Spring Training 2023 Thread

koufax32

He'll cry if he wants to...
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Dec 8, 2006
9,092
Duval
Glad that those others players weren’t in the Patriots locker room before SB XXXVI.

Yeah, it’s a little strange. So what? This just strikes me as a little bit of “get off my lawn.”
 

brandonchristensen

Loves Aaron Judge
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Feb 4, 2012
38,144
Yeah if he wasn’t a rookie I doubt they’d care. Lame of the team to give a shit. Players are fucking weird - it’s not like he was having chicken parm every game.
 

Daniel_Son

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May 25, 2021
1,683
San Diego
I think it's more annoying than egregious, like from the article people were stepping over him and stuff. The naps themselves aren't the issue, it's the location that I think.

The sunbathing is cool as shit and I hope he doesn't stop.
 

caminante11

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Nov 17, 2006
3,088
Brooklyn, NY
Here is the NESN broadcast schedule:


Friday, Feb. 24, 1 p.m. vs. Northeastern (NESN/NESN 360)
Saturday, Feb. 25, 1 p.m. at Atlanta (NESN/NESN 360)
Sunday, Feb. 26, 1 p.m. vs. Tampa Bay (NESN/NESN 360)
Monday, Feb. 27, 1 p.m. vs. Minnesota (NESN/NESN 360)
Tuesday, Feb. 28, 6:30 p.m. at Miami (NESN+/NESN 360)
Saturday, March 4, 1 p.m. vs. Houston (NESN/NESN 360)
Sunday, March 5, 1 p.m. vs. Miami (NESN/NESN 360)
Monday, March 6, 1 p.m. vs. Detroit (NESN/NESN 360)
Tuesday, March 7, 6 p.m. at Atlanta (NESN/NESN 360)
Wednesday, March 8, 6 p.m. vs. Puerto Rico (WBC) (NESN/NESN 360)
Thursday, March 9, 1 p.m. at New York Yankees (NESN 360*)
Friday, March 10, 1 p.m. vs. Toronto (NESN/NESN 360)
Saturday, March 11, 1 p.m. at Minnesota (NESN/NESN 360)
Sunday, March 12, 1 p.m. vs. New York Yankees (NESN+/NESN 360)
Monday, March 13, 1 p.m. at Toronto (NESN 360*)
Wednesday, March 15, 1 p.m. vs. Tampa Bay (NESN/NESN 360)
Friday, March 17, 1 p.m. vs. Atlanta (NESN/NESN 360)
Saturday, March 18, 1 p.m. vs. Baltimore (NESN+/NESN 360)
Sunday, March 19, 1 p.m. at Philadelphia (NESN+/NESN 360)
Monday, March 20, 1 p.m. vs. Pittsburgh (NESN/NESN 360)
Tuesday, March 21, 1 p.m. at Baltimore (NESN 360*)
Wednesday, March 22, 6 p.m. vs. Minnesota (NESN/NESN 360)
Thursday, March 23, 1 p.m. at Pittsburgh (NESN 360*)
Friday, March 24, 6 p.m. vs. Atlanta (NESN/NESN 360)
Saturday, March 25, 1 p.m. at Tampa Bay (NESN+/NESN 360)
Sunday, March 26, 1 p.m. vs. Minnesota (NESN/NESN 360)
Tuesday, March 28, 1 p.m. vs. Atlanta (NESN/NESN 360)
 

nattysez

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Sep 30, 2010
8,429
Maybe the clubhouse issues late last season were a thing? Apparently some players did not like Casas' pregame routines.

View: https://twitter.com/ChrisCotillo/status/1628793755800113153
Different era, different level of star, etc., but this story is particularly funny to me since I just finished reading Jeff Pearlman's biography of Bo Jackson where he described the Royals' annoyance at having to dodge the arrows that Bo liked to shoot across the locker room despite his teammates' complaints. The Sox vets don't know how good they have it.
 

