168 replies to this topic

[SoxScout]

7 PM NESN

Punto 3B
Ellsbury CF
Pedroia 2B
Ortiz DH
Ross LF
Sweeney RF
Aviles SS
Shoppach C
Spears 1B

Bard, Miller, Albers, Bowden

[Foulkey Reese]

Are we thinking that Miller makes the team in the bullpen?

[Buzzkill Pauley]

Are we thinking that Miller makes the team in the bullpen?

Here's hoping he works out there...because until Morales and/or Hill get ready to pitch, the only other LHRP options are should-be-the-fifth-starter Doubront and yes-I-do-mean-that-guy Justin Thomas.

The more I think about it, the more I think that Aceves needs to be the glue holding the bullpen together until roles have been established and a few of the question marks have been answered.

[Foulkey Reese]

Sucks for Aceves though. I can't imagine how frustrating it must be knowing that if got 1-2 starts in Sept the collapse doesn't happen.

[Buzzkill Pauley]

Sucks for Aceves though. I can't imagine how frustrating it must be knowing that if got 1-2 starts in Sept the collapse doesn't happen.

Unless the bullpen blew those games...

Probably more frustrating is that if he had gotten 3-4 starts in September it probably would have been worth another $200K in arbitration.

[E5 Yaz]

Nick Punto ... the 485th best player in baseball

http://espn.go.com/m...012-nos-401-500

[MalzoneExpress]

Nick Punto ... the 485th best player in baseball

http://espn.go.com/m...012-nos-401-500

Mike Aviles is the 449th best player in baseball (same link). So what's your point?

edited to add: No snark intended.

Edited by MalzoneExpress, 20 March 2012 - 01:42 PM.

[Buzzkill Pauley]

Nick Punto ... the 485th best player in baseball

http://espn.go.com/m...012-nos-401-500

Well, he's got locker room bragging rights. Kelly Shoppach is the 498th.

So he can still hang out in his underwear and eat PB&J's without Ortiz telling him to tone it the f*** down.

[E5 Yaz]

So what's your point?

You have a lot to learn about game threads

[MalzoneExpress]

You have a lot to learn about game threads

I guess so.

[mikeford]

I completely forgot Kelly Shoppach was our backup catcher til Edes tweeted the lineup earlier.

[Brianish]

750 active players in the majors at any given point. Having two of our backups in the middle third isn't that bad. And as for Aviles, it seems pretty obvious that they're betting on him playing better as a full time regular.

[mikeot]

MLB Channel also broadcasting this for us Nation expatriate types.

[Nomar813]

You think Andruw Jones psychs himself up for games by staring in a mirror and screaming, "I am better than Mike Carp!"?

[Laser Show]

Anyone know where I can watch this online? I won't be near a TV...

[rembrat]

On whether he's ready to declare Bard, tonight's starting pitcher, a member of the rotation:

"I'm not there yet. I don't know if anyone is being analyzed in a vacuum. It's what the team needs, how he looks at at what he's doing and how he fits into the rotation and how the the people fit who can come into the game when he leaves. He's done real well. He's going to make the team."

http://www.boston.co...la_nursing.html

Whew! For a minute there I thought Bard wasn't going to make the team!

[mauidano]

MLB Channel also broadcasting this for us Nation expatriate types.

Or not. Got some standard rain delay program running even though the TV guide says "Jays/Sox". What's up with that shit? Will have to watch on computer.

[judyb]

Where would Belichick play Bard?

[soxhop411]

Gordon Edes ‏ @GordonEdes
Belichick sitting in front row at Sox game with Valentine's assistant, Zack Minasian


Bobby V left tickets for BB earlier today...

[SoxScout]

Still think Bard could end up our best starter.

[Sprowl]

I loves me some pitching to contact. Bard just needs to keep pounding the zone.

[rembrat]

Still think Bard could end up our best starter.

Especially after innings like that. I really think Valentine is trying to fire up Bard with his comments. He looks a bit more determined out there.

