Spring Training 2014

[Rasputin]

Well, I put out some statistical reasons to not expect a huge drop-off this year, but yes, a few random players who were famously flash-in-the-pans over 35 years is a good counterexample. 
 
Nava could certainly struggle. I doubt it's much more likely than any other 31-year-old. It seems much less likely than the chance of Sizemore being injured. You're working from the same info as me here so whatever, it seems you really want to disagree. 

 
The only thing I want to disagree with is the assumption that he's going to repeat what he did last year. He's not that guy. I do think he's going to be a perfectly acceptable platoon player. High OBP, not so much with the power, decent enough defense at the corners. He leads off against righties at least until JBJ is ready to take that job full time, and if that doesn't happen until 2015, I'm totally cool with that.

 

[MalzoneExpress]

Some people just cannot accept that Nava may be a very good left fielder and that the Sox value him as such. If Bill James' opinion matters, and he considers Nava the 5th best left fielder right now, then get used to seeing Nava in left against RHP this year. The numbers-only shredder has Nava as the 7th best left fielder right now, so it is not just James.  
 
http://m.mlb.com/video/v31325319/?query=top10
 
Could Nava crash and burn this year? Sure, but he is a hitting machine and I would not expect him to.  The real reason it took so long for Nava to stick in the show was his defense not his bat.  http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2013/06/17/for-daniel-nava-return-red-sox-was-keyed-defense/JM0HXQHlaaubhqBzBBW5YI/story.html

 

[BoSoxLady]

 

[Jim Ed Rice in HOF]

Pics from Day 1 of workouts.

You realize we can't read them off your camera, right? :blink:

 

[Rovin Romine]

Some people just cannot accept that Nava may be a very good left fielder and that the Sox value him as such. If Bill James' opinion matters, and he considers Nava the 5th best left fielder right now, then get used to seeing Nava in left against RHP this year. The numbers-only shredder has Nava as the 7th best left fielder right now, so it is not just James.  
 
http://m.mlb.com/video/v31325319/?query=top10
 
Could Nava crash and burn this year? Sure, but he is a hitting machine and I would not expect him to.  The real reason it took so long for Nava to stick in the show was his defense not his bat.  http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2013/06/17/for-daniel-nava-return-red-sox-was-keyed-defense/JM0HXQHlaaubhqBzBBW5YI/story.html

 
I, too, am confused by the Nava underestimations.  
 
Nava put up excellent periods prior to last year but was injured at various points.  Just wanted to point that out since we've had the whole "Who is Nava" conversation before.  (Prior to last year there were people saying he was a flash in the pan and people saying that his baseline performance level was pretty high - just derailed by injuries.)  
 
Plus, we're not talking about Nava's long term future - we're talking about 2014, when he'll be 31.   No need to think beyond that at this point. 

 

[Clemente]

You realize we can't read them off your camera, right? :blink:

She's just toying with us.

 

[BoSoxLady]

She's just toying with us.

LOL. Tapatalk on my BlackBerry (no jokes, please) indicated the first pic was successfully posted. I just uploaded a couple of the numerous pics via my laptop and promise to upload the remainder later, after I get MikeF out of my house. :q:
 
Hang on, Sloopy.

 

[soxhop411]

<https://twitter.com/MaureenaMullen/status/435509398073405440>
 
Maureen Mullen ‏@MaureenaMullen  Feb 17
Farrell: Sizemore will get work in LF as well as CF, his arm is going to play CF or LF.

 

[jacklamabe65]

I wonder if Bogie might actually be the best option to lead off.

 

[Rasputin]

I wonder if Bogie might actually be the best option to lead off.

 
Bogaerts?  I don't think so.
 
I think at least to start the season, we should go with Nava and Victorino platooning at leadoff, moving JBJ into the role when he looks like he's ready for it.

 

[YTF]

I wonder if Bogie might actually be the best option to lead off.

