Red Sox 2024 Spring Training

[Bellhorn04]

They did bring back Heinz ketchup tho!

 

Heinz ketchup's back

Theo's back

Netflix doc announced

 

Highlights of the Sox offseason.

[mvp 78]

Bonnin was the Reds' 3rd round pick in 2020, not the Cubs.

[notin]

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

 

So… Rich Hill Round 8?

 

The last Sox GM/CBO to not sign Rich Hill was Mike Port. Breslow is up next…

[notin]

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.

 

Why dump Van Belle?

 

He’s not much of a prospect but he’s not taking up a spot on the 40 man roster either…

[mvp 78]

Why dump Van Belle?

 

He’s not much of a prospect but he’s not taking up a spot on the 40 man roster either…

 

There's a smaller amount of MiLB guys you can carry effective this season (165). If they are going to bring in a veteran for innings security, they will need to drop somebody. Van Belle is a guy that is already 27 and has no chance of ever pitching for the Sox. Time to move on.

[notin]

There's a smaller amount of MiLB guys you can carry effective this season (165). If they are going to bring in a veteran for innings security, they will need to drop somebody. Van Belle is a guy that is already 27 and has no chance of ever pitching for the Sox. Time to move on.

 

Fair logic.

 

I really don’t know much (re: anything) about how many minor leaguers a team can carry. I do know they don’t have an infinite amount of roster spots but that’s where my knowledge ends…

[mvp 78]

Fair logic.

 

I really don’t know much (re: anything) about how many minor leaguers a team can carry. I do know they don’t have an infinite amount of roster spots but that’s where my knowledge ends…

 

I've heard that they've made additional cuts this year because of the reduction and Van Belle/Shugart seem to be two guys they can probably move on from if they want to add additional pitchers.

[moonslav59]

I'd feel better about many pitchers from MVP's list being called up over Van Belle.

[Hugh2]

I know the minor league reserve list went from 180 down to 165 but was that this year or did that start last year???

[notin]

I'd feel better about many pitchers from MVP's list being called up over Van Belle.

 

Hmm. Van Belle reminds me of a young Greg Maddux.

 

A real young one, like maybe how Maddux was pitching at 14. (Rimshot)

[mvp 78]

I know the minor league reserve list went from 180 down to 165 but was that this year or did that start last year???

 

This year. They deferred the adjustment a year out to 2024.

[mvp 78]

Jansen and Martin are supposedly going to pitch in tonight's game.

[mvp 78]

@IanMBrowne

Though Ceddanne Rafaels is starting at second bsae tonight, Alex Cora's stance hasn't changed, and won't change. If Rafaela makes the team, Cora guarantees most of his playing time will be in center field.

[moonslav59]

@IanMBrowne

Though Ceddanne Rafaels is starting at second bsae tonight, Alex Cora's stance hasn't changed, and won't change. If Rafaela makes the team, Cora guarantees most of his playing time will be in center field.

 

Makes sense. It's also nice to have a guy that offers deeper depth in emergency situations at 2B and SS.

 

I hope he makes the 26.

 

If he and Abreu both make it, there will be a juggling act to get Duran, O'Neill, Rafaela and Abreu enough PAs. It would help to keep Yoshida as the FT DH. Rafaela is the only one of these 4 that can play anywhere other than OF and DH. He could get a few PAs at MI, just to let him play more.

 

Duran could DH some, which would give us our best defensive OF: LF- O'Neill, CF- Rafaela, RF- Abreu.

 

Edited March 21, 2024 by moonslav59

[moonslav59]

Looks like Criswell earned a slot on the 26.

 

Should he start and Whitlock begin in the pen?

 

I'd say yes, but I think we all know the answer.

[Elktonnick]

Looks like Criswell earned a slot on the 26.

 

Should he start and Whitlock begin in the pen?

 

I'd say yes, but I think we all know the answer.

