April Schedule

Well, it's time to tackle the first month of the regular season.  The Red Sox have 22 games in April, 10 home & 12 away.  On the road they have series against the Phillies (3), Yankees (3), Rays (3) & Orioles (3).  At home they host the Nationals (3), Orioles (4) & Blue Jays (3).  Lots of AL East opponents in the first month.  My prediction is for a .500 split or a record of 11-11.  The Nationals & Orioles give me pause to go higher than 11-11.  But a first month at .500 will keep you in the race.  What do you think?

Barnes - Bullpen?

Matt Barnes.  24 years old.  Power arm with mid 90's fastball.  Should the Sox move him to bullpen?  We discussed this topic on the latest podcast, hopefully to be uploaded soon.  Opinion is split.  Do you give up on a potential #4 or #5 starter for the future?  Or is Barnes' path to the big leagues quicker by way of the bullpen?  In his minor league career as a starter, Barnes has about a 3.60 ERA.  Seeing him work out of the bullpen in spring training, particularly his last outing, he has been impressive.  Barnes also adds some velocity to a bullpen that averaged just 91 mph last year.  A guy that can throw heat is always a plus & he has a big 6-to12 curveball as well.  For now I think Barnes best helps the big team by moving to the bullpen.  You have to think that Brian Johnson & Steven Wright are the #6 & #7 starters at this point, so Barnes would be toiling in AAA for most of the season unless there were injuries.  I say give him a shot at the pen.

Napoli Looking Strong

This guy loves Boston.  An injury-plagued 2014, however, left Mike Napoli with a sour taste in his mouth as his numbers were the worst of his career.  Now healthy again, he has been crushing the ball in spring training.  Last night Nap hit a homer on a broken bat.  I guess that's power!  He has 4 homers in spring training - again results mean nothing - but the power stroke is back.  I look for Nap to be productive in the 6th spot in the lineup this year.  It doesn't hurt that this is also the last year of his contract, so added incentive to do well if you will.  Mike Napoli is a guy you root for.  Who will ever forget his homer off Verlander to win a 1-0 game in the ALCS & his running down the streets of Boston shirtless after the World Series win!     

Shaughnessy - A Downer

My buddy Steve sent me the article by Dan Shaughnessy in today's Globe.  I'll start by saying that Dan is entitled to his opinion.  However, as a new season starts & expectations run high, it's a downer for all fans to read the article's tone of pessimism.  Can't we be happy for at least a month?  Yes, Koji is out to start the season.  I never really thought that the Sox counted on 2 more vintage years like 2013 out of Koji.  I also thought that his 2-year deal was at least partly given to him for his unbelievable year in 2013 that led to another World Series Championship.  Who thinks Koji at 40 years old is going to be outstanding again versus just serviceable as a closer?  That's why Mujica is around to close like he did at the end of 2014.  Yes, Dan, Cristian Vazquez is out too.  While Vazquez is a great defensive catcher, the Sox went out & got another 26 year old from the Nats, a defensive specialist who throws out 45% of runners, to backup Hanigan who is another more-than-adequate catcher.  And let's not forget that Swihart is available, if needed, after some time in Pawtucket.  Yes, Joe Kelly is staying back to build up his arm again, but also because the Sox don't need a 5th starter over the 1st 2 weeks.  And yes, we do not have a legitimate #1 starter.  Most teams only need 2 consistent starters throughout the season.  Look at KC & Baltimore last year who didn't even have that!  All we need is 2 out of 5 pitchers to have good years.  If I was guessing, I'd put my money on Porcello & Masterson, 2 guys in contract years.  So let's not paint a picture of total despair before the season starts.  There are questions with all 30 teams.  I bet not all of their fans are getting the downer treatment by their writers.           

Who's Running the Show?