 I wouldn't mind seeing him get a look in Spring Training to see how it goes. Small sample in the majors, but he looked to be a patient hitter last season and in over 1,600 plate appearances in the minors he's put up a .373 OBP. I think Nava can fill the role at times, but he also seems to have that flexibility that a lot of guys don't show in that he seems to be able to hit from multiple spots in the order and be pretty consistent. Being a switch hitter makes him even more valuable in that sense as Farrell can use him where best needed to keep the batting order as left-right, left-right as possible 

 

[Drek717]

 I wouldn't mind seeing him get a look in Spring Training to see how it goes. Small sample in the majors, but he looked to be a patient hitter last season and in over 1,600 plate appearances in the minors he's put up a .373 OBP. I think Nava can fill the role at times, but he also seems to have that flexibility that a lot of guys don't show in that he seems to be able to hit from multiple spots in the order and be pretty consistent. Being a switch hitter makes him even more valuable in that sense as Farrell can use him where best needed to keep the batting order as left-right, left-right as possible 

Except Nava isn't really a switch hitter and as soon as they let him face a lefty for a non-injury related reason they've already screwed up.
 
Personally I'd like to see them embrace a "platoon" at lead off with Nava facing RHP and Victorino facing LHP.  Bradley has a diverse tool set and if it comes together he, Bogaerts, and Middlebrooks could effectively be a second "top of the lineup" from the 6-7-8 spots.
 
Something like this for RHP:
Nava
Pedroia
Ortiz
Napoli
Victorino
Bradley
Bogaerts
Middlebrooks
Pierzynski
 
And this for LHP:
Victorino
Pedroia
Ortiz
Napoli
Gomes
Bradley
Bogaerts
Middlebrooks
Ross

 

[Saints Rest]

Except Nava isn't really a switch hitter and as soon as they let him face a lefty for a non-injury related reason they've already screwed up.
 
Personally I'd like to see them embrace a "platoon" at lead off with Nava facing RHP and Victorino facing LHP.  Bradley has a diverse tool set and if it comes together he, Bogaerts, and Middlebrooks could effectively be a second "top of the lineup" from the 6-7-8 spots.
 
Something like this for RHP:
Nava
Pedroia
Ortiz
Napoli
Victorino
Bradley
Bogaerts
Middlebrooks
Pierzynski
 
And this for LHP:
Victorino
Pedroia
Ortiz
Napoli
Gomes
Bradley
Bogaerts
Middlebrooks
Ross

I think you are on the nose with your top 5 in both arrangements, but I think you are way off with the bottom 4.  I imagine that in both cases Bogaerts holds the 6th spot, Middlebrooks bats 7th, the catcher du jour holds the 8th, and JBJ sits tight in the 9th slot.  Aside:  I don't think Ross and AJ will hold a true platoon split, my guess is we might see something more akin to lining them up with certain pitchers, but it will be interesting to see how Farrell plays it -- will he favor defense/pitch-calling/pitcher comfort over batting/splits advantage?

 

[BoSoxLady]

 

[moretsyndrome]

 
Why is JBJ bunting, dammit :buddy:

 

[Mike F]

 
Why is JBJ bunting, dammit :buddy:

To paraplagerize Gary Elways, "because unlike other CFers, I can."

 

[Eck'sSneakyCheese]

To paraplagerize Gary Elways, "because unlike other CFers, I can."

 
Whoever he is, I'm sure he's just flattered you mentioned him.

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

Hmm anyone else notice what number Sizemore is wearing...

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

Hmm anyone else notice what number Sizemore is wearing...

 
Looks like we have a new G38.

 

[soxhop411]

 

[soxhop411]

 

[Drek717]

I think you are on the nose with your top 5 in both arrangements, but I think you are way off with the bottom 4.  I imagine that in both cases Bogaerts holds the 6th spot, Middlebrooks bats 7th, the catcher du jour holds the 8th, and JBJ sits tight in the 9th slot.  Aside:  I don't think Ross and AJ will hold a true platoon split, my guess is we might see something more akin to lining them up with certain pitchers, but it will be interesting to see how Farrell plays it -- will he favor defense/pitch-calling/pitcher comfort over batting/splits advantage?

I'd agree that it's far more likely to be Bogaerts/WMB/C/Bradley for 6-9, I just think a second "1-4" style construction would be interesting to try.
 
