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Post by sittingstill on Mar 18, 2017 8:14:44 GMT -5
Anyone have information on seeing minor league games or any of morning practices? I am going down next week ( 19th through the 26th) and haven't been able to find much information online. Thanks in advance, I love the site and support you all yearly. Start with Will Woodward's post: news.soxprospects.com/2016/04/spring-training-rookie-my-first-trip-to.htmlGame schedule: Keep an eye on the big club's schedule, too--it's much less hassle getting in and out if they are not playing or on the road!
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Post by galamann on Mar 19, 2017 10:06:36 GMT -5
Sittingstill: Thank you so much for thay information! I cannot thank you enough!
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Post by tonyc on Mar 19, 2017 12:49:49 GMT -5
Launch angle is a huge deal. Mo Vaughn was not projecting good power, until coach Mike Easler worked with him (a sliver lining to losing John Tudor to acquire Easler) and made him into their best power hitter of that era.
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Post by jcsox on Mar 19, 2017 15:27:30 GMT -5
Just spent the past week watching spring training. Callahans looking good with his splitter and who's this Buttery with a 94-98 fb and +change? Kid looks good. I've got concerns about Ysla's command.
Does anyone else agree
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Post by Chris Hatfield on Mar 20, 2017 16:55:56 GMT -5
RE: Longhi, have it on good authority that he spent the offseason retooling his swing for power (better launch angle and added a leg kick) and that he's been told he'll play outfield more this year (huzzah). However, he was sick most of the time we were down there, so we saw just one BP session from him.
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Post by telson13 on Mar 20, 2017 21:00:52 GMT -5
Just spent the past week watching spring training. Callahans looking good with his splitter and who's this Buttery with a 94-98 fb and +change? Kid looks good. I've got concerns about Ysla's command. Does anyone else agree Buttrey was a 4th-rounder the same year they took Callahan; he was considered a possible late-1st rd talent who fell on signability concerns. He's had a pretty mediocre/inconsistent pro career, but obviously has some talent. Kinda reminds me of Hunter Strickland.
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Post by telson13 on Mar 20, 2017 21:03:34 GMT -5
RE: Longhi, have it on good authority that he spent the offseason retooling his swing for power (better launch angle and added a leg kick) and that he's been told he'll play outfield more this year (huzzah). However, he was sick most of the time we were down there, so we saw just one BP session from him. Speier had a great story on the resurgence of interest in Ted Williams's book based on new data like launch angle and exit velo. He mentions Longhi.
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Post by huskies15 on Mar 20, 2017 21:42:02 GMT -5
The Longhi thing is very interesting. The system could definitely use a breakout year from some fringe prospects like Longhi, Chavis, etc.
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Post by carmenfanzone on Mar 22, 2017 14:53:27 GMT -5
Went to the complex today to watch the low minor league games. Was hoping that maybe Bogaerts would get some at bats since he has been away for a few weeks and the major league team is not playing. Got there a little late. No Bogaerts, but the battery was some guys named Rodriguez and Vasquez. Rodriguez had no problem during the time I watched and Vasquez singled up the middle the one time I got to see him bat. I watched part of the game about three feet from Jason Varitek. Also watching from the area fenced off for the Red Sox officials were Farrell and Dombrowski. Farrell and Varitek left about the time Rodriguez and Vasquez came out of the game, but Dombrowski stayed. I overheard him saying that he was happy to have a chance to see some of the other guys play a little - presumably since he is spending the majority of this time with the big league club. Every time Dalbec came up I had an urge to yell out that I hope the guys in charge didn't trade Dalbec too - but I resisted the temptation. Dalbec looks like a player to me. He seems to have a pretty good idea of the strike zone. Saw him walk and almost beat out a ground ball (he hustled down the line).
In the other game De Jesus pitched and I thought looked pretty good. Shawaryn came on in the first game after Rodriguez, and he did not look so good to me. Had control issues.
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Post by splendidsplinter on Mar 22, 2017 15:47:33 GMT -5
Back from my annual week watching the the Sox minor leaguers. I became a Trey Ball fan. He is heavier, was throwing at 92-93 with a downward tilt and low in the zone. Ended his outing with a couple of swings and misses on off speed stuff. Moved like a cat fielding a bunt. C. J. Chatham showed good contact skills, stole a base and ran the bases very well with speed that surprised me. Dalbec had trouble with high tight hard stuff when I saw him. Struck out twice chasing curve balls in the dirt. Showed a good arm, seems to be à take charge guy.
