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steveofbradenton
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Watching Spring Training, the FCL, and the Florida State League
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Post by steveofbradenton on Sept 29, 2015 15:33:58 GMT -5
Something else I think Owens has going for him is a pretty clean delivery and the fact that he isn't an "all out effort" guy to be successful. That bodes well for longevity and injury-free seasons. He has a body and delivery that looks built to last. There's a reason Clay can't finish a season. He's built like
a 15 year old cheerleader. Not a knock. Just genetics. Sometimes reading some of your quotes are just so entertaining and hilarious. We have got some serious comics on here.....and I must admit I could not stop laughing at the above line. Thanks for a good laugh! |
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steveofbradenton
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Watching Spring Training, the FCL, and the Florida State League
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Post by steveofbradenton on Sept 28, 2015 20:08:21 GMT -5
I just saw this on WEEI:
By Rob Bradford
NEW YORK — Hanley Ramirez‘ offseason has begun early.
The Red Sox first baseman has returned to his Miami-area home, leaving the Red Sox for the remainder of the regular season. It had already been announced last week that Ramirez was being shut down due to continued soreness in his right shoulder.
I don't understand why some players injured stay with the team and others don't.
Am I missing something? Shouldn't Hanley finish the season with his teammates?
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steveofbradenton
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Watching Spring Training, the FCL, and the Florida State League
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Post by steveofbradenton on Sept 28, 2015 12:33:20 GMT -5
I can only imagine if this club had the corpse of CC Sabathia under contract, what people would be saying. Well, given how Porcello has produced overall this year, I don't know how much I'd gloat over a corpse. And Clay is sort of the equivalent of a full-body cast.Good One!!! |
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steveofbradenton
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Watching Spring Training, the FCL, and the Florida State League
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Post by steveofbradenton on Sept 24, 2015 15:42:34 GMT -5
Great decision!!! I was hoping they'd go that way. Hazen staying is great on many levels for the Red Sox. Him staying, keeps most if not all of the staff. Him being the choice allows Dombrowski to have a person in place who knows the complete organization and all of the players from the lowest level all the way to Boston. His experience and knowledge of the Red Sox will permit the Sox to become competitive faster.
GREAT CHOICE DD!!
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steveofbradenton
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Watching Spring Training, the FCL, and the Florida State League
Posts: 1,840
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Post by steveofbradenton on Sept 24, 2015 6:22:57 GMT -5
Am I the only one throwing things at Lovullo for horrible management of pitching?  What would you have done differently tonight? Personally, I might not have brought Porcello out for the eighth, but given the standings and situation I also might have. Everything with the bullpen was pretty standard though. Layne didn't really get the job done but he's generally been reliable. I can certainly see your case. I didn't want Porcello to start the 8th for a selfish reason. I wanted his "line" to look good, but the more I thought about it and what Lovullo has been doing....it made sense. Lovullo has a better chance for the Sox to win if he stays away from that lousy pen......and he is "stretching" the starters out which I like. Farrell, at times, was too quick in pulling guys. It is nice to see a manager push his starters into becoming more of a 7+ inning pitcher than the normal settling for 6. |
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steveofbradenton
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Watching Spring Training, the FCL, and the Florida State League
Posts: 1,840
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Post by steveofbradenton on Sept 23, 2015 11:01:15 GMT -5
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steveofbradenton
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Watching Spring Training, the FCL, and the Florida State League
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Post by steveofbradenton on Sept 23, 2015 10:54:04 GMT -5
Article in SPRING TRAINING ONLINE: Braves Pitch New St. Pete Training Camp
The Atlanta Braves are part of a partnership proposing a 240-acre, $622-million St. Petersburg sports complex that would include a new spring-training complex for the club.
The Braves are part of SportsPark Partners LLC, a corporate entity that includes real-estate developer Echelon and the Gary Sheffield Sports Foundation. SportsPark Partners LLC is proposing a $622-million development at the former Toytown landfill site off I-275 in St. Petersburg. (If you know St. Pete: the location is north of downtown, east of the freeway and across from the Valupak plant on the west side of the freeway, south of the Hwy. 686 interchange.)
