seabeachfred

It's a good lineup Palodios, but my question is when do we use it because it looks like Crawford is going to be out for awhile and I wonder when he comes back and then in inserted into the batting order whether or not it will jumble things up. I still would like to see him hit second; just too damn bad he had to come up lame just when he's entering a make-up season for last year's less than stellar performance. I waiting to hear just how long he is going to be out this time.

I sure hope Bard is working on his change-up, whatever it may be, in Spring Training games. A good fast ball and slider are thrown hard so it might not fox out hitters that much in variation, and if Bard hangs one, it's out of here. A change throws the hitter's timing off, and, besides, I think a good starter needs three decent pitchers to win big unless his name in Clayton Kershaw or Tim Lincecom and at last check we don't have either of them. What I do not know is whether Bard even has a change. Anyone know of i t?

Some of us suggested this earlier in the week and it went nowhere. I think it is time to say adios to this thread. The games in Florida are now beginning and it doesn't seem like the off season any more to me.

Well with Crawford on the shelf now for maybe the first two or three weeks of the season barring a miracle, I think we can go something like Ellsbury, Pedroia, Gonzales, Youk, Papi (those two are interchangeable but we have a left, right, left, right, left), Ross, Aviles, Salty and Sweeney. Sweeney I'm told can run, so we would have some speed from nine, one, two. It would be nice if Sweeney finally lived up to the promise the A's had for him earlier in his career, but I will go on record and predict that Aviles will be a pleasant hitting surprise and Ross COULD be made for Fenway Park. We'll know more when he see how they hit when the ST games get deep into March.

You know what I would like to see posted? After each ST game a report to see if all of our guys got through the game without getting injured or banged up. IMO we really need to stay healthy this season since we may not have the depth in pitching other clubs have UNLESS a couple of those so-called dregs suddenly discover the fountain of youth. That is why I was encouraged by what 700 said about Bard and Aceves. If they looked fine yesterday it is a small step in the right direction.

I'm having a hard time getting a handle on this Sox Sport. They say he reinjured his wrist bunting???? Well from my experience bunting takes very little pressure from the wrist if any, but swinging a bat takes plenty. If he hurt it bunting my guess is that he is going to feel some real pressure and pain when he swings the bat. The team had better be very cautiious about this and just let him heal and give him all the therapy he needs, and for crying out loud let's not pull a Buchhholz #2. Give the guy an MRI as soon as possible so they can learn the full extent of this injury.

Wrist injuries just don't heal that quickly.....can we at least all agree on that??? In my opinion, Crawford should be shut down completely and another MRI taken forthwith and whatever therapy he needs given to him----and he doesn't touch a bat until he is completely cleared. It didn't know this would happen but I had a feeling it could. This injury needs to be monitored very carefully and extensively.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that guy a left handed hitter? We already seem to be up to our sweetbreads in those kind of outfielders. Now give me a solid RH power hhitting outfielder and we can talk turkey. Anyway, let me know if he is a lefty.

You get the last word on that. Now let's move on from here.

Sorry if you took it as bragging; it was not that at all in my opinion. It is just when you have a long background of experience coaching baseball, working with high school and college players and doing some volunteering scouting for professional scouts who respect your opinion on things, you do have a tendency to develop an eye for certain types that might be above the garden variety of players. There are a large number MVP who project high with talent but most never make it, some fail miserably. The talent is still there but someting is lacking. They either lack the relentlessness that is needed, t he learning curve that is deficient, or an attitude that is alien to success in a very tough business. Pedroia was mentioned and there were a few that didn't think he could make it, too small, not fast enough, arm average. But he made it big because he was smart, determined and willing to pay the price. I saw that out here when he played at Arizona State when they came to California to play UCLA and SC. Ellsbury? An ability to just get better with each season, a body that could grow and develop from the time he left college, not to mention blinding speed and ability to get the bat on the ball. In other words, this basically singles and doubles hitter could mature into a stronger hitter. I never believed he was a 30 homer man, but he looked capable of developing into a 15-20 homer man combined with his speed to hit 300 in the Bigs and play a good CF. Some of that you can see when you've been around the game as long as I have. It is NOT bragging, just trying to share my background to help things along. I don't expect Boxxi to get it because aside f rom a very dirty and filthy mouth, her kn owledge of the game will remain mediocre because rather than try and learn a thing or two from someone who might know more than she does, she would rather curse the guy out and tell him he doesn't know what he's talking about. In that she is a very sad case I'm afraid to say. Anyway, we move on.

The only thing laughable is that you haven't a clue about raw talent when you see it. I coached baseball for over 30 years and also did some scouting (for scouts by the way) and I know talent when I see it. In Lavarnway 's case, the ball explodes off his bat and that is a rarity with young hitters. He also has a very strong arm. He needs only to sharpen his receiving and he will be a solid player. As I said take that to the bank. Now I'll put a new color in your paintbox. Remember the name Swihart; he was a top draft choice for the Red Sox last June. He is also a catcher, but they will have to make room for him too. Either Ryan or this kid will play another position because he is an outstanding young hitter. His swing is gold. Now you're in on the ground floor. Just for the record, I predicted as soon as Pedroia was drafted that he would become a solid and standout player. Oh yes, you say, easy job. ********!!!!!! There was many many many people and scouts who said he was too small and too weak to become a full time player. Ellsbury? When he was drafted out of Oregon State, I predicted that in three years he would be a 300 hitter with the Red Sox. Just for the record, there are things that I am totally inept at, but I know talent when I see it, and both Lavarnway and Swihart will be exactly that---outstanding young players if they stay healthy and develop as they should.

By June he will be ready and Salty might have to wonder about his job. Either way, in my opinion Ryan Lavarnway is the next great Red Sox RH power hitter. We haven't developed one for quite awhile. And Salty is not that great a defensive catcher himself.

For your edification EMMZ, Ryan started the last two games of the season and hit two homers. I think that's a pretty good indication he might be able to hit ML pitching. He just took one into outer space today in his first at-bat. As far as Salty is concerned he was crapola early in the year when we were in a funk or even crappier at the end when we choked record level big time. He also has trouble throwing out batters and blocking pitchers---or have you missed that up there in Minnesottahhh?. We'll just disagree on this one but I will simply inform you from my experience in scouting.....Lavarnway, if not misused, is going to be a terrific ballplayer for the Red Sox---a solid 30 homer, 100 RBI man. Take that to the bank.

Good to see someone on the same with me on this guy SCM. It could be a tad over the top but I see him as a possible Mike Piazza type. Already he has a strong arm and threw out a good percentage of runners last season and his power and hitting is already about ML level. They say he has to work on his receiving but the young man is college educated and intelligent and to me it should only be a matter of time before he takes over at catcher---at the very least takes over at DH next year. Personally I think he already blocks balls better than Salty and I think it would show Red Sox progress to see both he and Will Middlebrooks in the same lineup next season---Third Base and Catcher. I think Youk could take over at DH and be a reserve lB and 3B. It would give us more flexibility and maneuverability that what we currently have.