2019 Spring Training Thread

[mvp 78]

It's Truck DayTM so here's your annual Spring Training thread. Enjoy!

 

https://www.overthemonster.com/2019/2/4/18210501/red-sox-truck-day-2019

[kenmeister]

Here are the players in my estimation that need the most scrutiny:

 

Dustin Pedroia - He needs to prove not only that he is still capable of playing, but is an improvement upon a Nunez/Holt platoon or an improvement upon Lin.

 

Tyler Thornburg - Can he still be effective?

 

Brian Johnson - Can he be effective in a relief role?

 

Rafael Devers - Has his 3B defense improved?

 

Ryan Brasier - He needs to show that last season wasn't a fluke.

[mvp 78]

Could also add:

 

Wright's health?

 

Nunez's health?

 

How is the battle at C looking?

 

Who is shaping up to be the best bullpen option for 9th inning?

[moonslav59]

I don't see a battle at catcher.

 

Vaz will catch Porcello, ERod and Eovaldi (about 60%) and Leon will ctch Sale and Price (40%). Swihart catches in an emergency and only makes the 25 man roster, if someone in on the DL (most likely Pedey) or we trade Moreland, Nunez or Holt. .

[mvp 78]

I don't see a battle at catcher.

 

Vaz will catch Porcello, ERod and Eovaldi (about 60%) and Leon will ctch Sale and Price (40%). Swihart catches in an emergency and only makes the 25 man roster, if someone in on the DL (most likely Pedey) or we trade Moreland, Nunez or Holt. .

 

They can't keep 3 catchers again. I think it was dumb to keep Swihart last year.

[Kimmi]

From PA:

 

The workout crew at Fenway South today included Matt Barnes, Colton Brewer, Nate Eovaldi, a trimmed-down Rafael Devers, Tzu-Wei Lin, Austin Maddox, Rick Porcello, David Price, Eduardo Rodriguez, Chris Sale, Sam Travis, and Marcus Walden.

 

All of our projected starters have arrived early. Good to see!

[Kimmi]

They can't keep 3 catchers again. I think it was dumb to keep Swihart last year.

 

It was dumb because Cora refused to play him much.

 

That said, it turned out that we needed him while Vaz was out.

[oldtimer]

I don't see a battle at catcher.

 

Vaz will catch Porcello, ERod and Eovaldi (about 60%) and Leon will ctch Sale and Price (40%). Swihart catches in an emergency and only makes the 25 man roster, if someone in on the DL (most likely Pedey) or we trade Moreland, Nunez or Holt. .

 

Maybe you are correct, but posswibly Swihart will have shown an improvement and Leon will be moved.

[Larry Cook]

Really interested to see how pedrioa does on that knee.

 

He might have been able to contribute late last year, but he lacked patience and rushed his rehab and paid the price,

 

It would be a huge boost if he is back and healthy all year. His defense is above average and if we can get the league average for second basemen offense out of him, that is a win for us.

 

I would love to see Devers make a leap. He has such a nice swing. I don’t care if the defense is not league average.

 

Time for Rodriguez to stay healthy and make monster leap. His talent is undeniable. Now is the year to put it all together.

[mvp 78]

Time for Rodriguez to stay healthy and make monster leap. His talent is undeniable. Now is the year to put it all together.

 

Not a chance IMO.

[mvp 78]

@PeteAbe

 

Big crowd in the Fort today. Eovaldi, Porcello and Rodriguez threw bullpens. Sandy Leon and Blake Swihart on hand. #RedSox.

[notin]

Maybe you are correct, but posswibly Swihart will have shown an improvement and Leon will be moved.

 

 

You mean cut. Leon will be next to impossible to trade as there are plenty of similar players still available on the free agent market.

 

Also Leon is really the best defensive catcher of the three. Swihart has the advantage of being the most versatile, but the Sox already have two other better supersubs on the roster. As the third best catcher and the third best super sub, he’s as redundant as it gets...

[notin]

I don't see a battle at catcher.

 

Vaz will catch Porcello, ERod and Eovaldi (about 60%) and Leon will ctch Sale and Price (40%). Swihart catches in an emergency and only makes the 25 man roster, if someone in on the DL (most likely Pedey) or we trade Moreland, Nunez or Holt. .

