Red Sox's first full workout
by Randy Booth on Feb 18, 2009 10:11 AM EST
in News
45 comments
No more messing around. It's go time.
The Sox have their first full workout today. The Globe reports it's "quiet" right now because everyone is in meetings before getting out onto the field. A few hitters -- including David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia and Jason Bay -- were in the batting cages to start the day.
I have some random spring training thoughts, so I figured I'd just throw them out for you all to chew on for a few minutes:
- I'm curious to see how Manny Delcarmen performs this spring. I really like Delcarmen and his stuff, but I'm worried that he could potentially be squeezed out at some point. Not to begin the year, though. He'll definitely be in the bullpen on Opening Day. But his role is most likely to diminish with a few talented additions to the pen this offseason, including Takashi Saito and Ramon Ramirez.
- Speaking of Saito, I think he'll make or break the bullpen. We know what to expect out of most of the guys in the 'pen, but Saito is a wild card. He's either going to struggle after his injuries last year or he's going to be completely lights out like he was for the Dodgers. If he's lights out, watch out. We could have five inning games on our hands.
- I'll reiterate this in every single "random stuff" column I ever write: I like Bay. He's a good player. Get over it, Manny lovers.
- A big player to watch this spring is going to be Jacoby Ellsbury. He has kind of gone under the radar this offseason. Coco Crisp was traded, giving the starting center field job to Ellsbury, but we haven't heard much about him since. He had a pretty good season last year (check the numbers, folks) and I think we'll see an even better one this year. He should be a little bit more relaxed without Crisp breathing down his neck. That could make a big difference this season. Another question: leadoff or 7/8/9 in the order?
- I want to see what Brad Penny is clocking on the gun. That'll be huge to his success.
- Pedroia: bad ass player or most bad ass player?
- Ehh. That's all I got. It's too early for this...
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I'm still a fan of Ells leading off
Mainly because I love seeing Dustin bat second.
Man do I hate Longhorn fans, well except for the ones that actually went there.
by mystman995 on Feb 18, 2009 11:09 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
MVP will still be 2nd
if Ells is leadoff or not. They would move Drew or someone else to leadoff before Pedroia.
by drabidea on Feb 18, 2009 1:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I say....
WE BAT SCRAPPY-DOO IN CLEANUP!!!
just kidding.
Friendship is like peeing on yourself: everyone can see it, but only you get the warm feeling that it brings.
by sox-inda-south on Feb 18, 2009 4:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I say lead off with Drew.
great obp. OK speed and baserunning. There is no reason to have a guy stealing bases in front of Pedroia, Papi, Youk and Bay. Let Ells run wild lower in the order.
by BTLove on Feb 18, 2009 10:33 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Makes sense to me
However, it doesn’t mesh with the conventional baseball “wisdom” Francona employs. I think it’d take a mandate from Epstein to put Drew at the top of the order.
"You know you're having a bad day when the fifth inning rolls around and they drag the warning track." - Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles pitcher, 1992.
by SoxDevil on Feb 19, 2009 12:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
There was a quote from 3B coach of the Dodgers that claimed Penny is lazy, I wonder how true that is
by Realistic on Feb 18, 2009 11:43 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Lazy won't cut it on the Sox' squad.
He’ll have to work for his rotation spot.
"You know you're having a bad day when the fifth inning rolls around and they drag the warning track." - Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles pitcher, 1992.
by SoxDevil on Feb 18, 2009 12:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Because 3B coaches know SO MUCH about pitching.
"It's just a tiny little nick, but it hurts when I get champagne in there."
- Jason Bay, on getting spiked scoring the winning run in ALDS Game Four.
by 0157H7 on Feb 19, 2009 12:03 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Bowa’s gripes had more to do with Penny missing meetings, being late, and so on. I want to say that Bowa criticized Penny’s work-out discipline as well, but don’t quote me on that.
