2019 Spring Training Thread

[TylerD]

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?

 

Been curious about Wright for a while. Even if healthy, he has been out a long time. I wonder if he will come back to his old self or will he be like Pomz and completely s*** the bed from rust. Hopefully that's not the case though.

[Jack Flap]

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 2016 counts as "putting it all together," and offers a blueprint for what a "more consistent" Bradley would look like. His worst month was a .651 OPS and he was over .800 in 4 out of 6, with one of those being batshit crazy hot (1.175).

 

We're not looking for him to do anything he hasn't already shown he's capable of doing...just not going ice cold for 2-3 months out of the season would make all the difference.

Edited February 7, 2019 by Jack Flap

[moonslav59]

Most players have slumps. JBJ certainly has had his share, and some have been real doozies.

[Bellhorn04]

Most players have slumps. JBJ certainly has had his share, and some have been real doozies.

 

OTOH has he ever had a more solid and consistent stretch than he did this year from July right through the postseason?

[dgalehouse]

Been curious about Wright for a while. Even if healthy, he has been out a long time. I wonder if he will come back to his old self or will he be like Pomz and completely s*** the bed from rust. Hopefully that's not the case though.

 

Wright is kind of a problem child what with the injuries and 911 calls . But when the knuckleball is dancing , he can be tough. With the iffy health of most of our starters , Wright could get quite a few starts . He might just turn out to be valuable .

[dgalehouse]

JBJ needs to have a big year this season . Next year he turns the dreaded 30 .

[moonslav59]

Wright is kind of a problem child what with the injuries and 911 calls . But when the knuckleball is dancing , he can be tough. With the iffy health of most of our starters , Wright could get quite a few starts . He might just turn out to be valuable .

 

He pitched like an ace for us in 2016.

 

He had a 2.18 ERA after 15 starts. I'm not suggesting we can expect that in 2018, but something even close to that could be enough to take up the slack from losing Kimbrel.

[Kimmi]

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?

 

I'll go with Swihart, if he isn't traded before then.

[oldtimer]

One of the guys in my senior softball league experienced microfracture surgery on his knee. At 69 years old, he is the youngest on our team by quite a lot. He replaced a guy who had a-fib and played for one day with 2 six inniing games. The bottom line is his knee swelled up like aa grapefruit and he was unable to play 2 days later. I hope that Pedroia's microfracture surgery goes better.

[notin]

One of the guys in my senior softball league experienced microfracture surgery on his knee. At 69 years old, he is the youngest on our team by quite a lot. He replaced a guy who had a-fib and played for one day with 2 six inniing games. The bottom line is his knee swelled up like aa grapefruit and he was unable to play 2 days later. I hope that Pedroia's microfracture surgery goes better.

 

 

I do so want to go to your team’s games...

[oldtimer]

I do so want to go to your team’s games...

 

Are you over 70 this year? Come down and play. I turn 78 shortly and have been at it for about 10 years or since I fully retired. I play both in Florida and North Carolina. We play in Fla on 4 three hundred foot fenced fields with lights. Nice set up. Nobody in my age group hits it over the fences these days but we often hit the fence on a few bounces. We have about 75 guys playing in my age group. There are well over one million nation wide. I like it more than golf.

[Kimmi]

Are you over 70 this year? Come down and play. I turn 78 shortly and have been at it for about 10 years or since I fully retired. I play both in Florida and North Carolina. We play in Fla on 4 three hundred foot fenced fields with lights. Nice set up. Nobody in my age group hits it over the fences these days but we often hit the fence on a few bounces. We have about 75 guys playing in my age group. There are well over one million nation wide. I like it more than golf.

 

I know you've posted about your softball leagues before, and I'm impressed by what you guys do every time I read about it.

 

You go Oldtimer!

[Behindenemylines]

Truck day! Pitchers and catchers on Wednesday the 13th. Spring is in the air.

[notin]

Are you over 70 this year? Come down and play. I turn 78 shortly and have been at it for about 10 years or since I fully retired. I play both in Florida and North Carolina. We play in Fla on 4 three hundred foot fenced fields with lights. Nice set up. Nobody in my age group hits it over the fences these days but we often hit the fence on a few bounces. We have about 75 guys playing in my age group. There are well over one million nation wide. I like it more than golf.

 

I’m well under 70 and live kind of far away in Chicago...

