Spring Training game thread: Week of Feb 21

[jad]

2 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

You just gotta be aggressive in the top of the 1st in ST when runs are at a premium. 

not so aggressive that the catcher can roll a blunt waiting for you to arrive,   but you're right--it's ST so it hardly matters.

[drewski6]

3 minutes ago, jad said:

not so aggressive that the catcher can roll a blunt waiting for you to arrive,   but you're right--it's ST so it hardly matters.

Catchers dont roll blunts because they dont wanna Puff, puff, pass(ed ball)

[moonslav59]

37 minutes ago, FredLynn said:

You still don't get it. I DO care if the Orioles finish above us and make the playoffs instead of us. 

I get it: you are saying contradictory things, and not just once.

You literally just wrote this...

Lets try it a different way: I don't really care if the Orioles make the playoffs or if they signed Alonso.

I'm taking a break from responding to anything you post, since is an amorphous blob of words.

[FredLynn]

6 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I get it: you are saying contradictory things, and not just once.

You literally just wrote this...

Lets try it a different way: I don't really care if the Orioles make the playoffs or if they signed Alonso.

I'm taking a break from responding to anything you post, since is an amorphous blob of words.

Suit yourself. It’s your lack of ability to understand the concept that is the problem, not what I write. Others here have no problem understanding it. You do. I am not the problem. You are. 

[moonslav59]

3 minutes ago, FredLynn said:

Suit yourself. It’s your lack of ability to understand the concept that is the problem, not what I write. Others here have no problem understanding it. You do. I am not the problem. You are. 

I fully understand contradictions.

[moonslav59]

Oviedo looked pretty good.

BTW, is this still the "Week of Feb 21?"

[drewski6]

2 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I fully understand contradictions.

A contradiction dog is a veggie dog with real beef chili on it. 

[FredLynn]

3 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I fully understand contradictions.

Obviously you don’t understand what I am saying. There are no contradictions. Let’s give it one more try: I DO care if the Orioles, for example, finish above us costing us a playoff spot. I DONT care how they accomplished that. I DO care what the Flops DIDNT DO to get better. There are no contradictions there. 

[moonslav59]

Just now, drewski6 said:

A contradiction dog is a veggie dog with real beef chili on it. 

Topped with Chicharron & Tofu.

[mvp 78]

After having a 10% k rate last year, Franklin Arias now has a 100% k rate. 🥺

[drewski6]

Just now, mvp 78 said:

After having a 10% k rate last year, Franklin Arias now has a 100% k rate. 🥺

My name is Franklin Arias, and Im a certified G and a bona fide stud and you cant teach that.  This right here is Justin Gonzales, hes 7 feet tall and you cant teach that. Bada boom, realest guys in the room.

[mvp 78]

Halligan just killed Watson's ST ERA with that GS to Barger. 

I mean, the pitching stinks. 

[mvp 78]

Justin Gonzales exit velo just now 117.3 🥵

[Kimmi]

On 2/25/2026 at 4:36 PM, Old Red said:

Duran turns 30 in SEPTEMBER, and I just don’t see any extension coming from the Red Sox. Abreu turned down an extension in 2024, so I don’t know if the Red Sox have tried since. Nothing on any extension for Mayer’s at this point either.

I agree that the Red Sox probably won't extend Duran.  I'd still do it.  Of course, the length of the extension is based on the player's age, so I'm not talking a 5 year extension for him.  Two years, maybe three.  IMO, the Red Sox should have extended him a couple of years ago.

Abreu probably won't get extended because it sounds like he is willing to bet on himself.  Translation:  Show me the money.  Or in other words, he doesn't sound willing to give a team discount, which is essential from the team's standpoint.

In spite of Mayer's injury history, I'd take a chance on him.

[Kimmi]

On 2/25/2026 at 4:51 PM, moonslav59 said:

He's not so "young."

He's not old, either. He turns 30 in September and will be 32 when his years of control run out. 32 seems like the age to move on, but I'd be okay with extending him one year beyond the current control years and buying out his 2 remaining arb years.

Maybe he gets $11-13M in '27 and $14-17M in '28, assuming he keeps doing well, so what would an extension look like?

$28M for the 2 arb years and $20M for the extra year? So... $48M/3?

I'd be willing to extend Duran beyond just one year, but definitely no more than three.  I understand that Duran is not so young, but the point of extensions is to save money over the free agency price.  In doing so, you tend to get the better value deals.  I understand that there is also risk involved, but that's a chance I'm willing to take instead of paying outrageous free agency money.

I also understand that many people don't care about value, they just want the best player, no matter the cost.  I respect that opinion, I just don't agree with it. 

[Kimmi]

On 2/25/2026 at 5:48 PM, JoeBrady said:

to me, while I wouldn't admire a short HR, I don't care.  But it has to be a real shot.  Not some rinky-dink 360 footer.  Everyone gets one of those.  If you hit it 450 feet, then I don't care.

