Red Sox Spring Training

[Jasonbay44]

Trayce Thompson is putting up Barry Bonds numbers this spring, just hit another bomb

[Yaz Fan Since 67]

4 hours ago, jad said:

Clearly it's the fault of the pitch clock, which doesn't allow them to dig in.   As in golf (or at least for the group in front of me), every hitter should be allowed time between pitches to check for wind, calculate the distance to a particular part of the wall, consult his scorecard notes, step out due to crowd noise, and mock-bounce the bat eight times off the plate.   

I know my comment was off topic but the size, strength and conditioning of the players was brought up so I thought I'd throw it out there.  Do you have any idea why we aren't seeing 600 foot home runs?  Or is this best asked in some other thread?

 

 

[dgalehouse]

It just seems to me that not a day goes by without a pitcher getting hurt. Not necessarily Tommy John category, but any type of injury. And I think the 15 second pitch clock could well be a factor. When you are in a hurry all the time, things tend to go wrong. 

[moonslav59]

On 3/8/2025 at 12:50 PM, Larry Cook said:

Are any of these guys on the 40 man roster????

No and likely won’t be.

[Tedballgame]

3 hours ago, Jasonbay44 said:

Trayce Thompson is putting up Barry Bonds numbers this spring, just hit another bomb

Its going to be hard for them not to have him on the roster after this spring performance. I know its only ST, but 6 home runs??? 12 RBIs and 3 SB.

[Larry Cook]

2 hours ago, Tedballgame said:

Its going to be hard for them not to have him on the roster after this spring performance. I know its only ST, but 6 home runs??? 12 RBIs and 3 SB.

With Anthony sick and abreau sick, Thompson is kicking in the door to be on the 40 man 

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, Larry Cook said:

With Anthony sick and abreau sick, Thompson is kicking in the door to be on the 40 man 

Anthony is not on the 40, now. Of course, he can be viewed as competition to win a slot, but unless Thompson wins a slot, hw might end up being a non 40 man roster in AAA. I'm not sure how it works for NRI who don't make it, maybe some other team swoops in and nabs him.

[Larry Cook]

36 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Anthony is not on the 40, now. Of course, he can be viewed as competition to win a slot, but unless Thompson wins a slot, hw might end up being a non 40 man roster in AAA. I'm not sure how it works for NRI who don't make it, maybe some other team swoops in and nabs him.

Thompson is forcing his way into abreau’s roster spot 

[moonslav59]

2 hours ago, Larry Cook said:

Thompson is forcing his way into abreau’s roster spot 

If Abreu starts the year on the 10 Day IL, I could see them adding Thompson while they add someone else to the 60 Day IL. (Murphy or Perales?)

Maybe DFA Sogard or a pitcher?

I was wrong to dismiss Thompson's chances, so quickly. He may still not make it, but maybe he does.

I do see two roster slots easily opened with the two pending 60 Day ILs. For all we know, maybe Crawford or Bello ends up on the 60.

[Yaz Fan Since 67]

21 hours ago, jad said:

Clearly it's the fault of the pitch clock, which doesn't allow them to dig in.   As in golf (or at least for the group in front of me), every hitter should be allowed time between pitches to check for wind, calculate the distance to a particular part of the wall, consult his scorecard notes, step out due to crowd noise, and mock-bounce the bat eight times off the plate.   

I thought it was a legit question to ask.  If players are bigger, faster and stronger why did they hit the ball further 50 years ago?  

 

 

[Bellhorn04]

19 minutes ago, Yaz Fan Since 67 said:

I thought it was a legit question to ask.  If players are bigger, faster and stronger why did they hit the ball further 50 years ago?  

 

 

It is an interesting question.  Maybe the baseball is a little deader now than it was then.  They're always tinkering with the baseball. 

[mvp 78]

14 hours ago, Tedballgame said:

Its going to be hard for them not to have him on the roster after this spring performance. I know its only ST, but 6 home runs??? 12 RBIs and 3 SB.

