Red Sox Spring Training 2023

[Nick]

Some poster poopers will say he only faced Triple A batters Sunday, the same peers he dominated last summer. But that list might include future big leaguers -- and any level has trouble with a guy who throws 97 with movement, and commands sinkers, change-ups and sliders.

 

Maybe he won't be an All-Star this year, but Bello will throw some of the best games in the Red Sox '23 season.

 

Yep....quality of his pitches will get the major league hitters out. He'll only get better.

 

Last September, he went 2-3, losing twice to the Yankees, pitched 27 1/3 innings with ERA of 1.65, striking out 26 and walking 10.

 

He'll turn 24 I believe in May.

Edited March 19, 2023 by Nick

[Bellhorn04]

Bello throwing 2 good innings today is great news.

[Bellhorn04]

And Brasier is pitching decently.

[Nick]

And Brasier is pitching decently.

 

I will refrain from making any negative comments about Brasier this year. He had replaced Barnes for me in my dog house.

[mvp 78]

Bello, 11 pitches 2 strike outs in his first inning of spring training debut. He's someone I'm excited about. High ceiling guy I think, but maybe I'm in the minority. And to think Mata was higher rated three years ago......throw in Whitlock, Houck and Kutter to that mix, we have some young talent.

 

Bello, 25 pitches, 6 up, 6 down.

 

Bello has the higher ceiling than Mata now.

[moonslav59]

Bello has the higher ceiling than Mata now.

 

And is probably more likely to do well in 2023 than Mata.

[mvp 78]

And is probably more likely to do well in 2023 than Mata.

 

Depends which of their arms stays healthy.

[moonslav59]

Depends which of their arms stays healthy.

 

True. Assuming both are 100%, Bello has the edge in April, IMO.

[mvp 78]

True. Assuming both are 100%, Bello has the edge in April, IMO.

 

IDK, Bello may start the season on the IL.

[moonslav59]

IDK, Bello may start the season on the IL.

 

Did you read the “assuming both are at 100%?”

[notin]

Did you read the “assuming both are at 100%?”

 

Maybe he meant the “Incredible List”?

[Larry Cook]

IDK, Bello may start the season on the IL.

 

Seems like we got quite a few guys starting the year on the disabled list!!! We got almost a half dozen guys with soft tissue injuries (hamstrings, etc.) great to see our crack (head) medical staff is off to a great start this season!!!!!!

[notin]

Seems like we got quite a few guys starting the year on the disabled list!!! We got almost a half dozen guys with soft tissue injuries (hamstrings, etc.) great to see our crack (head) medical staff is off to a great start this season!!!!!!

 

Injuries are not the fault of the medical staff. Do you blame your doctor when you get sick?

[Old Red]

Good to see Turner back in the lineup today.

[Nick]

Good to see Turner back in the lineup today.

 

Looks like the starting lineup with exception of Yoshida and Verdugo.

 

And Whitlock is starting.

[mvp 78]

Did you read the “assuming both are at 100%?”

 

Even if he's at 100%, he'll be 100% on the IL and Mata will be 100% in AAA.

[mvp 78]

Seems like we got quite a few guys starting the year on the disabled list!!! We got almost a half dozen guys with soft tissue injuries (hamstrings, etc.) great to see our crack (head) medical staff is off to a great start this season!!!!!!

 

Whitlock was still recovering from surgery.

 

They took additional precautions with Bello when he had forearm strain. I'm fine with that!

 

Paxton is perpetually injured.

 

Hard to blame the Sox for Paxton straining his hamstring.

[moonslav59]

Even if he's at 100%, he'll be 100% on the IL and Mata will be 100% in AAA.

 

I guess you don’t know what hypothetical means.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Whitlock was still recovering from surgery.

 

They took additional precautions with Bello when he had forearm strain. I'm fine with that!

 

Paxton is perpetually injured.

 

Hard to blame the Sox for Paxton straining his hamstring.

 

If he's sick, I blame notin's doctor for coughing on him.

[mvp 78]

I guess you don’t know what hypothetical means.

 

Something that is completely made up and has no basis in reality. Great for discussion on here because there would be no right or wrong answer and would theoretically turn into just another shouting match! Maybe already heading in that direction!!!