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Post by jbuttah on Mar 22, 2017 18:45:42 GMT -5
Back from my annual week watching the the Sox minor leaguers. I became a Trey Ball fan. He is heavier, was throwing at 92-93 with a downward tilt and low in the zone. Ended his outing with a couple of swings and misses on off speed stuff. Moved like a cat fielding a bunt. C. J. Chatham showed good contact skills, stole a base and ran the bases very well with speed that surprised me. Dalbec had trouble with high tight hard stuff when I saw him. Struck out twice chasing curve balls in the dirt. Showed a good arm, seems to be à take charge guy. Wow, if Ball starts performing up to his draft status, that would go a long way to putting the awful Kimbrel trade to rest. If he's throwing 92-93 now, it's not too much to hope that would bump up another notch once he's fully into the season.
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Post by jcsox on Mar 22, 2017 20:30:51 GMT -5
Hey Ian and Hatfield who do the Red Sox pitching coaches think are the top 5 minor league pitchers this spring? Looking for your inside scoop!
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Post by sittingstill on Mar 23, 2017 9:22:04 GMT -5
Heads up to anyone coming today they they have apparently switched from 1:00p games to 11:15a scrimmages given the weather forecast of afternoon rain.
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Post by sox fan in nc on Mar 23, 2017 9:37:40 GMT -5
Back from my annual week watching the the Sox minor leaguers. I became a Trey Ball fan. He is heavier, was throwing at 92-93 with a downward tilt and low in the zone. Ended his outing with a couple of swings and misses on off speed stuff. Moved like a cat fielding a bunt. C. J. Chatham showed good contact skills, stole a base and ran the bases very well with speed that surprised me. Dalbec had trouble with high tight hard stuff when I saw him. Struck out twice chasing curve balls in the dirt. Showed a good arm, seems to be à take charge guy. Wow, if Ball starts performing up to his draft status, that would go a long way to putting the awful Kimbrel trade to rest. If he's throwing 92-93 now, it's not too much to hope that would bump up another notch once he's fully into the season. I saw similar stuff from Ball toward the end of last year at a game in Winston-Salem. He did (then) seemed to be more filled out as well. I agree with the more filled out frame, maybe he can add another MPH or 2 to his FB.
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Post by ancientsoxfogey on Mar 23, 2017 10:16:17 GMT -5
Back from my annual week watching the the Sox minor leaguers. I became a Trey Ball fan. He is heavier, was throwing at 92-93 with a downward tilt and low in the zone. Ended his outing with a couple of swings and misses on off speed stuff. Moved like a cat fielding a bunt. C. J. Chatham showed good contact skills, stole a base and ran the bases very well with speed that surprised me. Dalbec had trouble with high tight hard stuff when I saw him. Struck out twice chasing curve balls in the dirt. Showed a good arm, seems to be à take charge guy. Wow, if Ball starts performing up to his draft status, that would go a long way to putting the awful Kimbrel trade to rest. If he's throwing 92-93 now, it's not too much to hope that would bump up another notch once he's fully into the season. WRT Ball, this site's profile of him clearly states that he was very raw when drafted and has a long way to go to unlock his potential. This kind of profile description BEGS fans to be patient with a guy like this, that there clearly were going to be growing pains. Obviously, with him making the tough jump to AA this year as his potential MAYBE starts to be realized, this is going to be a huge year, one way or another, in his career. Command is probably going to be everything for him as he moves forward (cf Henry Owens).
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Post by carmenfanzone on Mar 24, 2017 14:18:37 GMT -5
The Red Sox apparently decided to let their major league bullpen throw in the two minor league games at the Jet Blue Minor League complex today. I was late and did not see Thornburg or Kimbrel, who I believe both pitched the first inning of the two games. Barnes and Kelly pitched the second innings. Barnes hit 94 but was throwing a lot of breaking pitches. Kelly gave up a double and triple to the Twins lower minor league players. Butler and Leon were there catching for the big league pitchers.
Chris Young was there getting at bats in both games. While I was watchin he had four AB's with no hits. Chatham and Aybar both hit the ball hard in their AB's that I saw. This is the second time I have seen Raudes pitch and, while I am by no means a scout, I just do not see it with him. Hope I am wrong.
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Post by galamann on Mar 25, 2017 7:08:04 GMT -5
I was at minor league camp yesterday and honestly had more fun than any of the major league spring training games.
Saw Rayniel Adames near the end of the Greenville game. Sat around 90-91. Saw a few other arms out there but nothing stood out and can't remember any other names.
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Post by Chris Hatfield on Mar 25, 2017 10:56:15 GMT -5
The Red Sox apparently decided to let their major league bullpen throw in the two minor league games at the Jet Blue Minor League complex today. I was late and did not see Thornburg or Kimbrel, who I believe both pitched the first inning of the two games. Barnes and Kelly pitched the second innings. Barnes hit 94 but was throwing a lot of breaking pitches. Kelly gave up a double and triple to the Twins lower minor league players. Butler and Leon were there catching for the big league pitchers.