The St. Petersburg sports complex would include a 11,000-capacity ballpark (10,000 seats, 1,000 on the berm), a 15,000-seat fieldhouse for indoor events, a 20,000-seat track and field stadium, an aquatic center, a hockey rink and a 200,000-square foot dormitory housing 800.
It's no secret the Atlanta Braves are not seeking to stay at Disney World's Wide World of Sports after their lease ends in 2017, and it's no secret that Disney is making absolutely no effort toward keeping the Braves at Champion Stadium. The Braves have become a lesser lessee there, and with Disney moving strongly into more youth sports and tournaments - especially soccer - the Braves announced last April that they were looking for a new spring home.
One interesting part of the proposal: it's being designed for two spring-training teams. With Doug Melvin (a Scottsdale resident) gone as Milwaukee Brewers general manager, it's hard to say with certainty that the team is totally committed to Maryvale Baseball Park.
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steveofbradenton
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Watching Spring Training, the FCL, and the Florida State League
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Post by steveofbradenton on Sept 22, 2015 15:24:54 GMT -5
If JBJ does not sustain his slash lines then his SLG% would be the one most likely to decline based on his history however there is reason to believe his BA is for real and his OBP especially. I think you have this backwards. His batting average is now .265 this year despite a well-above-average (and likely unsustainable) .342 BABIP. Bradley's biggest bugaboo continues to be his penchant for strikeouts, and I am very skeptical that he'll be the high batting average/OBP player in the majors that he was in the minors. Meanwhile, while his current Chris Davis impression is unlikely to continue, he's shown enough of a penchant for driving the ball that I think he'll put up an average-to-better (though sub-elite) isolated power in the majors. My current projection for him is something like .240/.320/.400. That's something like a 90-95 wRC+ and an above-average starter in CF. I also was thinking about the figures I put out earlier as being acceptable for Jackie.....and because of his BABIP I couldn't in reality make it work. My figures were .270/.330/.375. The number of K's JBJ has almost makes it impossible to hit .270. I also agree his slugging should be closer to your figure. |
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steveofbradenton
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Watching Spring Training, the FCL, and the Florida State League
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Post by steveofbradenton on Sept 21, 2015 18:05:03 GMT -5
Priorities: 1) Beat the Yankees 2) Beat the Yankees 3) Beat the Yankees 4) Save the protected pick So what you're basically saying is, "I hope the young kids who are the core of the next 5 years Sox teams perform poorly over the next 3 weeks." Which, you know, is a defensible position, but to me the protected pick comes in second to building a foundation of success for the team going forward. YES, YES, YES Brian! The foundation that the kids are forming over the last couple of months is priceless. There really is no comparison at this time. If not now, when? These kids have got to raise their game....they have! These kids need to believe they can compete and win.....they are! That darn protected pick is no substitution for what they have accomplished lately. |
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steveofbradenton
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Post by steveofbradenton on Sept 21, 2015 17:54:55 GMT -5
I don't think the team "NEEDS" a top line starter. But it takes away a lot of the risk associated with the strategy they currently go with If you get a guy that is as close to a guarantee to be a #1 as you can get, all of a sudden you have a whole lot more breathing room I think it needs one! A starter likes that, alone, would take some of the pressure off the bull pen. The bull pen is definitely a need also. There is no way.....no way we can go into next year without upgrading the rotation and the pen and believe we are going to contend. Now if you want to continue waiting, say for 2017, we can forsake a top notch starter once again and hope and pray, but I'm no longer there. The Sox are always in contention when they have a solid staff, and in the years they suffer they do not. And the Sox have had some really sad years over the last 50 years due some really sad staffs. |
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steveofbradenton
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Watching Spring Training, the FCL, and the Florida State League
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Post by steveofbradenton on Sept 21, 2015 6:32:52 GMT -5
To me a lot of things point toward CF or RF. I'm open to him trying 3rd. It's not like we don't have 2nd base covered also. If we need to trade someone so be it. More and more I see him as third baseman. Sandoval is a joke. He is our joke, but we probably are stuck with him for another year. Moncada conceivably will be close to ready in 2017. He would fit in perfectly at this time at a position of need. I know Devers is showing he can handle the position, but he is further away IMO. As he gets closer, we have a positive decision to make. Moncada at 2nd is a waste currently. |
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steveofbradenton
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Watching Spring Training, the FCL, and the Florida State League
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Post by steveofbradenton on Sept 20, 2015 14:45:10 GMT -5
To Thursty or anyone. What does JBJ have to hit to be an everyday player? What does he need to hit to be a 4th or 5th guy? I'd like a 5 tool Mays type at every spot, but JBJ is cheap and I think the upside is huge. He can also be dumped at anytime. Unlike Hanley and Panda. For me, .270/.330/.375 is fine. BUT cut down on the K's. |
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steveofbradenton
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Watching Spring Training, the FCL, and the Florida State League
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Post by steveofbradenton on Sept 20, 2015 14:42:21 GMT -5
Bradley coming through at crunch time two days in a row. Now can the bullpen get us six outs? well some way we got 3 with Noe. |
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steveofbradenton
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Watching Spring Training, the FCL, and the Florida State League
Posts: 1,840
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Post by steveofbradenton on Sept 20, 2015 14:15:00 GMT -5
Rich Hill may be, at this time, our best starter!! Although that is sort of sad, he has been dominating. I gather after 7 innings and 107 pitches he is done. 10 K's, 0 walks, and his ERA is below .200. Where have you been?
