Is it just me, or has this been an extremely quiet Spring Training in Red Sox Nation?

Nobody seems to be suffering from unexpected or emerging injuries.

There does not seem to be a battle for roster spots.

No specific player is playing so poorly that it is causing alarm (I don't think this is true, anyway...)

Perhaps this is due, in part, to the common belief in RSN that the Sox are almost on "autopilot" - they are good enough to win about 95 games, the Yankees will probably win 100, and we'll probably make the playoffs as a wildcard. The, if Lester, Lackey, and Beckett are on, we've got a chance to win it in 2010. It would help if Ortiz hit for the full season what he did in the last 90 or 100 games in 2009.

Anyway, it's been a long winter...

Embree better not be allowed to throw one frigging pitch

Peanut....hazelnut...cashew nut...pine nut, which is a nut, but it's also the name of a town...pistachio nut...red pistachio nut...

Harlen Pepper, if you don't stop namin' nuts!

Is it just me, or has this been an extremely quiet Spring Training in Red Sox Nation?

You haven't noticed Josh Reddick tearing it up?

... You take a guy like George Washington Carver. The man devoted his whole life to the peanut. Imagine having so much passion for something. I've often wondered if he ever worked with the pecan. Now, is that considered a nut? Because I know the cashew is a legume.

What an utterly pointless move. He will merely waste the first two months of the season losing games and blocking somebody who might be competent.

I'd be shocked if he winds up with a roster spot. The problem has been the guys that seemed like they were fighting for the LOOGY spot (Castro, Richardson, Shouse) have all been less than dazzling. Bring in Embree, take a look, no harm, no foul.

You haven't noticed Josh Reddick tearing it up?

I'm irrationally high on Reddick, this Spring has not been helpful in reigning in that emotion.

If the team keeps five outfielders, then Reddick makes the team, right? On the level of 2010, and only 2010, I'd rather have Reddick than, say, a guy like Baldelli.

But if the goal is player development, beyond 2010, etc., then a just-turned-23-year-old Reddick sitting on the pine most of the time is probably not too good for his career development.

Reddick shouldn't make the team out of ST this year, 60 good PAs in spring training notwithstanding. He's had only 79 PAs at the AAA level so far and his numbers there and with the Sox last year were pretty awful. He clearly needs more seasoning and wouldn't play much at all with Boston if they kept him up.

The problem has been the guys that seemed like they were fighting for the LOOGY spot (Castro, Richardson, Shouse) have all been less than dazzling. Bring in Embree, take a look, no harm, no foul.

That's the read I get. I doubt Embree has much left, but I think they only brought him in because everyone else has been pretty uninspiring.

If the team keeps five outfielders, then Reddick makes the team, right? On the level of 2010, and only 2010, I'd rather have Reddick than, say, a guy like Baldelli.

I kind of assumed they'd be using Hall as a super-utility guy who'd back up basically every non-pitcher/catcher position. Francona said he'd probably rest Drew and bring in Hall against tough lefties.

I think Hall is going to be a bust as a utility player. I don't know if there is any data to support it but high strikeout guys seem like a bad fit with irregular duty. Their swings get to be a mess. Gimme those slap hitters any day off the bench.

Reddick shouldn't make the team out of ST this year, 60 good PAs in spring training notwithstanding. He's had only 79 PAs at the AAA level so far and his numbers there and with the Sox last year were pretty awful. He clearly needs more seasoning and wouldn't play much at all with Boston if they kept him up.

I'm with you, Joe. Reddick would pretty clearly be the #5 OF to start the season, and I'd rather see him playing every day than pinch hitting and replacing Drew in RF once a week.

What an utterly pointless move. He will merely waste the first two months of the season losing games and blocking somebody who might be competent.

I can't imagine he'd be much more than a situational lefty. I certainly hope he's not seeing any significant time in high leverage situations, but I'm hopeful that won't be the case. He hasn't been so much as average since '07, and he's 40.

ground ball to second, pokey reese has it.

I think Hall is going to be a bust as a utility player.

I kind of agree, but Alex Cora wasn't exactly Babe Ruth out there either, and the Red Sox survived him just fine. Utility guys are going to be lousy. All Hall needs to do is get to a 675 or so OPS not to be actively hurting the team, but I have my doubts if he can even hit that well.

It would be nice if Embree got in an inning or so (got some outs) so his career doesn't end with a broken leg. But I understand the lack of excitement. He didn't pitch well for the Rockies before the injury.