Spring Training game thread: Week of Feb 21

[notin]

6 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

But as his agent, my argument is that he should be compared to CFs, since he has shown that ability.  Since we are in combine season, it's like asking the tweener players you represent to line up with groups that get paid better.

Why would I be talking to his agent about his defensive skillset?

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

54 minutes ago, notin said:

Much easier said than done.  “Just hit the ball” when half the #4 starters in the league can throw 95mph for multiple innings is a taller order than we think.  And some of those bullpen guys specialize in limiting contact…

So just swing from your heels in case the pitch hits your bat!

[notin]

24 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

So just swing from your heels in case the pitch hits your bat!

Ah yes, quoted directly from “The Art of Hitting” by Bobby Dalbec…

[Hugh2]

I think the Sox offense will be better than people think.  They have several guys on the roster who have hit 30+ home runs; thought I wouldn’t bet on Story and Contreras doing it again.  But I bet those guys are going to hit 20+ and as a matter of fact, if you redid the threshold to 20 almost the entire lineup looks ready to do so, minus maybe Durbin and Narvaez, though Narvy did hit 15 in his rookie season.  There  are several younger players with plus to plus plus raw power who very well may have that 20-30 power as well. 
 

we also haven’t seen the effect of the new ABS system which is said to be pro batter.  This team will have 20+ power and tons of doubles power.  With more hitters walking and getting on base.  They will keep the chains moving.  
 

if someone like Roman Anthony takes a major step forward we could even border elite.

[moonslav59]

One thing to remember is that Duran has never started in CF or LF more than 117 games in any season. Last year, was the most he ever started in any one slot (117 gms in LF.)

Games started:

2021: 25 CF/ 1 LF

2022: 37 CF/ 7 RF/ 1 DH

2023: 52 CF/12 LF/ 1 RF/ 1DH

2024: 89 CF/ 71 LF

2025: 117 LF/ 15 CF

Innings:

2021: 215/223 CF

2022: 416/463 CF

2023: 557/731 CF

2024: 810/1421 CF (Rafaela used at SS 647/2B 45)

2025: 1149/1346 LF

DRS:

Abreu: RF +32 (1776 innings) LF +1 (113) CF -1 (87)

Rafaela: CF +32 (1915) -3 SS (692) +2 2B (221)

Duran: CF -4 (2193, but +17 in 2024) LF +17 (1941), RF +1 (50)

OAA

Abreu: RF +14, LF +1, CF -1

Rafaela: CF +28, SS -8, 2B +1

Duran: CF +5,  LF 0, RF 0

The metrics cleary show Duran LF, Rafaela CF & Duran RF is the best, but that 2024 season makes some wonder.

[moonslav59]

2025 Team OF Defense

DRS

52 BOS

36 TEX

27 TOR

18 CHC

12 MIA

OAA

31 BOS

18 CHC

16 MIL, 15 AZ, 14 TEX, 13 MIA

In 2024, BOS was tied with TOR for 1st in OF DRS at +48, MIL was at 37, then a big drop off. BOS was 5th in OAA at +16. (TOR was +27 and a bunch were at +16-18)

[Duran Is The Man]

1 hour ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

It's true, and what drives me crazy the most in extra innings when there's a Ghost on 2nd or 3rd and I yell "TOUCH the ball!"

It's ok if they don't want to sac bunt, but at least choke up and put a ball on the damn ground, preferably to the right side. 

I know, easier said than done, but not if athletes with elite hand-eye actually practice it. Bregman did, and we assume Durbin does because he doesn't strike out -- but all pros need to be able to execute a basic function of being a batter. If they want to win...

ghost runner on second. batter bunts to third. ghost runner moves to third. sac fly and the ghost runner scores. so easy.

[moonslav59]

Just now, Duran Is The Man said:

ghost runner on second. batter bunts to third. ghost runner moves to third. sac fly and the ghost runner scores. so easy.

SAC bunt then SAC fly sounds easy, but...

Is it easier than one single before 3 outs?

[jad]

Story and Duran obviously have no clue, not playing small ball as they should.

[notin]

50 minutes ago, Duran Is The Man said:

ghost runner on second. batter bunts to third. ghost runner moves to third. sac fly and the ghost runner scores. so easy.

Sac bunt to third followed by a strikeout makes things much tougher.

[Duran Is The Man]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

SAC bunt then SAC fly sounds easy, but...

Is it easier than one single before 3 outs?

sac fly or a single with the man on third works either way.

[Duran Is The Man]

46 minutes ago, notin said:

Sac bunt to third followed by a strikeout makes things much tougher.

with this team, i'd sac bunt to third every time. 

[moonslav59]

56 minutes ago, jad said:

Story and Duran obviously have no clue, not playing small ball as they should.

They never got the memo.

[moonslav59]

5 minutes ago, Duran Is The Man said:

sac fly or a single with the man on third works either way.

But you may have wasted an out and cut the chances of a single from 3 to 2.

I'm not against sac bunts with the ghost runner, and I think doing it every now and then, keeps the infielders in and improves the chances for a single, when you do swing away.

A lot depends on who is up or coming up.

Can the guy up bunt well?

Are the next 3 guys good batters? If you have three .275 batters coming up, there is a good chance 1 gets a hit every 3 PAs.