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steveofbradenton
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Watching Spring Training, the FCL, and the Florida State League
Posts: 1,840
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Post by steveofbradenton on Sept 20, 2015 13:43:49 GMT -5
I sure hope they bring back Rich Hill. 9 K's in 1st 5 innings! That curve is a real weapon.
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steveofbradenton
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Post by steveofbradenton on Sept 20, 2015 11:12:13 GMT -5
Isn't it amazing how quickly a roster turns over in a few years? Before we know it Pedroia's career will be over (and of course Papi's). Just watching a healthy Pedroia over the last week or so has been fun to see what we have been missing. He is still one of the top 20 players in the American League when healthy! A player's career is often less than 10 years and hardly ever as long as David Ortiz's. (It still shocks me that Yaz or Nomar is no longer playing!)
Pedroia's window is growing short. The emergence of productivity from our youngsters has definitely made me think we are closer to contention than I thought just 2 months ago. We have some special pieces. The addition of the right players could put us in contention next season. Do you think everything will go right again for the Jays?
The breakouts by Xander, Mookie, ERod, and hopefully Bradley make me believe we can be real contenders as soon as next season, but only if we upgrade our pitching staff greatly and take on some risk.
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steveofbradenton
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Watching Spring Training, the FCL, and the Florida State League
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Post by steveofbradenton on Sept 20, 2015 8:03:57 GMT -5
The case for either scenario (protected / doesn't matter) can be made. I want Dombrowski to have to have any advantage possible this winter. They can lose them all for all I care at this point (it's about 2016). The press has been trying to mitigate the lousy year with a finish strong sendoff to 2015. It doesn't matter. Well, I am one who probably favors getting the higher draft pick at the expense of winning a few more games....but damn it's hard to hold these kids down. What are you going to do???...bring up the AA rotation? The players, the pitching, the attitude is night and day (relief pitching excepted). I think the protected pick is as good as gone. I would love to see us have that protected pick also, but in all reality what the team is achieving NOW is important to 2016. Dombrowski has to have a good idea going into the winter what he has and what he doesn't to make solid decisions. The productivity of that young outfield and our 2 young lefties in the rotation is HUGELY important! Even the trials and tribulations of Blake Swihart gives much needed data to DD and helps with what needs to be worked on. Look.....I'm as much of a "prospect" hoarder as anyone on this site, but IT IS TIME to play our hand. No more waiting 3 years down the line. This is why I finally have reversed my thinking about signing a 30 year old ace for 6 years of BIG money. The future has started. The games now matter a lot. |
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steveofbradenton
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Watching Spring Training, the FCL, and the Florida State League
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Post by steveofbradenton on Sept 19, 2015 18:54:34 GMT -5
Boy did he blast that 2-run homer in the 9th! Halleluiah JBJ.
