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

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Bradford: Could this be the smartest Red Sox team since ‘07?

(www.weei.com)

posted 15 hours ago by Repoz to red sox | 7 comment(s)

Using the Bradford–Binet Intelligence Test…uhh, no.

The Gomes persona might offer the best evidence of an ‘07 dynamic within these Red Sox.

There might be some frustration for fans who choose to define success and failure by pure numbers with the outfielder hitting .183 with a .643 OPS. Intangibles aside, it certainly would behoove the Red Sox to get Gomes’ digits up a bit. But something as simple of managing to hit a ball in the air when his team needed it the most, as was the case in 10th ...

Reader Comments and Retorts

Go to end of page

Statements posted here are those of our readers and do not represent the BaseballThinkFactory. Names are provided by the poster and are not verified. We ask that posters follow our submission policy. Please report any inappropriate comments.

Page 4 of 5 pages < 1 2 3 4 5 >

151. Nasty Nate posted on February 28, 2013 at 01:53 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I mention this with some regularity but it is still not clear to me why 3rd base is not an option for a converted catcher (e.g. Napoli or hell even Lavarnway).

Do 3Bmen have more chances at batted balls than 1Bmen because of their positioning and that there are more RH hitters than lefties?

152. Matt Clement of Alexandria posted on February 28, 2013 at 01:57 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

You can be a reasonably ok catcher without having any capacity to play infield. Think Mike Piazza. The reports on Lavarnway is that he makes Piazza look like a versatile athlete, and he's either a catcher or a DH.

153. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit posted on February 28, 2013 at 02:17 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I agree that it's not a guaranteed successful conversion. However, I think it should be considered more often than it is and it is not clear to me why 1st base is always the fallback position but 3rd base is not. If the player is capable of playing 1st, my belief is that it probably is worthwhile to see if he can play 3rd. This is especially true with the offensive bar being lower at 3rd than at 1st.

EDIT - BBRef now has Spring Training stats for this year including an estimated value of opposition quality? I really think I love Sean Forman.

154. Drew (Primakov, Gungho Iguanas) posted on February 28, 2013 at 03:08 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Extra Bases has Bradley listed in center. I wonder if whatever site you looked at put in the wrong "B" prospect.

It was MLB.com. Not even they can get everything right, it seems. They've fixed it (to my extreme relief).

155. ellsbury my heart at wounded knee posted on February 28, 2013 at 03:34 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I agree that it's not a guaranteed successful conversion. However, I think it should be considered more often than it is and it is not clear to me why 1st base is always the fallback position but 3rd base is not. If the player is capable of playing 1st, my belief is that it probably is worthwhile to see if he can play 3rd. This is especially true with the offensive bar being lower at 3rd than at 1st.

To me, it seems like 3B requires better natural instincts and incredibly quick reactions to batted balls that are pretty difficult if you've never played an infield position before. 3B usually play closer in on the grass and have to defend against bunts and whatnot, while 1B tend to play a little deeper and have a little more time to react, not to mention all the throws are different. Most C can barely play a passable 1B, let alone 3B.

156. Dan posted on March 01, 2013 at 08:25 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Anyone else watching tonight's game?

Ellsbury and Drew both look good, putting on good swings against LHP.

157. villageidiom posted on March 01, 2013 at 10:06 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I'm watching, now. I'm impressed with Wright. LOTS of movement with his knuckler.

158. Dan posted on March 03, 2013 at 02:49 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Anybody watching today's game against the Yankees? So far the biggest takeaway for me from today's broadcast has been that it's going to be terrible to see another season of Remy blatantly hitting on Jenny Dell.

159. Dan posted on March 03, 2013 at 02:52 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Drew's range on defense looks pretty solid. He seems like he's finally over the ankle injury.

160. Dan posted on March 03, 2013 at 02:58 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Napoli just demolished a HR to dead center at fake Fenway. I think he'll hit well enough to be an asset at first base.

161. Darren

posted on March 03, 2013 at 03:27 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

nice AB for Drew there too.

162. Darren

posted on March 03, 2013 at 03:28 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Napoli looks like he's in better shape than I remember. He tends to wear a pretty baggy shirt, so maybe I was deceived in the past.

