2021 Spring Training Discussion

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

We went from the killer Bees to the killer Dees.

 

Dalbec & Downs with taters, today.

 

Bs to Ds -- sounds like my senior year of high school. If only I devoted as much time studying the books as I did those boxscores (said my parents).

[Bellhorn04]

Bs to Ds -- sounds like my senior year of high school. If only I devoted as much time studying the books as I did those boxscores (said my parents).

 

Whereas a typical male would blame his Grade 12 demise on girls and booze LOL

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Whereas a typical male would blame his Grade 12 demise on girls and booze LOL

 

First you get the game scores, then you get the...

[mvp 78]

New Red Sox outfielder Franchy Cordero tested positive for the virus and remains in the Dominican Republic, per Alex Speier of the Boston Globe. Cordero was placed on the COVID-19 injured list last week, although it wasn’t known at the time whether that was due to a positive test or mere exposure. The hope is that Cordero will be able to join camp by the middle of next week, per Speier.

[mvp 78]

Red Sox catcher Kevin Plawecki returned to the field today after previously being on the COVID-19 injured list, per Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe (via Twitter). If healthy, Plawecki should have the inside track on backing up Christian Vasquez for the Red Sox this season. A former first round pick of the Mets, Plawecki appeared in 24 games and slashed .341/.393/.463 across 89 plate appearances during his first season with Boston in 2020.

 

And that's it for today's COVID update.

[mvp 78]

@JMastrodonato

Xander Bogaerts had an MRI on his sore shoulder, per Chaim Bloom.

 

Revealed "nothing concerning, no. All what you would expect. He should be ready (for opening day). Obviously we won’t skip steps with him ... it is a marathon not a sprint ... but we should have the time we need."

 

Xander having a sore shoulder on 3/1 is not great.

[Thunder]

@JMastrodonato

Xander Bogaerts had an MRI on his sore shoulder, per Chaim Bloom.

 

Revealed "nothing concerning, no. All what you would expect. He should be ready (for opening day). Obviously we won’t skip steps with him ... it is a marathon not a sprint ... but we should have the time we need."

 

Xander having a sore shoulder on 3/1 is not great.

 

It happens. In the fall, I hurt my shoulder really bad doing legs at the gym. Not sure how that's possible. As long as we don't do anything stupid, a month is more than enough time for him to get back to 100%

[mvp 78]

It happens. In the fall, I hurt my shoulder really bad doing legs at the gym. Not sure how that's possible. As long as we don't do anything stupid, a month is more than enough time for him to get back to 100%

 

Most likely it's nothing. I think with the injury concerns to the rotation, the last thing we'd want to happen is have Xander/Devers/Verdugo get injured.

[mvp 78]

Interesting that in Spring Training this year, you're able to roll an inning.

 

"For Spring Training game through Saturday, March 13th, Official Baseball Rule 5.09(e) will be relaxed, allowing defensive managers to end an inning prior to three outs following any completed plate appearance, provided the pitcher has thrown at least 20 pitches."

 

Love when MLB chooses to go with weird little league rules.

[notin]

Interesting that in Spring Training this year, you're able to roll an inning.

 

"For Spring Training game through Saturday, March 13th, Official Baseball Rule 5.09(e) will be relaxed, allowing defensive managers to end an inning prior to three outs following any completed plate appearance, provided the pitcher has thrown at least 20 pitches."

 

Love when MLB chooses to go with weird little league rules.

 

And instead of walks, will they allow coach pitch for 3 pitches?

[mvp 78]

And instead of walks, will they allow coach pitch for 3 pitches?

 

As long as they don't have to say the LL Pledge to start the game...

[Thunder]

And instead of walks, will they allow coach pitch for 3 pitches?

 

Everybody gets an AB. No bench players. I always hated that because if you batted anywhere from 8th-15th in the lineup, you'd sometimes get only 1 AB per game

[Kimmi]

For a team that is prioritizing defense, they sure are making an awful lot of errors so far.

[Kimmi]

Also, I'm reading that Cora is toying around with the idea of Kike batting leadoff. Despite the career OBP of .313 (.270 last year), Cora reportedly like Kike's speed and energy at the top of the order.

 

I may have to disown Cora as my manager.

[moonslav59]

Also, I'm reading that Cora is toying around with the idea of Kike batting leadoff. Despite the career OBP of .313 (.270 last year), Cora reportedly like Kike's speed and energy at the top of the order.

 

I may have to disown Cora as my manager.

 

My first preferred line-up had Kiki at lead off, and I got shot down.

 

The low career OBP does seem like a deal breaker. I haven't put him there since.

