In the Effectively Wild season preview series Britton from the Providence Journal said he looks a little smoother and a little more under control. Hopefully that leads to more easily reaching those intermediate difficulty grounders and as a result making better throws.Trotsky said:It is amazing how quiet it's been about X this spring. All the attention has been on Mookie, Castillo, Vic and the pitching staff. How has he been looking defensively at SS? He reportedly spent a lot of time working on his defense this offseason.
Plympton91 said:Mookie Betts or Bryant for spring training MVP?
E5 Yaz said:Edes reports trade of Craig might be near
http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/red-sox/post/_/id/42490/allen-craig-trade-rumors-increase?ex_cid=espnapi_public
Which is why the speculation is growing louder that Craig will be dealt before the end of camp. At this point, it remains a rumor, but there is no question that clubs have had at least preliminary discussions with the Sox about the 30-year-old Craig.
soxhop411 said:
Which is why the speculation is growing louder that Craig will be dealt before the end of camp. At this point, it remains a rumor, but there is no question that clubs have had at least preliminary discussions with the Sox about the 30-year-old Craig.Edes reports trade of Craig might be near
http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/red-sox/post/_/id/42490/allen-craig-trade-rumors-increase?ex_cid=espnapi_public
And with a week left before the team breaks camp, there was talk here that the Sox were close to trading Craig, though that could not be confirmed Saturday afternoon.
Lars The Wanderer said:The Sox won't be getting Susac for Craig unless Boston is picking up most of that contract. My guess is Susac breaks camp as the backup C. Hector Sanchez isn't good offensively or defensively and has issues with concussions. I think his time as a C (or even a major leaguer at any position) is just about over.
Rudy Pemberton said:Why acquire a young catcher though, when he wouldn't fit into the teams long term plans?
That's a bit puzzling, although I haven't followed the Giants ST at all. Susac is highly regarded but maybe they feel he needs more seasoning. Also, the Giants give players a lot of rope and maybe they're giving Hector one last chance. And, seeing Rudy's post, when Vazquez gets back, and you have Swihart, what are you going to do with Susac.Green Monster said:
The Giants optioned catcher Andrew Susac, to Triple-A Sacramento Sunday. Susac was the favorite to open the season as the team's No. 2 but Hector Sanchez won the competition. Susac will be the team's starter in Triple-A................................
Does this make a trade more or less likely?
Al Zarilla said:That's a bit puzzling, although I haven't followed the Giants ST at all. Susac is highly regarded but maybe they feel he needs more seasoning. Also, the Giants give players a lot of rope and maybe they're giving Hector one last chance. And, seeing Rudy's post, when Vazquez gets back, and you have Swihart, what are you going to do with Susac.
Thanks, Lars. Guess I'll have to start following the Giants as well as the Sox. Actually, I'm still on super bowl high. Life is good.Lars The Wanderer said:
Susac had a late start due to some wrist soreness. I think they want him in minor league camp to get regular ABs.
Rudy Pemberton said:Why acquire a young catcher though, when he wouldn't fit into the teams long term plans?
A few things are different in terms of Vazquez vs JBJ: 1) JBJ's lack of offense was a surprise...they had higher expectations for him than they ever have had for Vazquez's bat. 2) The offense overall is greatly improved so lack of offense out of Vazquez would be much less impactful than JBJ's floundering last year. 3) Vazquez's value is and always was tied to his defense, where he is more than capable of having a huge impact that makes up for his bat a lot more than JBJ's considerable defensive prowess ever could.sean1562 said:
Isnt Vazquez's offense highly questionable? even if he didnt get injured, a JBJ type rookie year was still a possibility no? Now that he is losing a year of development due to major arm surgery, dont you think it might be time to start hedging our bets on the vazquez front? he has never been a sure thing
Rudy Pemberton said:Why acquire a young catcher though, when he wouldn't fit into the teams long term plans?
richgedman'sghost said:You really think that a case of food poisoning is "DL worthy"? Might be stretching the term.
