2021 Spring Training Games

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

@redsoxstats

Duran now has 16 strikeouts in 42 plate appearances this spring, 38%. Even when he was slapping the ball all over the place in high-A he struck out 20% of the time and in double-A it was 24%... so something else to monitor when his games get going in May.

 

I'd like to see him lose the leg kick and shorten his swing. A lead-off type hitter with his speed needs to be on base as much as possible. Duran's approach right now looks like either he or the org envisions him as a future middle-of-the-order bat.

[mvp 78]

@SoxProspects

Thaddeus Ward taken out after walking his third batter. Final line on the day is 1.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 2 K. Ward's ability to stick as a starter will depend on continued improvement of fastball command and refinement of his secondary pitches.

[mvp 78]

I'd like to see him lose the leg kick and shorten his swing. A lead-off type hitter with his speed needs to be on base as much as possible. Duran's approach right now looks like either he or the org envisions him as a future middle-of-the-order bat.

 

Seems like he hasn't lost much speed. If he could only stay healthy...

[mvp 78]

@redsoxstats

Frank German, the prospect the Red Sox got in the trade along with Ottavino, is touching 96-97 mph today. He's never pitched above A-ball and is facing Rays regulars, Zunino got him for a homer and Tsutsugo hit into a double play.

Got Margot to strikeout on a nasty breaking ball.

[Larry Cook]

Good news today: next to none of our regulars played today.

 

Bad news today: Duran was completely out powered. Brewer is still on the team.

[Larry Cook]

Good news today: devers and verdugo got a hit!

 

Bad news today: Valdez and politi are still wearing Red Sox Jerseys!

[moonslav59]

You want a bunch of guys like Brewer, Valdez and Politi (plus several others) as a second tier of depth, in hopes that one or two contribute in a meaningful way, and we don't get killed going through a trial and error process until we find one that helps.

 

We all had hoped none of these guys would be on the opening day roster or even the first to be called up, but with Sale, Brasier, Barnes and maybe Cordero all out to start the year, it looks like some of these guys will be bumped up to first tier replacement players for us.

 

Brewer and Valdez have both shown some ability to get enough batters out to be a slight plus, but I would prefer not to count on them to do so.

 

Bloom has vastly improved our 40 man roster depth, over the winter, but there are still holes, and the bottom 4-6 players on the 40-man are not all that promising.

 

We knew Sale was going to be out, and we expected we'd have some issues with Eovaldi & Richards. The spring games took away some of the doubt about ERod, until the dead arm issue occurred. The 8-9 man pen all looked healthy, but when you have a group of 8-9 players expected to be on the 26 man roster, you have to count on 1 or 2 being on the IL at any given time. One could argue our "counting on that" was not sufficient in the pitchers we have slotted 9-11. (Even our 8th guy, Brice, is highly questionable, and our #7 Taylor is somewhat questionable.)

 

Here's a rough idea of what our pitching depth charts looks like:

 

SP

(Sale IL)

ERod (out and possibly on IL)

Eovaldi

Richards

Perez

Pivetta

Andriese or Whitlock (spot starters)

Houck

Seabold

Gossett, Hart, Ward, Politi, Kent, Winckowski/German

 

RP

Ottavino

Barnes (C-19 list)

Brasier (IL)

D Hern

Sawamura

Andriese

Taylor

Brice

Whitlock

Valdez

Schreiber, Walden, McCarthy, Bazardo, Poyner, Ort, Blair, Feltman

 

Our pitching depth looks to be our weakest area, despite Houck and a few others having some promise.

[a700hitter]

You want a bunch of guys like Brewer, Valdez and Politi (plus several others) as a second tier of depth, in hopes that one or two contribute in a meaningful way, and we don't get killed going through a trial and error process until we find one that helps.

 

We all had hoped none of these guys would be on the opening day roster or even the first to be called up, but with Sale, Brasier, Barnes and maybe Cordero all out to start the year, it looks like some of these guys will be bumped up to first tier replacement players for us.

 

Brewer and Valdez have both shown some ability to get enough batters out to be a slight plus, but I would prefer not to count on them to do so.

 

Bloom has vastly improved our 40 man roster depth, over the winter, but there are still holes, and the bottom 4-6 players on the 40-man are not all that promising.

 

We knew Sale was going to be out, and we expected we'd have some issues with Eovaldi & Richards. The spring games took away some of the doubt about ERod, until the dead arm issue occurred. The 8-9 man pen all looked healthy, but when you have a group of 8-9 players expected to be on the 26 man roster, you have to count on 1 or 2 being on the IL at any given time. One could argue our "counting on that" was not sufficient in the pitchers we have slotted 9-11. (Even our 8th guy, Brice, is highly questionable, and our #7 Taylor is somewhat questionable.)

 

Here's a rough idea of what our pitching depth charts looks like:

 

SP

(Sale IL)

ERod (out and possibly on IL)

Eovaldi

Richards

Perez

Pivetta

Andriese or Whitlock (spot starters)

Houck

Seabold

Gossett, Hart, Ward, Politi, Kent, Winckowski/German

 

RP

Ottavino

Barnes (C-19 list)

Brasier (IL)

D Hern

Sawamura

Andriese

Taylor

Brice

Whitlock

Valdez

Schreiber, Walden, McCarthy, Bazardo, Poyner, Ort, Blair, Feltman

 

Our pitching depth looks to be our weakest area, despite Houck and a few others having some promise.

