Spring Training game thread: Week of Feb 21

[Hitch]

19 hours ago, JoeBrady said:

I think IKF gets all the RH IF ABs, even assuming they occasionally platoon Mayer.  I think Romy becomes a platoon DH/emergency IF.

I feel the opposite. Romy is great against Lefties. Matches up nicely with Mayer.

Assuming health, of course.

[mvp 78]

1 minute ago, Hitch said:

I feel the opposite. Romy is great against Lefties. Matches up nicely with Mayer.

Assuming health, of course.

Yup, it's why they moved Mayer to 2b. Romy can't play 3b. 

[Old Red]

Just now, Hitch said:

I feel the opposite. Romy is great against Lefties. Matches up nicely with Mayer.

Assuming health, of course.

Both could be right. Romy if healthy would bat somewhere.

[Old Red]

1 minute ago, mvp 78 said:

Yup, it's why they moved Mayer to 2b. Romy can't play 3b. 

Romy could still DH depending on what they do there, and if Abreu plays full time.

[moonslav59]

5 hours ago, Hugh2 said:

Maybe, maybe not.  They want Campbell getting regular at bats, Eaton is filling a utility role.  Apples to oranges.

Agreed. Campbell will not be an exclusive short-side platoon bat only.

If he can show the ability to hit RHBs, then the equation might change, but it will still take an OF'er injury for him to play OF/DH near FT.

He still might have a shot at 2B, but an injury may be needed there, as well, although the chance of Mayer or Durbin flopping is higher than one of our 4 OF'ers.

[mvp 78]

28 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Agreed. Campbell will not be an exclusive short-side platoon bat only.

If he can show the ability to hit RHBs, then the equation might change, but it will still take an OF'er injury for him to play OF/DH near FT.

He still might have a shot at 2B, but an injury may be needed there, as well, although the chance of Mayer or Durbin flopping is higher than one of our 4 OF'ers.

In order to have a shot at 2b, he'll actually have to play there! 

[moonslav59]

2 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

In order to have a shot at 2b, he'll actually have to play there! 

Yup, and if an infield injury occurs, he'll probably plays a few days in AAA, then be called up- assuming he's hitting well.

IKF could also be handed a FT or near FT role, if a major 2B/3B/SS injury happens.

[mvp 78]

1 minute ago, moonslav59 said:

Yup, and if an infield injury occurs, he'll probably plays a few days in AAA, then be called up- assuming he's hitting well.

IKF could also be handed a FT or near FT role, if a major 2B/3B/SS injury happens.

He needs more than a few days to get passable at 2b!

-16 DRS, -8 OAA, -10 FRV

Mike Moustakas played a better 2b! Travis Shaw played a better 2b! 

 

[moonslav59]

5 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

He needs more than a few days to get passable at 2b!

-16 DRS, -8 OAA, -10 FRV

Mike Moustakas played a better 2b! Travis Shaw played a better 2b! 

 

Maybe Brez is different, but the Sox gave up on "passable 2B defense" long ago.

(Nunez & E Valdez are 2 of the top 5 innings guys at 2B since 2017.)

[mvp 78]

6 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Maybe Brez is different, but the Sox gave up on "passable 2B defense" long ago.

(Nunez & E Valdez are 2 of the top 5 innings guys at 2B since 2017.)

I think with the IKF signing, they are showing that they are trying to maximize IF defense. 

Durbin was an above average 3b. Story was good at SS until the EOY. Mayer should be well above average 2b. Contreras is an above average 1b. 

If they swapped Story and Mayer, it would be a very good defense for sure. 

[moonslav59]

17 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I think with the IKF signing, they are showing that they are trying to maximize IF defense. 

Durbin was an above average 3b. Story was good at SS until the EOY. Mayer should be well above average 2b. Contreras is an above average 1b. 

If they swapped Story and Mayer, it would be a very good defense for sure. 

I totally agree.

I'm sure Cora has longed for a better defensive infield for many years. It seems Brez is more in line with that philosophy. With Duran at DH, we may have the best defensive OF in MLB. I think Narvaez is near top 10 in catcher defense.

That was a pretty quick changeover by Brez, but the big thorn was moving Devers as part of it happening.

[mvp 78]

8 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I totally agree.

I'm sure Cora has longed for a better defensive infield for many years. It seems Brez is more in line with that philosophy. With Duran at DH, we may have the best defensive OF in MLB. I think Narvaez is near top 10 in catcher defense.

That was a pretty quick changeover by Brez, but the big thorn was moving Devers as part of it happening.

Should have just tried to have a conversation with Devers last offseason about moving to 1b rather than all the smokescreen about Breggie being a 2b. I think Devers will be a fine 1b. 🫠

[Deja Doh]

Is Ward going to make this team?