Also, I don't think it will be a true platoon at C but it was the best way I could come up to represent the distribution of work I'm expecting between them, in that Pierzynski has a pretty legitimate split himself and Ross has never been a 100+ game work horse.  It'll almost definitely come down to pitcher preference and who is and isn't hitting, but I think it's pretty likely we'll see Pierzynski playing the heavy side of a 60/40 split or better.

 

[soxhop411]

Sun Devil Football ‏@FootballASU  Feb 18
Former #Devil, current @Browns LB @BMagee58 reports to @RedSox spring training tomorrow #MageeKnows @pgammo @keithlaw @bradfo @GordonEdes
 
https://twitter.com/FootballASU/status/435860073881927680

 

[Curt S Loew]

 
Whoever he is, I'm sure he's just flattered you mentioned him.

Whoever you are, I'm sure Mike F is just flattered you commented.  We need some more Mike F!

 

[Eck'sSneakyCheese]

Whoever you are, I'm sure Mike F is just flattered you commented.  We need some more Mike F!

 It was a joke, man. I believe the name he was looking for was Cary Elwes.

 

[Curt S Loew]

 It was a joke, man. I believe the name he was looking for was Cary Elwes.

I know.  I just want more Mike F!

 

[Eck'sSneakyCheese]

I know.  I just want more Mike F!

 
I agree. The emergence of Mike means that games are close. I can't wait.

 

[mabrowndog]

https://twitter.com/FootballASU/status/435860073881927680

 
You know, we already have a link-bot here that does the "link only" thing, and its name is Corsi. We really don't need another one.
 
And we certainly don't need one that doesn't even know how to turn his pasted URL into an actual, clickable link.

 

[soxhop411]

absintheofmalaise -pm'ed me.. I did not realize the new version did not have a clickable twitter link when it embedded the tweet on here

 

[BoSoxLady]

Slow going today at JetBlue Park due to team physicals but pitchers/catchers are in the field.

 

[Clemente]

Since it is a slow day, and from Lackey's thumbnail and an earlier post, I can't tell whether Lackey has retained last year's physique or whether he is coming into camp slightly heavier but not as heavy as in past years. That is my sense from the photo but I can't really tell so I'm asking what he looks like live, with 6 eyeballs on him.

 

[phrenile]

Ring fittings today.

https://twitter.com/RedSox/status/436161231268114432

https://twitter.com/RedSox/status/436163295125712896

 

[5dice]

A few more pics from today.
 
Nice to see Miller moving around well:

Pedey talking bat shop with Cecchini and Shaw:

Mijares=Guapo:

Hi-Leverage squad:

I talked with Cecchini a bit as he was first pos player out today.  Nice guy--he is not small--power may come next:

The man:

Sizemore.  He is a lot taller than most of the position players:

 

[Brianish]

It must be so weird to be Bogaerts and Bradley today. They're looking at their first (presumably) permanent starting jobs in the majors, and they've already got the World Series rings out of the way. 

 

[Mugsy's Jock]

Mijares has all the makings of being a player whose popularity far exceeds his contributions to the team.
 
Edit:  Thanks for these 5dice... great stuff

 

[The Boomer]

Mijares has all the makings of being a player whose popularity far exceeds his contributions to the team.
 
Edit:  Thanks for these 5dice... great stuff

 
Not unless you consider that he will contribute all those pizza and beer runs to cement his popularity.

 

[LogansDad]

A few more pics from today.

 
Pedey talking bat shop with Cecchini and Shaw:

 

 

I don't know what it is about it, but I think this is my favorite picture of the bunch.  The mix of veterans and youngsters on this team seems to be just about perfect to me, from a "the future can learn from the present" standpoint.

 

[rajendra82]

It's a miracle.  Grady Sizemore can bend both knees.

 

[jimbobim]

The X and JBJ picture is pretty awesome. If X, JBJ, and WMB all play average to above average in the best case scenario the defense of those rings should be much easier. 

 

[BoSoxLady]

Since it is a slow day, and from Lackey's thumbnail and an earlier post, I can't tell whether Lackey has retained last year's physique or whether he is coming into camp slightly heavier but not as heavy as in past years. That is my sense from the photo but I can't really tell so I'm asking what he looks like live, with 6 eyeballs on him.

Lackey appears to be in the same shape as he was at the end of last season. The spring training unis are loose and the wind at times distorts the player's appearance.