Murby

New Member
Mar 16, 2006
1,790
Boston Metro
Here is the NESN broadcast schedule:


Friday, Feb. 24, 1 p.m. vs. Northeastern (NESN/NESN 360)
Saturday, Feb. 25, 1 p.m. at Atlanta (NESN/NESN 360)
Sunday, Feb. 26, 1 p.m. vs. Tampa Bay (NESN/NESN 360)
Monday, Feb. 27, 1 p.m. vs. Minnesota (NESN/NESN 360)
Tuesday, Feb. 28, 6:30 p.m. at Miami (NESN+/NESN 360)
Saturday, March 4, 1 p.m. vs. Houston (NESN/NESN 360)
Sunday, March 5, 1 p.m. vs. Miami (NESN/NESN 360)
Monday, March 6, 1 p.m. vs. Detroit (NESN/NESN 360)
Tuesday, March 7, 6 p.m. at Atlanta (NESN/NESN 360)
Wednesday, March 8, 6 p.m. vs. Puerto Rico (WBC) (NESN/NESN 360)
Thursday, March 9, 1 p.m. at New York Yankees (NESN 360*)
Friday, March 10, 1 p.m. vs. Toronto (NESN/NESN 360)
Saturday, March 11, 1 p.m. at Minnesota (NESN/NESN 360)
Sunday, March 12, 1 p.m. vs. New York Yankees (NESN+/NESN 360)
Monday, March 13, 1 p.m. at Toronto (NESN 360*)
Wednesday, March 15, 1 p.m. vs. Tampa Bay (NESN/NESN 360)
Friday, March 17, 1 p.m. vs. Atlanta (NESN/NESN 360)
Saturday, March 18, 1 p.m. vs. Baltimore (NESN+/NESN 360)
Sunday, March 19, 1 p.m. at Philadelphia (NESN+/NESN 360)
Monday, March 20, 1 p.m. vs. Pittsburgh (NESN/NESN 360)
Tuesday, March 21, 1 p.m. at Baltimore (NESN 360*)
Wednesday, March 22, 6 p.m. vs. Minnesota (NESN/NESN 360)
Thursday, March 23, 1 p.m. at Pittsburgh (NESN 360*)
Friday, March 24, 6 p.m. vs. Atlanta (NESN/NESN 360)
Saturday, March 25, 1 p.m. at Tampa Bay (NESN+/NESN 360)
Sunday, March 26, 1 p.m. vs. Minnesota (NESN/NESN 360)
Tuesday, March 28, 1 p.m. vs. Atlanta (NESN/NESN 360)
Thanks for this. Sure seems like they’re covering a lot more ST games than I recall them doing. Wonder why….
 

LogansDad

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Nov 15, 2006
29,049
Alamogordo
TODAY'S (wow that feels good) game is showing up on my MLB.tv watch page, so I believe it will be available for us out of towners as well.
 

Dustin the Wind

4416
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Apr 27, 2007
722
Rockport,Mass
Apologies if posted elsewhere, but the first lineup of the spring!

1. Duran CF
2. Devers 3B
3. Kiké SS
4. Yoshida LF
5. Verdugo RF
6. Alfaro DH
7. Casas 1B
8. Valdez 2B
9. Scott C
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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Jan 23, 2009
20,673
Maine
Reeks of Chris Sale to me.
Was Sale even in the clubhouse in September? Also, Sale had likely seen his pre-game routine already, having done a rehab start with Portland while Casas was there. One would think if he found it as something that wouldn't/shouldn't fly in the big leagues, he might have pulled Casas aside then, Crash Davis-style.

So glad games are starting so reporters have something else to write about instead of dumb "conflicts" in the clubhouse.
 

grimshaw

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May 16, 2007
4,220
Portland
Different era, different level of star, etc., but this story is particularly funny to me since I just finished reading Jeff Pearlman's biography of Bo Jackson where he described the Royals' annoyance at having to dodge the arrows that Bo liked to shoot across the locker room despite his teammates' complaints. The Sox vets don't know how good they have it.
Bo knows better, though.
 