"You know you're having a bad day when the fifth inning rolls around and they drag the warning track." - Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles pitcher, 1992.
by SoxDevil on Feb 19, 2009 12:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, I think he did. But I found out he said these things after Penny had mentioned that they didn’t seem to get along, so maybe he’s just being petty and lashing out at someone he did not get along with on a personal level for whatever reason
by Realistic on Feb 19, 2009 1:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I'm with Francona on this one.
I believe Tito said that every player who joins the team gets a clean slate. I wouldn’t apply that to steroids or violent crime, but for something subjective like ‘laziness’ (which could just be the gripes of someone who hated Penny) I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt.
"It's just a tiny little nick, but it hurts when I get champagne in there."
- Jason Bay, on getting spiked scoring the winning run in ALDS Game Four.
by 0157H7 on Feb 20, 2009 11:59 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Ellsbury should not leadoff just because
He should earn it, otherwise let him bat 8th or 9th.
"Hey we got a lot in common here... I'm gonna rape you"
by MerryGoByeBye on Feb 18, 2009 12:08 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I think you are right
It will come down to how good of a spring training he will have. If he hits well, he will be leadoff. If he doesn’t hit well he will be 7/8/9
by drabidea on Feb 18, 2009 1:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
JD DREW FOR LEADOFF!
The campaign continues.
"Are you a real doctor, or a doctor like Dr. Pepper is a doctor?"
by Allen Chace on Feb 18, 2009 1:58 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Sign up now!
Where though?
by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Feb 18, 2009 4:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
If Drew is so fragile with his back condition,
maybe making him the guy who has to get at bat the most would be counterproductive?
by NG on Feb 19, 2009 1:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Ellsbury has to have better numbers if he is going to be leadoff hitter..
He can be “King of the flares” as far I am concerned, as long he gets on base for Papi or clean up. As much as he had a great 2007 WS and a pretty good 2007 ALCS, he can’t be doing what he did in the 2008 ALCS, that was painful.
by superferret on Feb 18, 2009 6:41 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
1 versus 9 isn't so important
… as being able to get on base consistently with the bases empty.
He can clearly use his legs to manufacture some runs—when the bases aren’t clogged up ahead of him with slowpokes (relatively speaking, just about anybody else in baseball).
That said, though, the lineup works much better if he’s our leadoff hitter:
Ells—MVP—Papi—Youuuuuk—New Guy—Drew—Intern—Dr. Doubles—Catcher
or
Ells—MVP—Papi—Youuuuuk—Drew—New Guy—Dr. Doubles—Intern—Catcher
would be a pretty tough lineup, particularly for opposing managers. So I’d say give him a shot in spring training to prove his mettle; if he can’t hack it, let Drew leadoff.
by lone1c on Feb 18, 2009 8:04 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Lowell = Dr.D?
And Jed’s an Intern? psh…
by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Feb 18, 2009 8:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
"The Intern"
I think that’s what Schilling once called Jed.
by walkoff baltimore chop on Feb 18, 2009 10:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Hmm...
Hadn’t seen that.
by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Feb 19, 2009 8:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Any good nicknames for Jed, then?
(Seriously, I want to know. The only other thing I’ve seen is LowRBI, and I refuse to use Star Wars references for our SS. . . .)
by lone1c on Feb 18, 2009 10:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Shootin' @ Some Food?
It’s long, but we could acronym-ize it. SASF
by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Feb 19, 2009 8:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Dr. Doubles
Love this nickname. But you did miss a chance to call our catcher Corpse.
"Hey we got a lot in common here... I'm gonna rape you"
by MerryGoByeBye on Feb 18, 2009 9:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
What I should have done
Was leave a blank spot in the lineup after the last dash—we’ll get about the same amount of production either way.
by lone1c on Feb 18, 2009 10:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
You're wrong
The guy who bats first sees measurably more PAs than the guy who bats ninth over the course of the season. I would rather see Drew at the plate more often than Ellsbury.
