Red Sox Spring Training 2023

[mvp 78]

Bloom for some reason must have thought it was better or easier to sign an OF, which in this case Duvall than to get another SS once Story went down. I don’t really like Duvall in CF, but that’s the way Bloom has done it. Either way I don’t think if Kike plays SS, or in CF is going to make, or break the Red Sox season. Kike is just a stopgap no matter where he plays, and no one knows if he can play SS full time, which he has never done before, but like I said like it, or not this decision is on Bloom.

 

No, I think this just started because we were having a conversation about the best defensive alignment for the Sox.

 

I'd prefer:

Kiké CF

Arroyo 2B

Duval RF

Other SS (the other can be Mondesi/Iglesias/any capable and cheap SS)

 

Maybe Kiké stays at CF and Rafaela can come up? We'll see.

[Old Red]

No, I think this just started because we were having a conversation about the best defensive alignment for the Sox.

 

I'd prefer:

Kiké CF

Arroyo 2B

Duval RF

Other SS (the other can be Mondesi/Iglesias/any capable and cheap SS)

 

Maybe Kiké stays at CF and Rafaela can come up? We'll see.

I understood the conversation, but like I stated yesterday, and again today i don’t think Bloom is all that concerned about the best defensive alignment like posters are on here.

[moonslav59]

No, they could have signed a cheap SS like Jose Iglesias and left Kiké in CF.

 

Iggy's D at SS is highly suspect, at this point in his career.

[moonslav59]

@SPChrisHatfield

Dates to keep in mind:

3/25 - Alfaro's (and Goodrum's but whatever there) upward mobility clause date

 

3/27 - Tapia's opt out

 

No news on that day itself doesn't necessarily mean anything - sometimes it's 48 hours to add the player or something.

 

Maybe we can put JRod on the 60 and add both. (Trade, IL or DFA one other.)

[moonslav59]

I understood the conversation, but like I stated yesterday, and again today i don’t think Bloom is all that concerned about the best defensive alignment like posters are on here.

 

Agreed, but it puzzles me as to why the major shift in perceived winning strategies? They went out of their way to improve the D, last winter by trading renfroe for JBJ and signing Story to play 2B.

 

[mvp 78]

Iggy's D at SS is highly suspect, at this point in his career.

 

Wow, you really missed the mark with that post. That's why I wrote "like" Iglesias. Duh!

 

He had a really bad defensive season in 2021, but was average last year. His -4 DRS and 3.1 UZR/150 was Xander Bogaerts-esque. Sox fans wouldn't notice a difference. He'd be fine enough.

[mvp 78]

I understood the conversation, but like I stated yesterday, and again today i don’t think Bloom is all that concerned about the best defensive alignment like posters are on here.

 

Seems weird though?

[Hugh2]

Spring training doesn't matter - in that there are not necessarily a lot of roster spots that will be determined by performance in pretend games.

 

The tough thing about individual results is that you have to figure out what is noise and what is meaningful improvement.

 

You also can't just go by stats alone. Lets say player A hits a home run in a game. Who did he hit it against? An Ace? or a Low A nobody? And even if it was another team's ace, was that guy throwing the same he would be in a regular season game with the same kind of pitch he would pitch in that count or was he just trying to spin a breaking ball over the plate regardless of the outcome? Because he wants to ramp his arm up.

 

It's not that the stats are meaningless, it's just that its really hard to assign any meaning to them because the game is played differently in spring training. The point ISN'T to win, the point is to get ready to play.

[Old Red]

Agreed, but it puzzles me as to why the major shift in perceived winning strategies? They went out of their way to improve the D, last winter by trading renfroe for JBJ and signing Story to play 2B.

 

 

Duvall in CF, and Dugy in RF in Fenway are not going to chase down a lot of balls.

[Old Red]

Seems weird though?

 

It does seems weird, and it seems like Bloom just takes the easiest at the time options instead of what would be the best fit.

[Hugh2]

If by some Miracle a guy like Mondosei stayed healthy and Story came back, you could have a plus infield defense and Kike might tip the defense in the outfield to plus.

 

Thats a LOT of things that have to go and stay right for that to happen. Rafaella may play into the mix by August too.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

You also can't just go by stats alone. Lets say player A hits a home run in a game. Who did he hit it against? An Ace? or a Low A nobody? And even if it was another team's ace, was that guy throwing the same he would be in a regular season game with the same kind of pitch he would pitch in that count or was he just trying to spin a breaking ball over the plate regardless of the outcome? Because he wants to ramp his arm up.

 

It's not that the stats are meaningless, it's just that its really hard to assign any meaning to them because the game is played differently in spring training. The point ISN'T to win, the point is to get ready to play.

 

But there are always guys that make the team in ST -- and not just the Tapias of the world winning the 25th or 26th spot of the roster -- but youngsters going north for the first time.

 

Every case is different, but sometimes teams even hold auditions for starting positions; such evaluations have to include at bats vs. minor leaguers or rehabbing vets trying a new pitch...

[moonslav59]

Wow, you really missed the mark with that post. That's why I wrote "like" Iglesias. Duh!

 

He had a really bad defensive season in 2021, but was average last year. His -4 DRS and 3.1 UZR/150 was Xander Bogaerts-esque. Sox fans wouldn't notice a difference. He'd be fine enough.

