2015 Spring Training Games Thread

[Kimmi]

I generally like Jerry Remy.

 

Yesterday he said something really stupid that I had to laugh at. Masterson, etc., were inducing ground balls. Several were the "Bounding" type up the middle.

 

Remy said because of the hard field surface that ball would "hit the ground and pick up speed".

 

Apparently he is not a scientist.

 

 

You hear announcers say this sort of thing a lot.

 

Another case where the eyes can lie to you.

[Kimmi]

More good news from the Fort.

 

Kelly was pulled today with some undisclosed injury while pitching.

 

Who knows how serious it is. Now we get to see what kind of quality depth or team has at starting pitching.

 

 

If it makes you feel any better, Lester and Hamels both got hit pretty hard today.

 

As far as Kelly's injury goes, it doesn't seem to be anything serious. Some tendinitis. Neither Kelly nor Farrell seem too concerned.

[cp176]

If it makes you feel any better, Lester and Hamels both got hit pretty hard today.

 

As far as Kelly's injury goes, it doesn't seem to be anything serious. Some tendinitis. Neither Kelly nor Farrell seem too concerned.

 

 

Tendonitis can mean a prolonged period of inactivity. He has youth on his side. Hope he heals quickly.

[a700hitter]

I generally like Jerry Remy.

 

Yesterday he said something really stupid that I had to laugh at. Masterson, etc., were inducing ground balls. Several were the "Bounding" type up the middle.

 

Remy said because of the hard field surface that ball would "hit the ground and pick up speed".

 

Apparently he is not a scientist.

i am not a scientist either, but a ball with a lot of over-spin does look like it is picking up speed on a hard infield and artificial turf.

 

It's like a rising fastball. It's not rising. It' s just not sinking at the same rate as other fast balls.

 

Scientists did publish papers concluding that the curve ball was an optical illusion.

Edited March 17, 2015 by a700hitter

[a700hitter]

More good news from the Fort.

 

Kelly was pulled today with some undisclosed injury while pitching.

 

Who knows how serious it is. Now we get to see what kind of quality depth or team has at starting pitching.

He looked like dog doo today. Some very weak hitters hit him pretty hard today.

[a700hitter]

Day games are not the best barometer. It will not show up in a box score or in a stat, but Hanley Ramirez's instincts looked pretty bad today in the OF today. He took a wild route on contact today as if the ball was over his head. The ball settled gently in the glove of XB on the lip of the OF grass. It was a routine infield pop up. I will be watching him closely, because that was an amateurish break on contact.

[cp176]

You hear announcers say this sort of thing a lot.

 

Another case where the eyes can lie to you.

 

 

Remy is no scientist but he was a pretty good second baseman. Probably the ball does not go faster after the initial ground contact but the amount of topspin can certainly make the speed appear very unpredictable. I have to say that I enjoy his color commentary. Always have. If I am watching the game on tv, the more color the better. I don't need someone to tell me that the hitter fouled a ball off. I want those stories and he has plenty.

[SoxnCycles]

Remy is no scientist but he was a pretty good second baseman. Probably the ball does not go faster after the initial ground contact but the amount of topspin can certainly make the speed appear very unpredictable. I have to say that I enjoy his color commentary. Always have. If I am watching the game on tv, the more color the better. I don't need someone to tell me that the hitter fouled a ball off. I want those stories and he has plenty.

 

Yup.

I think Remy would be the first to admit he's not the sharpest knife in the drawer.

I enjoy his color work. I've heard a few other team's announcers and believe Remy is one of the best.

[cp176]

Yup.

I think Remy would be the first to admit he's not the sharpest knife in the drawer.

I enjoy his color work. I've heard a few other team's announcers and believe Remy is one of the best.

 

Couldn't agree with you more. What I find very interesting about him, is that he has a good sense of humility. He was a very good baseball player. I loved watching him play in the field ,at the plate, and on the base paths. He would never give you a clue as to how good he was when you listen to him broadcast.