CoffeeNerdness

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Jun 6, 2012
8,711
I was thinking about the pitch clock rule and wondering if/when we'll see pitchers taking four straight pitch clock violations in order to give the 'pen time to warm up rather than doing the automatic intentional walk thing. Add in the two allowed pick-off attempts and this could be an annoying time-wasting strategy.

Anyway, beisbol today!
 

LogansDad

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Nov 15, 2006
29,049
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I was thinking about the pitch clock rule and wondering if/when we'll see pitchers taking four straight pitch clock violations in order to give the 'pen time to warm up rather than doing the automatic intentional walk thing. Add in the two allowed pick-off attempts and this could be an annoying time-wasting strategy.

Anyway, beisbol today!
That would be, at most, 80 seconds. In AA West last year, the pitch clock shaved almost half an hour off of game times. I think we will survive.
 

YTF

Member
SoSH Member
Honestly, that team wasn't good enough to be taking issue with how a talented rook went through his pregame prep.
A couple of thoughts... They say that winning cures all ills and other than that one brilliant stretch this team struggled for most of the season. Considering all of the hacks that nowadays find it fashionable to shit on the local teams/players at the drop of a hat, was this really such a big deal that we're just hearing of it now? Seems like Casas is just responding to a question about his pregame routine and saying that he caught a bit of flack from his teammates. He wasn't exactly the second coming of Ted Williams when he got here and from game one the buzz was all about his quirky ritual. Perhaps a couple of guys pulled him aside and said, "Hey rook, dial it back a little bit. It's not going to be pretty if this is all that you give them to write about." Sounds like he took it in stride.
 

CoffeeNerdness

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That would be, at most, 80 seconds. In AA West last year, the pitch clock shaved almost half an hour off of game times. I think we will survive.
Add in two phony pick-off attempts and it'll be two minutes. Obviously not the end of the world, but it's definitely something that I think we might see and which as a viewer will be annoying. Could also be used in the unintentional intentional walks that you see. It could be safer to simply clutch the ball than trying to work around a guy. Anyway, just thinking about some potential new scenarios we might see in regards to the clock, not saying that the sky is falling or anything.
 

LogansDad

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Nov 15, 2006
29,049
Alamogordo
Add in two phony pick-off attempts and it'll be two minutes. Obviously not the end of the world, but it's definitely something that I think we might see and which as a viewer will be annoying. Could also be used in the unintentional intentional walks that you see. It could be safer to simply clutch the ball than trying to work around a guy. Anyway, just thinking about some potential new scenarios we might see in regards to the clock, not saying that the sky is falling or anything.
I mean, before they could just stand there and not do anything if they so chose, so I fail to see how this is a problem.
 

IpswichSox

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Jul 14, 2005
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Suburbs of Washington, DC
Maybe the clubhouse issues late last season were a thing? Apparently some players did not like Casas' pregame routines.

View: https://twitter.com/ChrisCotillo/status/1628793755800113153
I thought the Red Sox built a "sleep room" for players to nap -- wasn't that related to or followed Napoli's diagnosis with sleep apnea? I could see players being a little weirded out if he's sleeping on the floor of the clubhouse when he could be in the room meant for napping.

Still, whatever.
 

joe dokes

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Jul 18, 2005
30,233
Was Sale even in the clubhouse in September? Also, Sale had likely seen his pre-game routine already, having done a rehab start with Portland while Casas was there. One would think if he found it as something that wouldn't/shouldn't fly in the big leagues, he might have pulled Casas aside then, Crash Davis-style.

So glad games are starting so reporters have something else to write about instead of dumb "conflicts" in the clubhouse.
Right. That story could easily have been about Casas's maturity in handling it. Or it could have been treated humorously.

