206 replies to this topic

[The Gray Eagle]

It's early, and only BP, but at least Bard wasn't horrible. He supposedly looked solid out there, and that alone is progress over where he was at the end of last year. It would have been really demoralizing for everyone if he had looked as bad as he did last year, even just in BP.

[Adrian's Dome]

It's early, and only BP, but at least Bard wasn't horrible. He supposedly looked solid out there, and that alone is progress over where he was at the end of last year. It would have been really demoralizing for everyone if he had looked as bad as he did last year, even just in BP.

 

Refuse to get optimistic until we see his velocity. If he's not sitting mid-high 90s consistently, he doesn't have it back.

[SoxScout]

Caveats aside, Merloni says he is more impressed watching Bogaerts fielding SS than Marrero. Better footwork, has a mobility, agility, ect.

[joyofsox]

Pedro is going to have a blunt chat with Doubront regarding his conditioning.

 

Martinez is well aware that Doubront, for the second time in three years, has reported to camp out of shape and was held back due to shoulder fatigue at the start of camp. Martinez plans to get in the ear – and mind – of the 26-year-old Venezuelan lefty, reminding him of the opportunity in front of him as a potential long-term starter in the Red Sox rotation.

 

http://fullcount.wee...im-accountable/

[mabrowndog]

Too bad they didn't fly Pedro to the DR to have that blunt chat the day after the press conference anointing him SAB (Special Assistant to Ben).

[mabrowndog]

From @PeteAbe

 

 

RedSox hired Brian Abraham (formerly of Blue Jays) as bullpen catcher + BP pitcher. No relation unless he's Lebanese and from New Bedford.

 

Brian is a Worcester native and a graduate of St. John's in Shrewsbury (2003) and Holy Cross (2007). In his 6 years with the Jays he also served as an advance scout and video coordinator, and last summer was Jose Bautista's designated pitcher for the Home Run Derby.

 

[The Gray Eagle]

The Red Sox today assured Aceves' agent that the team wants Aceves "to be a big part of the bullpen."

 

Also in that Cafardo blurb, Breslow is probably not responding to treatment as fast as anticipated. And so far, Pedro is focusing on working with Rubby and Doubront.

[mabrowndog]

Farrell announces preliminary pitching schedules for first stretch of ST games (as tweeted by @MaureenaMullen):

 

2/21 v NEU: Hanrahan, Bard, Miller, Wilson, Mortensen (2 inns), Beato, Carter

2/21 v BC: Uehara, Bailey, Villareal, Doyle (2 inns), De La Torre, Tazawa

2/23 v TB: Lackey, Britton, Beato, Carter, De La Torre, Villareal, Wilson, Wright

2/24 @ STL: Lester, De La Rosa, Tazawa, Hanrahan, Bailey, Miller, Uehara

2/25 @ TOR: Wright, Webster, Doyle (2 inns), De La Torre, Beato, Carpenter, Carter

2/25 @ TB: Aceves, Hernandez, Bard, Mortensen (2 inns), Villareal, Wilson

 

Doubront is certainly conspicuous by his absence (he must be even more of a bowl of jelly than reports indicate), and Aceves doesn't see action until 2/25. Breslow's MIA due to his shoulder. Also no Buchholz, so it seems they're going to continue babying that mild hamstring strain.

 

Not sure what's up with Dempster & Morales.

Edited by mabrowndog, 19 February 2013 - 10:08 AM.

[Red(s)HawksFan]

Doubront is certainly conspicuous by his absence (he must be even more of a bowl of jelly than reports indicate), and Aceves doesn't see action until 2/25. Breslow's MIA due to his shoulder. Also no Buchholz, so it seems they're going to continue babying that mild hamstring strain.

 

Not sure what's up with Dempster & Morales.

 

Might be as simple as they're slated for the 26th and the rest of that day's pitchers hasn't been decided.