163. Darren

posted on March 03, 2013 at 03:36 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I don't care what anyone else says, I'm glad we've got Ken Stabler in our bullpen.

164. Dan posted on March 03, 2013 at 03:39 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Andrew Miller has grown quite the beard and long hair combo. I don't think he's shaved or gotten a haircut since last ST, and he was already looking ragged then.

165. Darren

posted on March 03, 2013 at 03:40 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Keep pitching like that and he can look however he wants. Sox pitchers have thrown 4 balls through 5 IP--never thought I'd hear that after last year.

166. Darren

posted on March 03, 2013 at 03:44 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Salty hustle!

167. Darren

posted on March 03, 2013 at 03:44 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Okay, late, partial hustle.

168. tfbg9 posted on March 03, 2013 at 03:49 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Dempster looked good?

169. Dan posted on March 03, 2013 at 03:54 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Hanrahan's command doesn't look especially sharp.

170. Dan posted on March 03, 2013 at 03:58 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Hanrahan looks like ####.

171. Darren

posted on March 03, 2013 at 04:01 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

When a Minor Leaguer can get on top of your high heat like that, not good.

172. Dan posted on March 03, 2013 at 04:03 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Granted, a lot of this isn't his fault, but he doesn't look sharp either.

Sutton with 2 errors at third base in one ####### inning. Amazing.

173. Darren

posted on March 03, 2013 at 04:06 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Yeah, he looks a little too much like another bearded, heavyset closer for my taste.

174. Dan posted on March 03, 2013 at 04:06 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Closer out. Best RP in.

175. Darren

posted on March 03, 2013 at 04:10 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

How soon will Tazawa be closing?

176. Dan posted on March 03, 2013 at 04:11 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Beautiful slow curve by Tazawa. Followed up with a nice slider or hard curve or whatever. Retires Yankees scrub in 3 pitches, after watching Hanrahan futz around with 6 pitches per hitter.

177. Dan posted on March 03, 2013 at 04:15 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Another good AB from Drew, even if the result wasn't there.

178. Dan posted on March 03, 2013 at 04:22 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Lavarnway did a good job framing strike 3 there. That fastball was a good bit off the black,but he held the glove nice and steady and got the call. I actually thought it was still Ross back there at first.

179. Dan posted on March 03, 2013 at 04:26 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

How many more shitty performances by Hanrahan until Nick Cafardo and the like start talking about a "closer controversy"?

180. Dan posted on March 03, 2013 at 04:39 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Bailey also looked far better than Hanrahan. He did give up some hard contact to minor leaguers though.

181. Dan posted on March 03, 2013 at 05:01 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

This pitcher looks terrible, whoever he is. But Lavarnway has done a good job catching him.

182. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit posted on March 04, 2013 at 08:09 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

How soon will Tazawa be closing?

Trade deadline at the latest.

Going to five games the next two weeks, let me know whose career you'd like me to ruin.

183. villageidiom posted on March 04, 2013 at 10:18 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

Going to five games the next two weeks, let me know whose career you'd like me to ruin.

"Wow, that Cafardo guy is writing really well this spring!"

EDIT: Oops, I misspelled "Shaughnessy".

184. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit posted on March 04, 2013 at 02:08 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Actually walked by Cafardo this morning, he looks slimmer. Best shape of his life!

There is some nitwit on the field pregame with a Red Sox Longoria jersey on. Yes that is correct, joins the guy I saw with the Michael Jordan Celtic jersey at the parade in 2004.

185. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit posted on March 04, 2013 at 03:37 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Scary moment - Iglesias just smoked a double down the third base line but pulled up as he went into second base . He's staying in the game for now though.

186. Dan posted on March 06, 2013 at 03:38 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

120. Dan Posted: February 24, 2013 at 04:11 PM (#4375261)
Looks like the Yankees might be the ones bit by the injury bug this year: Granderson hit by a pitch in his first ST PA, and will miss 10 weeks with a fractured forearm.