First, big mouth Scott Boras rants about the Cubs not wanting to win.  Then Theo Epstein fires back that Boras never called him directly & that his history with rookies is to never put them on the opening day roster.  In the meantime, Kris Bryant keeps wrecking the ball during spring training, making his recent assignment to AAA even less popular.  Now I read a story that the MLB Players Association is going to sue the Cubs for sending Bryant down.  Who's in charge here?  Since when did player agents & the players association get to tell teams who to put on their roster?  Theo & the Cubs have every right to send Bryant to AAA & preserve an extra year of eligibility.  You don't have to like it, but it's the way the rules are configured.  12 games in the minors by Bryant is not going to change the outcome of the 2015 Cubs season.  As Mad Dog said earlier this week, Boras has no sense, no thought about winning.  He puts his players anywhere the money is highest, period, whether the new team is a contender or not.  And the MLB Players Association has the best thing going with guaranteed contracts - whether you play or not or you get injured.  So stop crabbing about nothing.  Stop sticking your noses in where they don't belong.  Kris Bryant is not going to be lacking for money during his lifetime.  He just has to wait one extra year.       

Victorino, Craig & Castillo

3 outfielders.  Only 2 can make the team & only 2 can be part of the 25-man roster heading to Philly.  If possible, the Sox should move Victorino.  He is healthy, even though he is only batting from the right side.  The Sox would need to eat a lot of his $13 million salary to make Vic attractive to another team.  But it's just a 1-year salary dump.  Allen Craig is more trade-able since he still has a few years to go under his current contract.  He can play corner outfield & 1B, making him more versatile.  An AL team could use him at DH as well.  Rusney Castillo won't be traded, but he may start the year at Pawtucket if Victorino or Craig are not moved by opening day.  Rusney has made a case to play RF recently with his glove, arm & bat.  It doesn't appear that Castillo can take away the CF job from Mookie Betts as Betts looks to be in line as the everyday leadoff hitter.  No doubt it's a positive problem to have too many good players.  I hope that the Sox find a way to keep all 3 guys since Victorino will not be re-signed in 2016, alleviating the logjam in a year. 

Pitching Depth

The Red Sox have a deep roster.  Think about this.  If Buchholz, Porcello, Miley, Masterson & Kelly all go down, you could see a rotation of Johnson, Barnes, Workman, Owens & Wright.  Brian Johnson & Steven Wright have had good camps this spring & both could be called up in a spot-starting role should anything happen to one of the starting 5 in the rotation.  Henry Owens has been hit around some, but he will find his groove with more starts at AAA.  Matt Barnes looks like a sure thing to join the bullpen as he & Brandon Workman look for a chance to be pen-mates to start the year.  Barnes & Workman can both start games as well.  If the spring means anything, it looks like Brian Johnson may have surpassed Henry Owens as the 1st lefty option for John Farrell.  Nothing like a lot of talent & competition to keep everyone sharp.  I can't remember a Sox team this deep in the recent past. 

Vazquez Out, Leon Acquired from Nats

Poor Cristian Vazquez!  On the verge of being the Sox #1 catcher for the 1st time in his young career, he gets an elbow injury requiring him to move to the 60-day DL.  Ryan Hanigan will now assume the #1 catching duties with veteran Humberto Quintero & rookie Blake Swihart ready to move into the #2 backup role.  Not to go unnoticed, however, was the acquisition of C Sandy Leon from the Nationals as added depth at catcher.  Quintero & Leon are good defensive catchers with not much offense, whereas Swihart has a good bat to go along with his improving defensive skills.  It will be interesting to see how the Sox juggle the #2 catching spot while Vazquez is out.  Let's hope Vazquez can return  in June or sooner.  Tough break for this good kid.     

Vazquez Has MRI on Elbow

Cristian Vazquez is a good looking catcher for the Red Sox & he is penciled in as the #1 catcher to start the season with Ryan Hanigan as his back-up.  An elbow problem that has persisted through recent workouts may take Vazquez to the DL to start the season.  That may open the door for highly touted prospect Blake Swihart to join the big team in Philly when the season starts in April.  Say what you want about the Sox management not getting a #1 pitcher, but they sure have depth in the roster at every position.  Swihart is a great example.  Should someone go down - infield, outfield, catching, pitching - the Sox have several capable back-ups ready to go.  This is a deep team, just too bad you have to see it so early in the season with a kid like Vazquez. 

Ortiz, Victorino - Stop Chirping

Just stop.  Enough with David Ortiz re-hashing his 2003 positive test for PED use.  Let it go, big man, let it go.  Did anything you said help your chances with the BBWAA & your Hall of Fame chances?  I think not.  And Shane Victorino - chirping to Felger & Mazz that the Sox should have picked up a #1 type starting pitcher for the team.  Inference - move Mookie Betts so he can play.  Vic needs to worry about his own play & not try to manage the team.  He looks selfish.  Overall, the last week of spring training is brutal for veterans as they haver had enough practice & they are all ready to go by now.  More exhibition games mean nothing at this point.  Whether it's too long in spring training this last week or some other force at work, Ortiz & Victorino need to shut it.   

