VA Sox Fan

FINAL Spring Training Game "A MUST WIN" as it will determine how the regular season goes!!! RED SOX (16-17-1) Ellsbury CF Victorino RF Pedroia 2B Napoli 1B Middlebrooks 3B Saltalamacchia C Gomes LF Nava DH Iglesias SS Pitching: LHP Felix Doubront followed by RHP Joel Hanrahan, RHP Koji Uehara, LHP Andrew Miller, RHP Andrew Bailey.

Ryan Sweeney not picked up by Red Sox; spot cleared for Jackie Bradley Posted by Peter Abraham, Globe Staff March 28, 2013 10:25 PM FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Red Sox Thursday night informed outfielder Ryan Sweeney they would not be purchasing his contract. Barring some kind of surprise, it would appear that 22-year-old Jackie Bradley Jr. has made the roster and will open the season with the Sox. Bradley has hit .441 in spring training with 12 RBIs and seven extra-base hits in 59 at-bats. With David Ortiz headed for the disabled list, Bradley could start in left field at Yankee Stadium on Monday afternoon with Jonny Gomes shifting to DH.

Well, technically they also have to reattach his head to his body...

Ellsbury injures right heel Posted by Nick Cafardo, Globe Staff March 24, 2013 01:43 PM CLEARWATER, Fla. - Jacoby Ellsbury left the game in the second inning, after jamming his right heel trying to get back to first base on a pickoff throw in the first inning. The Red Sox announced that Ellsbury left the game for precautionary reasons. He will be re-examined tomorrow. Shane Victorino moved from right to center and Bryce Brentz went in to play right. Ellsbury had reached on catcher's interference before attempting his first stolen base after that and was thrown out by Humberto Quintero. We’ll have more when we receive some information.

:lol::thumbsup:

I chose 4. I also try to be objective and positive. Sept 2011- Sept 2012 was rough. I have put it in the past, as it is and should be. I am looking forward to this season and have hope. When BV was announced as the new manager in 2012, I was so bummed but tried to be optimistic. He turned out to be the dolt and failure I dreaded. Obviously, it wasn't all him by any means. A lot of the fan base has become an embarassment, obviously. Constant negativity by some, I can understand to a point. But it gets so annoying, old and boring. No need to wave pom poms and expect the best either. There is a happy median, right? I hope so. Personally, I will always love this team and hope for the best. I think it's time for ownership to move on. But what do I know? I'm open-minded about Cherington and Farrell. The roster is very promising top to bottom. Not big on predictions etc. So psyched for a NEW season. Good poll Bellhorn.

:thumbsup: YAY!

I have MLB Extra Innings for the regular season. If NESN televises the ST games the I watch them there. But damn does SD SUCK!

I have Verizon Fios and it's part of the Sports Package. But it only recently showed up and it's not an HD channel which completely sucks.

I don't think I have it.

What channel are you watching the game on? NESN doesn't have it.

The Jackie Bradley conundrum Posted by Peter Abraham, Globe Staff March 21, 2013 08:45 AM FORT MYERS, Fla. — If the idea was to pick the 25 best players, Jackie Bradley Jr. would make the Red Sox. He has been that good in spring training. But it's rarely that simple with baseball. The reason the Red Sox have a decision to make is buried within the pages of baseball's collective bargaining agreement and the rules for free agency. Players become eligible for free agency after six full seasons of service time in the major leagues. The day a player appears in his first game, his "clock" starts. Players watch that clock intently knowing that it takes six years for them to gain some degree of control over their careers. If Bradley starts the season with the Red Sox and sticks with them, he would become a free agent after the 2018 season. Because he is represented by Scott Boras, it's reasonable to assume that Bradley would then go into the open market to determine his worth. However if the Red Sox were to keep Bradley in the minors for 11 days to start the season, he would not become eligible for free agency until after the 2019 season. This is why, for instance, the Angels did not promote Mike Trout until April 28 last season. The Red Sox could, in theory, have Bradley start the season with them and stop his clock later in the season by sending him to the minors for 20 days. That also would preserve a year. The issue then becomes what if Bradley is so good that sending him down hurts the team? It might be a lot easier to send him down now than later on. A few other factors that weigh into the decision: • This discussion is not even being held if David Ortiz were healthy because there would be nowhere for Bradley to play. But with Ortiz expected to miss anywhere from two weeks to a month (at least), the Sox could play Bradley in right field, shift Shane Victorino to left and use Jonny Gomes as the designated hitter. • This discussion is not even being held if they Red Sox had some other player in camp who was presenting a compelling case to stick. But if Bradley is sent down, that probably means Daniel Nava, Ryan Sweeney, Mike Carp or Lyle Overbay makes the team. Nava has been the best of the four and has shown he can hit righthanders. But this also is a player who has hit .243 over two seasons. • The Red Sox are battling a serious problem with public perception. Their fans are not buying tickets or watching on television at the rates they once did. The team has been perceived as boring before it plays a game. Bradley can change that. He's a fun player to watch, he's young and he has a personality. How many players do the Red Sox have with even two of those qualities? It's a short list. Is that a good reason to lose a year of control? Surely not. But 90 percent of fans don't care about the collective bargaining agreement and 2019. They want to watch something interesting on NESN in 2013 and Sox want them to buy tickets and drink overpriced beer. If you stopped the average Sully on the street outside Fenway Park and asked him what he thought of John Henry, the answer would be that he's cheap and cares more about Liverpool. That is beyond stupid, of course, given the payroll of the Red Sox. But keeping Bradley would give the impression that the Red Sox are all in. It's dumb, but you know it's true. • Here's an interesting question: What would hurt the bottom line of the Red Sox more, a 3-8 start to this season or having to (theoretically) pay a lot of money to keep Bradley for the 2019 season when he becomes a free agent a year early? If this team starts 3-8, Fenway could be a ghost town in the spring. The very last thing this team needs is another slow start. • Let's say Bradley is a free agent a year early. It's not the like Red Sox are some low-budget team with no chance of keeping him. There have been some Boras clients (Jason Varitek and Jered Weaver come to mind), who make deals to stay. Bradley is not a Boras drone. If he likes Boston and wants to stay, they'll figure out a deal. They figured out a reasonable deal when they drafted him. • GM Ben Cherington is the guy who will make this call. Sure, it's easy to say that the right thing to do is send Bradley to the minors. But Cherington isn't going to be the GM in 2014 if the 2013 Red Sox fall on their face. Is he in a position to worry about 2019? It's too bad the decision is not simple because Bradley has done everything he can to make the team and the decision is far more involved than that. Prediction: The Sox will send Bradley to the minors and see what transpires after 11 days. Roster management has long been paramount for them and nothing indicates that will change. The one caveat is that John Henry, who really is a baseball fan, might think like a baseball fan and tell them to keep the kid. After all, maybe he doesn't think he'll own the team in 2019.