Chris Young was there getting at bats in both games. While I was watchin he had four AB's with no hits. Chatham and Aybar both hit the ball hard in their AB's that I saw. This is the second time I have seen Raudes pitch and, while I am by no means a scout, I just do not see it with him. Hope I am wrong. FWIW, it's not that they "let" them pitch in those games. Dunedin is 2.5 hours away - doesn't make sense to send a guy 5 hours round trip to throw an inning.
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Post by carmenfanzone on Mar 25, 2017 12:21:25 GMT -5
Notice that this site has Aybar scheduled to start at Lowell this year. I am going to be disappointed if he does not start the year at Greenville. I know he didn't hit well last year, but I think he has more potential (although admittedly far from having fulfilled it) than any of the outfielders this site lists as being at Greenville and I think it would do him good to get as many AB's as possible during regular games (I know if he stays in Florida he would play in games at camp while waiting for Lowell to start its schedule, but I do not think it is the same as playing in league games). I have watched him this spring and he seems to be hitting well. Was impressed when I saw him take second on a single when an outfielder for the other team missed the cutoff man. I know he is raw, but I think he is getting it and I am hoping they push him along.
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Post by dnfl333 on Mar 25, 2017 23:39:09 GMT -5
RE: Longhi, have it on good authority that he spent the offseason retooling his swing for power (better launch angle and added a leg kick) and that he's been told he'll play outfield more this year (huzzah). However, he was sick most of the time we were down there, so we saw just one BP session from him. Longhi will be a Top 3 prospect by September, bet on it...
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gerry
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Post by gerry on Mar 26, 2017 1:54:23 GMT -5
This assumes that Beni, Travis, a couple of pitchers, maybe Hernandez and (not likely)Devers have made the jump. Leaving Groome, Dalbec at the top with Longhi? Sounds like a Mookie type rise. Do you really think that is possible?
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Post by RedSoxStats on Mar 26, 2017 11:31:16 GMT -5
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Post by Chris Hatfield on Mar 26, 2017 20:13:25 GMT -5
Notice that this site has Aybar scheduled to start at Lowell this year. I am going to be disappointed if he does not start the year at Greenville. I know he didn't hit well last year, but I think he has more potential (although admittedly far from having fulfilled it) than any of the outfielders this site lists as being at Greenville and I think it would do him good to get as many AB's as possible during regular games (I know if he stays in Florida he would play in games at camp while waiting for Lowell to start its schedule, but I do not think it is the same as playing in league games). I have watched him this spring and he seems to be hitting well. Was impressed when I saw him take second on a single when an outfielder for the other team missed the cutoff man. I know he is raw, but I think he is getting it and I am hoping they push him along. This was based on what we saw at ST. He's splitting time between Greenville and Salem, which he shouldn't be - he should be firmly in Salem's lineup in camp. Personally, I think it's perhaps most likely that he stays back in extended and goes up to Greenville a couple months in, but I would think it more likely than not that he's not there on opening day.
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Post by tylerlterrell on Mar 26, 2017 21:41:24 GMT -5
Wow, if Ball starts performing up to his draft status, that would go a long way to putting the awful Kimbrel trade to rest. If he's throwing 92-93 now, it's not too much to hope that would bump up another notch once he's fully into the season. WRT Ball, this site's profile of him clearly states that he was very raw when drafted and has a long way to go to unlock his potential. This kind of profile description BEGS fans to be patient with a guy like this, that there clearly were going to be growing pains. Obviously, with him making the tough jump to AA this year as his potential MAYBE starts to be realized, this is going to be a huge year, one way or another, in his career. Command is probably going to be everything for him as he moves forward (cf Henry Owens). He gained 14 lbs of muscle in an abbreviated off season due to being in the AFL. Also, starting to get a grip on some mechanics that have plagued him and led to control and velocity issues. He is still very much growing.
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Post by tylerlterrell on Mar 26, 2017 21:43:21 GMT -5
WRT Ball, this site's profile of him clearly states that he was very raw when drafted and has a long way to go to unlock his potential. This kind of profile description BEGS fans to be patient with a guy like this, that there clearly were going to be growing pains. Obviously, with him making the tough jump to AA this year as his potential MAYBE starts to be realized, this is going to be a huge year, one way or another, in his career. Command is probably going to be everything for him as he moves forward (cf Henry Owens). He gained 14 lbs of muscle in an abbreviated off season due to being in the AFL. Also, starting to get a grip on some mechanics that have plagued him and led to control and velocity issues. He is still very much growing. Also, not to sound like an apologist for young players that struggle but not all of these kids are professionals mentally and emotionally. Sometimes it takes failure for them to learn how to work.
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