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steveofbradenton
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Watching Spring Training, the FCL, and the Florida State League
Posts: 1,840
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Post by steveofbradenton on Sept 19, 2015 14:01:16 GMT -5
Has this been the hottest to coldest streak in MLB history? It has to be close. This is pretty disturbing. Is the balance in JB's setup so delicate that he can just fall off a cliff? Agreed. I probably play GM like the rest of you, and THIS really has me worried. A few weeks ago it looked like DD would be able to put almost all of his time this off season into our pitching staff.....or the lack of one. Now, if Jackie is not going to be able to be counted on, we and DD have another huge problem in my view. If he isn't an everyday answer in the outfield, we may now need a corner outfielder! Jackie's progress or lack of it is real worrisome. We, as it stands, can't be sure of him (once again). There are few players I have pulled harder for than Jackie Bradley Jr. But this swing from batting over .400 to batting less than .100 is ridiculous. I know I'd be ecstatic with him being somewhat consistent and batting, say, .275/.340/.400. DD would probably take lesser figures with his amazing defense, but the Sox have to be worried about what they actually have. |
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steveofbradenton
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Watching Spring Training, the FCL, and the Florida State League
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Post by steveofbradenton on Sept 17, 2015 14:17:28 GMT -5
Looking forward to seeing how Mookie Betts handles right field. I doubt he will have any problems at all, but it is significant because I think the brass prefers Jackie Bradley Jr in center. Hopefully they will leave Mookie in right for the remainder of the season. It is especially important that he plays right at Fenway over the remaining home games.
I really like what I've seen of Rusney Castillo in left. He has been a weapon at Fenway.
Now he we can just get Bradley back to hitting some to finish the season!
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steveofbradenton
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Watching Spring Training, the FCL, and the Florida State League
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Post by steveofbradenton on Sept 17, 2015 11:03:30 GMT -5
seems like hitting home runs always causes him to reach for power. If he was thinking singles and simply putting the ball in play he wouldn't be striking out this much. Needs to think about being more contact and less power and to really embrace that approach. I just feel like he thinks of himself as a power hitter..... Yeah it was easy to love that power display, but I started to worry that he was going to think he was THAT TYPE OF HITTER. I don't see him that way. Even at SC in Columbia when I saw him.....he was dangerous because he could use the entire field and get on base consistently. He has some power, but it is more doubles power. Just hit it hard where it is pitched JBJ. Get on base! |
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steveofbradenton
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Post by steveofbradenton on Sept 16, 2015 20:57:17 GMT -5
Palmer like's his height. He mentioned more than once how it changes the hitter's perspective. Very impressed with the change-up. The four pitches are a big deal also. That was the first thing he commented on. A walk for Bradley in the first at bat. Then two strikeouts, and a weak grounder. It's pretty obvious that pitchers have decided to go up and outside to him. That looks like the new book. Let's see how he adjusts. Thanks Norm! JBJ's play is soooooooooooooo important to this team's future. Great game for Henry. |
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steveofbradenton
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Post by steveofbradenton on Sept 16, 2015 20:33:40 GMT -5
I don't have the game on TV guys. Can you:
1) tell me how Bradley is looking. Is his at-bats real poor or is just being unlucky?
2) what did Jim Palmer say about Henry Owens?
Thanks
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steveofbradenton
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Watching Spring Training, the FCL, and the Florida State League
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Post by steveofbradenton on Sept 16, 2015 6:39:44 GMT -5
Not that anyone cares but Mookie in center cost us that game. I made this case before JBJ was good, and was called basically a fool by the mods The proposed move of Jackie to center and Mookie to right has been slow in happening. Why? I understand we may see the change as soon as Friday. Hopefully once JBJ gets back into center we will see some offense return. This latest trend has me greatly worried. I could care less if we win a game. Bradley needs to show up again in the box score positively for me to be happy. |
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steveofbradenton
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Watching Spring Training, the FCL, and the Florida State League
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Post by steveofbradenton on Sept 16, 2015 6:34:53 GMT -5
With the debate about his current status and rate of progression, he (as well as everyone else) could use some clarification. Now that he is oriented, comfortable and rust free, winter ball seems lime the ideal time to work with Alex Cora and his crew, and other talented players, to take another step forward in terms of development of both skill set and confidence. Why not? Agreed! The only thing that may complicate this is fatigue. I believe he was starting to show that at Greenville over the last few weeks. Otherwise, more reps and some extra work defensively sounds like a recipe for the hopeful "blast off" for Moncada in 2016. |
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