 

I have now seen him pitch three times this spring. He has done well enough to deserve a chance at starting. Although not a knuckleballer, he reminds me a lot of Tim Wakefield in that he relies on movement to prevent hitters squaring up his pitches.

I think he is at best a three inning or once through the lineup pitcher. It will be interesting to see how well he does.

[mvp 78]

Makes sense. It's also nice to have a guy that offers deeper depth in emergency situations at 2B and SS.

 

I hope he makes the 26.

 

If he and Abreu both make it, there will be a juggling act to get Duran, O'Neill, Rafaela and Abreu enough PAs. It would help to keep Yoshida as the FT DH. Rafaela is the only one of these 4 that can play anywhere other than OF and DH. He could get a few PAs at MI, just to let him play more.

 

Duran could DH some, which would give us our best defensive OF: LF- O'Neill, CF- Rafaela, RF- Abreu.

 

 

Depends on what we determine "enough" means. If Abreu is just the 4th OFer and gets 200 AB's, it's fine. More likely, Abreu is the 4th OFer and takes over once O'Neilll goes to the IL repeatedly.

[mvp 78]

Looks like Criswell earned a slot on the 26.

 

Should he start and Whitlock begin in the pen?

 

I'd say yes, but I think we all know the answer.

 

@alexspeier

Garrett Whitlock is throwing a minor league (AAA) game at JetBlue Park. Just had a 13-pitch, 12-strike inning with 3 Ks and 5 swings/misses. Nasty back-to-back sliders to finish the inning.

 

@tylermilliken_

Garrett Whitlock made his next scheduled start in a minor league spring training game today and was dominant once again (via

@alexspeier

).

 

5.2 IP - 73 Pitches/57 Strikes

3 Hits

0 ER/R

10 K

0 BB

14 Whiffs

 

Pretty hard to imagine him not being in the rotation to start the season. Please just let him stay healthy.

 

@tylermilliken_

Fantastic outing by Garrett Whitlock against the Twins.

 

4.1 IP - 62 Pitches

2 Hits

0 ER/R

5 K

1 BB

 

Best we’ve seen of him this spring. Efficient. Went right after guys. Retired the last 9 guys he faced.

 

@alexspeier

In a minor league spring training game, Garrett Whitlock struck out 10 of 20 batters he faced, threw 78% strikes, got a ton of swings/misses, and introduced a new pitch. Did he look like a big league starter? Andrew Bailey: “100 percent.”

 

I'm trying really hard not to get sucked back in..................

[mvp 78]

If Whitlock was able to stay healthy, he's a better starter than Houck.

 

Houck would be the one sent to the pen if Criswell is put into the rotation.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Depends on what we determine "enough" means. If Abreu is just the 4th OFer and gets 200 AB's, it's fine. More likely, Abreu is the 4th OFer and takes over once O'Neilll goes to the IL repeatedly.

 

Werner was speaking in code when he noted Abreu getting 400 ABs. He knew, and wanted us to know he knew...

 

Ever since Breslow's intro, Werner has been secretly pleading with fandom through the media to free him from Henry's clutches.

[Bellhorn04]

They have to keep starter lanes open for all of Houck, Whitlock and Criswell. No room for Montgomery, and Henry gets to pocket a bunch of money under the tax threshold.

[moonslav59]

Depends on what we determine "enough" means. If Abreu is just the 4th OFer and gets 200 AB's, it's fine. More likely, Abreu is the 4th OFer and takes over once O'Neilll goes to the IL repeatedly.

 

I'm not sure 200 PS for Abreu or Rafaela is what is best for them, at this point in their development, but I guess if you see Abreu as a 4th OF'er, 200 is okay.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

They have to keep starter lanes open for all of Houck, Whitlock and Criswell. No room for Montgomery, and Henry gets to pocket a bunch of money under the tax threshold.

 

Criswell is one of those guys who would have a great two months for the Rays, and they would trade him right before he turned into Bearclaw for somebody else's benchwarmer who is just about to erupt into a .400 hitter vs. lefties.