[Swiharts Ghost]

For a team that is prioritizing defense, they sure are making an awful lot of errors so far.

 

Kimmi ? I know Thad Ward made an error but sounds like he struck out Albies ? What was your impression on hi Siri stuff after an eventful inning dotting a guy too but clean inning .

[moonslav59]

For a team that is prioritizing defense, they sure are making an awful lot of errors so far.

 

Prioritized the need to work on it was more like it.

 

Our D sucks, this year. We can work hard to make it suck less, but it sucks- badly.

[Swiharts Ghost]

Prioritized the need to work on it was more like it.

 

Our D sucks, this year. We can work hard to make it suck less, but it sucks- badly.

I’m concerned about Devers ,Xander as much as am with some of the new additions. I really would like to see Bloom play Kiki in CF and occasionally 2b but it’s just hope.

Edited March 1, 2021 by Swiharts Ghost

[a700hitter]

Also, I'm reading that Cora is toying around with the idea of Kike batting leadoff. Despite the career OBP of .313 (.270 last year), Cora reportedly like Kike's speed and energy at the top of the order.

 

I may have to disown Cora as my manager.

Cora thinks more highly of Kike than his stats dictate.

[a700hitter]

Was the game televised today?

[moonslav59]

I’m concerned about Devers ,Xander as much as am with some of the new additions. I really would like to see Bloom play Kiki in CF and occasionally 2b but it’s just hope.

 

I've been saying EHern is our best defensive CF'er almost from the day we signed him, but our second base options aren't all that great. I like Renfroe and Cordero better than Arroyo.

 

Even with EHern in CF, our overall defense is a minus.

 

Catcher: Vaz has some good metrics. I don't like the way he handles the staff, but I'm not sure that's called "defense." Call this position a push or a slight plus.

 

1B: I have faith that Dalbec can be a plus, but until he shows he is, I'm leaving this one as a slight minus.

 

2B: Arroyo/Chavis? Minus. EHern? Maybe a push. Overall? Lucky to be a push.

 

3B: Devers has the potential to be a plus, this year. He has plus range and a strong arm. It's the arm accuracy that makes this position a minus, for now.

 

SS: People will argue with me, but he has some of the worst metrics over his career. At best, one could argue he's 18th or 20th out of 30, but I'd disagree. Okay, okay, he makes the plays he gets to. I want a SS that gets to make plays others dream about. Minus.

 

LF: Maybe Renfroe & Cordero as a platoon can end up better than Beni. Push.

 

CF: Cordero? Lost of promise, but a minus. EHern in CF? A plus. Overall? Maybe a puch to a minus.

 

RF: Verdugo is a plus.

 

 

[Larry Cook]

Hang’em chaim currently weighing the cost-benefit of going through this season either.....

 

A.) drunk out of his mind or

B.) stoned out of mind.

 

Come October 4th does he want to enter AA or NA!

 

Watching our amazing pitchers and stellar gold glove candidates in the field makes me think it is going to be a hard decision for him!

[notin]

Prioritized the need to work on it was more like it.

 

Our D sucks, this year. We can work hard to make it suck less, but it sucks- badly.

 

They've played two games...

[moonslav59]

They've played two games...

 

My statement was not made based on 2 games.

 

The team philosophy was not to improve our defense with acquisitions but more about trying to get the most out of what we have by focusing on the fundamentals and preparation.

 

[mvp 78]

For a team that is prioritizing defense, they sure are making an awful lot of errors so far.

 

How many of those errors were made by MLB guys?

[mvp 78]

Was the game televised today?

 

 

Yes. It wasn't originally listed as being on MLB.TV, but was put on the schedule prior to the game yesterday. Locally, I believe it was on NESN.

[Bellhorn04]

Also, I'm reading that Cora is toying around with the idea of Kike batting leadoff. Despite the career OBP of .313 (.270 last year), Cora reportedly like Kike's speed and energy at the top of the order.

 

I may have to disown Cora as my manager.

 

This is not what I like to hear.

[mvp 78]

This is not what I like to hear.

 

I have to trust that Cora has access to data that we don't have. If he's putting Kiké at the top of the order, there must be a good reason.

[moonslav59]

I have to trust that Cora has access to data that we don't have. If he's putting Kiké at the top of the order, there must be a good reason.

 

It does "lengthen" the line-up, but goes against everything the new era line-up philosophies say to do.

[mvp 78]

It does "lengthen" the line-up, but goes against everything the new era line-up philosophies say to do.

 

Maybe there are newer philosophies? Maybe the newer philosophies don't work for every lineup? IDK.

 

One weird decision wouldn't make me question the manager.