[Bellhorn04]

One thing that people forget about Remy is in that 1978 playoff game with the Yankees, if the Red Sox had won he would have been one of the heroes. He had a sac bunt in the 6th that led to a run, he doubled in the 8th off Gossage and then he singled off Gossage in the 9th.

[cp176]

One thing that people forget about Remy is in that 1978 playoff game with the Yankees, if the Red Sox had won he would have been one of the heroes. He had a sac bunt in the 6th that led to a run, he doubled in the 8th off Gossage and then he singled off Gossage in the 9th.

 

I loved him. He was a grinder. I think that it was today that he was asked whether he felt more pressure to perform in certain situations than others. His answer pretty much defined the type of player he was. He said he always felt pressure to perform regardless of the situation. To him, spring training was not just a time to get his work in. He had to battle for his job. I think that too much is just given to many players today. I like the fact that some of them actually view this as a time that they have to show that they have the ability to get the job done. Sorry about the rant - I liked Remy's style.

[redsoxrules]

Looks like Rusney Castillo won't even be in the starting outfield. 72.5 Mil sitting on the Bench.

Betts has to be the starting CF on opening day. He's the real deal. And According to Farrell Victorino is the starting RF. So that leaves out Castillo.

However if XB doesn't come through this year they have the option to move Ramirez to short to make room for Castillo

[Jasonbay44]

Looks like Rusney Castillo won't even be in the starting outfield. 72.5 Mil sitting on the Bench.

Betts has to be the starting CF on opening day. He's the real deal. And According to Farrell Victorino is the starting RF. So that leaves out Castillo.

However if XB doesn't come through this year they have the option to move Ramirez to short to make room for Castillo

There is also the possibility of Victorino being traded, or getting injured. I'm sure we'll see Castillo quite a bit this season, even if Betts is named the starter, which should definitely happen.

[Kimmi]

Remy is no scientist but he was a pretty good second baseman. Probably the ball does not go faster after the initial ground contact but the amount of topspin can certainly make the speed appear very unpredictable. I have to say that I enjoy his color commentary. Always have. If I am watching the game on tv, the more color the better. I don't need someone to tell me that the hitter fouled a ball off. I want those stories and he has plenty.

 

 

I am a big fan of the Remy/Orsillo duo. I think they do a great job. I know some are annoyed by their shenanigans in the booth, but I think they're hilarious.

[Ogden]

i am not a scientist either, but a ball with a lot of over-spin does look like it is picking up speed on a hard infield and artificial turf.

 

It's like a rising fastball. It's not rising. It' s just not sinking at the same rate as other fast balls.

 

Scientists did publish papers concluding that the curve ball was an optical illusion.

 

 

 

Those are the same guys I sold property on the continent of Atlantis.

[Kimmi]

There have been some very encouraging reports regarding Bogaerts' defense so far. His range appears to be much improved over last year, and he's apparently making plays that he wouldn't have been able to last season.

 

On a similar note, Fangraphs has the Sox defense projected to be 5th best in baseball this season, with 25 runs saved. The only below average defender projected is Bogaerts at -6 runs saved. He could prove to be better than that, however, if early reports are true.

[Ogden]

I am a big fan of the Remy/Orsillo duo. I think they do a great job. I know some are annoyed by their shenanigans in the booth, but I think they're hilarious.

 

 

Some day Orsillo is going to wet his pants when he gets laughing ... or maybe he has already. I like Remy as long as he keeps up his anti-depressive medication but I like the Eck better. Sometimes Remy's personality changes to semi-quiet. The Eck is consistent.

[cp176]

There have been some very encouraging reports regarding Bogaerts' defense so far. His range appears to be much improved over last year, and he's apparently making plays that he wouldn't have been able to last season.

 

On a similar note, Fangraphs has the Sox defense projected to be 5th best in baseball this season, with 25 runs saved. The only below average defender projected is Bogaerts at -6 runs saved. He could prove to be better than that, however, if early reports are true.