Casas made changes to his routine by the end of last season and will continue to do so in 2023.
"By the end of last season" He was called up on Sept. 1. So this horrific turmoil lasted, at most, a couple of weeks?

At a minimum, the writer could have mentioned Mike Greenwell and Mo Vaughn going at it over rookies "acting like rookies, or else."
 

Lose Remerswaal

Experiencing Furry Panic
Lifetime Member
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I thought the Red Sox built a "sleep room" for players to nap -- wasn't that related to or followed Napoli's diagnosis with sleep apnea? I could see players being a little weirded out if he's sleeping on the floor of the clubhouse when he could be in the room meant for napping.

Still, whatever.
It’s been there a few years, if I recall when the Jordan’s Furniture ads about it started.
 

Ale Xander

Hamilton
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Oct 31, 2013
72,428
They’re playing most of the starters this early, wow!
Is there a mercy rule in the college games, I forget?
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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Jan 23, 2009
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They’re playing most of the starters this early, wow!
Is there a mercy rule in the college games, I forget?
The starters aren't going more than a couple innings, then we'll see the scrubs and prospects.

IIRC, the Sox tend to put a solid starting lineup out for the college game(s). I imagine part of the appeal of Northeastern (and BC before them) playing this game is a chance to share the field and face actual big leaguers. It would suck for them if the Sox didn't treat it seriously and sat out all their stars.
 

E5 Yaz

Transcends message boarding
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I'm amazed that Dalbec and Duran are still in the organization. I hope at least one of them turns things around
 

LoLsapien

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Jul 5, 2022
183
I'm amazed that Dalbec and Duran are still in the organization. I hope at least one of them turns things around
As the resident Bobby Dalbec apologist, I'll say that I haven't heard a single bad thing about his attitude or his work ethic. Time is probably running out for him, but I really hope he's able to make an adjustment to allow him to stick in the majors long term. And hopefully with this team. Maybe he's able to dial back the K's and take a few more walks, and show that his middle infield defense is legitimately competent. Spring time is for dreams, big and small, right?
 

Ale Xander

Hamilton
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Oct 31, 2013
72,428
Dalbec usually performs in spring training. It’s just frustrating he can’t keep it up when it matters sometimes
 

joe dokes

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Jul 18, 2005
30,233
Jared Carrabis was emphatic on his latest podcast that it wasn't Sale.
This whole thing is like making fun of a rookie because he only owns stupid clothes. Was never a problem for him before. And now he knows.
"Sox in turmoil over rookie's high-waisted sansabelt slacks."
 

Granite Sox

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Feb 6, 2003
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The Granite State
Jared Carrabis was emphatic on his latest podcast that it wasn't Sale.
Feels like Dick Mountain to me. He was an old school grouchy fella. Plus, the Vazquez trade and subsequent l’Affaire Plawecki gave me a certain chicken-and-beer feeling about some of the remaining vets and their attitudes on a sinking ship. It’s no surprise (yet still disappointing) that they might have gotten pissy with rookies.

I think the vets would have been fine with his eccentricities if he wasn’t (literally) in the way. Napping on the floor in a cramped clubhouse with many more people (including media) in there compared to his minor league stops is a bad move. Sunbathing in the outfield when guys are trying to get in some work is a bad move. Do your routine, but get out of the fucking way. Sounds like he got the message.
 
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EyeBob

New Member
Dec 22, 2022
137
Different era, different level of star, etc., but this story is particularly funny to me since I just finished reading Jeff Pearlman's biography of Bo Jackson where he described the Royals' annoyance at having to dodge the arrows that Bo liked to shoot across the locker room despite his teammates' complaints. The Sox vets don't know how good they have it.
Um, who would challenge Bo? The man was huge!
 

CoffeeNerdness

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Jun 6, 2012
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Who the hell can even nap on the floor in a busy work environment anyway? That is an unusual skill, for sure.

I've always had a soft spot for quirky baseball players so I love this kid's style.