Spring Training News

johnnywayback

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Bogie's not a whiner so I do think his comments were more about surprise than grumbling. Why hadn't Farrell addressed this I wonder. He specifically said that Farrell hadn't talked to him yet.
There was speculation on twitter that he was being punished for participating in WBC, but that can't be, right?
2 Silver Sluggers in a row, batting 2nd or 3rd for two year straight <his struggles in 2nd half noted> I just find it a little curious.
I think it really is as simple as not wanting your four best RHH to all be in the top five slots in the lineup. A left-handed pitcher could mow through a 6-9 of Bradley/Sandoval/Moreland/Leon pretty easily.
 

BestGameEvah

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I think it really is as simple as not wanting your four best RHH to all be in the top five slots in the lineup. A left-handed pitcher could mow through a 6-9 of Bradley/Sandoval/Moreland/Leon pretty easily.
Thanks, Johnny. You're probably right!
 

Harry Hooper

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I think it really is as simple as not wanting your four best RHH to all be in the top five slots in the lineup. A left-handed pitcher could mow through a 6-9 of Bradley/Sandoval/Moreland/Leon pretty easily.
Sandy showed a good swing vs. LHP last year, even at the end when he was apparently tuckered out.
 

Saints Rest

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Scott Lauber ESPN Staff Writer
Xander Bogaerts doesn't conceal his preferred batting-order spot -- "I like 2 ... 2 or 3" -- but knows he likely will hit lower for Red Sox, who want a left-handed hitter in the 2-hole between Dustin Pedroia and Mookie Betts. (On Thursday, Bogaerts batted sixth.) "It is what it is," he said. "As long as I'm in the lineup, I guess."
I think people may be reading too much into a random ST lineup. It's entirely possible that Farrell is simply giving different guys ops at different slots, perhaps simply to let some get out of the game earlier.

It's possible that X recognized this even when Lauber didn't.

Let's revisit the lineup discussion when the games actually count.

My guess is
Pedro
X
Beni
Betts
Hanley
Moreland
Pablo
Leon
JBJ
 

nothumb

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I think it really is as simple as not wanting your four best RHH to all be in the top five slots in the lineup. A left-handed pitcher could mow through a 6-9 of Bradley/Sandoval/Moreland/Leon pretty easily.
I would hope vs LHP we will often see Hanley at 1B, Young at DH, and/or Rutledge at 3B... maybe not all of those at once, but if needed or optimal.
 

oumbi

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Yes, it is only spring training, but this is the spring training thread. So, thus far Hernandez is hitting very, very well. Today he is 2 for 2 and sports a .407 batting average. OPS is 1.141 before today. He might become a very valuable bench player this year.
 
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Byrdbrain

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I would hope vs LHP we will often see Hanley at 1B, Young at DH, and/or Rutledge at 3B... maybe not all of those at once, but if needed or optimal.
Hanley says he has a sore shoulder and has yet to throw a ball in spring training. Your scenario is ideal but i think it is going to be a while before we see Hanley at first.
In any event I think the earlier statement was more in relation to a lefty reliever than a starter.
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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I expect that Hanley's shoulder pretty much cinches Rutledge as the 25th man on the roster to start the year, if only to have a RHH who can physically play 1B on the roster. Rutledge played there today and is expected to get time there in tomorrow's game as well. Holt is also supposed to see some playing time there which just underlines that Hanley isn't close to taking the field defensively.
 

simplicio

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I expect that Hanley's shoulder pretty much cinches Rutledge as the 25th man on the roster to start the year, if only to have a RHH who can physically play 1B on the roster. Rutledge played there today and is expected to get time there in tomorrow's game as well. Holt is also supposed to see some playing time there which just underlines that Hanley isn't close to taking the field defensively.
Rutledge over Selsky? They've played him at first a few times too.
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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Rutledge over Selsky? They've played him at first a few times too.
Selsky got sent down right after the game yesterday.

Bottom line is Rutledge has no options left. It's make the roster or DFA for him. Selsky, on the other hand, does, so he gets stashed in Pawtucket.
 

