2021 Spring Training Discussion

[a700hitter]

Can anyone confirm the traffic report that the Red Sox truck.was pulled over for going too slow on I 95 through New York!

That was the truck that was transporting our roster— weighed down by dead weight.

[mvp 78]

@ChrisCotillo

If you've ever thought spring training games are too long, you're in for a treat.

 

* Games between 2/27-3/13 can be played as 5- or 7-inning games, as long as the managers agree.

 

* Games on or after 3/14 will be scheduled as 9 innings but managers can agree to shorten to 7.

 

No more Pedro Ciriaco Springs then...

[jad]

I imagine this is all part of a long-term strategy by MLB to off-load the annoying expenses of a minor-league system onto the state-supported college system, used so successfully by basketball and football. Your tax dollars at work.

[notin]

I imagine this is all part of a long-term strategy by MLB to off-load the annoying expenses of a minor-league system onto the state-supported college system, used so successfully by basketball and football. Your tax dollars at work.

 

NBA teams have minor league affiliates...

[vegasbob]

Truck is currently enroute to Jet Blue.

 

Honk. Honk.

 

My annual question : Why does the equipment, especially baseballs, bats, seeds and gum need to be trucked from Fenway to Jet Blue when they could have been shipped there in the first place instead of all the transshipping from manufacturers to Boston to Ft. Myers. This team is more interested i n some mid-winter PR than in John Kerry's assessment of their carbon footprint. Guess it's just the way it is done

[moonslav59]

My annual question : Why does the equipment, especially baseballs, bats, seeds and gum need to be trucked from Fenway to Jet Blue when they could have been shipped there in the first place instead of all the transshipping from manufacturers to Boston to Ft. Myers. This team is more interested i n some mid-winter PR than in John Kerry's assessment of their carbon footprint. Guess it's just the way it is done

 

Is it that costly to just keep both places stocked, independently, with balls, bats and gum?

[jad]

NBA teams have minor league affiliates...

 

You're right, they do. But not anything comparable to what MLB has had. I assume a "G-league" (or whatever they call it 'this' year) can more or less sustain itself, as likely can the top-tier (AA and AAA) of baseball minors. (I don't have the figures of course--why bother with facts when one can speculate in complete freedom?). But college sports costs professional sports nothing; and wouldn't you agree that only fairly recently has college ball (baseball, I mean) served as a popular route to the pros?

[notin]

My annual question : Why does the equipment, especially baseballs, bats, seeds and gum need to be trucked from Fenway to Jet Blue when they could have been shipped there in the first place instead of all the transshipping from manufacturers to Boston to Ft. Myers. This team is more interested i n some mid-winter PR than in John Kerry's assessment of their carbon footprint. Guess it's just the way it is done

 

They also need to get the truck there...

[notin]

You're right, they do. But not anything comparable to what MLB has had. I assume a "G-league" (or whatever they call it 'this' year) can more or less sustain itself, as likely can the top-tier (AA and AAA) of baseball minors. (I don't have the figures of course--why bother with facts when one can speculate in complete freedom?). But college sports costs professional sports nothing; and wouldn't you agree that only fairly recently has college ball (baseball, I mean) served as a popular route to the pros?

 

Even college players play in the minors. The only players even recently to jump from college to the pros have almost exclusively been relief pitchers (and Mike Leake and Ryan Zimmerman).

 

I atually think non-RP used to jump from college directly to MLB a little more often, back wen players like Ventura and Incaviglia did so...

[moonslav59]

Jake McGee signs with SFG for $7M/2

Adam Duval signs with Marlins $2M with $3M buyout for $7M year 2.

Astros sign Steve Cishek to minor league deal.Nate Jones to Braves on minor league deal, too.

[jad]

Even college players play in the minors. The only players even recently to jump from college to the pros have almost exclusively been relief pitchers (and Mike Leake and Ryan Zimmerman).

 

I atually think non-RP used to jump from college directly to MLB a little more often, back wen players like Ventura and Incaviglia did so...

 

I trust your knowledge of MLB and its history mroe than I trust mine. How do you think getting rid of low-level minor leagues will affect this? Won't a lot of h.s. kids opt for a year or four of college instead of trying to work their way up from what used to be D-ball?