The Haters of Big Papi

It's part of being a public figure.  Every word & action is overanalyzed.  You can argue good or bad about any situation.  Just look no farther than the Republicans & Democrats who are divided on every issue.  We should fire them all, but that's anoither issue.  David Ortiz needed a few days off.  He is 39 & the grind of 30+ games in spring training is not necessary for a guy his age.  He knows how to hit.  He doesn't need 50 to 60 AB's in March.  Leave the big guy alone, reporters, who think the Sox made up a story about dehydration & soreness to give Ortiz a few days off.  Who cares?  It's March.  Same with Koji at 40 years old.  Let him rest his hamstring so he's good to go in April.  He knows how to pitch.  Spring training in Fort Myers has gone very well with few to no big line stories for reporters to write about.  So if Big Papi takes a few days off, that's headlines.  I'm glad I'm a nobody. 

Bro'mance With Mike Trout

I had the good fortune recently to attend a Cactus League game where the Angels played the Indians.  Mike Trout played CF & hit 2nd in the order in front of Albert Pujols.  I was very impressed witrh every aspects of Trout's game & it's easy to see why he was the AL MVP last year.  On offense he has a quick bat & he is a line drive hitter with power.  The ball jumps off of his bat.  On the bases he has speed, scoring from 1st on a double to left-center with some added hustle during a meaningless spring training game.  In the outfield he went up against the wall to make a catch & he has a cannon for an arm that is also very accurate.  It was a pleasure to watch Mike Trout enjoy playing the game of baseball at such a high level.  He's a throwback to an age where players played for the love of the game.

JBJ, Rusney Still Hitting

What to do with all these outfielders?  It appears that the Red Sox starting outfield will consist of Hanley Ramirez in LF, Mookie Betts in CF & Shane Victorino in RF.  However, Jackie Bradley, Jr. has had a consistent spring at the plate & we all saw his Gold Glove defense last year.  Rusney Castillo has been hitting well since his return & he is signed to a 7-year contract.  And Allen Craig & Daniel Nava have found their stroke.  With injury problems in the past to Ramirez & Victorino I wouldn't be so quick to trade any of these guys.  Victorino will be gone next year, opening up one spot &, if Ortiz goes down, Ramirez would be the likely DH.  If Napoli doesn't get offered a contract in 2016, Craig or Nava could become the everyday 1B next season.  John Farrell has to do a big juggling act to keep all 7 guys happy this year.  JBJ & Nava are the only lefty bats, so I would think long & hard before trading them.  The old saying is that "things will work themselves out."  Keeping 7 outfielders of this quality is a good trick if you can do it this year.      

Who's Dinged Up?

Big Papi was dehydrated, now he's just sore.  Probably old age setting in.  Koji has a hamstring issue, but he will be ready for opening day.  Perhaps another case of old age.  Mike Napoli rested a sore ankle.  Joe Kelly will make his next start.  Overall, just normal aches & pains that are expected as spring training drags on for the next 2 weeks.  If the season started today, everyone would be available.  Health at this point gets a B+.  We don't have any Zack Wheelers, Yu Darvishs or other season-ending injuries.  Let's just get through the next 2 weeks unscathed & concentrate on Rusney vs. Mookie & the last few bullpen spots.

Race for CF Back On

Rusney Castillo got his first official spring training at bat & it was a good one, a 3-run homer to left center.  Rusney has declared himself 100% fit & pain free, meaning that he & Mookie Betts will be competing once again for the CF spot on opening day.  Most likely, Daniel Nava & Allen Craig will spell Shane Victorino & Hanley Ramirez a few times each week.  Both are nice pieces to have on your bench, especially since Craig seems to be hitting again & Nava's lefty bat evens out the lineup.  Either Mookie & Rusney could return to Pawtucket for a little seasoning as the real season begins in April.  If all outfielders stay healthy, I would be surprised if Shane Victorino is still with the team in May.  He will probably get traded since his skill set matches Castillo's & Betts'.  With Vic gone Mookie could move over to RF on a more regular basis.  It's a numbers game, but a positive problem for Red Sox management.  