Lose Remerswaal

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Rutledge is actually Rule 5 and has to be offered back to the Rockies if he doesn't stay on the 25 man roster. I wouldn't be surprised if Colorado said we could keep him but I also wouldn't be surprised if the Sox then let him make another deal on his own if that happened.
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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That's right, I stand corrected. Doesn't really change the equation that he stays on the 25-man or he's gone, though. He chose free agency over an outright assignment to Pawtucket last fall, I have my doubts he'd accept one now (assuming the Rockies don't want him back) if he doesn't make the roster.
 

shaggydog2000

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So the roster is pretty much set except for the Rutledge/Hernandez decision, right?

This is the roster from the Red Sox official site. There are 16 pitchers on the roster right now, and 4 seem destined to start on the injured list. Bryce Brentz has pretty much no chance of making the squad unless there is an injury to an outfielder.

Starter
1 Chris Sale
2 Rick Porcello
3 Drew Pomeranz
4 Eduardo Rodriguez
5 Steven Wright

Reliever
6 Fernando Abad
7 Matt Barnes
8 Heath Hembree
9 Joe Kelly
10 Craig Kimbrel
11 Robbie Ross Jr.
12 Robby Scott

Injury list
Roenis Elias
David Price
Carson Smith
Tyler Thornburg

Catchers
13 Sandy Leon
14 Christian Vazquez

Infielders
15 Xander Bogaerts
16 Marco Hernandez/Josh Rutledge
17 Mitch Moreland
18 Dustin Pedroia
19 Hanley Ramirez
20 Pablo Sandoval

Outfielders

21 Andrew Benintendi
22 Mookie Betts
23 Jackie Bradley Jr.
24 Brock Holt
25 Chris Young
26 Bryce Brentz - Destined to be cut
 

Buzzkill Pauley

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Even if an outfielder is injured, Bryce Brentz isn't making the roster.

They'd either recall Selsky, or more likely, just keep Hernandez up. He'll be DFA'd at the end of ST.

But no one can say Bruce Brentz didn't get his shot.
 

richgedman'sghost

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Well actually Bruce Brentz did not get a fair chance. Bryce Brentz did however get plenty of chances.
 

AB in DC

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There are still a few NRIs hanging around, too. Any chance Edgar Olmos makes the opening day roster? Presumably Carson Smith will start on the 60-day DL, so that should open a spot on the 40-man roster.
 

shaggydog2000

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Red(s)HawksFan

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Can't imagine the flu is going to keep Moreland out past Opening Day. They can cover 1B through the remaining exhibition schedule with Holt, Selsky, and/or Travis (they don't have to be on the 25 or 40-man roster to play in pre-season games).

Backing up Moreland once the season starts is a different matter. If they're unconcerned with Moreland's stamina and don't mind him hitting against lefties, they can probably get by with Holt as the back-up until Rutledge is healed up. If Moreland is weakened or his hitting lefties is a big concern in the first week, they'll call up Selsky and send down Hernandez.

And I got to think that even though he hasn't been out there all spring and there are concerns about his throwing shoulder, they can run Hanley out there in a pinch.
 

mauidano

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Not sure where to put this....Red Sox coach Rueben Amaro Jr.'s father passed away today.
 

richgedman'sghost

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Not sure where to put this and haven't seen it reported elsewhere... I was checking the transactions column in this morning's newspaper and it said that the Eck had been named a senior advisor to the General Manager of the A's. It seems somewhat surprising but I guess he really wanted to go back home to Oakland. It sucks because he made a great alternative to Steve Lyons on the day's that Jerry Remy must be away.
 

Lose Remerswaal

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Not sure where to put this....Red Sox coach Rueben Amaro Jr.'s father passed away today.
Sad. Per another thread here, I guess the Sox 1B coach has to take the JR off of his jersey now.

Not sure where to put this and haven't seen it reported elsewhere... I was checking the transactions column in this morning's newspaper and it said that the Eck had been named a senior advisor to the General Manager of the A's. It seems somewhat surprising but I guess he really wanted to go back home to Oakland. It sucks because he made a great alternative to Steve Lyons on the day's that Jerry Remy must be away.
I wonder if this isn't a job he can do remotely?
 

IpswichSox

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Botched earned media opportunity by the A's. Instead of a positive story about a HoFer coming back, even in a limited role, the story came across as the organization is a bunch of bumbling idiots, and Eck and the team aren't on the same page. It's not a huge deal, but it's failed execution by the A's PR staff for what should have been an easy roll out.

And, yes, thank God we get to keep Eck here for as many night as he'll give us on NESN. Long live free and easy cheese.