Red Sox 2024 Spring Training

[mvp 78]

And isn't a big part of Breslow and Bailey's approach to increase the velo?

 

Yup!

[S5Dewey]

Will Duran be a starter in LF ( or CF) in order to bat leadoff and get a fast runner on base in front of Devers , Casas and Story ? Then Yoshi, as a better OBP type, in front of Wong/McGuire then Rafaela/Abreu . 2B will be hitting 9th at least until Grissom can play.

That's what Cora has been doing at every game at JBP thus far this spring. IMO that's probably a good indication of how he'll start the season.

I certainly hope that's what happens. Duran brings something to the Sox that I haven't seen in quite a bit - speed - and Duran's speed seems to get in the heads of not only the pitchers and catchers but also in the heads of outfielders. When they know they have to make perfect throws to 2B to get him their throws become less than perfect. Or maybe those throws would be less than perfect anyway and Duran is just taking advantage of them. Whichever.... it's working.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I think the ST lineups with Duran in RF are just to get Masa reps in LF. Duran in RF in Fenway would need a cutoff to get the ball to 2B. He had a runner tag from 2B to 3B on him last weekend when he was playing LF on a ball that wasn't even deep.

 

Duran played right field yesterday and a Rays runner scored from third on a routine fly ball to RF. His throw barely reached the ankle of Casas, his cutoff man.

 

Merloni didn't name names, and just said, "Tampa is definitely running on that arm."

[S5Dewey]

And isn't a big part of Breslow and Bailey's approach to increase the velo?

 

That may be dependent on who the pitcher is. In yesterday's game Crawford started the game with mostly FB's (in the high 80's) and the first three batters teed off on him. Then he went to his breaking stuff and pitched a good solid 14 outs. (he got pulled in the 5th with 2 outs).

 

Adding 4-5 mph to his FB may work in helping to set up his breaking stuff but only if he has some movement on it.

[moonslav59]

I think the ST lineups with Duran in RF are just to get Masa reps in LF. Duran in RF in Fenway would need a cutoff to get the ball to 2B. He had a runner tag from 2B to 3B on him last weekend when he was playing LF on a ball that wasn't even deep.

 

They may use Duran in RF in some short RF ball parks, so maybe they want him to be ready for how the ball breaks off the bat in RF.

[notin]

They may use Duran in RF in some short RF ball parks, so maybe they want him to be ready for how the ball breaks off the bat in RF.

 

Hoping his time in RF is limited to emergency fill-in. Duran has the speed to cover RF at Fenway, but he really is not a good outfielder and doesn't seem to take advantage of that.

 

I hope Cora deploys the Duran-Rafaela-O'Neill outfield or the O'Neill-Duran-Abreu outfield to start the season. If O'Neill is surprisingly not available, Duran-Rafaela-Abreu is probably the best alignment, but it leaves very little in the way of depth...

[mvp 78]

That's what Cora has been doing at every game at JBP thus far this spring. IMO that's probably a good indication of how he'll start the season.

I certainly hope that's what happens. Duran brings something to the Sox that I haven't seen in quite a bit - speed - and Duran's speed seems to get in the heads of not only the pitchers and catchers but also in the heads of outfielders. When they know they have to make perfect throws to 2B to get him their throws become less than perfect. Or maybe those throws would be less than perfect anyway and Duran is just taking advantage of them. Whichever.... it's working.

 

I wish he was more of a base stealing threat, honestly. He is great at running the bases aggressively, but doesn't seem to have the instincts to rack up the SB's.

[mvp 78]

Duran played right field yesterday and a Rays runner scored from third on a routine fly ball to RF. His throw barely reached the ankle of Casas, his cutoff man.

 

Merloni didn't name names, and just said, "Tampa is definitely running on that arm."

 

Need Manny in the OF next to him.

[mvp 78]

Hoping his time in RF is limited to emergency fill-in. Duran has the speed to cover RF at Fenway, but he really is not a good outfielder and doesn't seem to take advantage of that.

 

I hope Cora deploys the Duran-Rafaela-O'Neill outfield or the O'Neill-Duran-Abreu outfield to start the season. If O'Neill is surprisingly not available, Duran-Rafaela-Abreu is probably the best alignment, but it leaves very little in the way of depth...

 

He has great speed and learned to get a great jump on the ball last year. His arm is just pathetic though. Probably the worst arm the Sox have ever had.

[notin]

I wish he was more of a base stealing threat, honestly. He is great at running the bases aggressively, but doesn't seem to have the instincts to rack up the SB's.