I think he's going to be a beast. I've got sleep apnea and the difference between having my machine and not is huge. If the machine want enough for him, I don't get how he could even function.NJ_Sox_Fan said:Napoli is hitting 30 plus this year. Book it.
bosockboy said:So unless Craig or Victorino gets moved in the next 48 hrs or so, I guess it's Castillo to AAA? When should the 25 man be announced?
Castillo is expected to join Bradley in Pawtucket, though it appears pretty clear the Sox have kept Castillo well informed of that possibility, because he has consistently said it would not bother him to begin in Triple-A. The justification for starting Castillo there is because he has played only a handful of games the past two years and he could use some more at-bats, although there has been little to suggest in his play here that he is not ready for prime time. Castillo’s stay in Pawtucket is expected to be short -- he’s too good, at 27 he’s in the prime of his career, and the Sox are paying him too much ($72.5 million) to keep him there.
E5 Yaz said:Castillo is expected to join Bradley in Pawtucket, though it appears pretty clear the Sox have kept Castillo well informed of that possibility, because he has consistently said it would not bother him to begin in Triple-A . The justification for starting Castillo there is because he has played only a handful of games the past two years and he could use some more at-bats, although there has been little to suggest in his play here that he is not ready for prime time. Castillo’s stay in Pawtucket is expected to be short -- he’s too good, at 27 he’s in the prime of his career, and the Sox are paying him too much ($72.5 million) to keep him there.
http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/red-sox/post/_/id/42594/bradley-among-sox-facing-cutdown-day
It is frustrating. One thing is that we never know when Cuban guys may become available. You just have to grab ones you think can fit in, when you can, and then work them in. Another one, Jose Abreu , also never got a chance until he was 27, last year. He was ROY and #4 in MVP voting with the White Sox. Hmm, that example might make it more frustrating. :huh:luckysox said:I understand WHY he needs to go to AAA with Craig, Vic and Naver all on the big team, but I hate it. I'd take him as the best of those four every day and twice all weekend. It's one of the only specific situations the Sox could be in that would result in a guy as talented and primed to go as Castillo is beginning his first full season in the system in freaking Pawtucket.
I don't believe Abreu ever played a game in the minors.Al Zarilla said:It is frustrating. One thing is that we never know when Cuban guys may become available. You just have to grab ones you think can fit in, when you can, and then work them in. Another one, Jose Abreu , also never got a chance until he was 27, last year. He was ROY and #4 in MVP voting with the White Sox. Hmm, that example might make it more frustrating. :huh:
It would really only be comparable to Bryant if the Cubs had keep last year's starting 3B around and had recently traded for an ex-all-star 3B on a multiyear contract who was coming off a bad season. The Red Sox are using the options on a player who has options to maintain organizational depth and can make a plausible case that they're still filling the position with an above average major leaguer. The Cubs can't.Snoop Soxy Dogg said:
That "justification" is perhaps best defined as a "rationalization" for public consumption, which is ok I suppose. Everybody understands what's going on. This is like sending Kris Bryant to AAA so he can "work on defense".
I must say I hate sending Castillo down, but I get it.
Looks like you're right per BBREF.Papelbon's Poutine said:I don't believe Abreu ever played a game in the minors.
InsideTheParker said:I am really hoping at this point that the Sox don't regret signing Hanley Ramirez. Without him, I think Castillo stays with the team. I guess I understand why the Sox couldn't say no, but Hanley's OPS has apparently been dropping steadily the last couple of years. (Lost the source of that info, sorry.)
InsideTheParker said:I am really hoping at this point that the Sox don't regret signing Hanley Ramirez. Without him, I think Castillo stays with the team. I guess I understand why the Sox couldn't say no, but Hanley's OPS has apparently been dropping steadily the last couple of years. (Lost the source of that info, sorry.)