moonslav59

I never said he would be; I said he should be. I said the same about CC, and that never happened.

Pablo vs LHPs as a RHB: 2015: .142 OPS (He was 2 for freakin 41! 43 PAs) 2014: .563 OPS in 205 PAs 2013: .686 in 167 PAs This are totally unacceptable numbers over his last 415 PAs vs LHPs as a RHB! If we aren't at least considering a 3B platoon, someone should have their heads examined. Rutledge vs LHPs: 2016: .859 in 19 PAs 2015: .748 in 26 PAs 2014: .840 in 90 PAs The sample sizes might look small, but he's done well vs LHPs in the minors too.

Pablo is hitting right handed again, so he'll get a chance to face some lefties and again, Brock Holt is going to play some 3rd base. Pablo sucked vs LHPs hitting from the right side too. To me, he has to prove he can hit lefties before I play him FT. There won't be a Rutledge/Pablo "platoon." Don't be so sure. He's about a hundred points better than Pablo vs LHPs no matter what side Pablo hits from. There are no guarantees that Rutledge makes the roster. True. Maybe the thought was that if Pablo flops, we might try a Rutledge-Holt platoon, at least until we trade for a FT 3Bman. I don't think the Sox would ever consider Swihart at 3rd this season, unless there are a ton of injuries and no one is available via trade. They clearly regret putting him in left even though the circumstances were different than they are now, and I can't see a situation where they don't commit to him being a catcher for at least all of 2017. Emergency situations arise. I don't think they viewed Swi as a LF'er this time last year. Things happen. I think 3 ifs would have to happen to see Swihart at 3B this year, maybe 4. 1) Swihart is hitting very well at AAA, and we want to try and find aa way for him on our 25 man roster regardless of where he plays. 2) Leon and/or Vaz are doing well enough to not want to insert Swi in the catcher mix, at least in any major way. (I suppose he could play 3B vs RHPs and maybe C vs LHPs, being a switch hitter and all.) 3) Pablo flops or gets hurt. (Maybe if he just really sucks vs LHPs, they might think of bringing Swi up to platoon at 3B.) 4) Rutledge, Holt and Hernandez all look like worse options at the point where a decision needs to be made, and no quality 3Bman is available via trade at a reasonable cost (prospects & money). I seriously doubt we see Swihart at 3B or DH this year, but I'd have said the same about LF last February.

Pablo is horrific against lefties, and while Holt actually hits lefties slightly better than righties, Rutledge is much better vs LHPs. I'd start the year with a Pablo-Rutledge platoon. I agree with the commitment to catcher with Swihart, but if Pablo flops, and Swihart is hitting well in AAA, I could see the switch being tried out. We'd also have to be looking good with leon-Vaz at catcher to decide to move Swi to 3B. Lot's of "ifs", but it's possible.

One could easily begin the year as a platoon with Pablo, so no injury is needed there. Pablo could struggle, even if healthy, so maybe one or both (or Holt) become more than just possible platoons. My guess is, if Pablo gets hurt or stinks, we might go after Frazier for a 2-3 month rental. Maybe we give a couple of our guys a look before doing so. There's a chance we try Swihart at 3B, if things go south at that position.

..and Bogey for 3. Devers can replace Pablo. Travis and Swihart should/coulc replace Moreland/HanRam.

The services harmony used for Beni have Gary with 25-27 HRs, 77-90 RBIs and a BA between .255 and .274. Maybe an average of about .264 26 84.

I'm trying to stay objective, but I really can't see a healthy Beni coming in under 2.5 this year. I think he'll be closer to 3.0 than 2.5, and it wouldn't surprise me one bit to see him finish higher than 3.2.

It's guys like Travis, Swihart, Hernandez, Rutledge and possibly Devers later in the year that could really step it up and make a big difference this year. I'd like to see hanRam continue to play 1B 20-25% of the time, so he can stay sharp for those away games against the NL.

Could happen. Gotta love the six killer B's.... Betts Bogey Bradley Beni Bustin Pedroia BamRam

MLBTR.... It now appears there will be one big change in 2017: MLB will switch to a dugout signal for intentional walks, team and union sources informed Howard Bryant of ESPN The Magazine.

What I project our general line-ups will be: vs RHPs: 1. Pedroia 2. Bogey 3. Betts 4. HanRam 5. Bradley 6. Beni 7. Pablo 8. Moreland 9. Leon vs LHPs: 1. Pedroia 2. Bogey 3. Betts 4. HanRam 5. Young 6. Beni 7. Bradley 8. Rutledge 9. Vazquez I might start with this... vs RHPs: 1. Beni 2. Bogey 3. Betts 4. Pedey 5. HanRam 6. Bradley 7. Pablo 8. Moreland 9. Leon vs LHPs: 1. Pedey 2. Bogey 3. Betts 4. Young 5. HanRam 6. Beni 7. Brdaley 8. Rutledge 9. Vazquez

Maybe I'm just a homer, but Beni has me as high as I've been on a prospect since Mookie.

At the risk of opening a new can of political worms, "school choice" is mostly an illusion when looking to improve our education to those in greatest need.

I probably have less concern about Beni than almost any everyday player not named Mookie.

Yeah, I didn't mean he was the Hulk now, but adding bulk can take away from some physical skills. There's a reason marathon runners don't lift weight. I know that's a poor comparisons, but going from having lean muscles to even slightly more bulked up muscles could change a swing (to the good or bad). That's all I meant. I'm not predicting trouble just because a guy adds a little muscle mass.

Can we all agree that 280-290 is a large sample size?

Let's get back to Red Sox baseball. It was encouraging to hear that Pom & Wright looked good yesterday. I hear ERod throws today.

I think he was up to 280-290. He's played overweight his whole ML career, but that doesn't mean he can continue that way for much longer, even if overweight by 20-35 pounds. My own opinion: 210 might be too hard for him to maintain, but if he is truly "driven" to be healthy, he could do it. I think 220-225 is more reasonable and might not significantly affect his chances of getting hurt as compared to 210. If he comes into camp at 230-235, he could be okay, as long as he continues to lose weight slowly over the season. Tiring himself out for the playoffs could be a concern.

I hope bulking up doesn't mess up that sweet swing.

Too many questions, if you ask me. A lot of promise, too, but that's why I think the pen is our biggest concern, as of right now.

I was too, as a starter or long/mid relief guy.

Since we don't need our 5th starter until the 7th game (8th day) of the season, might we start with Pom or Wright on the DL? (Phanotm or otherwise) Also, didn't they change the DL days from 15 to 10 or something like that?

Workman could be a wildcard this year.

Let's get back to baseball. Here's a look at how we start the season... 4/5 @ CLE 4/6 @ CLE 4/7 ** Off ** 4/8 @ TOR 4/9 @ TOR 4/10 @ TOR 4/11 BAL 4/12 BAL 4/13 BAL 4/14 **Off** 17 straight scheduled days with games--No scheduled days off again until May 2nd. Will we go with this? 5 Sale 6 Porcello 7 (off) 8 Price 9 ERod 10 Sale 11 Porcello (Home opener) 12 Pom/Wright 13 Price 14 (Off) 15 begin regular rotation starting like this: ERod, Sale, Porcello, Pom or Wright, Price (Repeat)