Spudboy

I agree. Regardless of his sizable contract, He needs to play everyday to have the best chance of becoming a MLB hitter. It would be nice if they sent him down and allowed him to get several hundred AB. Maybe he could figure out how to hit a breaking ball. If not, too bad. I think it would be a mistake to put him out there every day in MLB because he would be non-productive and hurt the offense. This team needs it's best current talent out there now to be able to contend.

On the bright side the DR would probably become a nuclear power. Gotta take the good with the bad!

I'm glad that you posted this as this is exactly how I feel. Maybe Dojji does not care for basketball and does not see the Celtics games? The Celtics are currently capable of beating any team in the NBA. Of course they are equally capable of losing to any one of them too. Al in all, they provide entertainment and can draw a fan into believing that they can win on any given night.

True. But he did pitch poorly. And after leading the staff all spring with a 1.35 era it was a disappointment to see him get lit -up that way. All pitchers have an occasional hiccup now and then. But one of Kelly's two problems as a starter is that he has never shown consistency from start to start. So this outing is disconcerting to me and obviously to some other fans. Personally, I have a hunch that Kelly will have a good season. I just hope that he remains healthy and that the Sox give him a regular blow so he does not wear out.

Didn't Shields get credited with 33 dingers last year?

I'm not sure that it's odd. But it seems to be unexplained.

This reminds me. Since you have seen me last, I have lost some hair on the top-back of my head. You know the spot that I am talking about. Recently I rented a car for the weekend so I could go get your favorite tiny person ( she is now 5'7" by the way ). Anyway I got a small Mazda on the cheap which was fine. Except for getting into and out of the car. No mater how much I tried to avoid it, each time I got into or exited the car I would biff that spot on the top-back of my head. And each time a bunch of hair would be pulled out. f*** me.

Well there is definitely blood in the water in the Boston area. But what if the Sox do really well this year? Will the FO have the sack to get rid of him? My guess is that Dombrowski will have "his guy" in place before next season. And it won't be Leuvello.

I was joking. Sort of.

But Ted it's not your money! Relax!!!

You sound like a Bernie supporter talking with Hillary supporters. You know. Facts.

The intent was to continue to stretch out, and get batters out. If He was out there working on one or more things that are not where they should be at the end of camp then he and the Sox season are f***ed.

Yup. And it does not matter what the plan was for today's pitcher. It was likely his last start before the season starts or at least close to it. He should be on his game by now and consistently do the things he needs to do to be successful. But I guess it's not cool to point out poor performance or a manager saying sugar coated nonsense to the media. Maybe I expect too much after living in a major league city for 50 years.

I was just pointing out an example of how I don't like in Farrell's' post game assessment of his pitchers. It just so happened to be a ST game because I spoke of it several days ago and his comment today we relevant to my point. Go s*** in your hat. AS for Sk and his comment, I compare Francona and Farrell many times. It is my recollection that while Francona was known as a player's coach while in Boston, he never blew smoke up anyone's ass when speaking to the media. He would have said something more like Kind of a tough outing where he left to many balls up and he paid for it. He needs to do a better job of keeping the ball down. We'll continue to work on this." You can go s*** in your hat as well.

But hey, everyone's an ace!!!!!

See. This is the s*** from Farrell that I hate. Rationalizing poor performance. He does it almost every day during the season. From McAdam just now: FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The pitching line -- four runs on eight hits (three of them homers) in just four innings -- wasn't anything to brag about. But both Joe Kelly and John Farrell said it wasn't anyhting to be alarmed about, either. "He had great stuff today,'' insisted Farrell after the Sox lost to the Twins, 6-2 in a game halted by rain in the seventh. "He had power to his fastball, he was down in the strike zone quite a bit. He made some pitches out over the plate (for the homers) and he wasn't as efficient as the last two-three times out for him. But we got him to 90-plus pitches on a day when you're getting close to Opening Day.'' "Couple of mistake pitches,'' shrugged Kelly. "But I felt pretty good about all my other off-speed pitches. Got a couple of swing-and-misses and threw some good righty-righty changeups. Slider was sharp, curve ball felt good. I was down in the zone. Other than (the two homers), the fastball location felt pretty good. ''This is probably the best my arm has felt all spring. I'm definitely excited for the beginning of the year.'' Farrell had indicated that the third spot would go to the pitcher who was throwing the ball best, and even after Kelly was hit around, his 2.73 is still world's better than Porcello's 9.77. Either way, a decision won't come until the weekend. "We've got Saturday's work (both pitchers will throw camp games in Fort Myers while the rest of the Red Sox travel to Monteal to face Toronto) and we'll use that day to aling things.''