Being the biased fan that I am, it doesn't bother me nearly as much when a Red Sox player does it.  If I see a Yankee player showboating after hitting a home run off of a Red Sox pitcher, that's a whole other story.  I might even throw a few choice words at the screen.  LOL

I agree that it's more "acceptable" to admire a long home run or a game-winning walk off home run, but I'd rather not see it at all.

[Kimmi]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

BTW, is this still the "Week of Feb 21?"

It's been a loooong week.

That said, I can't believe it's already March, and even more unbelievable is that we spring forward on Saturday!  Temps in the 70s later this week!

[Kimmi]

OK, I have not been able to watch a spring training game yet.  My Extra Innings package, hence my MLB.tv, doesn't kick in until regular season.  ☹️

I'm looking forward to Yankees and Red Sox on ESPN on Wednesday.

[drewski6]

18 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Justin Gonzales exit velo just now 117.3 🥵

If this was in a game that counted, that might be in the top 50 all time hardest hit balls.  Now granted , Franchy Cordero has  few in top 50, so its no guarantee that hard hitters are going to be awesome ballplayers - but not a terrible sign.

[drewski6]

29 minutes ago, Kimmi said:

OK, I have not been able to watch a spring training game yet.  My Extra Innings package, hence my MLB.tv, doesn't kick in until regular season.  ☹️

I'm looking forward to Yankees and Red Sox on ESPN on Wednesday.

I watched yesterdays :)

KC got absolutely robbed on a beauty diving play by some Orioles super fast RF'er

[moonslav59]

46 minutes ago, Kimmi said:

I'd be willing to extend Duran beyond just one year, but definitely no more than three.  I understand that Duran is not so young, but the point of extensions is to save money over the free agency price.  In doing so, you tend to get the better value deals.  I understand that there is also risk involved, but that's a chance I'm willing to take instead of paying outrageous free agency money.

I also understand that many people don't care about value, they just want the best player, no matter the cost.  I respect that opinion, I just don't agree with it. 

It's hard to know what a "better value" deal is for someone who will turn 33 in the first year of an extension (2029.) It's like a double gamble. I'm not sure about hurrying to try and extend him for 2030, when he turns 34 in September of that year. More than 2 years added on seems way too risky.

[moonslav59]

I think our pitching staff has allowed more ST'ing runs than any other team.

I think we're #2 in runs scored.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

2 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

Justin Gonzales exit velo just now 117.3 🥵

What about Braiden Ward! He crushed two pitches at 5 mph in between the plate and the mound, then his legs exit veloed out of the box at 95 mph. Two more hits, two more trips around the bases (once he even scored).

But in his 3rd AB he blew it: 50 mph pop-up.

Another foe feed on NESN, this time Toronto's. When Cespedes got up, they called him Yo Alien. 

His proud parents Romulan "Romy" Balboa and Klinger Klingon cheered from outer space.

[moonslav59]

If we can ever pitch Song followed by Sansone, we can sing...

Song- San-sone

Weeping like a willow

Song-San-sone

Sleeping on my pillow

Funny thing, Alez can sing it with a cry in his voice

And before you know it, we started feeling good

Cora simply got not choice.

[JoeBrady]

4 hours ago, Kimmi said:

That said, I can't believe it's already March

It's not.  It's only February 30th.

[mvp 78]

15 hours ago, drewski6 said:

If this was in a game that counted, that might be in the top 50 all time hardest hit balls.  Now granted , Franchy Cordero has  few in top 50, so its no guarantee that hard hitters are going to be awesome ballplayers - but not a terrible sign.

No guarantee for sure. He won't turn 20 until December and has a long way to go in his development. 

[Kimmi]

On 3/2/2026 at 4:34 PM, drewski6 said:

I watched yesterdays :)

KC got absolutely robbed on a beauty diving play by some Orioles super fast RF'er

I love watching great defensive plays, even when they're made against us.  Yes, it's frustrating, but you have to tip your cap.  I'm thoroughly impressed by what MLB players can do on the field.

I'm getting ready to watch the Yankees/Red Sox game that I recorded.  Exciting times for me!

[Kimmi]

On 3/2/2026 at 4:55 PM, moonslav59 said:

I think our pitching staff has allowed more ST'ing runs than any other team.

I think we're #2 in runs scored.

Exactly as we expected...

[Kimmi]

On 3/2/2026 at 9:01 PM, JoeBrady said:

It's not.  It's only February 30th.

Who decided that February would only have 28 days anyway?  It must have been Punksutawney Phil.

[mvp 78]

40 minutes ago, Kimmi said:

Who decided that February would only have 28 days anyway?  It must have been Punksutawney Phil.

The Romans.