 

If Pedroia is on the DL, is a third catcher really a necessity here? The Sox are using Holt and Nunez to backup 6 positions, and if Pedroia is out, one of them is starting...

[moonslav59]

If Pedroia is on the DL, is a third catcher really a necessity here? The Sox are using Holt and Nunez to backup 6 positions, and if Pedroia is out, one of them is starting...

 

JD is the back-up OF'er.

 

Swihart may play 1B better than Holt, so basically, Nunez and Holt are the back-ups at 2B, 3B and SS while being extended depth elsewhere.

 

Swihart, Moreland and Pearce can also play LF.

 

I'd rather have Lin than Swihart (Pedey or no Pedey), which is one reason I have suggested trading Swihart 679 times this winter.

[moonslav59]

You mean cut. Leon will be next to impossible to trade as there are plenty of similar players still available on the free agent market.

 

Also Leon is really the best defensive catcher of the three. Swihart has the advantage of being the most versatile, but the Sox already have two other better supersubs on the roster. As the third best catcher and the third best super sub, he’s as redundant as it gets...

 

Are we the only team that values Leon's defense?

 

(Note: I am not for trading Leon or Vaz.)

[notin]

JD is the back-up OF'er.

 

Swihart may play 1B better than Holt, so basically, Nunez and Holt are the back-ups at 2B, 3B and SS while being extended depth elsewhere.

 

Swihart, Moreland and Pearce can also play LF.

 

I'd rather have Lin than Swihart (Pedey or no Pedey), which is one reason I have suggested trading Swihart 679 times this winter.

 

 

JD really isn’t a backup outfielder. If Cora pinch hits for Bradley, will he really take the DH out of the game?

 

Holt and Nunez right now are counted on to play 2b, 3b, SS and back up all 3 outfield positions ( with CF being backed up indirectly). Moreland and Pearce have small amounts of poor outfield experience, but that was in the past and probably best forgotten even short term, just like Pearce’s experiences at 2b and 3b.

 

Lin would make a ton of sense because he has an option left and can also be the defensive 3b replacement Cora supposedly wants. And unlike Swihart, he has a option left, which is important because he can go to Pawtucket if Pedroia and everyone else is actually healthy.

 

The Sox might simply DFA Swihart and hope he clears if no suitable trade can be found, like last year. But if they wait too long and Swihart has a good spring, it makes it less likely he clears waivers...

[notin]

Are we the only team that values Leon's defense?

 

(Note: I am not for trading Leon or Vaz.)

 

We might be the only one willing to pay $2.75million for it. Austin Barnes, Nick Hundley, and Martin Maldonado are currently all without jobs and might be willing to take less money despite all being standout defenders. If you were a GMin need of a defensive backup catcher, wouldn’t you see the asking price of those three before trying to work out a trade for Leon?

 

 

Drew Butera signed this morning on a minor league deal that guarantees a $1.3 mill salary if he makes the majors. Those other three might do better, but as times goes on they also might get more desperate...

Edited February 5, 2019 by notin

[moonslav59]

JD really isn’t a backup outfielder. If Cora pinch hits for Bradley, will he really take the DH out of the game?

 

Holt and Nunez right now are counted on to play 2b, 3b, SS and back up all 3 outfield positions ( with CF being backed up indirectly). Moreland and Pearce have small amounts of poor outfield experience, but that was in the past and probably best forgotten even short term, just like Pearce’s experiences at 2b and 3b.

 

Lin would make a ton of sense because he has an option left and can also be the defensive 3b replacement Cora supposedly wants. And unlike Swihart, he has a option left, which is important because he can go to Pawtucket if Pedroia and everyone else is actually healthy.

 

The Sox might simply DFA Swihart and hope he clears if no suitable trade can be found, like last year. But if they wait too long and Swihart has a good spring, it makes it less likely he clears waivers...

 

I still count JD as the back-up OF. he starts when one sits.

 

True, if he starts at DH, then someone else has to be the back-up.

 

BTW, JBJ is busting out this year- no PH'ing will be necessary!

