banners.

 

Hey those flags fly forever...

[BillyWilliams]

The Yanks are going to add '2019 Spring Training Champs' to their '2018 Luxury Tax Champs' and '2018 Bullpen Champs' banners.

 

That's cute, aside from the fact that the only banners the Yanks fly are for WS championships, unlike other teams.........

[notin]

That's cute, aside from the fact that the only banners the Yanks fly are for WS championships, unlike other teams.........

 

 

It’s not like Bellhorn made up those boasts...

[BillyWilliams]

It’s not like Bellhorn made up those boasts...

 

I don't see anyone claiming those titles, I certainly don't........

[mvp 78]

@alexspeier

 

Eduardo Rodriguez built his pitch count to 90 (4 innings and more pitches in the bullpen) in a AAA game vs Orioles minor leaguers. He feels great physically, and is thrilled to have had his first healthy start-to-finish big league camp with the Red Sox.

 

CY votes this year.