[drewski6]

31 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I think with the IKF signing, they are showing that they are trying to maximize IF defense. 

Durbin was an above average 3b. Story was good at SS until the EOY. Mayer should be well above average 2b. Contreras is an above average 1b. 

If they swapped Story and Mayer, it would be a very good defense for sure. 

It is a very good defense for sure.

[drewski6]

1 minute ago, Deja Doh said:

Is Ward going to make this team?

Question on a lot of minds.

[mvp 78]

3 minutes ago, Deja Doh said:

Is Ward going to make this team?

Not on April 1. He could get a mid to late season callup. 

[Old Red]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

I think with the IKF signing, they are showing that they are trying to maximize IF defense. 

Durbin was an above average 3b. Story was good at SS until the EOY. Mayer should be well above average 2b. Contreras is an above average 1b. 

If they swapped Story and Mayer, it would be a very good defense for sure. 

I agree, and I’m all for the Story/Mayer swap, but only if Mayer is full time.

[mvp 78]

8 minutes ago, Old Red said:

I agree, and I’m all for the Story/Mayer swap, but only if Mayer is full time.

I think the Sox have two long term options in front of them if they are holding onto Mayer. 

2028:

Mayer 2B, Arias SS

Godbout 2B, Mayer SS

It may just depend on how the prospects develop over the next 18 months.

[Old Red]

12 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I think the Sox have two long term options in front of them if they are holding onto Mayer. 

2028:

Mayer 2B, Arias SS

Godbout 2B, Mayer SS

It may just depend on how the prospects develop over the next 18 months.

Yes after all Mayer may never make it to SS.

[Old Red]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

Should have just tried to have a conversation with Devers last offseason about moving to 1b rather than all the smokescreen about Breggie being a 2b. I think Devers will be a fine 1b. 🫠

Devers at 1B remains to be seen, but I agree on the Conversation with Devers.

[Old Red]

2 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Agreed. Campbell will not be an exclusive short-side platoon bat only.

If he can show the ability to hit RHBs, then the equation might change, but it will still take an OF'er injury for him to play OF/DH near FT.

He still might have a shot at 2B, but an injury may be needed there, as well, although the chance of Mayer or Durbin flopping is higher than one of our 4 OF'ers.

Disagree on KC at 2B. He had his shot there at least for the foreseeable future.

[moonslav59]

37 minutes ago, Old Red said:

Disagree on KC at 2B. He had his shot there at least for the foreseeable future.

I said the exact same words, "He has a shot at 2B," yet you disagree  then quote me verbdom.

 

[Old Red]

8 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I said the exact same words, "He has a shot at 2B," yet you disagree  then quote me verbdom.

 

No I said he’s HAD his shot at 2B. You said he still might have a shot at 2B. Two entirely different things, and that’s why I disagreed.🤭

[moonslav59]

8 minutes ago, Old Red said:

No I said he’s HAD his shot at 2B. You said he still might have a shot at 2B. Two entirely different things, and that’s why I disagreed.🤭

Weren't you the one who said can, will and might all mean the same thing?

[moonslav59]

10 minutes ago, Old Red said:

No I said he’s HAD his shot at 2B. You said he still might have a shot at 2B. Two entirely different things, and that’s why I disagreed.🤭

My bad. I thought you wrote "has." Sorry.

I just got new glasses, too!

🤓

[Old Red]

5 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Weren't you the one who said can, will and might all mean the same thing?

I said the result was all the same thing, but HAD, and still might is not the same thing.

[Kimmi]

On 3/4/2026 at 3:58 PM, mvp 78 said:

The Romans. 

I did know that, vaguely.

[mvp 78]

2 minutes ago, Kimmi said:

I did know that, vaguely.

I didn't! 🫠

[Kimmi]

On 3/5/2026 at 10:13 AM, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

There is the possibility that all four of our BIG FOUR outfielders are slightly overrated here by optimistic posters. 

There's also the reality of way too much angst about the forum's favorite roster punching bag, our FIFTH OUTFIELDER -- who will play regularly in the field for the defending world champions in an international tournament this month, but apparently never an inning for the defending AL East Wild Card losers.

The possibility above is that the entire quartet is prone to high strikeout rates... unlike Yoshida. I don't love double play grounders to second, but a line-up of whiffers can benefit from a few contact guys, too.

So where can he ever fit in?!?!? A: somewhere in a batting order with excessive swing and miss. That said, I'm amped that all five of them are getting experience and hopefully, added confidence from regular reps in the WBC.

Thank you for defending Yoshida.  I really don't want to see him playing left field, but I'm not nearly as eager to trade him as most people are.  

[Kimmi]

8 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I didn't! 🫠

One of the added perks of Talksox.  You learn all kinds of things here.