2019 Spring Training Thread

[Slasher9]

I don't have 99.9% of the cards I had when I was a kid. Regrowing my collection has been slow and steady. The toughest part is that my favorite card stores aren't around anymore.

 

I'm actually going to take my son to a card show on Monday and have been trying to ease him into the hobby. He's more of a pokemon collector right now though.

 

any ex-ballplayers scheduled to be at the show?

[mvp 78]

any ex-ballplayers scheduled to be at the show?

 

Just Pats and I believe some of the Lombardi trophies.

[BillyWilliams]

Just Pats and I believe some of the Lombardi trophies.

 

Do any of the Lombardi trophies have dents in them from fans throwing beer cans?

 

Asking for a friend.........

[mvp 78]

Do any of the Lombardi trophies have dents in them from fans throwing beer cans?

 

Asking for a friend.........

 

When you got six of them already, it's ok if one of them breaks.

[BillyWilliams]

When you got six of them already, it's ok if one of them breaks.

 

I disagree, no matter how many trophies my favorite team has I don't want to see any of them defaced......

[mvp 78]

I disagree, no matter how many trophies my favorite team has I don't want to see any of them defaced......

 

It wasn't done intentionally and the Stanley Cup has seen far worse...

[bkzwhitestrican]

New BR farm rankings for 2019 came out today. MLB's comes out next week.

 

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2820145-mlb-farm-system-rankings-pre-2019-spring-training-edition#slide1

 

Zero love from BR for Sox' farm at dead last. And Yanks 13th. Not that I'm comparing or anything

[Kimmi]

New BR farm rankings for 2019 came out today. MLB's comes out next week.

 

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2820145-mlb-farm-system-rankings-pre-2019-spring-training-edition#slide1

 

Zero love from BR for Sox' farm at dead last. And Yanks 13th. Not that I'm comparing or anything

 

Thanks Dave!

[jacksonianmarch]

I've been saying this for weeks. The Yankees deeper levels are ridiculous. We don't have much offense at the top, but the pitching is deep all the way through. If the offensive prospects down deep grow the way they're being billed, this farm will be rebuilt teeming with all sorts of prospects in 2 years. Hence why we're at 13

[moonslav59]

New BR farm rankings for 2019 came out today. MLB's comes out next week.

 

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2820145-mlb-farm-system-rankings-pre-2019-spring-training-edition#slide1

 

Zero love from BR for Sox' farm at dead last. And Yanks 13th. Not that I'm comparing or anything

 

I'm not surprised by our #30, and I hope those who thought we could rebuild the farm quickly realize just how hard it is, but I didn't expect the Yanks to be above 18th or 20th.

 

I'm still not convinced. All I ever hear is you can't count on far away prospects.

 

[jacksonianmarch]

The offense is far away beyond Florial. The pitching isn’t.

[Nick]

I'm not surprised by our #30, and I hope those who thought we could rebuild the farm quickly realize just how hard it is, but I didn't expect the Yanks to be above 18th or 20th.

 

I'm still not convinced. All I ever hear is you can't count on far away prospects.

 

 

Good thing is we'll go through another draft without major depletion (unless of course DD utilizes farm talent for stretch drive trades).

[jacksonianmarch]

But you’re picking behind everyone plus ten spots and just lost $500K in draft budget. Unless your prospects make a major push and DD resists dealing them away, you’re likely headed for the same ranking post 2019

[Bellhorn04]

But you’re picking behind everyone plus ten spots and just lost $500K in draft budget. Unless your prospects make a major push and DD resists dealing them away, you’re likely headed for the same ranking post 2019

 

But having your first pick moved from the 30th spot to 40th spot shouldn't entirely destroy your draft, should it?

[notin]

But you’re picking behind everyone plus ten spots and just lost $500K in draft budget. Unless your prospects make a major push and DD resists dealing them away, you’re likely headed for the same ranking post 2019

 

Well as our top pitching prospect is unlikely to throw this year, it might stay low. But a few others will be coming back from injury (Scherff, for example) or trying new roles they fit better in (Houck?), so there is a chance for improvement based on what the Sox have.

 

Also our reliance on our farm might not be so big this year, with maybe only Feltman, Lakins, Chavis and a small amount more (Sharwyn? Hernandez?) suiting up in Boston, so there will be some returnees who can improve. The large amount of minor league deals DD gave out this year does give the Sox some depth from within beyond just the prospects...

[moonslav59]

IMO, our best hope is striking gold with an international FA signing or two.