 

I saw the word "like."

 

"Like" another SS who no longer plays plus D?

 

I missed nothing. I gave my opinion on not wanting a minus defensive SS replacing Bogey.

 

I'd have been okay with Iggy over an oft-injured Mondesi, but I'm okay with Duvall in the line-up.

 

I'd prefer Kike in CF, but maybe Mondesi can make that happen more than we expect.

[moonslav59]

Duvall in CF, and Dugy in RF in Fenway are not going to chase down a lot of balls.

 

And Yoshida in away games, either.

[moonslav59]

Bobby Dee goes deep.

 

Does make the 26?

[mvp 78]

Bobby Dee goes deep.

 

Does make the 26?

 

He hits well every spring.

[moonslav59]

He hits well every spring.

 

But sucks in April and the first third or more of May.

 

2021:

.558 to May 12th (108 PAs) /.867 afterwards in 345 PAs

 

2022:

.453 to May 12th (91 PAs) / .721 afterwards in 262 PAs

[mvp 78]

But sucks in April and the first third or more of May.

 

2021:

.558 to May 12th (108 PAs) /.867 afterwards in 345 PAs

 

2022:

.453 to May 12th (91 PAs) / .721 afterwards in 262 PAs

 

Every spring was in reference to Spring Training only. I put up his Spring Training numbers the other day.

 

Maybe he's just a warm weather guy?

[moonslav59]

Every spring was in reference to Spring Training only. I put up his Spring Training numbers the other day.

 

Maybe he's just a warm weather guy?

 

Yes, I knew you were just talking about ST'ing. I was just adding a separate observation.

 

I have often wondered, if it's a warm weather thing, too, but JUL is warmer than SEP. He seems to not like it cool or too hot.

 

.535 APR

.613 AUG

.693 May

.750 JUN

.940 SEP

.983 AUG

 

Maybe it just takes him 4 months to find his stride.

 

[mvp 78]

Sox are back in the win column today.

 

Winckowski 4 - 2 ER

Bleier, Brasier, Sherriff all 1 - 0 ER

 

Dalbec, Alfaro, RHern HR's

 

Goodrum - 3 more K's. (23 K's, 45% k rate) RELEASE HIM

[mvp 78]

Yes, I knew you were just talking about ST'ing. I was just adding a separate observation.

 

I have often wondered, if it's a warm weather thing, too, but JUL is warmer than SEP. He seems to not like it cool or too hot.

 

.535 APR

.613 AUG

.693 May

.750 JUN

.940 SEP

.983 AUG

 

Maybe it just takes him 4 months to find his stride.

 

 

Hmm, well his monthly stats will be skewed a little as he was really good in August/September in 2020 and the 2nd half of 2021. He was basically benched at the end of 2022 and sent to WOO.

[mvp 78]

I know Goodrum doesn't really matter, but he had a 50% k rate with the Astros last season and has a miserable 45% k rate this spring. Just let anyone else in WOO play SS. Goodrum can't help the big club in any meaningful way. I'd rather go with Arroyo at SS and Valdez at 2B if I had to.

[Old Red]

Sox are back in the win column today.

 

Winckowski 4 - 2 ER

Bleier, Brasier, Sherriff all 1 - 0 ER

 

Dalbec, Alfaro, RHern HR's

 

Goodrum - 3 more K's. (23 K's, 45% k rate) RELEASE HIM

 

The Kut Man will start the 4th game of the season.

[mvp 78]

@RobBiertempfel

Catcher Kevin Plawecki’s locker is empty at LECOM Park. Pirates have not yet announced it, but he was told he will not make the team. He has an opt-out if he’s not on roster by Saturday.

[mvp 78]

The Kut Man will start the 4th game of the season.

 

@MacCerullo

Alex Cora tells reporters that Kutter Crawford will start the season in the rotation and will start the fourth game on April 3 against the Pirates. Winckowski will open the season in the bullpen.

[mvp 78]

@tylermilliken_

Kutter Crawford has made the Opening Day rotation and will start the 4th game of the season.

 

He’s posted a 2.03 ERA this spring over 13.1 IP. 14 K. 0.98 WHIP.

[Old Red]

@MacCerullo

Alex Cora tells reporters that Kutter Crawford will start the season in the rotation and will start the fourth game on April 3 against the Pirates. Winckowski will open the season in the bullpen.

 

Interesting that even with Bello, and Whit out that Pivetta the only guy still around, and reliable enough to take the mound every 5th day good, or bad the last two years is still #5.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Interesting that even with Bello, and Whit out that Pivetta the only guy still around, and reliable enough to take the mound every 5th day good, or bad the last two years is still #5.

 

And you can still trust him to be #5 every fifth day, after many different trials and errors by many different combinations of #1-4s.

[Old Red]

And you can still trust him to be #5 every fifth day, after many different trials and errors by many different combinations of #1-4s.

 

Yes The best thing about him is he shows up for every start, and you can’t say that about many others the last few years for the Sox.

[moonslav59]

He might be one of the top 5 fifth starters in MLB, but we have to keep him there to be so... LOL!

 

As a #4 he might be top 15.

 

As a number 3, he's likely a bottom 10-15.

 

Some teams have pretty lousy rotations. He might be a #2 on some teams.