oldtimer
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Everything posted by oldtimer
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CJ Chatham is making a case for his development into a SS of the future. I assume we will try to keep Betts above all of our young players and will need to keep starting pitching resources. If Bogaets becomes too expensive to keep, and I definitely would not want to see him go, then perhaps Chatham would become a reasonable replacement.
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It 79 degrees here now and not a cloud in the sky. We have company now so all I can so is to sneak off for a few hours and play in my softball league. Florida is a great place to be this time of year and we get out in mid April when temps can get to 95 and above with high humidity. They are going very slow with Pedroia so it is hard to tell how he is really doing. From what I hear, he will be into full participation next week. Second base is the most unsettled field position since we know we willl have two solid catchers no matter how we go. Relief pitching is also unsettled but we have all the elements that we are likely to see opening day.
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These spring training games don't tell us much and are more about seeing some new faces and for the coaches to watch at bats and defensve play of some of the almost ready guys. Today we were blown out but it really doesn't matter. I would like to see Pedroia make it back soon as he is an open question. Other of note are Devers looks slimmer and more mobile, JBJ's swng mechanics are different. Nothing really has differentiated the catchers as yet. Hitting against scrub pitchers doesn't really give much information of how they will do against solid ML pitchers. I suppose they can watch the defensive moves of Swihart to assess improvement there. It is fun to go to the ST games but in Ft Meyers, the sun beats down and it is impossible to sit in the sun for long. I made it to 4.5 innings and 4 innings before being fried to a crisp.
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Still, I'd stay away from him.
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Thats what it took to get him, but I think it was insanity to go to such a long term contract. This runs until he is 40. Big money front loaded and he almost certainly will drop way off in performance over the length of the contract. I'm glad we are not involved although this sets the tone for negotiations with Mookie. I'll be interested to get Kimmi's take on this one.
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I have been a fan since the late 1940's and like fans from my era, we learned to have hopes for our team coming out of Spring training. Most of the time they were dashed along the way, but we still had hopes and finally those have been fulfilled multiple times. This year my hopes are that JBJ will have finally learned through better hitting coaching, listening to JDM and reaching a level of maturity that his bat will be consistent during the season and that he will remain healthy. In fact, good heallth in the rest of the Sox outfield will be imperative for us to have a good season, with really only three solid players backed up by JDM for 10% of the games and possibly Holt for another 10%. We may have the best overall outfield in the majors. Great fielding and good hitting. Lot to be hopeful about.
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There are quite a few on the site that seem to push for getting rid of Swihart in favor of keeping Leon. Don't believe that move is so obvious as Moon would haved us believe. I think it is a U-Pick-em decision. No right or wrong answer. It would be nice to have a catcher that could contribute something on offense to go with good defense. In the mean time, the Pedroia story continues on. I hope he will be sound upon arrival but am skeptical that he is capable of being our regular second baseman. We have subs but if they are heavily used at 2nd they are no longer available for general use. Is Chavis still working out at 2nd?
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Does it really matter?
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Marco Hernandez may have lost his chance to come up to the Sox. So many injuries and time away may have severely lessend his chance. Chatam is no power guy, but he is a decent fielder and line drive hitter and may be ready to come in as a sub. Lets hope we don't need a sub for Devers this year. He is in better shape and may just become a star. If he does, the Sox become even more formidable. We have 2 at first this year with solid possibilities going forward including Casas. Catcher could be an issue going forward, but it still no reason to keep three. We really have no outfield backup, Maybe Lin is our best current fill in. I think Travis will be gone.
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Almost certainly a catcher will be traded or cut. Not a large salary reduction, but they all open a little leeway.
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Looking for Devers to be the most imporved player on the squad this year.
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That's the thinking behind not offering long contracts, especially to players beyond their prime. Pedroia's contract didn't make a lot of sense, even though some would say we got a bargain. To me it was a bad bargain.
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I generally agree with your point of view, but would rank Vasquez on top with Swihart and Leon being a wash.
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Hard to believe any pitcher 30 or over should be given a 6 year contract. The question is where do you draw the line? Is it 4 years or 5 years for someone who has been great?
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All the recent talk from DD indicates that any one of the 3 could go. They gave Vasquez the contract so I suspect he is the least likely to go. Leon is a good defensive catcher but is 30 and 5'10" and 225 pounds and has proven he can't hit even close to his own weight. Personally, I would see him as the more likely to go but none of the three are untouchable.
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I still think the Vasquez/Swihart is an option based on what DD has said. I have no specific information that any choice is favored.
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I think we all know that Pedroia's situation is on the iffy side. I'm hoping that he can return and give the Sox a viable 2nd baseman for 100 games. Only time will tell if he is able to ddo that.
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A friend of mine works in the Cardinals organization. He said one consideration in baseball is to force teams to use relief pitchers for at least 3 batters, unless the pitcher is injured. This is to speed up the game and to avoid pitchers being brought in for one hitter. I like the idea and hope it sticks.
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Where have you gotten your information? I see nothing in writing to support your contention. DD is saying 3 catchers go to ST and compete for the job, unless someone offers a trade alternative that he likes.
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So was mine, none of the above. Seems like notin doesn't think Swiart has any chance of being our second catcher.
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Good to have a potential full time backup for 2nd in the pipeline.
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Realiistically, Pedroia who turns 36 this August and will be returning after a full year layoff and having returned from microfracture surgery, will be played in 100 games or less this season. That will depend on him being able to return to some sort of positive hitting form, not an easy thing to do. He has always had the kind of spunk to give it his best shot but in my mind the odds are stacked against him. Hope I am proven wrong in my view.
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Leon is 5'10" 225# is dead slow and I doubt he will ever hit close to his weight. He will turn 30 in spring training. I'll agree that he is a good receiver with a strong arm, but catcher is a tough position and one has to wonder could be solid for 75 games this year, assuming Vasquez catches the remainder.
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You have been pushing Leon over Swihart for a long time whereas the projected lineup disagrees with you. What you say isn't going to happen is actually quite likely.
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I'm not disagreeing with your suggestion of how age impacts players and their capabilities, but with the trainers and nutrition expects helping players these days, wouldn't you thiink the prime years might be extended? What is the data used to back up the gradual reduction in player capability and does it apply to all players or is there a difference for pitchers, catchers, field players? Do thinner guys remain in their prime for longer? It seems like that would be quite a research project and one that probably been undertaken by most of the teams to justify their contract offerings.