This appears to be a trend now...Teixeira out of the WBC and out for at least 2 weeks with a wrist injury. Heard a "pop". That's a big concern for a guy whose only tool on offense is power. The amusing part will be when Dan Johnson fills in and hits .250/.350/.500 for 6 weeks with half his games in NYS, with 6-10 homers in that span as he takes advantage of the short porch.

187. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit posted on March 06, 2013 at 03:55 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Anyone wondering what happened to Kalish I think Linares ate him. Linares looks like George Scott circa 1978.

188. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit posted on March 06, 2013 at 04:20 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Lyle Overbay...not an outfielder. Misread a fly ball that hit the base of the wall and overran a grounder to allow a run to score.

189. Sonic Youk posted on March 07, 2013 at 06:54 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Webster today: 3 IP, 1 R 0 BB 5K, touching high 90s again. wheeeeeeeeeee.

190. Matt Clement of Alexandria posted on March 07, 2013 at 06:59 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

So, Bard struck out the side in his one inning of work today? Any reports?

Over on SoSH, they're saying he sat mid-90s (somewhere 93-97, depending on reports) and looked great. Bard recently told the press that he's finally started feeling like his old self in side sessions, and he apparently showed it today. This is really great news.

191. tfbg9 posted on March 07, 2013 at 07:26 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

This is really great news

Let him have a good month and deal him away. I won't ever trust him again. Sorry...

192. Dan posted on March 07, 2013 at 07:32 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

That's silly. IF he's back to the pitcher he was in 2010 and 2011, then he's a better pitcher than the nominal closer. Why would you want to get rid of him?

Speaking of said closer, Hanrahan had another miserable outing today. He only managed to get 1 out before they had to lift him due to pitch count. That's freaking pathetic, and comes after a few other bad outings.

193. Matt Clement of Alexandria posted on March 07, 2013 at 07:40 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

IF he's back to the pitcher he was in 2010 and 2011, then he's a better pitcher than the nominal closer.

Which would put him, what, fourth in line for the job?

I don't want to make too much of spring training numbers, and I haven't gotten to sit down and watch Hanrahan pitch yet. But in the situation the Sox have, with Bailey, Tazawa, and Uehara all looking like excellent high-lev options, it seems to me that Hanrahan should have to win the job rather than be given time to settle into it.

--------------

Hating on one of the best possible feel-good stories of the spring is no fun, teddy.

194. tfbg9 posted on March 07, 2013 at 09:49 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Hey I hope Bard does well. I just don't trust him. He seems like a guy who can just "lose it" without warning. He did it in the minors. He did in late 2011. And he did it last year.

I never really got the impression he was ever all that good at hitting the glove, he often got outs on raw stuff. Not my cup of tea.

I hope he has himself a good rest of his career.

195. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit posted on March 09, 2013 at 07:49 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Night baseball at the Fort. Dylan Bundy and Felix Doubront.

196. Matt Clement of Alexandria posted on March 10, 2013 at 03:40 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Really impressed by Christian Vazquez behind the plate.

Bard has some good breaking stuff today, but his fastball is all over the place a bit.

197. Matt Clement of Alexandria posted on March 10, 2013 at 03:58 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Tazawa's slow curve is beautiful. He looks like he has the stuff to be a starter.

198. Dale Sams posted on March 10, 2013 at 04:06 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Ortiz has said "He'll let Farrell announce the results of the MRI tomorrow"

Sounds ominous.

Thome?
Bradley?
Damon?

Johnny Platoonbody?

If they're to have any chance this season, my preference would be to use Bradley (also time in the field of course) and hope for upside. Platooning people like GOmes and Nava just seems to me to be creating holes elsewhere.

199. tfbg9 posted on March 10, 2013 at 04:38 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Why didn't they MRI both his freakin' heels in January? Ugh.

200. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit posted on March 10, 2013 at 05:13 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

This has a Schilling circa 2008 feel to it doesn't it?

And I'm on board with Dales Jackie Bradley plan.

Page 4 of 5 pages < 1 2 3 4 5 >

You must be Registered and Logged In to post comments.

/m/red_sox

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Bradford: Could this be the smartest Red Sox team since ‘07?

Reader Comments and Retorts

Red Sox Think Factory