 

The work XB put in this winter is obvious to see I think. It probably will take some people time to realize the difference but there really is a difference. Confidence is up as well. Boy it is hard for me to understand though Kimmi what possible data would tell anyone that Ramirez will be stronger in left than XB will at short.

[pruneface]

You hear announcers say this sort of thing a lot.

 

Another case where the eyes can lie to you.

I think all experience is mediated, so the opportunity for deception abounds. Moving toward abstraction invites manipulation. Numbers. The official unemployment rate in the United States doesn’t actually depend on the number of people who are out of work. Words, another step away from the concrete, can deceive. A product labelled 'new and improved' is just as likely to be worse than its predecessor. Something claiming to 'taste great' often tastes bad.

 

While not in all cases (for example, I don't consider technology morally neutral), it's not so much the things themselves, as it's what we do with them. Science, for example, theorizes; it does not profess a claim to absolute truth. It's the people (practitioners) who fundamentalize it. Since science has been harnessed along with its handmaiden technology in the service of progress, and has come to be an end itself, its radicalization should not be surprising. Nor should we be surprised when more and more people are skeptical of the claims made in the scientific community, particularly in the realm of medicine, pharmacology or nutrition, where scientists have recanted previous truths and inserted new ones which will only be replaced again later. Corrupted data and manipulation for marketing purposes feeds anti-vaccination, and various other denial claims, understandably so. I suspect all of science will be looked upon with deep supernatural suspicion in the years ahead. And there are numerous natural tendencies, not the least of which is confirmation bias that will paint how we perceive reality.

Edited March 19, 2015 by pruneface

[a700hitter]

On Wednesday, XB made an excellentdiving/sliding play in the hole to start a double play.

[seabeachfred]

On Wednesday, XB made an excellentdiving/sliding play in the hole to start a double play.

 

Being "marooned" on the Left Coast for ST I don't get any Red Sox games through MLB TV until the regular season begins so I am pretty much forced to get a plethora of Angels and Dodgers games. Both should be decent teams this year but what does that matter to me? I wish they would put some Sox games on ESPN as they did tonight with the Phillies and Yankees. I do follow the box scores and have noticed a strong resemblance to what is going on with those two teams and what is going on with ours on the offensive front. It seems like those players who aren't going to make the teams are doing pretty well but a lot of the regulars who the teams will depend on have not gotten untracked as of yet----with a few exceptions. To me, there is still a lot of time to get wired in but we have to understand that the 2015 Red Sox are going to have to hit and hit with force because we aren't sure how effective our starting rotation is going to be. Come to think of it, our bullpen is also a question mark of sorts with Koji ailing. Again, there is still plenty of time and I still feel our team will be much better than the 2014 edition but to me I want that AL East Title if at all possible. Hey Ted and the rest of you what say you? How many of you think we're on the right road and how many think there is a bump or two possible? Man I wish we are ready to play when it all starts and from what I've seen we've had a pretty good spring so far.

[mvp 78]

I still think this is a 3rd place team. Competetive, but not playoff bound.

[Bellhorn04]

Nice start for Castillo - a 3-run jack in his first spring game AB.

[pruneface]

The waters are still muddy. There are so many moving parts, some of whom would be guaranteed starting positions on other teams. We all know about Castillo, Betts, Craig, Vic, and Hanley. There's also Holt, who was hitting well over .300 when he got concussed. Holt also deserves the opportunity to start every day and see if he can maintain that promise he showed. He's a good hitter and a heck of a defender, versatile, a tremendous athlete. I just have to be patient and trust things will become clearer. I do know that there's isn't room for all these guys to get consistent ABs and that's what they need to maintain their edge.