He has no options. If they put him on the roster, the only way to get him to AAA is to DFA. I think Nate Eaton is more likely an option. Also, it's just Spring Training and these homers mean nothing. 

[mvp 78]

23 minutes ago, Yaz Fan Since 67 said:

I thought it was a legit question to ask.  If players are bigger, faster and stronger why did they hit the ball further 50 years ago?  

Which ball specifically? I think a lot of the older measurements are completely made up (i.e. the Williams seat).

[Hugh2]

14 hours ago, Tedballgame said:

Its going to be hard for them not to have him on the roster after this spring performance. I know its only ST, but 6 home runs??? 12 RBIs and 3 SB.

It's not just spring training, but it's early in spring training.  I don't think it's going to be a very hard decision, things will fall into place by the end of this month. 

[Hugh2]

3 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

He has no options. If they put him on the roster, the only way to get him to AAA is to DFA. I think Nate Eaton is more likely an option. Also, it's just Spring Training and these homers mean nothing. 

Dude is 33 and has been in the majors for 7 years up and down.  He's not magically becoming a different player.  If a few guys went down and he started the year hot, sure ride that wave until it crashes.  But he's looking like a really nice depth piece for AAA. 

It's really easy for a fringe spot on a roster to mash pitchers who are more concerned with building up their innings and arm strength than getting you out. 

[Hugh2]

29 minutes ago, Yaz Fan Since 67 said:

I thought it was a legit question to ask.  If players are bigger, faster and stronger why did they hit the ball further 50 years ago?  

 

 

Balls change

[Hugh2]

14 hours ago, dgalehouse said:

It just seems to me that not a day goes by without a pitcher getting hurt. Not necessarily Tommy John category, but any type of injury. And I think the 15 second pitch clock could well be a factor. When you are in a hurry all the time, things tend to go wrong. 

15 seconds is plenty of time to throw a pitch. Imagine if basketball players got 15 seconds in-between every basket.  Also, I'm fairly certain the trend of increasing injuries and TJ surgeries started to rise WELL before the pitch clock. 

[mvp 78]

Just now, Hugh2 said:

Dude is 33 and has been in the majors for 7 years up and down.  He's not magically becoming a different player.  If a few guys went down and he started the year hot, sure ride that wave until it crashes.  But he's looking like a really nice depth piece for AAA. 

It's really easy for a fringe spot on a roster to mash pitchers who are more concerned with building up their innings and arm strength than getting you out. 

The last time he played in MLB, he had a k rate of 40+% over a big sample size. He's an OF Bobby Dalbec. He's a guy that is supposed to go off in Spring Training. You want him in AAA selling tickets, hitting bombs and sending kids home happy.

[Hugh2]

Ah you gotta love the spring training narratives, I will say the ones this year are more fun than in years passed.  It does feel that this is a better team with higher expectations.  

 

[mvp 78]

1 minute ago, Hugh2 said:

15 seconds is plenty of time to throw a pitch. Imagine if basketball players got 15 seconds in-between every basket.  Also, I'm fairly certain the trend of increasing injuries and TJ surgeries started to rise WELL before the pitch clock. 

I believe it's more about max effort than the time between pitches. If pitchers were dialing it down 2-3 mph and locating, there arms would be in a better position.

[Hugh2]

6 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I believe it's more about max effort than the time between pitches. If pitchers were dialing it down 2-3 mph and locating, there arms would be in a better position.

That's the explanation I have read that makes the most sense.  The human body has limits, you can train and get faster and stronger but your body's ability to handle that load doesn't always move in lock step.   

Professional athletes train for functionality, not optimal health.  A pro power lifter is going to deadlift more than me or you, but his chances of a back injury are significantly higher. 

If you went to a personal trainer and wanted an exercise program put together to build strength and improve overall health and fitness, it would be completely different than a kid who went to a trainer and wanted a program to be able to throw a baseball faster.  Obviously they train with the most advanced knowledge and programs are put together to build functional strength in such a way that helps to prevent injuries but if the action of your sport is naturally un-natural human movement that training will only do so much. 