[Duran Is The Man]

9 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

But you may have wasted an out and cut the chances of a single from 3 to 2.

I'm not against sac bunts with the ghost runner, and I think doing it every now and then, keeps the infielders in and improves the chances for a single, when you do swing away.

A lot depends on who is up or coming up.

Can the guy up bunt well?

Are the next 3 guys good batters? If you have three .275 batters coming up, there is a good chance 1 gets a hit every 3 PAs.

Sox kicking butt today. you should do one of your "tiny sample sizes" and tell us who's hot and who's not. 

 

[moonslav59]

I've never been one to put much stock in ST'ing numbers, especially just the first week of it, but we have some guys smoking it:

As of mid game...

10+ PAs

1.916 Duran

1.400 Rafaela

1.273 Story

1.238 Contreras

1.225 Narvaez

1.080 Monasterio

.967 Eaton

.844 Durbin

.829 Ward

.764 Castro, .744 Campbell

.667 Cheng, .666 Romero, .644 Hickey

.583 IKF, .421 Abreu, .311 Sogard

5-9 PAs:

1.914 McDonough

1.666 Mayer

1.214 Gasper

.762 Ferguson, .616 Anthony, .533 Rodgers, .453 Delay

.286 Wong, .167 Thaiss, .000 Capra

 

[moonslav59]

2 minutes ago, Duran Is The Man said:

Sox kicking butt today. you should do one of your "tiny sample sizes" and tell us who's hot and who's not. 

 

I was doing it as you spoke!!!

LOL

[moonslav59]

Early ERA numbers: (w IP)

0.00 Early (3.1) Whitlock (3 IP) Sansone (2.2) Crochet, Guerrero, Olds & Weissert (2)

0.00 Oviedo, Uberstine, Keller, Moran (1.2) Sena (1.1) Chapman, Slaten, Song, Adams, Allmer (1.0)

3.00 Watson (3)

3.86 Wu-Yelland (2.1)

4.50 Kelly (2)

5.40 Sikkema (1.2)

6.75 Bennet (1.1) Webb (2.2)

7.36 Tolle (3.2)

10.86 Ranger (1.2)

12.00 Martinez (3)

notables:

13.50 Gray (1.1)

24.30 Bello (3.1)

[jad]

AGAIN Duran fails to take advantage of his speed.  Shees.  What's the use?  If he won't learn the fundamentals, DFA him.

[Duran Is The Man]

20 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I was doing it as you spoke!!!

LOL

that's crazy. 

[notin]

58 minutes ago, Duran Is The Man said:

with this team, i'd sac bunt to third every time. 

They strike out too out too much for that.  Just get the hit…

[moonslav59]

1 minute ago, notin said:

They strike out too out too much for that.  Just get the hit…

You have to keep the opps guessing. Doing something every time is counterproductive.

[moonslav59]

It took 6 innings to shut out these powerful Red Sox bats!

[vegasbob]

Nice show of power today including Duran's 2 HRs and Max Ferguson's grannie to seal it.

Mixed reviews on pitching but outscoring the oppo leads to wins in any case.

 

[moonslav59]

24 minutes ago, vegasbob said:

Hah !  LH hitter McDonough hits a GS on a 2 strike count off a LH pitcher .  Make room for a 27th utility IF'er

Tyler is a another smaller fellowqat 5'-8"/180 but carries a phat bat.  Not even on the 40 yet.

It was Max Ferguson with the Granny.

He's 6-1.

[vjcsmoke]

1 hour ago, jad said:

AGAIN Duran fails to take advantage of his speed.  Shees.  What's the use?  If he won't learn the fundamentals, DFA him.

Duran hits 2 homeruns against the twins and you want to DFA him? Surely this is a joke.

Looks like the Red Sox were right not to move Duran. Despite the logjam in the outfield, he is likely to be a mainstay of our offense. I'm thinking he is going to make the jump to 20-30 homeruns range this year.

We need a breakout season from Roman Anthony as well. If he breaks into that .900+ OPS range he could be a franchise player for years to come.

[JoeBrady]

6 hours ago, notin said:

Why would I be talking to his agent about his defensive skillset?

It was a hypothetical based on extending him and his arbitration awards.  My concern was that his final year might be a lot higher now based on the new rules.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Bottom of extras in a tie game: sac bunt the Ghost to 3rd, then sac bunt him home. 

You're a professional batter with elite hand-eye, holding the bat horizontally in the way of the pitch. 

If the pitch is higher than your bat, pull back and try again on the next pitch.

 

[JoeBrady]

5 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

If you have three .275 batters coming up, there is a good chance 1 gets a hit every 3 PAs.

38.1%.

[jad]

4 hours ago, vjcsmoke said:

Duran hits 2 homeruns against the twins and you want to DFA him? Surely this is a joke.

Looks like the Red Sox were right not to move Duran. Despite the logjam in the outfield, he is likely to be a mainstay of our offense. I'm thinking he is going to make the jump to 20-30 homeruns range this year.

We need a breakout season from Roman Anthony as well. If he breaks into that .900+ OPS range he could be a franchise player for years to come.

He shoulda bunted!!  Anyone with even an ounce of baseball savvy can see that.  how are you going to play small ball if guys keep hitting dingers?