 

Or with the extended spring training schedule because of the WBC, they're giving these guys a slower ramp up due to age (Dempster) and workload last season.  Morales did have a career high in innings.  For that matter, so did Doubront, so it might not just be his conditioning that is keeping him off the mound in the first few games.  Of course, I'm only spitballing.

[The Gray Eagle]

Ortiz is "hopeful" of being able to play in 7 to 10 days, and is "confident" of being able to play on Opening Day. Even though he is asaying all the right things, that doesn't seem particularly encouraging, since it's been 7 months since his injury, and he still has soreness.

 

"Ortiz said he has had "good soreness" from workouts.

"The doctor says it's normal. I'm just doing things I wasn't able to.
Your foot has to get used to it. Once you get used to it, you'll be
fine."

Ortiz is hopeful of playing within 7-10 days. He has been taking
batting practice, fielding grounders and lifting weights. The only
obstacle to overcome is running the bases.

"I'm going at it. You guys see me, we're doing things every day," Ortiz said."

Ortiz is confident that he will be ready to face the Yankees on Opening Day."

 

Not able to run yet, but at least he is confident and hopeful, so that's something.

[thestardawg]

I know the team has been careful to not talk about the Achilles being ruptured, but at this point, is it possible that the tendon was partially ruptured?  Seven months seems to be an awful long time for Achilles tendonits no?

[SoxScout]

Here are height and weight changes on the official Sox roster

 

JBJ 180->195
Bogaerts 175->185
Gomes 225->230
Hassan 195->220
Ciriaco 170->180
Lavarnway 225->240
Hanrahan 255->250
De La Rosa 5’10->6’1
Doubront 165->225
Britton 200->215
Aceves 6’3 220->6’2 205

[Laser Show]

Here are height and weight changes on the official Sox roster

 

JBJ 180->195
Bogaerts 175->185
Gomes 225->230
Hassan 195->220
Ciriaco 170->180
Lavarnway 225->240
Hanrahan 255->250
De La Rosa 5’10->6’1
Doubront 165->225
Britton 200->215
Aceves 6’3 220->6’2 205

 

He gained 60 pounds? Yikes.

[Red(s)HawksFan]

Here are height and weight changes on the official Sox roster

 

JBJ 180->195
Bogaerts 175->185
Gomes 225->230
Hassan 195->220
Ciriaco 170->180
Lavarnway 225->240
Hanrahan 255->250
De La Rosa 5’10->6’1
Doubront 165->225
Britton 200->215
Aceves 6’3 220->6’2 205

 

They had to have just not updated his weight since single-A, right?  He might have packed on a few pounds over the off-season, but no way he gained 60 pounds.  I would have guessed he was around 200 last year.

[MakMan44]

They had to have just not updated his weight since single-A, right?  He might have packed on a few pounds over the off-season, but no way he gained 60 pounds.  I would have guessed he was around 200 last year.

It's listed as 165 just about everywhere you look, BBR, FGs etc but it does seem a little extreme

[SouthernBoSox]

No way he weighed 165 pounds last year. No. Way.

[Eddie Jurak]

Really impressed that Rubby grew three inches taller over the offseason.

[mabrowndog]

I'm reminded of Terry Forster's appearance on Letterman back in the day (pre-CBS), after Dave had repeatedly referred to him in his monologues as a "Fat Tub of Goo". It's also evidence that NJ Gov. Chris Christie totally ripped off Forster's shtick during his talk show gigs a few weeks ago.

 

[Sprowl]

Really impressed that Rubby grew three inches taller over the offseason.

 

At 6'1 he stands a better chance of sticking as a starter.

[Toe Nash]

You guys are reading into these far too much. Even if these updated numbers are accurate most reporters and other players joke that the old weights and often heights are way off (Or hadn't been updated in a while). I'd take both the new and old listings with large grains of salt.

Edited by Toe Nash, 23 February 2013 - 04:36 PM.

[SoxScout]

Agent tweets the Sox have signed Ryan Rowland-Smith.