[cp176]

Are you over 70 this year? Come down and play. I turn 78 shortly and have been at it for about 10 years or since I fully retired. I play both in Florida and North Carolina. We play in Fla on 4 three hundred foot fenced fields with lights. Nice set up. Nobody in my age group hits it over the fences these days but we often hit the fence on a few bounces. We have about 75 guys playing in my age group. There are well over one million nation wide. I like it more than golf.

 

I hear you and it is a good thing. I'm a golfer and I play in an area that I think is a bit of a hidden gem. Lake Wales and I am having the time of my life. Important to stay young.

[Kimmi]

Pitchers and catchers report this week, and still so many unsigned players.

 

When was it that we signed JD last year?

[notin]

Pitchers and catchers report this week, and still so many unsigned players.

 

When was it that we signed JD last year?

 

 

February 26

[Kimmi]

February 26

 

Thank you. So all of these unsigned players have all kinds of time. LOL

 

I would be very antsy if I were them.

[S5Dewey]

I hear you and it is a good thing. I'm a golfer and I play in an area that I think is a bit of a hidden gem. Lake Wales and I am having the time of my life. Important to stay young.

 

"I don't know but I've been told, if you don't slow down you'll never grow old".

[cp176]

"I don't know but I've been told, if you don't slow down you'll never grow old".

 

stopping = you being done (fact). Just keep on keepin on.

[Slasher9]

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

 

does it matter tho? we had a parade in a "typical" JBj season. i'll keep beating this dead horse if you do. we don't need All Star offense numbers from our #9 hitter to win the division.

[Slasher9]

"I don't know but I've been told, if you don't slow down you'll never grow old".

 

looking forward to your in-person reports from the Fort brother. enjoy your time down there!

[mvp 78]

does it matter tho? we had a parade in a "typical" JBj season. i'll keep beating this dead horse if you do. we don't need All Star offense numbers from our #9 hitter to win the division.

 

It doesn't matter to me. JBJ is fine in CF for the Sox. I have no interest in moving on from him. My point has always been that he's a little bit overrated, but he's perfectly fine for CF here. I think he'll be much easier to re-sign than other posters who've stated that he could be a 20MAAV guy. I just don't see that. I wish his bat was a little better, but he's fine hitting 8th or 9th.

 

In the past, people have posted as to whether or not he should be traded. I believe you either trade him when he's molten hot and hope to get the most you can out of him or just keep him around and enjoy the defense. I'm not really convinced the return you would get would match his value. Until you have a replacement in AAA, you keep him around. He's not the greatest CFer I've ever seen, but he's definitely the best Sox CFer I've ever seen.

[mvp 78]

Pete Abraham

 

Chris Sale back on the mound. #RedSox #SpringTraining

[mvp 78]

@alexspeier

 

Cora: ‘Just being around today, I’m very excited... I’ve been saying all winter, to do th s thing, we have to turn the page.

[BillyWilliams]

Boston Red Sox: Chris Sale's shoulder. Sale clearly wasn't 100 percent at the end of last season, when his velocity was down in the postseason and Alex Cora skipped over him to start David Price on short rest in Game 5 of the World Series. Sale did pitch the final inning of that game (and struck out the side), so maybe all he needed was an offseason of rest. He is entering his walk year as well, which adds to the intrigue.

 

Level of excitement: 5. Yes, 108 wins and a World Series title will keep the fans enthused -- even if Boston is a football city now.

 

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/25952980/one-thing-watch-spring-training-all-30-teams

[moonslav59]

Boston Red Sox: Chris Sale's shoulder. Sale clearly wasn't 100 percent at the end of last season, when his velocity was down in the postseason and Alex Cora skipped over him to start David Price on short rest in Game 5 of the World Series. Sale did pitch the final inning of that game (and struck out the side), so maybe all he needed was an offseason of rest. He is entering his walk year as well, which adds to the intrigue.

 

Level of excitement: 5. Yes, 108 wins and a World Series title will keep the fans enthused -- even if Boston is a football city now.

 

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/25952980/one-thing-watch-spring-training-all-30-teams

 

Sale says he feels great.

 

Where is your concern for Paxton, a guy who has never pitched over 161 innins?

 

He's what? Your number 2 guy?

 

Your number 5 is like 57 years old.

 

Happ looked good last year, but he's on the wrong side of prime.

 

[Kimmi]

Pete Abraham

 

Chris Sale back on the mound. #RedSox #SpringTraining

 

And has supposedly put on some weight.

[Kimmi]

Also, Cora is extremely impressed with the condition that ERod is in.

[moonslav59]

Also, Cora is extremely impressed with the condition that ERod is in.

 

...but can he get him to run to 1B on a grounder to 1B?