The Official Boston Red Sox Thread

[ionaVOL]

I didnt mean to completely dismiss them. I have no doubt Ellsbury is a premiere CFer. As you said, he is a freak athlete. So is Kemp. I was just saying I have more faith in offensive statistics and Kemp is better across the board offensively.

Even in comparing positions, CF and 1st are entirely different. Range in CF is essential. Range at 1st is hardly even a requirement. Freeman is a large target, his footwork is flawless, and he handles everything in the dirt. I don't care if his UZR or whatever range factor is low. So someone else gets to another ground ball here or there. Freeman is a vacuum. In CF, I assume anyone can catch a fly ball once they get there. Getting there is the main thing. Ellsbury tracks with the best of them, I assume.

Well, when they signed Mike Cameron a couple years ago they had Ellsbury all but moved into left field, which he wasn't happy about. With Cameron's injury it never happened like that and Ellsbury kind of put to rest his defensive questions that year and definitely this past year.

 

[TBrown]

Well, when they signed Mike Cameron a couple years ago they had Ellsbury all but moved into left field, which he wasn't happy about. With Cameron's injury it never happened like that and Ellsbury kind of put to rest his defensive questions that year and definitely this past year.

I remember that. Didn't make a ton of sense to me. Did they say something about him having a weaker arm (at the time??)? I could be way off on that. Idk why Carl Crawford won't play RF in that park. It's huge. Ross and Sweeney aren't bad though, I don't think.

 

[005]

Crawford, in addition to struggling, has had much of his overall value completely zapped by playing in Boston's LF vs. Tampa's.

 

[ionaVOL]

I remember that. Didn't make a ton of sense to me. Did they say something about him having a weaker arm (at the time??)? I could be way off on that. Idk why Carl Crawford won't play RF in that park. It's huge. Ross and Sweeney aren't bad though, I don't think.

Ellsbury had some pretty average to awful ratings defensively if I remember correctly.

Sweeney is probably best suited to play right in Fenway. Crawford could definitely cover the most ground, but his arm would be a big liability, first to third all day with him there. Although none of them were particularly inspiring out there in Motown.

 

[ionaVOL]

Crawford, in addition to struggling, has had much of his overall value completely zapped by playing in Boston's LF vs. Tampa's.

Yup, I kind of remember their thinking was that he could play extremely shallow due to the wall behind him and it would eliminate his weak arm being an issue. Same thing with Ellsbury when they signed Cameron. I think they fail to take into consideration that some players like to play a deep outfield and break in on balls better than they go back on them.

 

[005]

Check out this throw from Reddick last night: Animated Advisory: Don’t Run on Josh Reddick’s Arm | Getting Blanked | Blogs | theScore.com

I do like Sweeney, though.

 

[ionaVOL]

Check out this throw from Reddick last night: Animated Advisory: Don’t Run on Josh Reddick’s Arm | Getting Blanked | Blogs | theScore.com

I do like Sweeney, though.

Oh yea, saw that this morning, laser. Helluva shorthop and block of the bag also. I appreciate highlights like that. Lets just say I don't throw too many people out from that same position in my mens league games haha

 

[ionaVOL]

Here is the lineup tonight from Boston.com

Ellsbury CF
Pedroia 2B
Gonzalez 1B
Ortiz DH
Youkilis 3B
Sweeney RF
Ross LF
Saltalamacchia C
Punto SS
Pitching: RHP Daniel Bard

Notes: Bard has thrown 24.1 innings against Toronto in his career, allowing 15 hits and striking out 32. ... Drabek is 0-1 against the Sox in two starts and has been hit hard: 9 IP, 15 H, 12 ER, 7 BB, 10 K, 5 HR.

Stat of the Day: The Red Sox have not won consecutive games since sweeping a doubleheader from Oakland on Aug. 27. They have on won on consecutive days since winning three in a row at Texas Aug. 23-25.

Can't believe that stat...Excited to see what Bard brings to the table tonight!

 

[mooreaj21]

Here is the lineup tonight from Boston.com

Ellsbury CF
Pedroia 2B
Gonzalez 1B
Ortiz DH
Youkilis 3B
Sweeney RF
Ross LF
Saltalamacchia C
Punto SS
Pitching: RHP Daniel Bard

Notes: Bard has thrown 24.1 innings against Toronto in his career, allowing 15 hits and striking out 32. ... Drabek is 0-1 against the Sox in two starts and has been hit hard: 9 IP, 15 H, 12 ER, 7 BB, 10 K, 5 HR.