Kids are throwing harder.  Pitching is a not a natural movement.  I don't think there's a silver bullet to this, increased chance of injury is just part of this sport now. 

[moonslav59]

33 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

He has no options. If they put him on the roster, the only way to get him to AAA is to DFA. I think Nate Eaton is more likely an option. Also, it's just Spring Training and these homers mean nothing. 

We have two easy 60 Day IL guys, too- Murphy & Perales. No need for DFA's just yet.

[Bellhorn04]

50 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Which ball specifically? I think a lot of the older measurements are completely made up (i.e. the Williams seat).

Reggie's shot off the light tower was impressive though.

[Larry Cook]

19 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

We have two easy 60 Day IL guys, too- Murphy & Perales. No need for DFA's just yet.

Maybe bres-slow should be working the phones to see if there is a market for sogard or Hamilton. We can use more bullpen depth pieces!!!!!

[Hitch]

1 hour ago, Hugh2 said:

Dude is 33 and has been in the majors for 7 years up and down.  He's not magically becoming a different player.  If a few guys went down and he started the year hot, sure ride that wave until it crashes.  But he's looking like a really nice depth piece for AAA. 

It's really easy for a fringe spot on a roster to mash pitchers who are more concerned with building up their innings and arm strength than getting you out. 

Exactly this. It always catches me out how much stock people put on ST numbers. Every year, people keep thinking they're witnessing the birth of a new superstar. The same guy that's been in the league for 7 years scratching to make a living. 

[Hugh2]

10 minutes ago, Hitch said:

Exactly this. It always catches me out how much stock people put on ST numbers. Every year, people keep thinking they're witnessing the birth of a new superstar. The same guy that's been in the league for 7 years scratching to make a living. 

And we aren't even talking about just spring training, we are talking early spring training.  

I get that we are all eager to talk baseball, and spring training games is the only thing we have at the moment.  I can respect that. 

[mvp 78]

1 hour ago, Hugh2 said:

That's the explanation I have read that makes the most sense.  The human body has limits, you can train and get faster and stronger but your body's ability to handle that load doesn't always move in lock step.   

Professional athletes train for functionality, not optimal health.  A pro power lifter is going to deadlift more than me or you, but his chances of a back injury are significantly higher. 

If you went to a personal trainer and wanted an exercise program put together to build strength and improve overall health and fitness, it would be completely different than a kid who went to a trainer and wanted a program to be able to throw a baseball faster.  Obviously they train with the most advanced knowledge and programs are put together to build functional strength in such a way that helps to prevent injuries but if the action of your sport is naturally un-natural human movement that training will only do so much. 

Kids are throwing harder.  Pitching is a not a natural movement.  I don't think there's a silver bullet to this, increased chance of injury is just part of this sport now. 

And elsewhere it was noted that a pitch like the sweeper may add additional strain on the elbow. Pitching that at 100% effort everytime may not be worth it in the long run. Just look at how the Rays have treated their pitching staff over the years. Lots of great young arms and reclamation projects who pop for a year and lots of injuries. 

[jad]

Injuries every day?   You have that in EVERY sport.  The one piece of evidence (non-anecdotal) offered above suggests that there is no increase in injury for pitchers related to the pitch clock.  That evidence may or may not be valid, but it's the only thing offered except pure speculation and the whining of individual pitchers.

[mvp 78]

59 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

We have two easy 60 Day IL guys, too- Murphy & Perales. No need for DFA's just yet.

If you add them to the MLB roster to start the year, the only way to get them back to AAA is to DFA them. People are getting too worked up over Spring Training numbers as usual. 

[notin]

1 hour ago, Hugh2 said:

15 seconds is plenty of time to throw a pitch. Imagine if basketball players got 15 seconds in-between every basket.  Also, I'm fairly certain the trend of increasing injuries and TJ surgeries started to rise WELL before the pitch clock. 

The data I posted had it around 2012, peaking in 2014-15.  Of course this was TJ surgeries only, and it’s possible that advancements in the procedure allow for surgeries on tears previously deemed irreparable, or something like that…