 

https://twitter.com/...750589025959936

 

He's with the Aussie team in Taiwan for the World baseball Classic.

[mabrowndog]

With Sean Henn and Matt Maloney, that's 3 LHRPs signed to minor league deals in the past week. Glad they're trying to find the next Rich Hill.

[Rough Carrigan]

The Sox will face the AL east at the start of the season for the first 12 games.  With the incredible competition of the AL East it would really behoove them to hit the ground running.

 

I'm not sure they should go quite this far but I hope they do something to be sure to avoid another terrible start.  Back in 1977, the Dodgers were coming off 2 years in a row of getting steamrolled by the Big Red Machine.  I think they finished 20 games back in 1975 and a never threatening 10 games back in 1976.  Tommy LaSorda had just been made Dodger manager with the retirement of Walter Alston.  LaSorda played his regulars all spring long.  I don't mean the usual five and fly.  They played all game.  Ron Cey played almost every spring training inning at third.  Bill Russell played almost every spring training inning at short.  Etc  They started out 22-4 and were 10 games up on the Reds by the first week of May.  Now, this was also the maturation of a terrific Dodger team at the same time as a great Reds team started to decay.  But it sure seemed to work.  They were like Jake LaMotta in Raging Bull.  When he finally gets his title shot against Marcel Cerdan, you see Cerdan, kind of casually turn around at the opening bell and get jumped by Lamotta.  I'm sick and fvcking tired of the Red Sox being Marcel Cerdan.  I want them to be Jake LaMotta this year.

[SoxJox]

I want them to be Jake LaMotta this year.

 

And while there may be several other examples, the '77 Red Sox serve as an excellent one to make the point:  10-10 after their first 20 games,  They win 97 games, finish 2.5 games behind the Heyankees, and don't even make the playoffs.  If only they'd gone just 13-7.

 

And they only played 161 games that year due to a rain out game that was not made up due to inconsequential outcome.  So it could be argued they could have gone 12-8, assuming they would have then made up that rain out game - and won.

 

'78 - similar thing.  11-9 after 20.  Win 99. Finish 1 game back.  Don't make playoffs.

Edited by SoxJox, 26 February 2013 - 09:30 AM.

[MakMan44]

Pedroia says his thumb is 100% pain free

 

 

There's nothing worse for a hitter than an injury to his hands or wrists, so Pedroia is delighted not to be dealing with that issue anymore.

"It was painful [in 2012], Pedroia said. "I couldn't rest it. The vibration would keep hitting it every time I hit. It's a good feeling when you can just worry about having a good at-bat, rather than, if I get jammed, it's going to be the worst pain."

http://mlb.mlb.com/n...ok_bos&c_id=bos

Edited by MakMan44, 26 February 2013 - 10:40 AM.

[BoSoxLady]

Mikey Lowell and Wake are at the park today.

Tek, Pedro, Lowell and Wake all in one place. My heart is fluttering.

[FelixMantilla]

Add Gabe Kapler and the Sox may have to call in their medical staff...

[MartyBarrettMVP]

If this is true, I love it:

 

Mike Lowell is in Ft Myers to work with Will middlebrooks at the request of Dustin Pedroia.

 

https://twitter.com/...438366495379456

[locknload]

If this is true, I love it:

 

 

https://twitter.com/...438366495379456

 

 

Oh if any of the Amigos could grab a picture of Lowell working with Middlebrooks I would be forever grateful.

[SouthernBoSox]

Oh if any of the Amigos could grab a picture of Lowell working with Middlebrooks I would be forever grateful.

 

From Redsox.com

 

Mike looks ready to play.

[Corsi]

 

From Redsox.com

 

Mike looks ready to play.

 

Nice Timex.

[Ted Cox 4 president]

 

From Redsox.com

 

Mike looks ready to play.

 

 

That's awesome. Thanks. 

[SoxJox]

I think Mike might say...

