cp176

Hembree and Kelly I think will both have their ups and downs - they are not going anywhere. Their good days can be great but on the bad days - oh boy. They both are going to help us but I am rarely comfortable with either one of them coming in when the game is on the line. I might actually feel the same way about Barnes. I think that Smith is going to have an excellent year and nothing else needs to be said about Kimbrel. Walden has a good arm but man oh man has he looked hittable. Poyner is similar to Johnson. they kind of came along together. They both know how to pitch. They can get guys out. If the choice between Poyner and Walden had to be made today - I would send Walden down. I like Johnson as a starter but moving him to the pen could help them become a very very good bullpen. Obviously I'm thinking that Brian Johnson could become a key player for us going forward. You just don't have to have that big power arm to get the job done. I like relief pitchers who throw strikes and don't walk people.

With respect to our bullpen, I think the landscape changes when E-Rod and Pomeranz both return. I think that it is likely that Johnson goes to the pen which gives our bullpen a pretty good look if you ask me.

Oh for Gods sake - change the a to u and you are good to go.

I agree but I think you know what I am saying. I think that there are many things that enter into when and where you choose to sit your players so that they are rested. I don't think that planned rest days for anyone should be determined very far into the future and I hope that that is not the case here.

I agree with you for the most part. I also agree that a travel day isn't necessarily a rest day although I'm pretty sure that that plane ride affects me more than it does them. I also realize that it is a 162 game season - very long (too long). I think that I probably place more significance on early season games than some do. That's just me. With respect to getting plenty of rest before the playoffs begin, that is where I know that I see things differently than some. I just don't think that you assume you are going to make the playoffs regardless of how good you tend to think your team is. Lots of things can happen and you have to get to the playoffs first. I believe in resting players and keeping them fresh as much as the next guy, I just wouldn't plan their days off weeks in advance. I hope that that isn't happening. I'm "old age" - lol - Great day tomorrow for us - Sox open at home and THE MASTERS!

The philosophy is great. I just hope that they don't already have the dates circled on the calendar for when each player gets his off day. I still like just a little spontaneity. I like Cora and think that he is going to be fine but the decision to rest Betts on this particular day still is puzzling. They have plenty of rest days coming up.

LOL - I like that!

Thanks Lou - that was so long ago it had to be Lou Gorman right?

I just woke up - bad dream - thought I was stuck in last year with this offense

I'm inclined to think that instead of busting his ass in the weight room, over the last 3 and a half months Beni just got fat. Going with I'm wrong.

the cat I guess as some call him these days - all the young guys seem to want a piece of him - good luck with that - be careful what you wish for. Plus the $ he is now bringing to the tour is unbelievable.

That ball was ripped - glad to see benintendi running - looks good - I'm a fool

ditto for - he was a middle infielder - whats not to love

you are probably one of those mill aliens I keep hearing about

You really are a rig. These young ponies could learn a lot from an old stallion like you.

I'm thunderstruck

I remember Luis like it was just yesterday. I'm not going to look it up - just a guess but wasn't he something 0 for 36 - maybe even worse. it was still ok because he still was one hell of an athlete. With respect to Benintendi and Holt, I'm just glad that there some others that see what I see but even though the new Beni might turn out better than the the old Beni, I'm still in wait and see mode. Honestly - I hope he pounds that ball and makes me look like a fool.

Thanks for posting that. Good read. I knew what the rational behind putting on the weight was I guess and now I guess we just wait to see how it translates on the field.

I was thinking that I might be the only one here who felt this way. Glad I'm not. I liked his 20 homers and 20 or so potential stolen bases just fine.

He did and he looks good. I still think that it looks unusual in Beni's case. Holt also looks bigger to me - sadly just heavier and slower. If you are really in to fitness, it is not natural at all to gain weight simply as you grow older once you have stopped actually growing. You are taking in more than you are shoving out so to speak. Betts looks like he always has - strong, quick, and wired - He looks what I consider to be physically fit. I think that he will stay that way. Here is hoping Benintendi makes me look like a fool for even bringing this up.

I really hope that you are right. I'm just not a big fan of anyone gaining or losing that amount of weight in that short a period of time and I don't care how they do it.

I'm just going to say this and it might not be popular - oh well . I would like to know what Benintendi's workout schedule consisted of this winter. He does not look the same to me at all and yup that worries me. Obviously he has gained a lot of weight. If he dd it through concentrated weight work, maybe it all works out. But when I look at him it is just not his upper body that looks bigger it is his face as well. I liked what he looked like last year. A combination of very quick muscles. I hope that weight gain winds up being to his benefit because he put it on in a pretty short time. He looks to me like he is trying to get used to working with a new body. I hope he does start hitting because he is needed.

Me too - I don't want Wright in the pen unless he is there for mop up middle inning work.

Right now it is all good - 5-1 against ml comp. no matter how good or how bad. Sox are doing what they should be doing. It was good to see a few bats teeing off last night. Some hard hits for a change. I'm a Sox fan so of course I have a few concerns: 1. Where is Marrero when we need him. As good as Hanley looked over there, that side of our infield is very shaky. 2. Walden really looks like a rookie who has a long way to go. 3. Benintendi and JBJ need to hit a little don't you think - right now they both look pathetic. Good news outweighs the bad by a longshot though. That starting pitching has looked better than just very good. I hope Johnson sticks. He is a good compliment to the rest of the boys and their power arms. Never hurts to have another guy in there who knows how to pitch. And yes I would far prefer him in our rotation than our proverbial knuckleballer.

Got it. We are heading back down Sunday. I'll play around with it for a while.