2021 Spring Training Discussion

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

@ChrisCotillo

Rodriguez said he felt fatigue last year when he was diagnosed with myocarditis... but right now, he feels great. No more lingering effects of COVID.

 

I felt fat-i-goo from sitting around for a year avoiding Covid.

[mvp 78]

I felt fat-i-goo from sitting around for a year avoiding Covid.

 

Yup, COVID and a lack of activity got me to my heaviest weight ever. I'm back down to a more normal size now though.

[mvp 78]

@jcmccaffrey

Rodriguez says he'll throw another bullpen tomorrow. Isn't worried about fatigue on the mound now, but admits how hard it was last summer when he tried to come back before being shut down. Couldn't throw 25 pitches without getting winded. Says that's not the case at all anymore

 

I'm hopeful that ERod can get back to normal. No matter what, I'm just glad he's beyond the effects he had last year.

[moonslav59]

@jcmccaffrey

Rodriguez says he'll throw another bullpen tomorrow. Isn't worried about fatigue on the mound now, but admits how hard it was last summer when he tried to come back before being shut down. Couldn't throw 25 pitches without getting winded. Says that's not the case at all anymore

 

I'm hopeful that ERod can get back to normal. No matter what, I'm just glad he's beyond the effects he had last year.

 

It's hard to know the long term effects, but this is very encouraging.

 

Many look to Sale as the savior, but he's not due back until June, at the earliest. ERod is the rock of this rotation for 2021. If we can get 170+ from him, then all the other ifs take on a little less importance, although we still need more to go right.

[notin]

It's hard to know the long term effects, but this is very encouraging.

 

Many look to Sale as the savior, but he's not due back until June, at the earliest. ERod is the rock of this rotation for 2021. If we can get 170+ from him, then all the other ifs take on a little less importance, although we still need more to go right.

 

Yoan Moncada is claiming he is back at full strength after feeling fatigued pretty much all of last season...

[moonslav59]

There is some anecdotal evidence that people hit hard by COVID have come back to feeling full strength, then get hit by fatigue months later.

 

I'm not trying to be a pessimist, but the long term effects of COVID are largely unknown. There are some studies that show some rather frightening results.

 

I'm very confident ERod will be fine, but it is no given he's 100% done with COVID's effects.

[mvp 78]

@ChrisCotillo

Red Sox have revamped spring training to put a greater emphasis on defense. Cora's making that a major priority after believing the team "sucked" defensively in 2019, 2020.

[moonslav59]

@ChrisCotillo

Red Sox have revamped spring training to put a greater emphasis on defense. Cora's making that a major priority after believing the team "sucked" defensively in 2019, 2020.

 

No moves, other than EHern improved the defense, but that's on Bloom- not Cora.

 

Good luck, Cora.

 

We will need it!

[mvp 78]

No moves, other than EHern improved the defense, but that's on Bloom- not Cora.

 

Good luck, Cora.

 

We will need it!

 

Devers took a huge step backwards last year without Cora. Maybe he can turn it around?

[notin]

No moves, other than EHern improved the defense, but that's on Bloom- not Cora.

 

Good luck, Cora.

 

We will need it!

 

Dalbec at 1b, but is he a step up or down from Moreland?

 

Interesting they "sucked" in 2019 with Bradley and Betts in CF and RF respectively...

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Dalbec at 1b, but is he a step up or down from Moreland?

 

Interesting they "sucked" in 2019 with Bradley and Betts in CF and RF respectively...

 

There were games that year when even the Sox two best defenders looked less hungry than they did their previous three years together, not always calling for catchable flies or backing each other up. They all looked like they had the hangover effect at times.

 

There is hope on D -- and this may be why Cora said yesterday that Kike will probably play second base some innings every game this season:

 

2020 MLB Range Factor/9 Inn as 2B (put-outs + assists / innings played): 1. EHernandez.

[moonslav59]

Dalbec at 1b, but is he a step up or down from Moreland?

 

Hard to know.

 

Moreland had only 79 PAs with the Sox, last year.