The second tier isn’t the problem. The first tier is the problem.

[Larry Cook]

Good news today: devers and Martinez with two hits today. Maybe winckowski could develop into something.

 

Bad news today: another error today for devers. Maybe someone should explain to him, he should not be leading the team in this category!

[moonslav59]

The second tier isn’t the problem. The first tier is the problem.

 

I was thinking that as I wrote that post, although Houck and Seabold are promising and Marwin, Chavis, Arroyo and Plawecki are not bad first tier subs.

[mvp 78]

Second to last ST game. LFG!

 

@jcmccaffrey

Red Sox at Braves (7 inn.): Hernández 2B, Verdugo RF, Martinez DH, Bogaerts SS, Gonzalez 3B, Cordero LF, Chavis 1B, Plawecki C, Duran CF, Houck RHP

[notin]

Second to last ST game. LFG!

 

@jcmccaffrey

Red Sox at Braves (7 inn.): Hernández 2B, Verdugo RF, Martinez DH, Bogaerts SS, Gonzalez 3B, Cordero LF, Chavis 1B, Plawecki C, Duran CF, Houck RHP

 

I think we should all get accustomed to Hernandez as the leadoff hitter. It's not going to go away by Thursday...

[mvp 78]

With Boston’s 8-3 win over the Twins on Sunday, they clinched the spring series against their cross-town rivals and got to live out their childhood dreams of winning the Cup.

[mvp 78]

I think we should all get accustomed to Hernandez as the leadoff hitter. It's not going to go away by Thursday...

 

He'll be there until his numbers tank in June/July (per Dodgers fans).

[moonslav59]

He'll be there until his numbers tank in June/July (per Dodgers fans).

 

It will be interesting to see, if he can handle 650 PAs and 155 games.

[mvp 78]

It will be interesting to see, if he can handle 650 PAs and 155 games.

 

Apparently, we just need to be ready for some JBJ-like cold streaks.

[mvp 78]

Kiké 2019:

 

3/28 - 4/19: 967 OPS

4/20 - 6/22: 539 OPS

6/23 - 8/30: 1020 OPS

8/31 - 9/29: 391 OPS

[mvp 78]

Kiké, JD and Marwin have all HR'd so far today.

 

@redsoxstats

Houck's 1st:

swinging strikeout, 96 mph

single to right field

swinging strikeout, 91 mph

swinging strikeout, 86 mph

 

The k's were Acuna, Ozuna and Freeman.

Edited March 29, 2021 by mvp 78

[notin]

Kiké, JD and Marwin have all HR'd so far today.

 

@redsoxstats

Houck's 1st:

swinging strikeout, 96 mph

single to right field

swinging strikeout, 91 mph

swinging strikeout, 86 mph

 

The k's were Acuna, Ozuna and Freeman.

 

So ...three guys likely to get cut?

[TylerD]

This Houck kid is going to be something special.

[mvp 78]

This Houck kid is going to be something special.

 

If he could only find some control.

[mvp 78]

So ...three guys likely to get cut?

 

Never heard of them. AAAA?

[mvp 78]

@SoxProspects

Another quick inning for Tanner Houck including some revenge on Ozzie Albies via the 6th strikeout of his outing. He's allowed two hits and has yet to allow a walk through four innings. Control had previously been Houck's most noticeable difficulty of the Spring.

[TylerD]

If he could only find some control.

 

He’s young, I’m sure he will adapt and keep working on his mechanics. I didn’t see what his pitch count was at. Do you know? But 4.1 and only 2 hits is a nice out for him.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Kiké 2019:

 

3/28 - 4/19: 967 OPS

4/20 - 6/22: 539 OPS

6/23 - 8/30: 1020 OPS

8/31 - 9/29: 391 OPS

 

They should just IL him in September with a dead bat.

[mvp 78]

He’s young, I’m sure he will adapt and keep working on his mechanics. I didn’t see what his pitch count was at. Do you know? But 4.1 and only 2 hits is a nice out for him.

 

No idea. Today's MLB boxscore doesn't list pitch counts yet.

[TylerD]

No idea. Today's MLB boxscore doesn't list pitch counts yet.

 

Gotcha. Well 4-0 win. Maybe our pitching will surprise us...... like how every now and then Van Damme will release a decent action movie. You just never know.

[moonslav59]

Gotcha. Well 4-0 win. Maybe our pitching will surprise us...... like how every now and then Van Damme will release a decent action movie. You just never know.

 

The Marwin, Kike and JD show!

 

Houck with a solid 4 IP.

 

Maybe the recent gloomy news can be brightened up a bit.

[moonslav59]

They should just IL him in September with a dead bat.

 

He did go 3 for 7 with an HR in the 2019 playoffs, plus...

 

2018:

 

AUG: .987

SEP: .968

 

2020:

JULY .655

AUG .621

SEP .778

He had 2 HRs, a dbl and 2 singles with 4 RBI in 28 playoff ABs in 2020. (He also walked twice.)

[notin]

Gotcha. Well 4-0 win. Maybe our pitching will surprise us...... like how every now and then Van Damme will release a decent action movie. You just never know.

 

If you think Van Damme has any decent action movies, then you are clearly never disappointed by anything. Good for you!