[notin]

I trust your knowledge of MLB and its history more than I trust mine. How do you think getting rid of low-level minor leagues will affect this? Won't a lot of h.s. kids opt for a year or four of college instead of trying to work their way up from what used to be D-ball?

 

I don't think so.

 

I think that most HS kids don't fret over Rookie Ball when they sign. Probably never enters their minds that they will be playing that level.

 

What might happen is the draft rounds cut again. No more 40 rounds, and certainly no more guys like Mike Piazza getting taken in the 62nd round. Maybe they cut the draft to 20 rounds?

[moonslav59]

I don't think so.

 

I think that most HS kids don't fret over Rookie Ball when they sign. Probably never enters their minds that they will be playing that level.

 

What might happen is the draft rounds cut again. No more 40 rounds, and certainly no more guys like Mike Piazza getting taken in the 62nd round. Maybe they cut the draft to 20 rounds?

 

What would be the mechanism for undrafted players to get a chance? Maybe there would be none, and we just write off the few Mike Piazzas. Maybe tryouts are held or some kind of combine for undrafted players.

 

The future seems to be headed towards less minor league teams and players.

[notin]

What would be the mechanism for undrafted players to get a chance? Maybe there would be none, and we just write off the few Mike Piazzas. Maybe tryouts are held or some kind of combine for undrafted players.

 

The future seems to be headed towards less minor league teams and players.

 

Just like other leagues. you can have undrafted free agents. Some will go play overseas and try to establish themselves...

[moonslav59]

Just like other leagues. you can have undrafted free agents. Some will go play overseas and try to establish themselves...

 

I meant for the players that don't make any teams, anywhere.

 

The whole cake will be shrunk. Many players, a few of which could possibly be good ML players at some point, will never get a look see.

 

That, of course, happens now to those who never make any teams or happen to suck when they get their brief look see.

 

I don't see overseas leagues expanding. Maybe more Americans go to play there, but I'm not sure they want a heck of a lot more.

[notin]

I meant for the players that don't make any teams, anywhere.

 

The whole cake will be shrunk. Many players, a few of which could possibly be good ML players at some point, will never get a look see.

 

That, of course, happens now to those who never make any teams or happen to suck when they get their brief look see.

 

I don't see overseas leagues expanding. Maybe more Americans go to play there, but I'm not sure they want a heck of a lot more.

 

 

 

This is neither new nor tragic.

 

The bottom line is only 750 people get to play in MLB at a time. And unless/until more teams are added,vthat's not changing and the goal is to be one of the 750. The most likely outcome of some reduced minor leagues is actually fewer carer minor leaguers...

[moonslav59]

This is neither new nor tragic.

 

The bottom line is only 750 people get to play in MLB at a time. And unless/until more teams are added,vthat's not changing and the goal is to be one of the 750. The most likely outcome of some reduced minor leagues is actually fewer carer minor leaguers...

 

...and maybe a handful of players that would have made MLB but got squeezed out of ever getting a shot at the minors.

 

Yes, neither new nor tragic.

[mvp 78]

I don't think so.

 

I think that most HS kids don't fret over Rookie Ball when they sign. Probably never enters their minds that they will be playing that level.

 

What might happen is the draft rounds cut again. No more 40 rounds, and certainly no more guys like Mike Piazza getting taken in the 62nd round. Maybe they cut the draft to 20 rounds?

Losing one affiliate doesn't materially affect the players you have in your organization. There may be an adjustment for a year or two, but it'll go unnoticed sooner than later.

[mvp 78]

What would be the mechanism for undrafted players to get a chance? Maybe there would be none, and we just write off the few Mike Piazzas. Maybe tryouts are held or some kind of combine for undrafted players.

 

The future seems to be headed towards less minor league teams and players.

 

There will always be independent leagues. Maybe even more now?

[moonslav59]

There will always be independent leagues. Maybe even more now?

 

Good point. I never thought of this, despite our city, Sugar Land, Texas, having the Skeeters as an Indy team for years.

[mvp 78]

Good point. I never thought of this, despite our city, Sugar Land, Texas, having the Skeeters as an Indy team for years.

 

Thanks to Daniel Nava, we should never forget unique paths to MLB.