 

He's a very good defender and has hit pretty well. He is not a 1.177 OPS guy, like he was in those 79 PAs.

 

I've always been high on Dalbec- higher than most and perhaps too high. His K's are worrisome, but he gets on base a lot, unlike Chavis and Middy. His 92 PAs of .959 ball, last year was nice, but I'm not expecting that over a full season.

 

I hate to compare 2020 to 2021, since 2020 was just 60 games long and much less for several players. It might be better to look at 2019-2020 vs 2021, in some cases.

 

We stayed even at catcher and SS. Our 1Bman, combined, hit .942, last year, so it's hard to say we can get better, but we can do better than 2019. (Same with catcher: thanks to Plawecki, our C OPS was .865. That will not likely be repeated.)

 

I do expect improvement at these slots (some over 2019/some over 2020):

Position 2020/2019

2B: .586/.661 - Hard to not see massive improvement here, unless EHern plays CF

DH: .623/.776- Gotta hope we see more like 2018 or 2019 than 2020, here

LF: .683/.753- I'm confident we improve here.

3B: .816/.897- Let's hope for 2019 not 2020, but I'm hoping even better.

SS:.824/.943- Bogey is in peak prime, now.

RF: .853/.926- We can't beat Betts and 2019, but Verdugo can improve.

 

Others:

C: .865/.744- Just give us neat .790, and I'll be happy.

1B: 942/.745- Hard to call. somewhere in between would be nice (.800+)

 

 

 

[moonslav59]

There were games that year when even the Sox two best defenders looked less hungry than they did their previous three years together, not always calling for catchable flies or backing each other up. They all looked like they had the hangover effect at times.

 

There is hope on D -- and this may be why Cora said yesterday that Kike will probably play second base some innings every game this season:

 

2020 MLB Range Factor/9 Inn as 2B (put-outs + assists / innings played): 1. EHernandez.

 

Dalbec can be a plus at 1B. Verdugo is a plus. EHern is a bigger plus in CF, but some numbers show he's a plus at 2B.

 

Devers has been hit or miss. He can be a plus in 2021, and hopefully, Cora's influence will get him there.

 

I may be in the minority, but I think Bogey and Vaz are net minuses on D ONLY.

 

That leaves 2B, CF and LF. EHern can turn one plus, but he can only playmone position at a time.

 

Beni was sliding on D, but I'm not sure we can say Renfroe is a plus or minus in LF or better or worse than Beni. Cordero shows the tools but has yet toput it all together. Arroyo has not has great defensive metrics at 2B, but he seems capable.

 

Maybe it won't be as bad as I have made it out to be, but there is reason to think it could get real bad.

 

It could also get near average, if a lot goes right (mostly with Cordero, Dalbec & Devers- the unknowns, more or less.)

 

[mvp 78]

I know YOU don't like Vazquez, but the metrics like him. To me, Xander is decidedly average. He has poor range, but rarely makes a bad play. He's consistently mediocre. I wonder if he would actually be a plus fielder at 3B.

[moonslav59]

 

Interesting they "sucked" in 2019 with Bradley and Betts in CF and RF respectively...

 

...and even when Sale was still pitching!

[moonslav59]

I know YOU don't like Vazquez, but the metrics like him. To me, Xander is decidedly average. He has poor range, but rarely makes a bad play. He's consistently mediocre. I wonder if he would actually be a plus fielder at 3B.

 

The metrics I see, hate Bogey.

 

He's one of the worst DRS SS's since Jeter.

 

His UZR/150 shows him below average to bottom third or fourth.

 

My beef with Vaz is only on how he handles the staff. I'm not sure you call that Defense or intangibles.

[Kimmi]

@ChrisCotillo

Red Sox have revamped spring training to put a greater emphasis on defense. Cora's making that a major priority after believing the team "sucked" defensively in 2019, 2020.

 

Team defense is probably my biggest concern. I'm glad Cora is making it a major priority. I think he will have the most positive effect on Devers.

