Red Sox Spring Training 2023

[notin]

Do you dismiss bad ST results?

 

Niko Goodrum: 176 AVG, 17 AB, 3 H, 1 BB, 11 K, 399 OPS

Duvall: 000 AVG, 11 AB, 3 BB, 6 K, 200 OPS

Kiké: 077 AVG, 13 AB, 1 H, 2 BB, 4 K, 277 OPS

 

Of all the hitters with bad numbers, Goodrum really sticks out, especially with his 500 BABIP. He's toast.

 

 

I never expected anything from Goodrum beyond maybe holding down the SS position in Worcester for the first few months of 2023…

[dgalehouse]

With the millions of stats out there these days , I am sure some geek has composed a chart showing the correlation between a team's spring training record and their subsequent regular season record. However, I have neither the time nor the inclination to try and find such a thing. Best advice: If your team has a good spring training record , be encouraged. If your team has a poor spring training record, shrug it off as meaningless.

[Bellhorn04]

I think the ideal spring training is:

 

1) Win a few more than you lose.

2) No significant injuries.

[Bellhorn04]

Today was an excellent day for the Sox, because although they lost, Sale looked great. That's spring training.

 

Interesting that Jansen, Rodriguez and Schreiber all pitched more than an inning.

[notin]

I think the ideal spring training is:

 

1) Win a few more than you lose.

2) No significant injuries.

 

Solely number two. Wins can make it more fun, but so many IP and AB go to players you may never see again that it does kill the significance of a good record or a bad one…

[Bellhorn04]

Solely number two. Wins can make it more fun, but so many IP and AB go to players you may never see again that it does kill the significance of a good record or a bad one…

 

Nothing wrong with a little fun!

[Old Red]

Today was an excellent day for the Sox, because although they lost, Sale looked great. That's spring training.

 

Interesting that Jansen, Rodriguez and Schreiber all pitched more than an inning.

 

I think it’s more about the # of pitchers thrown than innings. Jansen had a quick first inning today. I thought Sale might pitch a little bit more today since he only threw 31 pitches.

[moonslav59]

Good to see Sale sailing away!

[cp176]

Sale has had a ton of doubters here on this site. Almost everyone was pissed when he was resigned - not me. I saw it partially as a rewind of looks like ard for being one of the best the game has seen when we needed it most. I will continue to support him as we move along. Just remember doubters when he is throwing up the 0's this year that you never sign a pitcher to a contract like that when they top the age of 30. lol . I hope that it works out for him this year. If it doesn't I'm ok with that as well. In my recent time I have seen Clemens, Martinez, and Sale. I feel privileged. Kind of looks like he has a little chip on his shoulder as well. I think that he truly feels that he owes us all something. Sit back and enjoy having the ace back on the hill. Oh and by the way who did we trade to get him? lol Just kidding - pretty sure that I know.

[Oscars]

Sale’s pitching is very encouraging.

The Sox may have a legitimate ace on the staff,

at least to start the season!

[moonslav59]

Sale has had a ton of doubters here on this site. Almost everyone was pissed when he was resigned - not me. I saw it partially as a rewind of looks like ard for being one of the best the game has seen when we needed it most. I will continue to support him as we move along. Just remember doubters when he is throwing up the 0's this year that you never sign a pitcher to a contract like that when they top the age of 30. lol . I hope that it works out for him this year. If it doesn't I'm ok with that as well. In my recent time I have seen Clemens, Martinez, and Sale. I feel privileged. Kind of looks like he has a little chip on his shoulder as well. I think that he truly feels that he owes us all something. Sit back and enjoy having the ace back on the hill. Oh and by the way who did we trade to get him? lol Just kidding - pretty sure that I know.

 

True. Not many liked it. I thought it was an okay deal and looked at it like a $145M/4 deal, right from the start. For an ace, that’s a team-friendly deal, these days. The problem is we may be lucky to see $145M/3.

[Old Red]

True. Not many liked it. I thought it was an okay deal and looked at it like a $145M/4 deal, right from the start. For an ace, that’s a team-friendly deal, these days. The problem is we may be lucky to see $145M/3.

 

True, not many liked it, and still don’t. I was against it the day the extension happened, because Sale having TJ was predicted by many, and pretty much predictable any way, and I’m not paying any pitcher to have TJ, and sit out 1-2 years especially the kind of money Sale got. Bad deal when it happened in my opinion, and bad deal now.

[Bellhorn04]

True. Not many liked it. I thought it was an okay deal and looked at it like a $145M/4 deal, right from the start. For an ace, that’s a team-friendly deal, these days. The problem is we may be lucky to see $145M/3.

 

Don't forget the present value thingy because of the deferred money. The total value of Sale's contract was discounted from $145 to $128.

[Bellhorn04]

I think it’s more about the # of pitchers thrown than innings. Jansen had a quick first inning today. I thought Sale might pitch a little bit more today since he only threw 31 pitches.

 

I get what you're saying, but in modern baseball thinking they also look at the fact the pitcher heats up and then cools down on the bench between innings, so even if the pitch count is low they may not want to extend the guy in innings. It's all part of the babying thing, I realize.

[moonslav59]

Don't forget the present value thingy because of the deferred money. The total value of Sale's contract was discounted from $145 to $128.

 

If Sale can be Chis Freakin’ Sale for 3 full seasons, starting now, $128M/3 is about the going rate for a top ace.

