2024 Red Sox spring training games

CR67dream

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Valdez one out wall double (barely, just in safely), McGuire nice job working a walk. Duran squares and pulls back, ball to backstop with runners were going, now second and third one out. Duran with a good battle, Lou and Tom laughing at the loud fan cheering for him picked up on the mic. I laughed. :) Works the walk. Bases juiced, 1 out.
 
CR67dream

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Raffy first pitch swing and miss, out of his shoes. I mean wow. Ended badly, down swinging on a 1-2 pitch. Pitching change, 2 out bases still loaded.
 
strek1

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Has Devers learned anything? Still trying to hit it 500 feet instead of making good contact. He's gonna get his hits of course but I can't help thinking of how great he could be if his approach changed just a bit.
 
Red(s)HawksFan

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Story has looked good at the plate this spring. I know it's a spring game and all, but coming through with 2 outs and the bases full would inspire a lot of confidence right now.

Oops. Story's out, Reyes is in. Never mind.
 
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Red(s)HawksFan said:
Story has looked good at the plate this spring. I know it's a spring game and all, but coming through with 2 outs and the bases full would inspire a lot of confidence right now.

Oops. Story's out, Reyes is in. Never mind.
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I was thinking the same thing. Really wanted to see Story there
 
CR67dream

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Missed most of the Rafaela interview, nothing earth shattering but humble and confident. We are going to love this kid.

Winck out there again, one bloop single and a couple of interesting flyouts to left and center to challenge the reserves. Devers with a nice play to end the inning. Winck goes 2 1/3 without breaking a sweat.
 
CR67dream

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Abreu looking overmatched against Fairbanks, down looking on off-speed paint. To be fair, it's Fairbanks and he's trying. Filthy.

2 out base hit by Alvarez, rocking my favorite number. ;). Gonzalez caught looking. Top 9 coming.
 
CR67dream

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Joely in for the save, I turned my back and there was one out, then he paints for the backwards K for out number 2. Got wild after getting ahead 1-2 for a BB (of course he did). Comes back with 3 pitch K, pounded the zone with the first 2 then getting the chase.

Almost Real Water!!!!
 
DeadlySplitter

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strek1 said:
Has Devers learned anything? Still trying to hit it 500 feet instead of making good contact. He's gonna get his hits of course but I can't help thinking of how great he could be if his approach changed just a bit.
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Probably will never take that next step, which sucks because he could be worth his contract if he did.
 
Rovin Romine

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Whitlock had a minor league spring training today and was dominant v. a twins squad. He faced 20 batters and K'd 10.

So, unless something weird happens, Criswell to the pen?
 
JM3

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Rovin Romine said:
Whitlock had a minor league spring training today and was dominant v. a twins squad. He faced 20 batters and K'd 10.

So, unless something weird happens, Criswell to the pen?
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Criswell to Worcester rotation makes the most sense to keep him fully stretched out imo.

Winck as the longer guy, & lots of optionable bullpen arms to keep people somewhat fresh. Plus 2 more 40 man spots available when they put Giolito & Hendriks on the 60-day.
 
Rovin Romine

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JM3 said:
Criswell to Worcester rotation makes the most sense to keep him fully stretched out imo.

Winck as the longer guy, & lots of optionable bullpen arms to keep people somewhat fresh. Plus 2 more 40 man spots available when they put Giolito & Hendriks on the 60-day.
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That makes sense in a vacuum, but what if two of the starters only go 4 or 5 innings? We'd get a replay of last year, but with only Winck bearing the load. I don't think that works, and you don't want to back to back this pen from the get-go. (My premise here is that if they're going to contend, or at least sell tickets, they need to win early and often, not punt games.)
 
JM3

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Rovin Romine said:
That makes sense in a vacuum, but what if two of the starters only go 4 or 5 innings? We'd get a replay of last year, but with only Winck bearing the load. I don't think that works, and you don't want to back to back this pen from the get-go. (My premise here is that if they're going to contend, or at least sell tickets, they need to win early and often, not punt games.)
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The issue is I don't think there's any particularly reliable indication that Criswell will be a good 3-inning reliever. His greatest skill is probably that he can potentially pitch 6 mid innings in one day because he has a larger array of pitches.