[jacksonianmarch]

JBJ is gonna bust out in 2 months, be average in one and be absolutely abhorrent in 3. It's kinda his MO. World beater for short stints

[moonslav59]

JBJ is gonna bust out in 2 months, be average in one and be absolutely abhorrent in 3. It's kinda his MO. World beater for short stints

 

Last year, he went over 4 months of steady hitting (Mid June through the playoffs). He hit .825 since June 14th, not counting the playoffs.

(.791 from May 28th to Sep 30.)

 

Here are JBJ's monthly OPS since he started playing FT in August 2015:

 

1.163

.739

 

(2016: 1 bad month/ 1 so-so)

.807

1.175

.805

.839

.651

.731

 

(2017: Very steady, but not all that good)

.713

.766

.713

.766

.776

.713

 

(2018: 3 bad/3 very good)

.600

.599

.653

.801

.827

.826

(.835 Playoffs)

 

I'm not saying his career hasn't been streaky, but your characterization is not accurate.

 

Last 20 months

 

4 months between .599 and .700

8 months between .701 and .799

5 months between .800 and .899

0 months between .900 and 1.099

2 months over 1.100

 

Edited February 6, 2019 by moonslav59

[vegasbob]

Is Austin Maddox a likely reclamation project returning from arm injury ? Sam Travis, a dog without a bone of his own, like Bryce Brentz, Dan Butler, etc. Swihart is likley next in line to go. How many young guys since 2004 have gone through the Red Sox minor league system, had a few cups of coffee but never matured or displaced the incumbent, and never were attractive enough to warrant a trade to another team ?

 

On the other hand, talent and timing rule with Devers, Vazquez, Bradley, Betts, Benintendi , Bogaerts make up 67% of the typical starting lineup last year and expected to in 2019 . Pedroia is also home grown , so more like 78% if he plays consistently. I would list all the Sox system starting pitchers, now with the team, developed since 2004 but space precludes naming them.

[Kimmi]

JBJ is gonna bust out in 2 months, be average in one and be absolutely abhorrent in 3. It's kinda his MO. World beater for short stints

 

I think this is the year JBJ develops some consistency in terms of not having those prolonged uber slumps.

[notin]

As Spring Training nears, it starts the Annual Question - who will win the Jeff Bailey Award this year?

 

The Jeff Bailey Award goes to that one player that has an outstanding spring, spurning much debate over whether or not he should make the opening day roster, despite a lackluster career before.

 

I nominate Sam Travis for this spring. Thoughts?

[moonslav59]

As Spring Training nears, it starts the Annual Question - who will win the Jeff Bailey Award this year?

 

The Jeff Bailey Award goes to that one player that has an outstanding spring, spurning much debate over whether or not he should make the opening day roster, despite a lackluster career before.

 

I nominate Sam Travis for this spring. Thoughts?

 

Maybe Swihart, Marco Hernandez (LOL), Carson Smith?

 

[notin]

Maybe Swihart, Marco Hernandez (LOL), Carson Smith?

 

 

I see you’re continuing as President and all the members of the Marco Hernandez Fan Club...

[oldtimer]

I'm wondering when the roster for 2019 gets updated. Is it during spring training or do we have to wait til the season starts? My interest is in Devers, who has been referred to as trimmed down. Since he was 6 feet 237# last year, a trimmed down weight may well improve his defense and keep him off the injury list.

[moonslav59]

I'm wondering when the roster for 2019 gets updated. Is it during spring training or do we have to wait til the season starts? My interest is in Devers, who has been referred to as trimmed down. Since he was 6 feet 237# last year, a trimmed down weight may well improve his defense and keep him off the injury list.

 

Never trust what the team puts out for height and wight numbers.

[moonslav59]

I see you’re continuing as President and all the members of the Marco Hernandez Fan Club...

 

I knew you'd get me for that one.

 

Well deserved, I might add.

[mvp 78]

I think this is the year JBJ develops some consistency in terms of not having those prolonged uber slumps.

 

Yes, this will be the year where he finally puts it all together after not having done so in the previous 5 seasons.

[Bellhorn04]

Yes, this will be the year where he finally puts it all together after not having done so in the previous 5 seasons.

 

I think he will too.

 

What the hell, it's the time of year for dreaming.