[moonslav59]

I get what you're saying, but in modern baseball thinking they also look at the fact the pitcher heats up and then cools down on the bench between innings, so even if the pitch count is low they may not want to extend the guy in innings. It's all part of the babying thing, I realize.

 

And the easying into a longer routine.

[Bellhorn04]

If Sale can be Chis Freakin’ Sale for 3 full seasons, starting now, $128M/3 is about the going rate for a top ace.

 

The only way we have Sale for 3 more seasons instead of 2 is if the vesting option is triggered.

[moonslav59]

The only way we have Sale for 3 more seasons instead of 2 is if the vesting option is triggered.

 

I lost track. All the IL years blended together

[notin]

So yesterday we saw a couple risky extensions. Corbin Carroll signed for 8 years $111mill after 115 career plate appearances. Washington also extended Keibert Ruiz and his career 97 OPS+ for 8 years / $50mill. The latter could be the new equivalent of the extension the Royals gave to Salvador Perez.

 

Per MLBTR, the Red Sox are looking into doing something similar with Casas…

[Bellhorn04]

I lost track. All the IL years blended together

 

One more thing. In 2020 players only received about 40% of their salary, so that knocks another $15 or so off Sale's cost. The total is actually about $113.

[Nick]

Sky is not falling, yet.

 

1 Sale

2 Kluber

3 Pivetta

4 Houck

5 Kutter

 

Both Whitlock and Bello are closer to making a start. I think Wednesday is Whitlock day.

 

I guess I'm one of few here optimistic about 2023.

 

All the talk about Devers following Xander has completely stopped. (You don't see too many package deals in MLB, not like in NBA).

 

We did get what we clamored for, right? I mean Devers is locked in for 11 frekin' years.

 

The biggest complaint on this board was our bullpen. Well Bloom went out and did something about it. No love for at least trying to improve the backend of games?

 

Oh, he's not perfect. Acquiring JBJ was stupid. Going over the luxury tax limit was moronic. I'd make him pay for the tax personally. We don't have a bean counter for $50K that do nothing but keeping track of it? Hell, I'll volunteer for that position.

 

I agree 100% with Bellhorn. No one gets hurt. That's what spring training is all about.

[moonslav59]

Sky is not falling, yet.

 

1 Sale

2 Kluber

3 Pivetta

4 Houck

5 Kutter

 

Both Whitlock and Bello are closer to making a start. I think Wednesday is Whitlock day.

 

I guess I'm one of few here optimistic about 2023.

 

All the talk about Devers following Xander has completely stopped. (You don't see too many package deals in MLB, not like in NBA).

 

We did get what we clamored for, right? I mean Devers is locked in for 11 frekin' years.

 

The biggest complaint on this board was our bullpen. Well Bloom went out and did something about it. No love for at least trying to improve the backend of games?

 

Oh, he's not perfect. Acquiring JBJ was stupid. Going over the luxury tax limit was moronic. I'd make him pay for the tax personally. We don't have a bean counter for $50K that do nothing but keeping track of it? Hell, I'll volunteer for that position.

 

I agree 100% with Bellhorn. No one gets hurt. That's what spring training is all about.

 

Very well said.

 

Our offense looks fine. Out OF D is scary, but we look okay or plus, elsewhere.

 

It always comes down to pitching, and with this staff it’s more about health than skill levels, to me. We have a lot of pitchers who have done well, recently, and some promising younger pitchers ready to make their moves.

[Nick]

Very well said.

 

Our offense looks fine. Out OF D is scary, but we look okay or plus, elsewhere.

 

It always comes down to pitching, and with this staff it’s more about health than skill levels, to me. We have a lot of pitchers who have done well, recently, and some promising younger pitchers ready to make their moves.

 

I forgot about Paxton.

[moonslav59]

One more thing. In 2020 players only received about 40% of their salary, so that knocks another $15 or so off Sale's cost. The total is actually about $113.

 

Pretty soon, you’ll have him being free!

[Old Red]

I get what you're saying, but in modern baseball thinking they also look at the fact the pitcher heats up and then cools down on the bench between innings, so even if the pitch count is low they may not want to extend the guy in innings. It's all part of the babying thing, I realize.

 

Sounds all good, and the most important part is that Sale comes out healthy.

[Old Red]

If Sale can be Chis Freakin’ Sale for 3 full seasons, starting now, $128M/3 is about the going rate for a top ace.

 

That’s asking quite a lot for someone who just turned 34. I’d settle for 25 starts this year, and see what happens if that happens.

[notin]

That’s asking quite a lot for someone who just turned 34. I’d settle for 25 starts this year, and see what happens if that happens.

 

The hope is he bounces back from lost time like 39yo Justin Verlander did last year after two lost seasons. It’s a slim chance but there is precedent…

[Nick]

That’s asking quite a lot for someone who just turned 34. I’d settle for 25 starts this year, and see what happens if that happens.

 

Yep.....good observation.

[Nick]

Let's not give up on Mata as a starter, yet.

 

Bryan Mata will show the potential for a true four-pitch mix with two potential plus offerings. He has shown the ability to miss bats with all four pitches at various points in his career. Ceiling of a mid-rotation starter. Full scouting report-

[Bellhorn04]

The hope is he bounces back from lost time like 39yo Justin Verlander did last year after two lost seasons. It’s a slim chance but there is precedent…

 

If Sale can stay healthy, I have little doubt he can still post eye-popping numbers.