Boras Flapping His Jaws Over Bryant

Scott Boras.  What a piece of work this guy is!  Under the guise of "winning" he lambasted the Cubs organization for not wanting to win by sending his budding superstar Kris Bryant to AAA.  Bryant has 6 homers in the Cactus League so far this spring & he is the future 3B of the Cubs.  By sending Bryant to AAA for 12 days or so the Cubs & Theo exercise another year of control before Bryant can become a free agent.  That's the real rub for Boras!  He can't collect his big fee on a big free agent contract for an extra year.  Two faced for sure.  Just come out, Boras, & say I want my money a year earlier.  You are fooling no one.  And Cubs fans may boo you out of Chicago if you show your face there.     

Hanley Happy, Papi Dehydrated

Reporters can't find any issues with Hanley Ramirez this spring.  Well, maybe he could flash a little more bat, but he has been a model citizen up to this point.  Funny how everyone is waiting for him to become the young, brash & unfriendly teammate that he had been categorized as when he was an LA Dodger.  Maybe it's David Ortiz.  Maybe he wants to prove to Boston fans that he has matured.  Whatever the reason, Hanley's move to LF has been all work & no whining.  It could be a win for Hanley & a win for the Red Sox if the big guy stays healthy & on the field.  So far, so good.  And the latest from the Fort is that Big Papi is still feeling the effects of dehydration.  He will be kept out of the lineup for the next few days.  Otherwise, with Rusney back to 100% & Kelly recovering from his arm tightness, all is going well at this point.  Just 18 days until opening day.   

Brian Johnson - Underrated?

When you think of left-handed pitchers for Boston you immediately think of Jon Lester & rightfully so.  Now that Lester is in Cubbie-ville the next lefty you think about in a Red Sox uniform is not Wade Miley, but Henry Owens & again rightfully so.  Owens has made a splash by dominating at every level.  But there's another guy with less press in Brian Johnson that is also impressing Red Sox personnel this spring.  And while Edwardo Rodriguez is another lefty with up-side I like the fact that Johnson is a converted pitcher who is excelling at his new position.  At 24 years old Johnson is a name that we Red Sox fans shouldn't forget.  If Buchholz or Masterson or another starter should fall, don't be surprised to see Johnson get a spot start with the big team.  He is just another 20-something in a stacked minor league system that the Red Sox have amassed.  Great to have numbers!  And Johnson is a good number to have.   

How's That Starting Rotation Now?

I see a number of reporters are starting to rag on the Boston 5 of Buchholz, Porcello, Masterson, Miley & Kelly because of poor showings in Florida lately.  My thought is "so what."  It's spring training, emphasis on training.  At least we have pitchers - thus far, knock on wood - who won't be getting Tommy John surgery like Zack Wheeler from the Mets or Yu Darvish from the Rangers.  We don't have a Tanacka who's arm may fall off at anytime.  Recently Jon Lester, Cory Kluber & Clayton Kershaw had rough outings.  Are their teams panicking?  It's spring training, folks, so results are very, very misleading.  Good example - Porcello had a 9.00+ ERA in spring training last year & he went on to have the best year of his career.  You have to remember that there are only 2 goals in spring training - stay healthy & get your work in so you are ready for April 6th.  Let me say it again, results are unreliable.  So let's not ask for the heads of John Henry, Larry Lucchino, Tom Werner & Ben Cherington to roll just yet.  Take a breath & relax.  Health & work.  That's the only March madness that we need to be concerned about at the Fort.       

Who's the #6 Starter?

Joe Kelly left yesterday's game with stiffness/soreness in his right arm.  He is not expected to miss any significant time.  But his injury brought up a question in my mind, namely who is the Sox #6 starter should one of the first 5 go down?  Is it Steven Wright?  Matt Barnes? Henry Owens? Brandon Workman?  Early on in the season, you would have to think that guys like Wright, Barnes & Workman would be primary choices simply due to previous big league experience.  If Barnes & Workman settle into bullpen rolls, then Wright becomes the #6 starter.  Barnes has been a starter his whole career, but the Sox like his velocity out of the pen.  Workman has had more success out of the pen & he is groomed to be a long man if needed.  If an injury occurs later in the season, I could see Owens edging Wright for a starting role.  That assumes that Owens continues to impress at the AAA level.  It's nice to have options & the Sox have 4 legitimate ones in Wright, Barnes, Workman & Owens.     