[moonslav59]

Something that is completely made up and has no basis in reality. Great for discussion on here because there would be no right or wrong answer and would theoretically turn into just another shouting match! Maybe already heading in that direction!!!

 

It is not out of the realm of possibility both could be healthy in April.

 

That wasn’t the point, anyway. The talk was about who was better. You mentioned Bello had a higher ceiling, which is a hypothetical exercise, in itself, I might add. It also speaks to potential high end performance skills.

 

I merely added that I felt he was better now, too. I feel he has a better chance of helping the team in April, because he is better right now, assuming good health on both.

 

If you don’t like the talk, fine, but your comment was off the mark. Back track and sidestep all you want, but hypothetical discussions like this go on all the time.

[Old Red]

Don’t care for Merloni, but to me he is definitely easier to listen to than Youk, and Middleton Yuck, and Yuck, and part of the Yuckers.

[mvp 78]

It is not out of the realm of possibility both could be healthy in April.

 

That wasn’t the point, anyway. The talk was about who was better. You mentioned Bello had a higher ceiling, which is a hypothetical exercise, in itself, I might add. It also speaks to potential high end performance skills.

 

I merely added that I felt he was better now, too. I feel he has a better chance of helping the team in April, because he is better right now, assuming good health on both.

 

If you don’t like the talk, fine, but your comment was off the mark. Back track and sidestep all you want, but hypothetical discussions like this go on all the time.

 

My comment is not off the mark. Bello may start the season on the IL even if his arm is fine. Mata might not be on the MLB roster even if he's ready. There are lots of variables in play. Bello would be a starter. Mata would most likely be a reliever. I'm not sure how you can really compare the output of the two guys without looking at everything.

 

I guess the conversation you want to have is "I like this guy, do you like this guy too?" Have at it.

[Nick]

50 Pitches, 3 innings for Whitlock. I love watching him pitch. He's another guy I'd pay to watch pitch.

[mvp 78]

Don’t care for Merloni, but to me he is definitely easier to listen to than Youk, and Middleton Yuck, and Yuck, and part of the Yuckers.

 

When you get him out of the sports radio sphere, he has a good baseball brain. The guys that can talk baseball the best are typically the scrappy utility types like Merloni. I can see how it would take a while for him to catch on. Jerry Remy wasn't a polished product on day one either.

[Old Red]

My comment is not off the mark. Bello may start the season on the IL even if his arm is fine. Mata might not be on the MLB roster even if he's ready. There are lots of variables in play. Bello would be a starter. Mata would most likely be a reliever. I'm not sure how you can really compare the output of the two guys without looking at everything.

 

I guess the conversation you want to have is "I like this guy, do you like this guy too?" Have at it.

 

Good summation. Mata still has a way to go, and he has others ahead of him outside of Bello at this point.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Don’t care for Merloni, but to me he is definitely easier to listen to than Youk, and Middleton Yuck, and Yuck, and part of the Yuckers.

 

The key is not to over-analyze. It's easy for fans to understand Merloni when he describes Bello: "Every pitch looks like a change-up, because the movement is ridiculous."

 

Sounds like guy who's going to be hard to hit. What's not to like.

[Old Red]

When you get him out of the sports radio sphere, he has a good baseball brain. The guys that can talk baseball the best are typically the scrappy utility types like Merloni. I can see how it would take a while for him to catch on. Jerry Remy wasn't a polished product on day one either.

 

Agree, and REM Dawg was really terrible in the beginning. I just think a team like the Red Sox, or NESN can do better then what they have been trotting out there the last two years. An example of quantity doesn’t always add up to quality.

[mvp 78]

Agree, and REM Dawg was really terrible in the beginning. I just think a team like the Red Sox, or NESN can do better then what they have been trotting out there the last two years. An example of quantity doesn’t always add up to quality.

 

The real problem is OB and is just generic vanilla ice cream. It does the job, but you need to add a lot to it. I'd like to see Monaco be given a heavier load this year. He's more engaging. With a faster paced game, I think Monaco and Merloni could be decent to watch.

[mvp 78]

@SPChrisHatfield

Wong is going back and forth between the AAA and AA games, hitting first every inning to make up at-bats. Typical procedure when an MLB guy is making up for lost time.

 

Funny thing is because the games aren't right next to each other as usual he has to take a cart back and forth.

 

Should be in MLB ST games this week.