I just posted this on Criswell a few minutes ago...

https://www.overthemonster.com/2024/3/21/24105415/red-sox-season-preview-things-were-excited-for-and-terrified-of-in-2024-cooper-criswell-as-an-entity

It includes his ZiPS protection:

100 2⁄3 innings, a lower 6.79 K/9, a 2.35 BB/9, a 4.92 ERA, and a .315 BABIP allowed.
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I don't think having Criswell as a multi-inning option would be any more useful than having like a Hagenman, Politi or German, & it would actively limit their ability to have him available if they need a spot starter or a guy to step into the rotation.

They really should just add another starter, though. I hear there is someone available...& the Red Sox are still approximately $24m under the tax threshold.
 
Rovin Romine

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JM3 said:
The issue is I don't think there's any particularly reliable indication that Criswell will be a good 3-inning reliever.
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Thanks for putting Criswell in context. If Winck needed a long-man in the pen alongside him, who would you think best fits that role? I would have said Murphy, but now. . .
 
JM3

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Rovin Romine said:
Thanks for putting Criswell in context. If Winck needed a long-man in the pen alongside him, who would you think best fits that role? I would have said Murphy, but now. . .
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That's kind of the problem... they don't really have good long guys floating around, & without Giolito/Murphy it's why I think they're one pitcher short.

In terms of guys who can give you 4 or 5 innings & are at least plausible...

Fitts - Hasn't pitched above AA & they may not want to stunt his growth as a potential starter.

Walter - Kind of a lefty Criswell.

Grant Gambrell - Only pitched 2 games in AAA last year, but he's a starter & is 26. Haven't heard anything about him this Spring, but if he got a stuff bump from the new regime, he could be competent.

Wikelman - This would be the most fun option, but similar issues to Fitts in terms of not stunting him.

Brian Van Belle - He's probably just an org guy, but he's 27 & if got a stuff bump, he could be competent. Spent half the season in Worcester & struggled a lot... but his underlying #s weren't as bad.

That's why I think they're better off just using 1-2 inning guys & cycling through them because they have a lot of those, & at least 3 extra 40 man spots once they add Giolito, Hendiks & Murphy to the 60 Day IL.

The guys I mentioned before, plus Luis Guerrero, Cam Booser, Jorge Benitez, Luetge/Joely if they stick around, Melvin Adón, etc., plus more guys are going to be made available with roster churns.

Other guys like Penrod, Dobbins & Bastardo may be possibilities for a longer relief role later in the season, but wouldn't be ready now.
 
Red(s)HawksFan

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Rovin Romine said:
Thanks for putting Criswell in context. If Winck needed a long-man in the pen alongside him, who would you think best fits that role? I would have said Murphy, but now. . .
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For reference, I looked up how often the Sox used a reliever for 3 innings or more last season. It was 36 instances in total.

Nick Pivetta - 11 times
Chris Murphy - 9 times
Josh Winckowski - 4 times
Brandon Walter - 4 times
Kutter Crawford - 3 times
Corey Kluber - 2 times
Nick Robertson, Mauricio Llovera, Kyle Barraclough - 1 time

All of Winckowski's long outings were before Memorial Day (so were Crawford's). Pivetta and Murphy were primarily pulling bulk duty following an opener. By and large, I don't think long relief as a specific role is one that needs to be filled all the time. Early in the year as starters are ramping up it's handy (which was Winck and Crawford's job as long guys), but after that, if they're not using openers regularly, the long outings are mostly blow-out garbage time instances intended to save everyone else.

I think JM3 is right that it can be Winck and a rotating group of shuttle guys until the rotation is fully ramped up and then probably just a rotation of whoever is available when its needed rather than limiting it to specific pitchers. Winckowski evolved from a long man to a high leverage set-up guy last year and if he's not transitioned to the rotation at some point (like Crawford was last year), I can see him doing that again this year.
 
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