The one and only Red Sox 2015 thread

TheVon

I hope I'm wrong, but I think they do have a glaring hole in their starting pitching. Maybe it'll be good enough to get this team to the post-season but I'd hate to run out Buchholz, Porcello, and Miley to face Felix, Iwakuma, and Walker.

pitboss

Spring training will tell a lot and hopefully we have some good pitchers and don't even know it.

More importantly that Betts is not losing Sweihart as catching is a rare commodity when you have one with his abilities.

bxb

<< <i>I hope I'm wrong, but I think they do have a glaring hole in their starting pitching. Maybe it'll be good enough to get this team to the post-season but I'd hate to run out Buchholz, Porcello, and Miley to face Felix, Iwakuma, and Walker. >>



I agree. When all is said and done, the starting pitching is the biggest question mark right now on this team.

I see one above average starter (Porcello), and 4 risky guys who are below average - not the stuff of a championship team.

They missed out on Lester and Scherzer - imagine the difference with those 2 guys in the rotation.

Of course, hope springs eternal that the 4 Question Marks will stay healthy and have a break out year.

pitboss

I'm ready for the fun to begin. Just signed up for the baseball package and NESN too.

pitboss

I know it is his first appearance but---

If Kelly is going to win the Cy Young award this year, like he claims, then he has to pitch better than he did last night!

pitboss

Buchholtz looked great and where are they going to play Sweihart.

He is just too good a hitter to send him back down for a long period of time.

These are the kind of problems I like to see.

perkdog

<< <i>Buchholtz looked great and where are they going to play Sweihart.

He is just too good a hitter to send him back down for a long period of time.

These are the kind of problems I like to see. >>




Id like to see Buchholtz looking great during the regular season as well as Sweihart.

pitboss

Maybe Cherington was right about the pitching staff. They look good so far. The games so far on tv have not shown the full team and are mainly just rookies so its hard to judge where they are going. Sweihart is going to Pawtucket to get a little more seasoning but may not be there long if Vasquez does not hit well.

pitboss

Every outing by the starting five has looked good so far.

pitboss

What is everybody waiting for?

They are playing great ball and nobody is even excited about this years team yet.

MCMLVTopps

Hard to get too excited when you don't even recognize over 60% of the names on the active duty roster. Spring Training is not an indicator of future performance to me. Maybe Cherington made some good moves, only time will tell when the games count. We'll see, long way to go.

Might catch one of the two Sox games here in Atlanta.

perkdog

Agree with Al, I dont get into them till after the regular season starts and become familiar with some of these new guys.

Im hoping they field a competitive club though for sure

pitboss

I get excited as soon as the truck leaves fenway and wish I could watch all of the spring training games but I know I am not in the majority on this but I love baseball.

Barndog

I like to keep an eye on BA to see which players might be poised for a decent start. Betts, Pedroia, Napoli doing better than expected. It would be tremendous if both Pedroia and Napoli are fully recovered, which is how it seems to be so far

pitboss

Don't forget about Sweihart as he is hitting very well also. What are they going to do with him? He is a much better hitter than either of their present catchers.

BLUEJAYWAY

Can you Sox experts offer any opinions on Jackie Bradley? How is his spring going? Future with Sox? I don't get to see any Spring Sox games unless they play the Yanks or Mets.

pitboss

Bradley is one of the best center fielders in the majors but until he figures out how to hit the ball he has no place to go on the Red Sox.

They have too many great outfielders now to waste a spot on him and he still has options left so he had better like playing in Pawtucket because that is where he will be.

Barndog

what are the odds that Christian Vazquez needs TJ surgery?

http://nesn.com/2015/03/christian-vazquez-mri-reveals-something-in-elbow-will-get-second-opinion/

pitboss

It's a damn good thing they did not give away Sweihart for Hamels. You never have enough good catchers.

Barndog

I'd imagine Swihart still would stay in Pawtucket for a while, just to face some AAA games as a step toward the majors

pitboss

Not only that but to give the sox an extra year before free agency. They can get by without him for a couple of weeks.