Stat of the Day: The Red Sox have not won consecutive games since sweeping a doubleheader from Oakland on Aug. 27. They have on won on consecutive days since winning three in a row at Texas Aug. 23-25.

Can't believe that stat...Excited to see what Bard brings to the table tonight!

I'm excited about Bards start also, hoping he can give us at least 5-6 good innings.

How about that star on Youk, 0-12 w/ 5 K's to begin the season!! Yikes!!

Ortiz is on fire right now & Sweeney has been hitting the ball pretty good.

That stat is pretty crazy, we started off so bad last year then was the best team in baseball from May to the end of August. Then it all came apart. We played GREAT baseball for 4 months.

 

[ionaVOL]

I'm excited about Bards start also, hoping he can give us at least 5-6 good innings.

How about that star on Youk, 0-12 w/ 5 K's to begin the season!! Yikes!!

Ortiz is on fire right now & Sweeney has been hitting the ball pretty good.

That stat is pretty crazy, we started off so bad last year then was the best team in baseball from May to the end of August. Then it all came apart. We played GREAT baseball for 4 months.

Painful to watch this team right now. Spend all this money and roll out guys like Nick Punto when you have a potential star defensive SS in the minors. If I was a pitcher on this team I would be pissed. Punto cost Bard at least 2 outs so far tonight and Aviles isn't far behind on the season. I know the offense isn't rolling yet, but why sacrifice defense to this extent. At least Youk got a hit before he killed the inning with a double play.

 

[005]

If there's one thing Punto has been throughout his career, it is a very good defensive player.

Team does look flat to start though.

 

[ionaVOL]

If there's one thing Punto has been throughout his career, it is a very good defensive player.

Team does look flat to start though.

Just doesn't have the range and the arm anymore...once we got a tease of Iglesias and his ability its tough to settle for these guys when their offense isn't all that much better.

 

[mooreaj21]

I just don't know what to say, this team is awful to watch. They can't do anything right. I wonder how long before people in the clubhouse & the front office start pointing fingers? It's only the 6th game of 162 so a lot more to go but this team is doing absolutely nothing to put September behind them.

 

[ionaVOL]

I just don't know what to say, this team is awful to watch. They can't do anything right. I wonder how long before people in the clubhouse & the front office start pointing fingers? It's only the 6th game of 162 so a lot more to go but this team is doing absolutely nothing to put September behind them.

Kinda comical at this point isn't it? Offense really really needs to wake up, had they been hitting so far they would be fine right now and last year would be behind them.

Another huge strikeout for Youk with the tying runs in scoring position and one out. I'm so impatient with him, need more from the veterans in situations like this.

Be interesting to see the reception they get on Friday afternoon.

 

[mooreaj21]

Kinda comical at this point isn't it? Offense really really needs to wake up, had they been hitting so far they would be fine right now and last year would be behind them.

Another huge strikeout for Youk with the tying runs in scoring position and one out. I'm so impatient with him, need more from the veterans in situations like this.

Be interesting to see the reception they get on Friday afternoon.

At this point I'm just expecting it from Youk, he looks awful. He has completely fallen off. I think it's almost time to safely say this is it for him in Boston, he won't be back. Add in also that Middlebrooks has started off great in Triple-A so far.

We need guys like Ellsbury to step up. Pedroia, Ortiz, & Gonzalez have been good so far.

I thought Lester has looked good in his first 2 starts, which is encouraging b/c he is usually bad in the month of April, he just isn't getting any run support.

I also liked the way Doubront & Bard looked in their first two starts. We need Beckett & Buchholz to get it going.

 

[ionaVOL]

At this point I'm just expecting it from Youk, he looks awful. He has completely fallen off. I think it's almost time to safely say this is it for him in Boston, he won't be back. Add in also that Middlebrooks has started off great in Triple-A so far.

We need guys like Ellsbury to step up. Pedroia, Ortiz, & Gonzalez have been good so far.

I thought Lester has looked good in his first 2 starts, which is encouraging b/c he is usually bad in the month of April, he just isn't getting any run support.

