2019 Spring Training Thread

[Kimmi]

So, is not wanting to sign kimbrel another “anomaly” as well?

 

I'm not sure that not wanting to sign Kimbrel is a Dombrowski choice.

 

It sounds like it's more of a Henry directive.

[dgalehouse]

It is time for the boys to pick up the pace a bit and start playing some winning baseball . Don't wait until opening day to turn it on .

[Larry Cook]

Not sure wins in spring training are all that important.

[notin]

I'm not sure that not wanting to sign Kimbrel is a Dombrowski choice.

 

It sounds like it's more of a Henry directive.

 

 

Maybe, but holding back at closer has been a Dombrowski MO for most of his career...

[notin]

It is time for the boys to pick up the pace a bit and start playing some winning baseball . Don't wait until opening day to turn it on .

 

 

Why not? Who cares how we do in the High Numbers Games?

[Kimmi]

Maybe, but holding back at closer has been a Dombrowski MO for most of his career...

 

Until he came to Boston, where he did a complete about face...

[oldtimer]

Not sure wins in spring training are all that important.

 

Would like to see at least a little hitting. Our starters are sleep walking. The BP looked terrible today. I know it is spring training but the coaches and managers are watching these guys and expect at least a little effort.

[moonslav59]

Top Sox OPS in ST'ing (15+ AB)

1.429 JBJ (14 AB)

1.319 Brentz (16)

1.286 Devers (21)

1.205 Chavis (21)

1.090 Lin (24)

.888 Leon (15)

.881 de la Guerra (20)

.857 Bogaerts (16)

.824 Chatham (19)

 

WHIP (6+ IP)

0.86 Walden

1.00 Poyner

1.14 DHernandez

1.29 ERamirez

1.38 ERod

1.43 JTaylor

 

 

 

[Kimmi]

Would like to see at least a little hitting. Our starters are sleep walking. The BP looked terrible today. I know it is spring training but the coaches and managers are watching these guys and expect at least a little effort.

 

Remember the concern by some last ST when Mookie got off to a horrendous start?

 

I think the Cora actually tells his players to hold back a little and take it slow, especially the pitchers.

 

I would not be concerned by what we are seeing right now.

[Station 13]

Not one of Sale, Price, Porcello, Eovaldi has made their spring debut yet. We already face Max Scherzer twice.

[Bellhorn04]

Not one of Sale, Price, Porcello, Eovaldi has made their spring debut yet. We already face Max Scherzer twice.

 

Exactly.

 

Cora is giving the starting pitchers even more rest than he normally would, because of our 'deep playoff run'.

[Slasher9]

Pretty sure Pedro had an 8+ ERA during ST every year.....ST numbers (especially for pitchers) are meaningless

[Jack Flap]

Pretty sure Pedro had an 8+ ERA during ST every year.....ST numbers (especially for pitchers) are meaningless

 

And people would start worrying every spring when Big Papi was hitting .220.

[Station 13]

Spring training overreaction is hilarious. 80% of the guys we've seen up to date are AA/AAA and non roster invitees playing. Starters get 1-2 hacks at the plate and are replace.

[Bellhorn04]

The only thing that matters much in these spring games is the guys trying out for bullpen spots. In that regard Thornburg has really had some brutal outings and I think he needs to turn it around if he hopes to stick.

[notin]

Spring training overreaction is hilarious. 80% of the guys we've seen up to date are AA/AAA and non roster invitees playing. Starters get 1-2 hacks at the plate and are replace.

 

 

And it’s ok to overreact one time or for a casual fan. But baseball junkies like those of us who post on BDC all off-season need to know better.

 

Of course, deep down, I think the occasion criticism about spring training W-L records is commenting for the sake of commenting...

[dgalehouse]

We need someone to do an in depth study on the relationship between a spring training record and how a team starts the regular season and how the season ends up . Any volunteers ?

[notin]

We need someone to do an in depth study on the relationship between a spring training record and how a team starts the regular season and how the season ends up . Any volunteers ?

 

 

No relationship. Done....