[SoxnCycles]

I think all experience is mediated, so the opportunity for deception abounds. Moving toward abstraction invites manipulation. Numbers. The official unemployment rate in the United States doesn’t actually depend on the number of people who are out of work. Words, another step away from the concrete, can deceive. A product labelled 'new and improved' is just as likely to be worse than its predecessor. Something claiming to 'taste great' often tastes bad.

 

While not in all cases (for example, I don't consider technology morally neutral), it's not so much the things themselves, as it's what we do with them. Science, for example, theorizes; it does not profess a claim to absolute truth. It's the people (practitioners) who fundamentalize it. Since science has been harnessed along with its handmaiden technology in the service of progress, and has come to be an end itself, its radicalization should not be surprising. Nor should we be surprised when more and more people are skeptical of the claims made in the scientific community, particularly in the realm of medicine, pharmacology or nutrition, where scientists have recanted previous truths and inserted new ones which will only be replaced again later. Corrupted data and manipulation for marketing purposes feeds anti-vaccination, and various other denial claims, understandably so. I suspect all of science will be looked upon with deep supernatural suspicion in the years ahead. And there are numerous natural tendencies, not the least of which is confirmation bias that will paint how we perceive reality.

 

Only if Science somehow sends us back to living in caves, in some way.

Science theory isn't always as neat and clean as we'd like, but that doesn't we shouldn't try to learn more about the world around us.

When I was in 6th grade, I was taught that the dinosaurs died out after being the dominant terrestrial species for 135 million years because they were "too stupid to adapt".

 

Seems pretty silly now.

 

I think it's been said plenty of times here already, but I'll say it again; it's foolish to rely on "what my eyes tell me" only.

Just as it's foolish to rely strictly on stats to tell the whole story.

 

A combination of both will give you the most complete picture possible.

Edited March 20, 2015 by SoxnCycles

[SoxnCycles]

The waters are still muddy. There are so many moving parts, some of whom would be guaranteed starting positions on other teams. We all know about Castillo, Betts, Craig, Vic, and Hanley. There's also Holt, who was hitting well over .300 when he got concussed. Holt also deserves the opportunity to start every day and see if he can maintain that promise he showed. He's a good hitter and a heck of a defender, versatile, a tremendous athlete. I just have to be patient and trust things will become clearer. I do know that there's isn't room for all these guys to get consistent ABs and that's what they need to maintain their edge.

 

As good as Holt was last year, he's not getting a starting gig with the Sox.

He had a significant drop off in production n in the second half, last year.

 

The fact that he is so versatile tells me the Sox will keep him in the Super U role, unless some team comes asking for him.

[pruneface]

As good as Holt was last year, he's not getting a starting gig with the Sox.

He had a significant drop off in production n in the second half, last year.

 

The fact that he is so versatile tells me the Sox will keep him in the Super U role, unless some team comes asking for him.

His concussion almost certainly had something to do with that. And teams have asked about him, but you appear to be correct that he won't get a starting opportunity with the Sox. I think he'd get that chance with not a few teams.

[SoxnCycles]

His concussion almost certainly had something to do with that. And teams have asked about him, but you appear to be correct that he won't get a starting opportunity with the Sox. I think he'd get that chance with not a few teams.

 

That's true about the concussion.

I think he's too valuable to simply give away, to trim the roster.

If the Sox can package him, or get a decent player for him, I'd be fine with dealing him.

I'm sure he'd rather be starting.

[a700hitter]

Masterson who lost a few clicks on his fastball last season did not find them today. He never hit 90, topping out at 89 once or twice. He sat mainly at 87/88. He threw several 84-86. I can't see him being successful at that velocity. Hopefully, he is building up arm strength and velocity, but I am not very hopeful. Earlier in the week, Kelly looked terrible. Porcello looked fine, but the only other excitement on the mound was Rodriguez.

[a700hitter]

It doesnt look like HanRam left his dog in LA. Normally, I wouldn't think much of it, because it is just spring training, but he does have a reputation. He never runs hard. He needs a kick in the butt, but I don't think there is anyone in our clubhouse to do that.