In my $20 bracket I have Louisville, Georgetown, Kansas St & Miami. I have Georgetown winning it all. I'm sure I'm screwed! It is fun. Good luck to you!

Yeah, my brackets tend to get screwed in the first round

Good post! :thumbsup:

From the Globe: Bogaerts: WBC experience was 'phenomenal' Posted by Peter Abraham, Globe Staff March 20, 2013 09:14 AM FORT MYERS, Fla. — Xander Bogaerts was back at Red Sox this camp this morning after being gone nearly a month for the WBC. He helped the Netherlands reach the semifinals, a sold achievement given the competition and their young roster. "It was a phenomenal time," Bogaerts said. "I'm so glad I did it. The people back home were so excited with how we did." Bogaerts had quite a journey. He left the Red Sox on Feb. 23 and joined the team in Taiwan for the first round. After the Dutch advanced, they trained in Arizona for a few days, then traveled to San Francisco for the semifinals. Now he's back in Red Sox camp. Bogaerts speaks four languages — English, Dutch, Spanish and Papiamento — but that didn't help him much in Taiwan. "You had to use hand signals for everything," he said. "But it was interesting being over there and we played well." Bogaerts said the best part of the experience was getting to know players like Andrelton Simmons of the Braves and one of his idols growing up, Andruw Jones. "That was amazing, getting to talk to Andruw. We got to be close friends," Bogaerts said. "He was the player we all watched and wanted to be like coming up." Bogaert played well, too. Counting two exhibition games, he was 9 of 25 with three doubles and three RBIs over nine games. He also played third base for the first time in his career. "That was tough because it's so different than shortstop," Bogaerts said. "I had to get used to the ball coming so fast. But I made the adjustment." The Sox have said that Bogaerts will remain at shortstop, although he could get some time at third base as a way to get some at-bats in games. John Farrell said Tuesday that Bogaerts would spend some time in major league camp before going down to prepare for his season in the minors. "The WBC was a good experience. I learned a lot," Bogaerts said. "Now I want to get some at-bats hopefully and get ready for the season. I'm glad I'm back."

Peter Abe didn't mention his velocity: Daniel Bard, who had not allowed a run this spring, had a rough seventh inning. He gave up three runs on two hits, a hit batter, a walk, and a balk. He said he was too late making an adjustment in his delivery. The balk, which was supposed to be a pickoff play at third base, cost Bard a run. “There was a little miscommunication on that," said manager John Farrell. "I’m not putting that on him." Bard also opened a cut on the base of his right thumb, the result of the fingernail on his index finger digging as he releases the ball. By the time the inning ended, he had blood all over the side of his uniform pants. Bard had tried super glue (something many pitchers use) to close the cut earlier in the week, but it opened up.

I've got 2 brackets (that I still need to fill out) one with a group of friends, the other a work group. I don't normally do well but it is fun!

Nice win for the D.R.!! Undefeated the entire tournament!!

Wow, you are really paranoid and sensitive. Have you run out of Viagra for your E.D.? Take out your mid-life crisis frustrations on someone else, you bore me.

So glad you are posting again you funny mo fo! :thumbsup:

You should have your dear friend fred's back, after all, he defended you to a poster who had already been banned. That is loyalty beyond normalcy. "Phantom Menace" didn't suck as a much as a lot of people claimed it did. What is your paranoid damage? There are people who post out here who disagree and other's who agree, if you cannot tell the difference and need names to be named, you need to relax/chill and not worry about it. Oh, sorry, did I just sensor you Mr. Victim? King of TalkSox?? HA HA HA HA HA HA!!! Hilarious!!! Have fun! As always!!

:lol::lol: Good one! You are SO right!!

I listen to sports talk radio all day. Sorry I can't remember all the douche's names who call in and s*** on the Red Sox, their every move or non-move. Paranoid much?

That's cool because I laugh at your notions/posts on a regular basis.