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Post by m1keyboots on Feb 18, 2015 17:14:10 GMT -5
agreed, at that size he always seems to be perfectly able to leg out his doubles, first to third etc. Does anyone really want him to drop 40 pounds and play at a weight he's never played at? Possibly be uncomfortable? At what point is he "skinny enough" for fans that we think he'll suddenly be able to get through a year unhurt or hit 300 with 20 dingers? Something he's done at a higher weight throughout his career anyway. I'm not someone who takes issue with Sandoval's size. I've seen him before and expected exactly that. But lets not pretend that slimming down would be a bad thing. It's not like Sandoval has always been some power hitting, huge slugger who needs 300 LBs in order to hit balls out of the park. IMO, there would be nothing be positives to Sandoval playing at something like 220. Not that I'm expecting that. I understand this is who he is and I'll live with it like the Red Sox will too. I mean, dropping 10 pounds or so, or generally being stronger, more fit etc is always a good thing. I just think his weight has only been a problem once, and this was when he ballooned. But at that current size/weight, in the picture, hes always fielded his position well or exceptionally. Also I think being the Kung Fu panda with that body type is part of his allure. This may sound stupid, but I think there is something to people being drawn towards Papi bc of his shape, especially when it doesn't affect his performance.
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Post by fenwaythehardway on Feb 18, 2015 17:59:40 GMT -5
Oh lord we're going to be debating Sandoval's weight for the next five years aren't we?
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Post by Oregon Norm on Feb 18, 2015 18:29:45 GMT -5
Honestly, the guy doesn't look any different now than he did when we saw him in San Jose, in 2007. While I would have preferred the Sox spend their money elsewhere, they may know a lot of stuff I don't have a clue about when it comes to his potential performance at Fenway, and for the Sox team. Hopefully the noise will die down after a while. But it is the Boston media, after all...
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Post by ray88h66 on Feb 18, 2015 18:59:59 GMT -5
Bottom line. The sox are better at thirdbase with the fat guy than with any of the WMB,Holt,or Xander options.
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Post by m1keyboots on Feb 18, 2015 19:22:28 GMT -5
Oh lord we're going to be debating Sandoval's weight for the next five years aren't we? Just to break you down. Wouldn't it be nice if his weight was our biggest problem?
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Feb 18, 2015 23:18:23 GMT -5
I think Pablo has been able to handle his weight issues in his 20s, but as he gets older, it's going to be a major issue. He may be 28 years old, but his numbers have been slipping the past few years. Most players peak around 27 and decline thereafter. Pablo's peak is earlier and he has been declining for awhile. His bad body is not helping the situation. It's almost like his body is a good deal older than his age. I can't imagine that this bodes well for his defense in the not so distant future either.
I have a feeling that he'll be a guy that a lot of people will be complaining about a year or two into the contract, wondering why we gave a guy with that body type and declining numbers five years.
I get that the Sox did not want to go into 2015 with Ortiz as the lone lefty power threat, but if Sandoval continues to decline and his weight doesn't, I think it's going to be a real bad contract, and we'll be wondering why the Sox simply didn't give Cecchini a chance to develop and why the Sox spent a good chunk of their money on a 3b (especially after signing Hanley and having Cecchini in the wings) instead of a top of the rotation starter.
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Post by philsbosoxfan on Feb 19, 2015 1:56:41 GMT -5
Caveat, not typical but interesting.
Round guy Cabrera has 12 years of major league service time and has yet to be put on the DL.
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Post by soxfanatic on Feb 19, 2015 13:56:00 GMT -5
Steve Buckley ?@buckinboston 2 min. Shane Victorino: "I have no intention of being a bench player." #redsox
I hope this doesn't become a problem. In the case he and all the other outfielders are healthy, he is the obvious trade candidate.
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Post by youngbillrussell on Feb 19, 2015 13:57:17 GMT -5
Too bad Shane didnt give a damn about last season or he wouldn't be in this predicament now.
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Post by ancientsoxfogey on Feb 19, 2015 15:26:40 GMT -5
I have a feeling that among Napoli, Pedroia, Sandoval, Victorino, and Ortiz at least one of them is not going to be ready to play on opening day.
I think the where-does-Betts-play problem will sort itself out. And if it doesn't, send Mookie down for a little bit until something DOES happen to someone -- because odds are it will at some point, and not necessarily well into the season.
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Post by jimed14 on Feb 19, 2015 15:33:24 GMT -5
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Post by jmei on Feb 19, 2015 18:31:08 GMT -5
I don't know, even in that second link, Victorino sounds a little grouchy and suggests multiple times that he shouldn't be on the bench if he's healthy. Maybe he doesn't have anything against Betts personally, but he also doesn't sound like a guy who would be happy about a bench role.