Barndog

He's headed to see the TJ surgeon (Andrews). If you go to a surgeon for advice, you are likely to get advice to have surgery. All of the runs saved that Vazquez would have brought will be wiped clean. Swihart just isn't there. Another good article on the topic: LINK

pitboss

There is no question in my mind that Sweihart needs more work at the catcher position. He was never a catcher until the last few years so needs to work on some stuff this year.

pitboss

I think they should dump Victorino, what are your feelings?

Barndog

<< <i>I think they should dump Victorino, what are your feelings? >>



when he's healthy, he is a contributor. I would not be surprised if he's part of what heads to Philadelphia for Hamels.

Barndog

<< <i>He's headed to see the TJ surgeon (Andrews). If you go to a surgeon for advice, you are likely to get advice to have surgery. All of the runs saved that Vazquez would have brought will be wiped clean. Swihart just isn't there. Another good article on the topic: LINK >>



Tommy John surgery...yup: LINK

perkdog

Victorino was huge for our 2013 World Series, 2014 he rarely played due to injuries.

I think he can still be a contributor but I want these young kids to get a chance with the Flyin Hawaiian helping out

perkdog

GO SOX!!!

pitboss

I sure hope so.

He only has this year on his contract and then he is gone anyway so Castillo is more important than he is at this point.

Eat his contract if they have to but he needs to be gone.

Barndog

Victorino has a month to perform at the top of his game or get hurt or get traded...at least that's the over/under as far as I'm concerned. Castillo will be on the Sox in May, IMO

pitboss

Well, for better or worse, spring training is over and the baseball season is on.

Go Red Sox!

perkdog

Looking forward to the Season!

GO SOX!!!

Barndog

great way to start for Pedroia!

Barndog

And now Mookie!

pitboss

How sweet it is!

Our ACE picthing gives up 3 hits, no runs, in 7 innings.

Five home runs including a grand slam by Manny. Oh not Manny but Hanley .

grote15

Glad I picked up Buchholz to fill in for Sale on the DL..

Phillies are going to be god awful.

TheVon

I have a bet with some friends on which team will lose more games. The Phillies or the Braves. I'm betting the Braves lose more, but the Phillies look like they might do everything they can to prove me wrong.

perkdog

<< <i>How sweet it is!

Our ACE picthing gives up 3 hits, no runs, in 7 innings.

Five home runs including a grand slam by Manny. Oh not Manny but Hanley . >>

pitboss

Wednesday ACE, newly signed 4 year contract in his hip pocket, goes to the mound for round 2 in Philly

Barndog

<< <i>Wednesday ACE, newly signed 4 year contract in his hip pocket, goes to the mound for round 2 in Philly >>



that is a good development. Team control for five years (includes this year). I had just read YESTERDAY that he wasn't going to do contract negotiations during the season. I'm sure the Sox saw that as an opportunity to make one final pitch and remind him his season didn't start until midweek.

I'd like to see the Sox sign Mookie Betts to a long term deal too, something like the Evan Longoria deal

BLUEJAYWAY

Was Jackie Bradley sent down? Any trade talks of note?

TheVon

Yes, JBJ is in AAA again. I haven't heard anything on trade talks for him recently but he's certainly blocked at the major league level so I wouldn't be surprised if he gets dealt at some point. If I were the Red Sox brass, I'd wait for Jackie to start hitting again before trading him. If they dealt him now they'd be selling low.

Barndog

JBJ hit well in Spring training.

Anyway, the team regressed to the mean today, so to speak

Barndog

Mujica still sucks, at least that much is consistent with last year

pitboss

He sure does!

Barndog

Seems like old times...the yanks just won't die

Barndog

<< <i>Seems like old times...the yanks just won't die >>



By the way, I wrote that during top of 19th inning!

Barndog

Victory in 19!

pitboss

That sure was a great game and tomorrows (todays) starting pitcher won it.

I guess there will be some calls ups for that game in about 10 hours.

I hope they release that idiot Mujica when the do call some guys up.

I would rather see them go with a young pitcher than him.

Barndog

They won't do it, but you get no disagreement from me