The Right Age Mix

This year's version of the Red Sox may just be the right mix of youth & experience.  Your starting lineup is age 22, 31, 39, 31, 28, 33, 34, 22 & 24.  About half 20's & half 30's.  Average age is 29.33 years.  (Of course Ortiz pulls the average up at 39!)  If you substitute Rusney (27) for Mookie (22), average age is 29.89 years.  That's a nice lineup, considering most players peak in their late 20's, early 30's.  Now for your starting pitchers - ages 30, 26, 29, 28 & 26.  Average age is 27.80 years.  Buchholz is the old man of this group at 30.  The other 4 are in their 20's.  I like this combination of youth & veterans, especially the youth which is something the Yankees are sorely missing.  Throw in prospects like Owens, Johnson, Barnes, Marrero, Cecchini, even Moncada & the Sox have a pipeline of youth that rivals the golden years of Theo when a new name was added to the major league lineup each year for several years.  We could be seeing the same thing in Boston again for the next several years.  Kudos to the Sox brass!   

Nap Slugs 2 Long Balls

Mike Napoli is feeling better.  No sleep apneia.  No crooked finger or turf toe.  No back problems.  Nap launched 2 bombs in yesterday's game against the Pirates.  Right about now in spring training players' bats are catching up to pitchers throwing 95 mph.  Mike Napoli could surprise everyone with a 30/100 year if he stays healthy.  Slotted as a #6 hitter in the lineup Nap could provide power balance in that lower section of the lineup.  Ortiz, Ramirez, Sandoval & Napoli are as tough a heart of the order to go through as any lineup in the majors.  You may control a few of these guys on any one day, but chances are at least one of them will hurt an opposing pitcher.  Nap loves Boston & Boston loves Nap.  It would be great to see him have a big year in his final year under contract. 

Vacation Thoughts

I'm going off script here as I get back from a week's vacation in California.  Here's a couple of random thoughts.  First, it's a small world after all.  Yes, I was in Disneyland.  When you look at all the different types of people at Disney - big & small, black & white & many other shades, some speaking English & some other languages, all the different clothing, the proliferation of tattoos on men & women & kids, the face of a new generation of parents raising kids - you realize that it is a small world.  And in this world of today, for better or worse, we are all connected.  Just ask the younger generations who remind me to be open in all of my thinking.  I'm a work in progress on that.  Second, I was at an endurance race yesterday that my granddaughter participated in.  At the start of the race there was a drone flying overhead.  It gave me pause for a minute until I realized that it was there for no harm.  As drones, both personal & commercial, become more intergrated into everyday events, you can see how they could be used for not-so-good purposes, particularly when you think about privacy issues.  I must confess that at any public meeting of people - movies, ballgames, races - I do look around at the crowd more than I did in the past.  Too many weirdo's out there not be aware of your surroundings.  Those are just a couple of my thoughts.  Back to Red Sox matters this week.          

Mookie Shines

One goes down. One steps up. Rushed Castillo goes down. Mookie Betts steps up. Sox beat Yankees 10-6 while Betts collects 3 hits as the leadoff batter.  While results in March don't mean much it is still encouraging to see that Betts can handle the spot previously occupied by Jacoby Ellsbury.  He & Bogaerts are swinging hot bats, so nice to see the young guys having success..  Things still moving  along fine this spring.  Let's get Rusney healthy & keep the depth chart full.  (P.S. Middlebrooks hit a home run yesterday.)

A Good Day of Work

Spring training is in its early stages, but yesterday was a good day of work for many players involved in split squad games. Blake Swihart & Bryce Brentz homered. Clay Buchholz, Anthony Vavaro, Edwardo Rodriguez & other pitchers all got good work in. Thus far, other than a strain to Rusney Castillo, week #1 of spring training has gone well. Let's get out of spring training healthy & have all the players get their necessary work in to be ready for April 6th. That's all that matters.

Where Does Sabermetrics Fit In?

