BBTF.org/m/red_sox : Spring Training Game Thread

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Cafardo: Dustin Pedroia the best second baseman in MLB?

(www.bostonglobe.com)

posted 1 day ago by Repoz to red sox | 112 comment(s)

Sweet spectroscopy! The argument is rolled out again!

It’s not surprising to hear what two scouts from each league, who both have watched a lot of the American League this year, say about Dustin Pedroia.

“Nobody is playing his position better in baseball right now than Pedroia,” said the AL scout. “He’s playing out of his mind. The plays he’s making — you just don’t see that stuff every day, but you see it with him every day. Honestly, I’m surprised he doesn’t get hurt ...

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1. Dan posted on February 23, 2013 at 02:40 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

John Lackey still looks like ####.

2. Matt Clement of Alexandria posted on February 23, 2013 at 02:41 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Is it me or do Lackey's mechanics look wrong? His tempo is really slow to the plate. I'm not surprised the velocity isn't there.

His body does have a completely different shape. How terrible must his fitness have been in the last several years?

3. Dan posted on February 23, 2013 at 02:46 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Is it me, or does Saltalamacchia look a lot quieter receiving pitches?

4. Dan posted on February 23, 2013 at 02:46 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Wow, didn't mean to ape the construction of post #2. That's what I get for posting while only half paying attention.

5. Matt Clement of Alexandria posted on February 23, 2013 at 02:48 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Sleeveless gray mullet man is like the state of Florida in human form.

6. Matt Clement of Alexandria posted on February 23, 2013 at 02:51 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

So, who else just pencilled in a .400 OBP with 90 walks for Ellsbury this year?

7. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit posted on February 23, 2013 at 02:54 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I thinknLackey looked like a guy coming back from injury would be expected to look. After the HBP he seemed to make an adjustment and was getting the ball down much better.

8. Dan posted on February 23, 2013 at 02:55 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

It's so weird that the dugouts are reversed from Fenway. You'd think that designing a park from scratch that replicating that would be one of the things they'd put in the design.

9. Dan posted on February 23, 2013 at 02:56 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Umpires are already in midseason form, I see.

10. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit posted on February 23, 2013 at 02:56 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I told you Victorino sucked!

11. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit posted on February 23, 2013 at 02:58 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

8 - that and the right field line are the two biggest oddities to me. The RF line looks more like Yankee Stadium than Fenway.

I saw an interview last year where they said the fans sitting in the Monster was actually something they tried to make happen at Fenway.

12. Joe Bivens, Minor Genius posted on February 23, 2013 at 02:58 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

One inning and done?

13. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit posted on February 23, 2013 at 02:59 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

They're starting earlier than usual because of thenWBC so they have some time to ease into it. According to the globe he's scheduled for two innings on Thursday.

14. Dan posted on February 23, 2013 at 03:00 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Britton hitting 95?

15. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit posted on February 23, 2013 at 03:02 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

He can hit 97. He's a legitimately live arm but doesn't seem to have a lot with it.

16. Matt Clement of Alexandria posted on February 23, 2013 at 03:03 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Britton pitching like exactly what his scouting reports suggest. That is a major league ace's fastball, but he doesn't have any idea where it's going.

17. Dan posted on February 23, 2013 at 03:04 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Well even if he doesn't develop good secondary pitches, you'd think with that kind of fastball he could be a power lefty reliever like a Matt Thornton type.

18. Matt Clement of Alexandria posted on February 23, 2013 at 03:06 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Yeah, seeing him pitch, even though I'd hear it was good, Britton's fastball is even better than I imagined. With just a little bit of command, he should be a useful major leaguer in some role.

He's Baby Embree.

The breaking ball has really good movement - better than Embree's from pure stuff perspective. I figure command is an even bigger problem with that than with the fastball.

19. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit posted on February 23, 2013 at 03:06 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I like that he bounced back from a dreadful 2011 last year. I just like that a guy can learn to overcome struggles in the minors.

20. Dan posted on February 23, 2013 at 03:06 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Britton absolutely overpowered Hak-Ju Lee there.

21. Dan posted on February 23, 2013 at 03:08 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

That curveball actually looks pretty decent too.

22. Dan posted on February 23, 2013 at 03:09 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

That was a pretty impressive inning. He threw a bunch of pitches, but he got the job done.

23. tfbg9 posted on February 23, 2013 at 03:09 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

How did Lackey look? Radar gun readings?

24. Matt Clement of Alexandria posted on February 23, 2013 at 03:09 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Blew a 3-1 right by Zobrist, then put a 3-2 in the absolute heart of the plate and induced mediocre contact. That's a fastball.

25. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit posted on February 23, 2013 at 03:10 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

88-89. Everything high to the first few batters then seemed to self correct and got the ball down pretty well.

26. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit posted on February 23, 2013 at 03:11 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Exciting Gomes versus Gomes matchup this inning!

27. Matt Clement of Alexandria posted on February 23, 2013 at 03:11 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

How did Lackey look? Radar gun readings?

1) Practically unrecognizable - he's in shape.
2) Pitching was eh. I thought his mechanics were weird, a little slow, Jose thought he looked ok. Did throw some well-commanded fastballs to the corners.
3) Velocity just 88-89. Could be a problem, could be working himself into shape.

28. Dan posted on February 23, 2013 at 03:13 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Lackey isn't just "in shape", he's nearly Buchholz thin.

29. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit posted on February 23, 2013 at 03:13 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Wonder if the weight loss is playing havoc with his mechanics. I'm down 45 pounds (#bragging) and when I move around I'm definitely finding my body feels a little foreign to me.

30. Matt Clement of Alexandria posted on February 23, 2013 at 03:18 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Shoulda found a way to #humblebrag that ####, Jose. Start with a story about being uncoordinated, that'll get you there.

31. Dan posted on February 23, 2013 at 03:20 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

"When you lose nearly 50 pounds, you can feel a bit uncoordinated at times, even feeling like you're in a different body. I can sympathize with Lackey on that, having lost 45 pounds myself #humblebrag"

Something like that would've been ideal IMO

32. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit posted on February 23, 2013 at 03:20 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Spring training for me too.

33. Dan posted on February 23, 2013 at 03:22 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Joyce is like Trot Nixon level helpless against LHP.

34. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit posted on February 23, 2013 at 03:22 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

That's gotta be Middlebrooks' ball.

35. Dan posted on February 23, 2013 at 03:23 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Too bad the Rays didn't send Myers along with this split squad. He's playing RF in the game at home against Pittsburgh instead. I would've really liked seeing him in live game action.

Jesus, Salty.

36. villageidiom posted on February 23, 2013 at 03:24 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I forgot how fortunate we were last year that Salty had his throwing problems under control.

37. tfbg9 posted on February 23, 2013 at 03:24 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Thanks. He's your 2013 ALCBPOTY!

38. Dan posted on February 23, 2013 at 03:25 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Nice recovery by Britton, kept his composure, and made a nice throw to start the DP.

39. Matt Clement of Alexandria posted on February 23, 2013 at 03:27 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

That inning reminded me why I was not unhappy when I assumed Salty would be traded this offseason.

Britton's got two more option years remaining. So basically this season is his last chance to be a starting pitcher - if he can't get it together, he'll be headed to the pen next year. I think he's probably going to be a reliever, but from watching these two innings, I think he's likely to be really good at it.

40. Matt Clement of Alexandria posted on February 23, 2013 at 03:29 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I love when a guy comes to the plate in spring with a specific plan for something to work on. Middlebrooks obviously wanted to try to hit to the opposite field. Got the right pitch, good execution.

(Ellsbury working the walk while barely getting the bat off his shoulder also fits this category.)

41. Matt Clement of Alexandria posted on February 23, 2013 at 03:32 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

God, if this twitter stuff keeps up all season, I will commit crimes which involve violence.

42. Dan posted on February 23, 2013 at 03:36 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Who is pitching now? I missed it

43. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit posted on February 23, 2013 at 03:37 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Wilson has a funky body. Is it me or his legs really really short?

44. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit posted on February 23, 2013 at 03:37 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Alex Wilson.

45. Mirabelli Dictu (Chris McClinch) posted on February 23, 2013 at 03:37 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Alex Wilson. Saw he touched 100 this at-bat.

46. Mirabelli Dictu (Chris McClinch) posted on February 23, 2013 at 03:38 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Carbonated beverage of your choice, Jose.

47. Matt Clement of Alexandria posted on February 23, 2013 at 03:39 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

You're right Jose. He's like 75% torso.

48. Dan posted on February 23, 2013 at 03:41 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Did Wilson really hit 100 on the gun?

49. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit posted on February 23, 2013 at 03:41 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Whatever he is he has definitely been the sharpest of the pitchers so far.

50. Dan posted on February 23, 2013 at 03:42 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

They must be expecting Wilson to make it to the bigs this year if he's been issued #63. Seems like pitchers 61,62,63 are usually guys like Buchholz in 2007, Masterson in 2008, etc.

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Sunday, May 19, 2013

Cafardo: Dustin Pedroia the best second baseman in MLB?

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