I also liked the way Doubront & Bard looked in their first two starts. We need Beckett & Buchholz to get it going.

Lester was great today, one rough patch, but he looks like he is on track already to have a great season.

Just have to wait for the offense to wake up and the bullpen to take shape. Andrew Miller will replace Thomas soon, I have to imagine if he keeps on track that Rich Hill will eventually then replace Miller. Atchinson will most likely go, Alber's spot is probably pretty shaky too. The pieces are there, Bobby admittedly needs to learn how to use them.

 

[mooreaj21]

Just a few notes on Crawford & some guys in the farm system:

* Crawford had to fly back to Boston to get his elbow examined, he was complaining of soreness.

* Here is a good interview w/ Bryce Brentz, I'm really cheering for this kid.......

Know Your Opponents: Bryce Brentz « Mike Ashmore’s Thunder Thoughts

* Rich Hill went an inning last night in Single-A Greeneville, his line: 2 H,1 R, 2 K. He is two games into his rehab assignment. He will pitch again Friday for Salem.

* Andrew Miller will pitch for Pawtucket tommorrow.

* A year ago, third baseman Will Middlebrooks had two extra-base hits (both homers) in 16 games and 60 plate appearances in Pawtucket following his late-season call-up from Portland. On Tuesday, in his fifth game of the season (and with 22 at-bats now under his belt), he collected his third extra-base hit (and first homer) of 2012, going 2-for-4 with a homer to right-center. Through 6 games this is Middlebrooks line: .364 AVG, .591 SLG, .364 OBP

 

[mooreaj21]

"For me this is the only organization that I know and I want to be here and I love playing for the Red Sox," Pedroia said. "I love being in Boston and playing for those fans. It's really not my decision, it's the team's decision. Whatever they want to do, I'm here and I don't want to be anywhere. But I've seen guys in the past who wanted to be somewhere and they ended up not being there. That's difficult. I love being here, being part of a winning team and being part of the city of Boston."

- Pedroia

Pedey is by far my favorite player in MLB & has been since his Rookie season. I hope he never puts on another teams uniform & retires a Red Sox. IF IF we were to ever name another captain it should be Pedroia. He has been playing 2B for us 5 years now & I'm still amazed at some of the plays he makes.

 

[mooreaj21]

TRIPLE-A PAWTUCKET RED SOX: 2-1 LOSS AT ROCHESTER (TWINS)

– Catcher/DH Ryan Lavarnway went 2-for-4 with a double to push his average up above (or is it to?) the Mendoza line. He’s hitting .200 so far, though with five walks (.360 OBP) and just two strikeouts in 25 plate appearances.

– Shortstop Jose Iglesias collected his second hit in five games. He’s not 2-for-18 (.111) with a .261 OPS in the season’s first week. Iglesias committed his second error of the year, this one of the throwing variety.

– Left-hander Andrew Miller is slated to make his first appearance with the PawSox on Thursday, following two relief outings in Greenville.

DOUBLE-A PORTLAND SEA DOGS: 10-1 LOSS AT TRENTON (YANKEES)

– Ryan Dent, who is repeating in Portland, continued his solid start to 2012, going 1-for-2 with a sac fly. In five games, he’s 5-for-13 (.385) with three walks to yield a .471 OBP and 1.086 OPS. The 23-year-old, a sandwich pick in the 2007 draft, is considered one of the better defenders (he was named the organization’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2009) and athletes in the Red Sox system, and so his big league future will depend on whether he can hit. Dent has played four of his five games to date this season at second base.

– Kolbrin Vitek had his first extra-base hit in 31 plate appearances in Double-A, and is now hitting .222/.323/.259/.582 (with four walks and five strikeouts) through seven games. The Red Sox believe that the 2010 first-round pick, who hit .281/.350/.372/.722 along with three homers and 31 extra-base hits while spending last year at High-A Salem, has untapped power potential that has yet to translate to games.

“In batting practice, the way the ball comes off the bat, the ball flies all over the place. He’s got a good approach at the plate, a good idea of the strike zone,” hitting coordinator Victor Rodriguez said of Vitek’s 2011 performance. “He’s a guy who has plenty of power. At times, he gets a little too passive, and at times, he can force his swing either the other way or he can get a little pull happy, but our main thing with him is to use the whole field. He’s got power to all fields. He’s just got to get comfortable, get a good pitch to hit and let it go.”