[Kimmi]

I know YOU don't like Vazquez, but the metrics like him. To me, Xander is decidedly average. He has poor range, but rarely makes a bad play. He's consistently mediocre. I wonder if he would actually be a plus fielder at 3B.

 

Poor range is a big thing though.

[Kimmi]

ERod - "Don't sleep on us."

 

My man.

[moonslav59]

Poor range is a big thing though.

 

Especially at SS and CF.

[jacksonianmarch]

The metrics I see, hate Bogey.

 

He's one of the worst DRS SS's since Jeter.

 

His UZR/150 shows him below average to bottom third or fourth.

 

My beef with Vaz is only on how he handles the staff. I'm not sure you call that Defense or intangibles.

 

The last time you moved Bogey to third he stopped being effective and went into a shell.

[moonslav59]

The last time you moved Bogey to third he stopped being effective and went into a shell.

 

Based on what?

 

The kid was given 10 games at 3B before being thrown in at 3B in 2013.

 

He played 53 games at 3B his whole career- mostly the first games of his career.

 

Judging him by that sample size is pretty sketchy.

 

(I'm fine with Devers at 3B.)

 

[mvp 78]

The last time you moved Bogey to third he stopped being effective and went into a shell.

 

Your argument is "what about 2014?"

[mvp 78]

@alexspeier

Red Sox announce they've added Jett Bandy to spring training camp as a non-roster invitee. Bandy spent 2020 with the team at the Alt Site.

 

 

Catchers can always sneak into ST to help the pitchers. Too bad Bandy the Jett isn't a better player as he's got an all time great MLB name.

[jacksonianmarch]

Your argument is "what about 2014?"

 

No, my argument is that it was tried before and went horribly. Now, Bogey is arguably your best player and moving him off position because of his defense is a really good way to see him leave after 2022.

[mvp 78]

No, my argument is that it was tried before and went horribly. Now, Bogey is arguably your best player and moving him off position because of his defense is a really good way to see him leave after 2022.

 

It went sideways IN 2014, when he was just 21 years old. He's 28 now and probably a lot more mature and able to a change like that. He had 50 PA's in MLB prior to the move last time. He has had 4105 PA's since then. I think he's probably a different player now.

[jacksonianmarch]

It went sideways IN 2014, when he was just 21 years old. He's 28 now and probably a lot more mature and able to a change like that. He had 50 PA's in MLB prior to the move last time. He has had 4105 PA's since then. I think he's probably a different player now.

 

Yes, he is. And he is an established All Star as a SS. Moving him off position for a title contending team is one thing. Moving him off position on a team projected to miss the POs is a great way to force his way out of town

[notin]

The last time you moved Bogey to third he stopped being effective and went into a shell.

 

That was in 2014. 7 years ago.

 

The last time Jordan Montgomery threw more than 45 innings he missed the next two seasons, but that doesn't stop the boasts about the Yankee pitching staff, which as fan as I can tell is Gerrit Cole and 4 guys who averaged 11 IP last year.

 

And Montgomery's issues are way more recent than anything about Bogaerts, who is also the rare Boras' client who signed an extension just one year prior to free agency. In fact, in that regard, he might be an only...

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Yes, he is. And he is an established All Star as a SS. Moving him off position for a title contending team is one thing. Moving him off position on a team projected to miss the POs is a great way to force his way out of town

 

Wait -- did the Red Sox announce they are moving X to third this year? Who's playing short? Where is Devers playing?

 

I also seem to recall when Bogie first came up and played third for about a month, he won a World Series.

[jacksonianmarch]

Wait -- did the Red Sox announce they are moving X to third this year? Who's playing short? Where is Devers playing?

 

I also seem to recall when Bogie first came up and played third for about a month, he won a World Series.

 

It was a theoretical earlier in the thread. Bogey's D isnt great. All know this. It isnt a secret. But just like Jeter, you dont move your team leader and the best player on your team off position unless it is patently obvious and unless it is in pursuit of a title. Nobody thinks the sox are winning anything this year, so moving him in 2021 makes little sense