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Post by iakovos11 on Feb 19, 2015 18:42:22 GMT -5
Happy about it? No. Why should he be? Question is whether he would accept it and be team first, especially if they tell him he'll get significant playing time with various rotations. Maybe he's ok with that, maybe he's not. We'll see.
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Post by jimed14 on Feb 19, 2015 19:02:24 GMT -5
I hope Betts and Castillo say the same exact things.
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Post by jmei on Feb 19, 2015 20:20:46 GMT -5
Happy about it? No. Why should he be? Question is whether he would accept it and be team first, especially if they tell him he'll get significant playing time with various rotations. Maybe he's ok with that, maybe he's not. We'll see. I agree with this take on the situation, but I wanted to suggest that there is a real risk that he wouldn't accept a bench role and would be disruptive if they forced him into one (e.g., by demanding a trade). I mean, he's been there for two days and has already made two separate statements to the media to that effect. I don't think he's going to stop being asked about it or is going to change his mind about it, and it's already one of the louder narratives of Spring Training (helped along by the Hamels rumors and the failures of last year's crop of prospects). Of course, that begs the question of how much the front office will or should weigh Victorino publicly complaining about his role in deciding whether or not to trade him. I generally don't think clubhouse chemistry is that important, but it's tough to ignore one of your outspoken veteran players openly complaining about his role.
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Post by philsbosoxfan on Feb 19, 2015 23:07:14 GMT -5
Pete Abraham ?@peteabe 6h6 hours ago One more from @shanevictorino: "Count me out, please. Call me the underdog. I’m all for it.” He was fired-up today, very passionate.
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wcp3
Veteran
Posts: 3,824
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Post by wcp3 on Feb 19, 2015 23:29:52 GMT -5
This is all gonna be a non-issue in the end.
Castillo and Betts are rookies, and Hanley can never stay healthy. Victorino may not get starter ABs, but he certainly won't be a bench player.
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Post by Oregon Norm on Feb 20, 2015 1:07:23 GMT -5
No doubt the outfield is crowded. Last year's questionable depth, and the over-reliance on players who had serious injury histories, provided the team with a gold-plated "teachable moment". This year looks vastly different, probably as a result of that flameout. First of all, I don't see the team asking Betts to give up the leadoff spot he commandeered so forcefully at the end of last season. They've retooled the entire team, with exactly three starters in the field from last April. Four-fifths of the rotation is new, and the bullpen has been remade as well. Given all that, I do believe they plan on winning a few games, and that Betts is part of that plan. Joe Sheehan, for one, thinks they might be quite good: Starting the season by sending their most dynamic player back to the minors would be a lousy way to move towards that goal. I just can't see it happening. On to the rest of the outfield depth... Castillo and Ramirez have spots reserved for them, but Ramirez hasn't exactly been the picture of health, so there's that. The logical choice for a backup role would seem to be Nava because: - He gives them another left-handed bat on a team that leans heavily to the right
- He can back up first base
- He's got excellent OBP skills
But he also has the greatest present trade value. Bradley's value is also tangible, given the top-shelf defense, but there's still a chance you're selling quite low, that there's more upside. I could easily see one, though probably not both, being moved. With Victorino and Craig, it's not upside but simply a hope that they can revisit their previous careers in a meaningful way. Finding good trade partners will mean convincing one or more GMs that there's still value, but that won't be an easy negotiation. I think it's less likely that either is moved before the season starts. But to jmei's point: if Victorino is going to be a constant burr under the saddle, they may bite the bullet and move him for less than he might otherwise bring. Time for Cherrington to show his chops. As others have pointed out, there's probably at least one more trade to come.
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Post by ramireja on Feb 20, 2015 1:42:14 GMT -5
I'm so confused....when did the Red Sox sign this guy?
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Post by jimed14 on Feb 20, 2015 10:39:19 GMT -5
Glad it's only fines for violators and not something that alters outcomes.
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Post by grandsalami on Feb 20, 2015 12:11:13 GMT -5
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Post by grandsalami on Feb 20, 2015 12:19:19 GMT -5
Mike Lynch ?@lynchiewcvb 15s15 seconds ago Farrell declares Shane Victorino his starting right fielder if he is healthy
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Post by jimed14 on Feb 20, 2015 12:29:54 GMT -5
Mike Lynch ?@lynchiewcvb 15s15 seconds ago Farrell declares Shane Victorino his starting right fielder if he is healthy Uggh, here we go... Hop on my Mookie Must Start 160 Games bandwagon that I'm driving.
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Post by grandsalami on Feb 20, 2015 12:36:48 GMT -5
Tim Britton ?@timbritton 17s17 seconds ago Farrell listed Betts, Victorino and Holt as leadoff candidates. Seems whoever starts in RF gets it.
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Post by grandsalami on Feb 20, 2015 12:42:06 GMT -5
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