 

But what he does do that I like is any ball hit to an outfielder that requires two or three lateral steps to field suddenly becomes a potential double. He stretched enough singles into doubles last year to make up for a few missing stolen bases.

 

What scares me about Duran was his .381 BABIP. Not entirely sure that is sustainable. Speed does help BABIP, but .381 is a bit much to expect...

[notin]

He has great speed and learned to get a great jump on the ball last year. His arm is just pathetic though. Probably the worst arm the Sox have ever had.

 

Johnny Damon tried raising his arm to disagree, but it was too weak.

 

But Duran's arm is certainly weak and probably a big part of the reason he played 2B in college...

[mvp 78]

Johnny Damon tried raising his arm to disagree, but it was too weak.

 

But Duran's arm is certainly weak and probably a big part of the reason he played 2B in college...

 

Damon had a bad arm, but I think Duran's may be worse.

[moonslav59]

Damon had a bad arm, but I think Duran's may be worse.

 

That play Manny jumped to cut off Damon's throw from about 20 feet away really told the whole noodle arm story on Johnny.

[mvp 78]

That play Manny jumped to cut off Damon's throw from about 20 feet away really told the whole noodle arm story on Johnny.

 

No, it told the whole story on Manny.

[notin]

No, it told the whole story on Manny.

 

Hey, that man once made a great running catch, high-fived the fan, and still got the throw back in time to double the runner off first base...

[jad]

Hey, that man once made a great running catch, high-fived the fan, and still got the throw back in time to double the runner off first base...

 

The greatest play in baseball history! (Who was the dude in LF who over-ran the ball and caught it bare-handed?)

[notin]

The greatest play in baseball history! (Who was the dude in LF who over-ran the ball and caught it bare-handed?)

 

Former Sox OF Kevin Mitchell, although he was with the Giants at the time...

[notin]

Former Sox OF Kevin Mitchell, although he was with the Giants at the time...

 

For your viewing pleasure

 

[Bellhorn04]

Former Sox OF Kevin Mitchell, although he was with the Giants at the time...

 

Kevin Mitchell was also a key player in the 10th inning of Game 6 of the 1986 WS, damn him.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

No, it told the whole story on Manny.

 

Manny was World Series MVP in 2004 for hitting a game-winning homer and throwing out Hall of Famer Larry Walker at the plate.

 

It all happened in the first inning of Game 3, and his throw preserved a seven-inning shutout for Pedro Martinez, in his last game as a Red Sox.

[moonslav59]

No, it told the whole story on Manny.

 

Many plays by Manny told the "whole story."

 

The fan high five during a play.

 

The pee break in the monster.

 

I could go on and on...

[Randy Red Sox]

Lorenzen to sign with Texas and NYY back in on Montgomery

[moonslav59]

Lorenzen to sign with Texas and NYY back in on Montgomery

 

Who else is there? Clevinger or Bauer?

[Bellhorn04]

Who else is there? Clevinger or Bauer?

 

They're more likely to sign one of us than one of those two.

[notin]

Who else is there? Clevinger or Bauer?

 

I’m assuming nobody since the Sox let Lorenzen sign to pitch for Texas for less money than Boston themselves paid Liam Hendriks to wait until next season…

[mvp 78]

Greinke

Boyd

Hill

Syndergaard

Cueto

Rucinski

Plutko

 

Nobody that is really better than what you have. Arms that may be sitting at home when an injury happens. I'd try to see if you could get someone on an MiLB deal and dump Van Belle.

[mvp 78]

I’m assuming nobody since the Sox let Lorenzen sign to pitch for Texas for less money than Boston themselves paid Liam Hendriks to wait until next season…

 

Hendriks is less cash in '24, but higher CBT hit. I think they are hoping that he can come back after the trade deadline this year.

[Bellhorn04]

I’m assuming nobody since the Sox let Lorenzen sign to pitch for Texas for less money than Boston themselves paid Liam Hendriks to wait until next season…

 

At some point their allocation of resources might come into question.

[mvp 78]

At some point their allocation of resources might come into question.

 

They did bring back Heinz ketchup tho!

[mvp 78]

@SoxProspects

Two new RHPs in #RedSox ML camp: Bryce Bonnin & Conor Steinbaugh. Bonnin was a 3rd rd pick by the Cubs in 2020. Missed 2023 w/ a shoulder impingement. Has reportedly topped out at 99 mph in the past. Steinbaugh is an Akron alum, got his velo up to 94 mph in Feb workouts.