[notin]

Losing one affiliate doesn't materially affect the players you have in your organization. There may be an adjustment for a year or two, but it'll go unnoticed sooner than later.

 

Exactly.

 

The minors have been recast before and will be again. The overwhelming bulk of minor leaguers never make the majors anyway and the goal is only to find the best 26 to make a team. And for a large market team that spends heavily, the effect will be even less than it will for a team like Tampa or Pittsburgh that has less resources...

[moonslav59]

Thanks to Daniel Nava, we should never forget unique paths to MLB.

 

YES!

 

His contract was purchased for $1.00.

[notin]

YES!

 

His contract was purchased for $1.00.

 

Or Uxbridge, MA native Tim Fortugno, who was was once traded by Philly to Milwaukee for an actual bucket of baseballs, and then went of to give up George Brett's 3,000th career hit (and then picked him off first base).

 

B-R.com lists the transaction as "Purchased by the Milwaukee Brewers. He was "purchased" for $2,500 and 12 dozen baseballs." That actually happened...

[moonslav59]

Or Uxbridge, MA native Tim Fortugno, who was was once traded by Philly to Milwaukee for an actual bucket of baseballs, and then went of to give up George Brett's 3,000th career hit (and then picked him off first base).

 

B-R.com lists the transaction as "Purchased by the Milwaukee Brewers. He was "purchased" for $2,500 and 12 dozen baseballs." That actually happened...

 

It's like they were trying to make poor Tim feel useless.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Not a poll, just wondering: which Red Sox player will have the most impactful comeback in 2021? There are many candidates: JD, Beni, Rafie (on D, at least), ERod, even Sale, perhaps, or Cora, himself... But based on age and potential, I'd have to say Darwinzon Hernandez.

 

ps. not counting new Sox, like Richards

[moonslav59]

Not a poll, just wondering: which Red Sox player will have the most impactful comeback in 2021? There are many candidates: JD, Beni, Rafie (on D, at least), ERod, even Sale, perhaps, or Cora, himself... But based on age and potential, I'd have to say Darwinzon Hernandez.

 

ps. not counting new Sox, like Richards

 

Tough question. It's hard to think of Bogey doing much better than he has recently, but could he have a Betts-like year?

 

I'll go with Devers. He's at the age where players often bust out.

 

Since Sale did squat, last year, the potential there is pretty great.

 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Tough question. It's hard to think of Bogey doing much better than he has recently, but could he have a Betts-like year?

 

I'll go with Devers. He's at the age where players often bust out.

 

Since Sale did squat, last year, the potential there is pretty great.

 

 

Rafie and Cora just may have a symbiotic connection, as far as one affecting the other's longterm future in Boston. It will be hard for Devers to exceed '19 when he led the bigs with 90 XBHs; it's unreasonable to expect him to become Adrian Beltre, but at least his D could become more consistent.

[moonslav59]

Rafie and Cora just may have a symbiotic connection, as far as one affecting the other's longterm future in Boston. It will be hard for Devers to exceed '19 when he led the bigs with 90 XBHs; it's unreasonable to expect him to become Adrian Beltre, but at least his D could become more consistent.

 

I guess the "comeback" point was more about improving over 2020, but I do think Devers could have an explosive season at some point in the next few seasons. He's 24, now, so this could be the year.

 

Can we expect him to ever "blow away" his 2019 season? Maybe, not, but I'm betting he will. I'm hoping it might be 2021.

 

2019:

.311 32 115 (90 xbh) and a .916 OPS.

 

I'm thinking he's capable of .315 45 135 (1.000+ OPS)

[Nick]

I guess the "comeback" point was more about improving over 2020, but I do think Devers could have an explosive season at some point in the next few seasons. He's 24, now, so this could be the year.

 

Can we expect him to ever "blow away" his 2019 season? Maybe, not, but I'm betting he will. I'm hoping it might be 2021.

 

2019:

.311 32 115 (90 xbh) and a .916 OPS.

 

I'm thinking he's capable of .315 45 135 (1.000+ OPS)

 

I'm hoping we can sign him to a long term deal.

 

I'd like to see the core group of Devers, Verdugo, Dalbec, Casas, Duran and Downs. (along with Xander and Valdez). Starting pitchers to include Mata, Houck, Seabold, Song and Groome.