 

 

Me pondría en autocares

Estoy dispuesto a jugar hoy

Me mira

Puedo ser… Plateó

[rembrat]

 

From Redsox.com

 

Mike looks ready to play.

 

Mikey and ARod are the same age. If it weren't for his hip he would almost certainly still playing somewhere. 

[foulkehampshire]

Mikey and ARod are the same age. If it weren't for his hip he would almost certainly still playing somewhere. 

 

Yeah, Mike Lowell is totally not 15 months older.

Edited by foulkehampshire, 27 February 2013 - 03:57 PM.

[Rasputin]

Mikey and ARod are the same age. If it weren't for his hip he would almost certainly still playing somewhere. 

 

So would Mike.

[reggiecleveland]

I follow Remy on twitter and he didn't mention it.

[SoxScout]

Diagnosed as a slight tear last season, it has since healed, but not before leaving an area of calcification behind the tendon that causes irritation every time it snaps back and forth, which, when you're a professional athlete, is a lot.

“Every time you bend that tendon you feel it, and I'm a big boy, you know what I'm saying?” Ortiz said today. “It puts more stress.”

But that doesn't mean it has completely healed. Ortiz acknowledged there's no guarantee he'll be ready for the start of the season, even though he hopes he'll be able to take part in a spring training game this week.

“We're trying,” he said. “We're trying. I want to be ready, but injuries are injuries. You want to be back the next day, but it doesn't work that way.”

http://bostonherald....or_opener_talks

[MakMan44]

Are there surgical options to have it removed? It sounds to me that if it's not removed it may end up causing problems over the course of the season. 

[ibrewbeer]

I have this same injury right now, since December. It takes immobilization and rest. Surgery is an option, but usually not needed.
You can get shockwave therapy that helps bring blood flow to the area.

That being said, he's seemed pretty active this offseason (golf charity). It's really a nagging injury that is chronic if not rested.

[Pearl Wilson]

BriMac is tweeting that Bard is scratched from tomorrow's game so he can keep working on his stride direction in a controlled setting. Second scratch for Bard. 

[MakMan44]

BriMac is tweeting that Bard is scratched from tomorrow's game so he can keep working on his stride direction in a controlled setting. Second scratch for Bard. 

Honestly, until we either hear that Bard is injured or see him in a game and he is clearly injured, I'm not worried. I'd rather he work on his mechanics as much as possible for the best in game results. Lester has looked pretty good so far with Farrell at the helm and I'm hoping that Bard can make the same strides, no matter what route he takes. 

[ScubaSteveAvery]

This thread has taken an awesome turn. Not.

[MakMan44]

Nice to see Doobie throw a scoreless inning + today. Maybe he won't lose another season because he couldn't stay in shape

[Corsi]

Drake Britton arrested for DUI.

[Williams Head Case]

@MaureenaMullen

According to WFTX-TV Fort Myers, #RedSox LHP Drake Britton arrested for DUI over the weekend. Optioned to AA Portland Mon.

[Lose Remerswaal]

Justin Henry and Deven Marrero sent to Minor League camp

[LeoCarrillo]

Drake Britton arrested for DUI.

 

Holy crap. 

 

From ESPN Boston:

 

The arrest occurred at 4:42 a.m. Saturday, on Ben Hill Griffin Parkway in Estero, which is adjacent to Fort Myers. According to the arrest report, Britton, who was driving a 2008 black Chevrolet Silverado (a pickup truck), was paced at a maximum speed of 111 miles an hour in a 45 m.p.h. zone. With a police car in pursuit, Britton's truck swerved in between other moving vehicles and jumped over a curb, continuing down a small decline and knocking down a barbed-wire fence, according to the police report. Britton then continued down a dirt road for a quarter of a mile and attempted to pull into a wooded area before coming to a stop. When the officer approached and asked for his license, Britton first handed him his debit card.

[Sausage in Section 17]

Maybe he'll end up as AL MVP?

[ScubaSteveAvery]

Looks like his fastball isn't the only thing he has trouble controlling.