[dgalehouse]

Now , I have to wonder just how many who are saying that spring training does not matter were enthusiastic and excited about how well the team was playing last spring training ? How Cora had them playing winning baseball ? Maybe it only matters when we want it to matter . Anyway , it is time for the boys to pick up the pace a bit . That is all I am saying.

[Slasher9]

Now , I have to wonder just how many who are saying that spring training does not matter were enthusiastic and excited about how well the team was playing last spring training ? How Cora had them playing winning baseball ? Maybe it only matters when we want it to matter . Anyway , it is time for the boys to pick up the pace a bit . That is all I am saying.

 

I 100% believe ST w/L records are meaningless for regular season predictions. I don’t care if team xyz’s AA players beat my AA players.

I didn’t know we had a good record in ST last year until you just said it. I don’t live in Boston area so probably only 1 out of 5 ST games are watchable for me via espn or mlbnetwork. MLB extra inning only allows me to see every regular season game - not ST games.

[Slasher9]

What was our ST record in 04, 07, 13?

[jung]

Now , I have to wonder just how many who are saying that spring training does not matter were enthusiastic and excited about how well the team was playing last spring training ? How Cora had them playing winning baseball ? Maybe it only matters when we want it to matter . Anyway , it is time for the boys to pick up the pace a bit . That is all I am saying.

 

Didn't they end up playing 200+ games all in last year including ST? Now we can sit back and claim that the job is win it again and we don't care that their 200+ games ended in November all we want to. They played at least solid baseball throughout the regular season and in the early going when so many teams were playing like utter crap, the Sox were for the most part solid even then AND still got to season end with enough in the tank to beat everybody else. Will they be able to repeat that having just gone through such a long season? I think that is the real issue for this team and I am not convinced ST baseball has much of anything relevant to offer in that regard.

 

I would even go so far as to say the 40 man has proven itself to such an extent that I were Cora I would simply want them ready to play come opening day. They have nothing to prove to me that they can prove in ST.

[BillyWilliams]

thornburg looked like he was in mid season form

[harmony]

We need someone to do an in depth study on the relationship between a spring training record and how a team starts the regular season and how the season ends up . Any volunteers ?

https://www.businessinsider.com/chart-of-the-day-spring-training-record-regular-season-2011-2

 

https://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2012/3/27/2905234/do-spring-training-records-matter

 

https://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2015/2/23/8088013/spring-training-win-loss-records-and-you-sanity-check

[notin]

I’ve seen too many seasons where the Frapefruit League “champion” and the Cactus League “champion” go on to win less than 140 games combined.

 

My theory is because these teams are inherently weaker to begin with, so more minor leaguers try their hardest to make an impression. And maybe they get that opportunity because of how weak the team is ...

[Station 13]

I’ve seen too many seasons where the Frapefruit League “champion” and the Cactus League “champion” go on to win less than 140 games combined.

 

My theory is because these teams are inherently weaker to begin with, so more minor leaguers try their hardest to make an impression. And maybe they get that opportunity because of how weak the team is ...

 

If we give out spring training awards, JBJ would rack up a few MVPs already.

[dgalehouse]

https://www.businessinsider.com/chart-of-the-day-spring-training-record-regular-season-2011-2

 

https://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2012/3/27/2905234/do-spring-training-records-matter

 

https://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2015/2/23/8088013/spring-training-win-loss-records-and-you-sanity-check

Thanks . That puts my mind at ease .

[dgalehouse]

I see that quite a few regulars made the road trip today . Maybe Cora ( at least somewhat ) agrees with me .

[Larry Cook]

Seems like we have a few of our relievers working on certain pitches this spring. Workman, for one, is throwing some sort of cutter or splitter that is not cutting or splitting that well, but is being hit hard!

 

On offense, I think our hitters are trying to get 2 strikes quick, so they can practice hitting with 2 strikes. Unfortunately, that is not going real well at the moment.

[Kimmi]

We need someone to do an in depth study on the relationship between a spring training record and how a team starts the regular season and how the season ends up . Any volunteers ?

 

It's been done, many times over.

 

The correlation between spring training W-L record and regular season W-L record is rather weak, at best.