[soxhop411]

What? i get MLB tonight? I LIVE IN California! how the hell am i blacked out?!!??!

Edited by soxhop411, 20 March 2012 - 06:11 PM.

[SoxScout]

there is our nightmare

[Rasputin]

Nick Punto...sucks.

[mauidano]

Interesting comment by Pete Abe today...
"Bard is going to have issues with his pitch count because he gives up a ton of foul balls, an issue that dogged him at times last season. Once a hitter sees him 2-3 times, it could get worse. He needs to find a pitch, probably his two-seam fastball, that can reliably create contact."

[Jed Zeppelin]

Just one highly likely Youkilis injury away...

[Eck'sSneakyCheese]

Still think Bard could end up our best starter.

+1

[Soxaholic]

I love how Ellsbury's developed an opposite-field power swing.

[rembrat]

I'm already sold that Punto is going to leadoff a bunch of games.

[InsideTheParker]

Nate Spears is hitting .348 for ST and can play all over the place. Too bad there's no room for him instead of Punto. But I guess he's too young to have "intangibles."

[mauidano]

Finally on MLB TV.

[Soxaholic]

Just one highly likely Youkilis injury away...

We'll really miss Jed anytime Youk hits the DL.

[soxhop411]

I'm already sold that Punto is going to leadoff a bunch of games.

Its ST, I don't care where any player hits in ST, and i doubt we see him in leadoff much during the season

[Bob Montgomery's Helmet Hat]

We'll really miss Jed anytime Youk hits the DL.

Eh, someone else will be there to keep him company instead

[rembrat]

Its ST, I don't care where any player hits in ST, and i doubt we see him in leadoff much during the season

It is ST and it is being run by wacky Valentine but sooner or later he is going to have to get guys set in their roles. It's March 20th... getting to be that time.

[mauidano]

Papi hustling pretty good down the line all things considered!

[soxhop411]

It is ST and it is being run by wacky Valentine but sooner or later he is going to have to get guys set in their roles. It's March 20th... getting to be that time.

Yes, and perhaps punto is playing a lot so BV can see if he can earn more playing time

[rembrat]

@BrinkPG
Michael Pineda hangs a 3-2 curve, McCutchen takes him out to left. 2-0 #Pirates.

https://twitter.com/#!/BrinkPG/status/182244009794736129

[Rasputin]

"They got over it."

[E5 Yaz]

Gordon Edes ‏ @GordonEdes
Belichick sitting in front row at Sox game with Valentine's assistant, Zack Minasian

Minasian feature

http://espn.go.com/b...bobby-valentine

His departure from the Rangers, glossed over here, was ... interesting

[Rasputin]

Well that's not good.

[mauidano]

Geez Daniel, c'mon man!

[E5 Yaz]

Former home clubhouse manager Zack Minasian, the longest-tenured of the fired former employees and the one with the most clubhouse access, said he never threatened to blackmail the Rangers. Minasian said he was unaware of Washington's drug-test results.
Minasian acknowledged his desire to write a book about his time in baseball, which dates to being a bat boy in Los Angeles in the 1960s. He said he does intend for the book to be a "tell-all" memoir. He added that at one point, he offered the Rangers editing rights to the book.

http://www.dallasnew...mailed-7530.ece

[Buzzkill Pauley]

I'll be honest...it's innings like these that make me want Bard starting rather than closing.

[Soxaholic]

Eh, someone else will be there to keep him company instead

Touche.

[soxhop411]

I'll be honest...it's innings like these that make me want Bard starting rather than closing.

backwards?

[Foulkey Reese]

You think Andruw Jones psychs himself up for games by staring in a mirror and screaming, "I am better than Mike Carp!"?

I laughed out loud.

[mikeot]

FWIW, Alex Speier makes the case that converting Bard to a starter could take two seasons

[OttoC]

If he's going to pitch like this (and his last outing), do you even want him in the set-up role? (I know...he had an easy first inning).