[moonslav59]

@alexspeier

Garrett Whitlock is throwing a minor league (AAA) game at JetBlue Park. Just had a 13-pitch, 12-strike inning with 3 Ks and 5 swings/misses. Nasty back-to-back sliders to finish the inning.

 

@tylermilliken_

Garrett Whitlock made his next scheduled start in a minor league spring training game today and was dominant once again (via

@alexspeier

).

 

5.2 IP - 73 Pitches/57 Strikes

3 Hits

0 ER/R

10 K

0 BB

14 Whiffs

 

Pretty hard to imagine him not being in the rotation to start the season. Please just let him stay healthy.

 

@tylermilliken_

Fantastic outing by Garrett Whitlock against the Twins.

 

4.1 IP - 62 Pitches

2 Hits

0 ER/R

5 K

1 BB

 

Best we’ve seen of him this spring. Efficient. Went right after guys. Retired the last 9 guys he faced.

 

@alexspeier

In a minor league spring training game, Garrett Whitlock struck out 10 of 20 batters he faced, threw 78% strikes, got a ton of swings/misses, and introduced a new pitch. Did he look like a big league starter? Andrew Bailey: “100 percent.”

 

I'm trying really hard not to get sucked back in..................

 

I'd be fine with choosing Whitlock over Houck. Both will likely get several chances to win a rotation slot, no matter what.

 

It's not like Whitlock has blown Houck away in ST'ing..

 

Both have 16 Ks, but Houck has slightly less IP (15.2 to 15.0)

While Whitlock has only 2 BBs, Houck has allowed just 3.

Houck has allowed 3 less hits (13 to 10).

Both have allowed just 1 HR.

ERA:

2.40 Houck

3.45 Whitlock

 

Criswell has pitched more IP than any Sox pitcher (18.1)

2.95 ERA

17 K: 3 BB

16 hits

0 HRs

.

[moonslav59]

Criswell is one of those guys who would have a great two months for the Rays, and they would trade him right before he turned into Bearclaw for somebody else's benchwarmer who is just about to erupt into a .400 hitter vs. lefties.

 

Ride him for 2 months, then.

 

We can be pretty sure Houck and Whitlock will not go 33 starts for 180+ IP, so sit one (put in pen), now.

[mvp 78]

I'm not sure 200 PS for Abreu or Rafaela is what is best for them, at this point in their development, but I guess if you see Abreu as a 4th OF'er, 200 is okay.

 

He only gets to 200 PA's if O'Neilll stays healthy and that's very improbable. I think they can still find more for him. At the very least, I think 200 MLB PA's are more important than him playing in AAA.

 

He OPS'd 862 last season, but had to have a 431 BABIP to do so. That number is going to drop. Every projection has him going down 100 points in OPS at least. Is he just Connor Joe or something better?

[moonslav59]

He only gets to 200 PA's if O'Neilll stays healthy and that's very improbable. I think they can still find more for him. At the very least, I think 200 MLB PA's are more important than him playing in AAA.

 

He OPS'd 862 last season, but had to have a 431 BABIP to do so. That number is going to drop. Every projection has him going down 100 points in OPS at least. Is he just Connor Joe or something better?

 

I think one or both spend some time in AAA to get PAs, even if they end up trading Refsnyder and keeping Yoshida at DH FT.

 

Of course, if O'Neill gets hurt, or should I say when, there is room for everybody, including Ref.

[notin]

 

I'm trying really hard not to get sucked back in..................

 

 

Al Pacino from Godfather III?

[Dipre]

They have to keep starter lanes open for all of Houck, Whitlock and Criswell. No room for Montgomery, and Henry gets to pocket a bunch of money under the tax threshold.

 

He's not pocketing any money, it's his money. He just doesn't wanna spend it.

[mvp 78]

Al Pacino from Godfather III?

 

Never seen that one, but I know what you're referencing.