Everyone in camp is in "the best shape of his career."

Huge day today! It's the first full squad workout, leading up to the first game next week.

One day closer to Opening Day.

 

[BoSoxLady]

5dice: When you took the pic of the starters stretching in LF on Field 1 yesterday, you had to be pretty close to me. See my pic of Sizemore and Bogaerts? I was lined up against the chain link fence.

If you come again today, all of the activity will take place on Field 3-6. If you want to see the starters take BP, your best bet is to plant your ass in the stands and hang there. Once the likes of David Ortiz arrive to hit, there will be a mob scene.

If you attend today, look for us. I'm 4'11, glasses, short blondish hair.

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

5dice: When you took the pic of the starters stretching in LF on Field 1 yesterday, you had to be pretty close to me. See my pic of Sizemore and Bogaerts? I was lined up against the chain link fence.

If you come again today, all of the activity will take place on Field 3-6. If you want to see the starters take BP, your best bet is to plant your ass in the stands and hang there. Once the likes of David Ortiz arrive to hit, there will be a mob scene.

If you attend today, look for us. I'm 4'11, glasses, short blondish hair.

Standing on a box?

 

[mabrowndog]

Standing on a box?

 
This is gold.

 

[mabrowndog]

More rainbows, unicorns and show ponies on the conditioning front. This time it's Rubby:
 

 
The team emphasized his need to get on a strong workout program in the offseason. The results in the early stages of camp have been apparent.
 
De La Rosa said that he’s currently at 215 pounds, down from 225-226 last year. More significantly, he said that his body fat came down from 20 to 13 percent. The right-hander said that he can see a difference when he’s been on the mound for bullpen sessions in the early going, with better mechanics that have made it easier to command the baseball.
 
“I worked hard. I feel better. I feel different. I feel like right with my mechanics, my delivery. This year to last year, I feel from 1-10, 10 better,” said De La Rosa.

 
As for his projected usage and workload:
 

 
De La Rosa, who turns 25 next month, threw 91 2/3 frames last year while under strict workload restrictions (typically two- or three-inning outings) through the first couple months of the season as he built back up from his surgery. He’s never thrown more than 110 innings in a year over the course of his career. That makes it fair to ask what a reasonable ceiling is for his workload in the coming year.
 
“We’ll look for a comfortable increase from last year,” said Sox manager John Farrell. “But there won’t be those early restrictions in April and May as we had last year.”
 
Team officials suggest that they might look to max out De La Rosa at roughly 140 innings for the year. Whether those come in the rotation or bullpen remains to be seen.

 

[Al Zarilla]

5dice: When you took the pic of the starters stretching in LF on Field 1 yesterday, you had to be pretty close to me. See my pic of Sizemore and Bogaerts? I was lined up against the chain link fence.

If you come again today, all of the activity will take place on Field 3-6. If you want to see the starters take BP, your best bet is to plant your ass in the stands and hang there. Once the likes of David Ortiz arrive to hit, there will be a mob scene.

If you attend today, look for us. I'm 4'11, glasses, short blondish hair.

My mom always rounded herself up to 5'. Go for it.

 

[BoSoxLady]

WMB

 

[BoSoxLady]

Papi!

 

[Reverend]

More rainbows, unicorns and show ponies on the conditioning front. This time it's Rubby:

 
Do we think that the All-Baseball-All-the-Time culture where they get a bunch of guys who never stop talking about baseball could have a bleed over effect into off-season conditioning? It sounds like they text each other a bunch, and De La Rosa and Middlebrooks are among the Red Sox players who work out at EXOS which is the place where Ellsbury works out since rehabbing his injury and translating it into that sick power season a couple years back. Gomes, Napoli, Nava, Pedroia and Hanrahan go there too--that's quite a crew of hardworking baseball geek just there.
 
Edit: Oh yeah--some guy named Sizemore's been working out there too.

 

[MentalDisabldLst]

Beardless Gomes

 
 
He now looks like the "Extreme" guy from Harold & Kumar.
 

 

[mabrowndog]

Boston Red Sox ‏@RedSox
3 random things from the first "official" full squad workout day of #SoxSpring pic.twitter.com/idQeemGR8o