The Sox speak highly of Vitek’s defensive improvement at third base, and believe that he can develop into a player capable of being a well-rounded player with average to above-average tools across the board.

– Shortstop Derrik Gibson, who was sidelined by the removal of wisdom teeth to start the year, played his first game of the year, going 0-for-4.

HIGH-A SALEM RED SOX: 4-1 LOSS AT LYNCHBURG (BRAVES)

– Left fielder Brandon Jacobs bounced back from a game on Tuesday in which he punched out three times to go 3-for-4 with a double and steal. He drove in the lone run for Salem.

– After an 0-for-4 night, center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. is 2-for-16 (.125) to start the year and has yet to collect an extra-base hit in five games. However, he has walked six times, so his OBP is .391.

– Raise your hand if you realized that right-hander Keith Couch was third among Red Sox minor leaguers last year with 123 strikeouts (behind Kevin Millwood (139) and Kyle Weiland (126), and tied with Brock Huntzinger and Alex Wilson)). Those of you who raised your hands are probably unsurprised that he struck out eight in five innings — while allowing four runs on seven hits and a walk — in defeat.

SINGLE-A GREENVILLE DRIVE: 5-3 LOSS VS. HICKORY (RANGERS)

– Another day, another double for David Renfroe, who has at least one extra-base hit in all five of his starts this season. He is second in the league with six extra-base hits.

– Had Garin Cecchini — a fourth-round pick in the 2010 draft who was signed for first-round money — not been coming off 2009 surgery to repair his ACL, there’s a good chance he would have started his career at Greenville last year. Instead, his progression was slowed by that injury as well as a hairline fracture of his wrist while he was enjoying an excellent season in Lowell last year.

This year, Cecchini is healthy, but off to a slow start. He went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts on Wednesday, and is hitting .130/.231/.217/.448 with eight strikeouts in 26 at-bats. However, the third baseman — considered one of the top position prospects in the Sox system — can find reassurance in the fact that he started slowly with Lowell last year (.200 average, .649 OPS in June) before tearing up the league (.342 average, 1.011 OPS) in July, prior to his season-ending injury.

- WEEI

Just an update on some of our minor league prospects.

 

[ionaVOL]

- WEEI

Just an update on some of our minor league prospects.

Geez the slow start hit the whole organization huh

Good to see Lavarnway being patient and selective at the plate, that will translate well going forward.

I saw Matt Barnes had a great debut this year too, he has great potential it seems like.

 

[ionaVOL]

- Pedroia

Pedey is by far my favorite player in MLB & has been since his Rookie season. I hope he never puts on another teams uniform & retires a Red Sox. IF IF we were to ever name another captain it should be Pedroia. He has been playing 2B for us 5 years now & I'm still amazed at some of the plays he makes.

Pedey is the man, heart and soul of the team, they would be unstoppable with 9 of him out there on the field.

As disappointed as I am at the start of this season, I'm really looking forward to them heading to Fenway tomorrow. Hopefully they will wake up and start playing like they did from May to August last season.

Oh and it doesn't hurt that I'm leaving in about 12 hours to go watch the game!!! Maybe I'll bring em some luck! Let's go Sox!

 

[mooreaj21]

The MRI on Crawfords elbow revealed that he had a muscle strain, he can continue taking swings but it hurts to throw.

Bailey said he hopes to get his cast off in a week & begin throwing in 8 weeks.

Lars Anderson has made a switch from 1B to LF at Pawtucket.

 

[mooreaj21]

Ells hurt his shoulder sliding into 2B, didn't look good. He was in a lot of pain.

 

[mooreaj21]

GREAT home opener for the Sox today. Beckett was DEALING, he was going to come back out & try to get the CG but our offense left him in the dugout for to long. Offense finally put it all together. Just couldn't have asked for a better home opener IMO. Hopefully we can come back tomorrow & keep this going.

On a bad note: Looks like Ellsbury will be out a while, I'm guessing he either dislocated his shoulder or tore something. He was in a lot of pain.

 

[mooreaj21]

Middlebrooks just hit his 2nd HR of the season.

Also, a few Boston media guys have tweeted that Ellsburys injury doesn't look good. IMO I bet he's out for the season.