"You know you're having a bad day when the fifth inning rolls around and they drag the warning track." - Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles pitcher, 1992.
by SoxDevil on Feb 19, 2009 12:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I'm not sure, but I don't think he's talking about that
But rather the non-production Corpse will give us.
"Hey we got a lot in common here... I'm gonna rape you"
by MerryGoByeBye on Feb 19, 2009 12:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Reply fail.
"You know you're having a bad day when the fifth inning rolls around and they drag the warning track." - Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles pitcher, 1992.
by SoxDevil on Feb 19, 2009 3:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
The lineup I'd like to see
I’m hoping Ellsbury starts off hot, while I can see the Sox taking it slow with Lowell.
Ells, Pedroia, Papi, Youk, Bay, Drew, Lowell, Tek, Lowrie.
Drew and Bay can be switched when Drew is hot. Lowrie bats behind Tek, because the number 9 hitter shouldn’t necessarily be your worst one. It’s kind of like a semi-leadoff spot.
by Schulz on Feb 19, 2009 11:04 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Few things.
I want Papi hitting cleanup. I think.
I read Ellsbury spent the off-season working out with Pedroia. Hopefully Pedroia’s attitude is contagious.
I’m really curious about Saito too. Apparently he opted against surgery in favor of an experimental new technique involving blood platelet tranfusions. Word is this could revolutionize sports medicine, and the early results are promising.
Manny ain't the only bad man.
by tommy.otm on Feb 18, 2009 8:11 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
He wants to stay in the 3hole.
I’ve heard about the blood platelet procedure, but never looked further into it. Seems to make sense.
by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Feb 18, 2009 8:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Did Papi reiterate that recently?
He used to be pretty adamant when Manny was around – he was insistent that the best all-around hitter should hit clean up. I don’t think he mentioned it yesterday.
And by his own logic, he should be the clean-up hitter, if he can get back towards his 2004-2007 form, because he’d be the best hitter we have.
Manny ain't the only bad man.
by tommy.otm on Feb 18, 2009 11:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I've heard
That you should bat the guy who is most likely to hit a home run at any given time at cleanup. The three hole is usually reserved for a guy with more “tools”. However, the way our LH/RH hitting works out, I think it’s best to bat him third.
by Schulz on Feb 19, 2009 11:07 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
The bullpen will be fluid all year.
I expect things to change. Maybe MDC starts out great then gets bad, or the opposite. Or Saito takes a little time to get back into it. Or Masterson does’t impress at first. I don’t know. I just think we have enough talent that someone will be pitching well enough to set-up for Paps at any time all year.
by BTLove on Feb 18, 2009 10:36 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I bet someone in the bullpen
either MDC or Masterson gets traded before July 31st for a Catcher.
Friendship is like peeing on yourself: everyone can see it, but only you get the warm feeling that it brings.
by sox-inda-south on Feb 18, 2009 10:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed.
Maybe along with a starting pitcher. If Penny and Smoltz can both be healthy by summer time, I could see sending Penny and Delcarmen to Texas. I’m not sure if that would appeal to them though. Maybe some combination of two of the following: Penny, Masterson, Bowden, Bard, Delcarmen.
by Schulz on Feb 19, 2009 11:10 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
yep, Drew to lead off
“That’ll be huge to his success.” Do you do this quote on purpose due to Penny’s size? Nice work.
And yes, Bay is good. I reckon he’ll have a monster season.
by sydneysox on Feb 19, 2009 12:33 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Bay is good but...
what about his fielding. UZR/150 has him very below average the last two years. He isn’t as bad as Manny, but I woulndn,t mind a run at Holliday next winter.
by BTLove on Feb 19, 2009 3:48 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
The wall.
It screws UZR.
by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Feb 19, 2009 8:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
He was a negative defender 4 out of 5 years in Pittsburgh too.
by BTLove on Feb 19, 2009 10:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
But that was in Shitsburgh
Even the good defenders are bad over there.
"Hey we got a lot in common here... I'm gonna rape you"
by MerryGoByeBye on Feb 20, 2009 1:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
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