I'm wondering what has happened to our $72 mil. wonder boy. Why, seemingly all of a sudden, has he been pushed back on the depth chart? Is it that he can not hit MLB curve balls? Is it that he does not work hard to get better? Is he a dummy with an attitude? I thought that there was confidence that he would be the starting LF for the Sox this year. Everyone knows that I have had little confidence in him. I won't say anything bad about the guy. I just think that it is odd that he has been supplanted in left ( against RHP no less ) by Holt at the last minute. I do think that Holt has to see the field on most days. Even if many see him as nothing better than a good utility player ( an opinion I do not share ) and not an everyday player. Is something going on behind the scenes that we are not aware of? Is Castillo going to be moved? Is he damaged in any way? What gives?

Or maybe he does know some things that we do not know.

I just do not see Shaw being mobile and athletic enough to play second. Let alone that he has not played there before ( I think ). To paraphrase an old Malt Liqueur commercial "That's roster flexibility for you". Oh but 88-92 wins are in the bag!

Yeah I think that Sox fans, for the most part, have some empathy for the Cubs and their fans. This year the Cubs really need to put it together. That blend of vets and youth won't last very long. I count 6 ex-Sox on the Cubs. That is kind of cool to see.

Plus Tarvis should be in MiLB for about a full season. By which time Hanley will be a a full time DH. Of course Travis may totally tear it up and be promoted this August. At least for a cup of Joe.

Too bad about Murphey. I think that the Sox may need him later this year. I suspect that he will land in Baltimore or Cleveland. Not sure who needs a lhh outfielder more.

This is ridiculous. Kimmi you can't just take your ball and go home because no one agrees with you. You pretty much started and fueled this debate. You have pointed the finger at many of us by saying that we have just decided that Shaw should start because we do not like Pablo or fat people. That is unfair and for the most part not accurate. Once in while you can be wrong. That's okay. Once in a while you can just say that you really don't agree but you do respect our opinions. I, like many here, had been all over Hanley's s*** for months. Not because I do not like the guy. I don't really know him other than what I have seen from him and what I have been told by my Dominican friend. I have always known that Hanley could play effective 1st base. I had decided that It was not likely that he would make the necessary effort based on what I had seen and of course his less than stellar record in MLB. Well, I was wrong. Hanley has made the effort and I have acknowledged it by praising his solid play so far in ST. Pablo has not done that. He deliberately showed up in camp pleasingly plump. This after playing the worst ball of his career. He is not playing well. A BA of .265 in 35 AB is nice, I guess. Not exactly what we have come to expect from him and his yuge contract. He does not play solid D. You keep ignoring these salient facts. It's as if you have decided to ignore the order of operations in order to make the equation give you the answer that you want. Our opinions have validity. You of all people should be able to see this. Also, you say that some vet players will be pissed if Pablo does not start. What of the young guys who are trying to make the team? They see their play as much better than Pablo's and yet he is given another "Chance". Is that fair? Is it fair that all the young guys on the team make about 5% of what Pablo makes while they hit .300, and make highlight reel plays several times each week? And what of Allen Craig? He has put in about two years of effort to resurrect his game. He spent an entire year in Pawtucket without bitching. He makes a fraction of what Pablo makes. Yet even with his dominant offensive game apparently gone, he would likely outplay Pablo right now. Where is all the justice for these guys? Pablo will get his chance, most likely. He does not deserve special treatment. Simply because he has not EARNED it.

It's all common sense. Put the guy under my care for 6 weeks and I can assure you that if he follows my instruction he will be in game shape at the least, and in the best shape of his career at best.

Or Bill Bellicek (sp ). I simply do not understand how anyone can doubt that whatever is happening with Pablo is not a direct result of his own efforts or lack thereof. I've stopped calling him names because I no longer wish to be lumped into the "Pablo Hater" group. I am sticking with facts, and reason. To me, his predicament is indefensible. I always like Dick Williams, by the way.