 

The sudden death or Daniel Flores hurt our farm a lot. Our biggest bonuses of late have been:

 

$1.6M Danny Diaz

$1.4M Antoni Flores

$1.15M Eduardo Lopez

 

2011-2015

$31.5M Y Moncada (+ a hefty 100% tax)

$5.4M R Castillo (+ a hefty contract)

$4M D Hinojosa

$2.1M T-W Lin

$1.8M Anderson Espinoza

$1.5M Rafael Devers

$1.5M C. Acosta

$900K Raymond Flores

$800K M Margot

[moonslav59]

Well as our top pitching prospect is unlikely to throw this year, it might stay low. But a few others will be coming back from injury (Scherff, for example) or trying new roles they fit better in (Houck?), so there is a chance for improvement based on what the Sox have.

 

Also our reliance on our farm might not be so big this year, with maybe only Feltman, Lakins, Chavis and a small amount more (Sharwyn? Hernandez?) suiting up in Boston, so there will be some returnees who can improve. The large amount of minor league deals DD gave out this year does give the Sox some depth from within beyond just the prospects...

 

I'd add Dalbec to the maybe list.

 

Lin, Travis & Poyner are still listed on soxprospects.com, but are they still considered official prospects?

[mvp 78]

But having your first pick moved from the 30th spot to 40th spot shouldn't entirely destroy your draft, should it?

 

Doesn't mean s*** to me.

[mvp 78]

I'd add Dalbec to the maybe list.

 

Lin, Travis & Poyner are still listed on soxprospects.com, but are they still considered official prospects?

 

SP does it based on MLB service time, not age or sell by date.

[Slasher9]

But having your first pick moved from the 30th spot to 40th spot shouldn't entirely destroy your draft, should it?

 

the parade cushions the blow....

[moonslav59]

SP does it based on MLB service time, not age or sell by date.

 

I thought they uses a different ML service time than MLB uses to determine who is a rookie (prospect) and who is post- rookie/prospect.

[a700hitter]

• While terms of his contract weren’t announced or reported at the time, Twinsskipper Rocco Baldelli inked a four-year contract when being hired for his managerial debut, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports (subscription required). The deal also has multiple club options. It’s a show of faith in the rookie manager and a departure from the manner in which Minnesota has previously operated, as Aaron Gleeman of Baseball Prospectus notes (Twitter link). Under previous management, the Twins typically only issued two-year pacts to skipper Ron Gardenhire, who was one of the game’s longest-tenured managers when he was dismissed from the organization. And Paul Molitor, whom the the Twins ousted to make way for Baldelli, was one season into a three-year contract when the Twins ultimately changed course.
  

Baldelli is reputedly negotiating a clause where he only has to manage every other game, because back to back games are difficult for him as are the final three frames of each game.

[notin]

But having your first pick moved from the 30th spot to 40th spot shouldn't entirely destroy your draft, should it?

 

 

Devastating.

 

Not only does the Sox first pick drop 10 places, but for every subsequent pick, they are required by MLB Rule to only take the player they would take if each pick was 10 spots lower...

[notin]

Baldelli is reputedly negotiating a clause where he only has to manage every other game, because back to back games are difficult for him as are the final three frames of each game.

 

 

And Rocco has to be careful not to injure himself signing the pact...

[Larry Cook]

Media says pedrioa looked pretty good taking grounders.

 

Maybe his knee can hold up and we get 100 or so games out of him. Can’t wait to see if the bat returns.

[Kimmi]

I've been saying this for weeks. The Yankees deeper levels are ridiculous. We don't have much offense at the top, but the pitching is deep all the way through. If the offensive prospects down deep grow the way they're being billed, this farm will be rebuilt teeming with all sorts of prospects in 2 years. Hence why we're at 13

 

The Yankees have a better long term outlook than the Red Sox currently have. That could still change quickly, depending on the direction that Henry and Dombrowski choose to go.

 

That said, the Yankees have nothing on the Red Sox for 2019.

[Kimmi]

the parade cushions the blow....

 

The parade does indeed make it all worth it.

[Kimmi]

Baldelli is reputedly negotiating a clause where he only has to manage every other game, because back to back games are difficult for him as are the final three frames of each game.

 

That's interesting. I understand Baldelli has health issues, but it seems odd that the Twins would hire a manager who can't manage every game. I'd imagine that all the travel would be a concern as well. To me, it might have made more sense to hire Baldelli as some kind of consultant or something along those lines.

[Kimmi]

I believe that the only Sox player not to have arrived at camp yet is JD Martinez, and he is expected to report soon. It's good to see that the vast majority of our guys have reported early and are eager to go.

[Larry Cook]

Watched the video of pedrioa taking batting practice today. I was not as concerned about timing and squaring up pitches as I was how much torque he put on the knee.

 

Bottom line: he is not 100 percent, the step and turn are still mechanical, but light years ahead of last year.