Sabermetrics. Analytics. Billy Beane. Money Ball. ERA+. FIP. WAR. WHIP. A lot of terms. A lot of material to digest if you are a big league manager. Where does analytics fit in today during the modern baseball era? Some managers & teams discard sabermetrics completely & stick to the old school, eye-test type of decision-making. I think those teams, however, are very very few in this day & age. The Houston Astros, for example, have a complete department of analytics. These new stats have been credited for the recent success of the Pittsburgh Pirates. For example, signing Andrew McCutchen to a long-term deal seemed dumb at the time, although prudent as measured by analytics, & now he is way outperforming his contract. If I were a manager, I would want certain types of data that I feel would help me in general or on that particular day -- who hits certain pitchers best, which guys should we shift on, etc. At the same time a manager knows which of his players is hot, who feels good that night & who is available. To me there is room for both old school & new school, eye-test & managerial experience or intuition & sabermetrics to all co-exist piecefully together. Don't rely on just one or the other. Use all the tools available.

Masterson, Koji Feel Good

Forget the results, a 5-3 loss to the Marlins. Justin Masterson pitched 2 innings without pain. Koji got in his inning of work without pain as well. That's the main thing for veterans like these 2 guys. Getting their work in so they can be ready on April 6th & doing it without any setbacks via injuries. If both pitchers remain healthy, they will be positive contributors all year. Their track records says so.

Rating Yoan Moncada

Fan Graphs is a sabermetric, analytical site that crunches numbers on all sorts of levels. They made an attempt to quantify the potential of Yoan Moncada based upon his limited playing experience in Cuba. They give the 19-year old infielder a "plus" for bat speed & power. In the US they would rank Moncada between #5 & #9 overall best draft pick. They expect the young Cuban to spend all of 2015 & all of 2016 in the minors. Based upon his limited stats they compare Moncada to Andrew McCutchen, Grady Sizemore & Melky Cabrera when they were age 20. With Dustin Pedroia a fixture at 2B the best chances for Moncada to crack into the Red Sox lineup are at 3B or SS. Panda could move to 1B or DH after Napoli & Ortiz retire. And Bogaerts still has to prove that he can handle everyday duties as a SS. Moncada certainly gives the Beantown team options for the future. The Red Sox are very deep in their roster at every position & we have the luxury of youth, something the Yankees do not have. So when a Rusney Castillo needs a week off there is no drop in play when Mookie Betts or JBJ steps in. As Ben said, better to have more options than not enough. Good signing, especially to keep Yoan out of pinstripes.

Pence Breaks Arm, Giants Need Outfielder

Get ready for a call, Ben, for Brian Sabean of the Giants. Looks like RF Hunter Pence will be out for at least 3 months after breaking his arm on a pitch yesterday. We have Victorino, Craig, JBJ & Nava all available. Money-wise, the Sox could move Shane Victorino & save $13 million. Allen Craig is still working his way back to his previous form & perhaps Craig would bring more back from the Giants. JBJ & Nava are less likely trade candidates since their left-handed bats are important to balance the Sox lineup. Don't expect Buster Posey in return. Victorino would be a salary dump with little in return. Craig would fetch a good prospect or two. This could be an opportunity for Ben to thin the herd of excess outfielders.

Early Observations

I have to remember my own rhetoric - that spring training results mean nothing. With that in mind here are my observations from the Sox 9-8 loss to the Twins. Dustin Pedroia has good bat speed already, as evidenced by his 3 hits & grand slam, proving that his hand is fully healed. As Bill Ripkin said on MLB, a productive & healthy Pedroia makes the Sox a better team. Joe Kelly needs to work on control. JBJ is more confident at the plate as he nearly missed an HR. Bogaerts' nice & easy swing can produce a ground out or a 400 foot plus homer. Sean Coyle is a guy that Red Sox fans should watch as he is Pedroia Jr. Dan Johnson has a big presence on the mound. Matt Barnes throws hard. Those are my takeaways from the Sox first big league action in the Grapefruit League.

A-Rod's Bloop Hit

Are you sick of seeing A-Rod get jammed & bloop a hit behind the left-side hole just past the infielders? You would think he hit a 500 foot homer. Give it a break, newscasters! It was a bloop hit. Nothing more. ESPN is going to broadcast every one of A-Rod's at-bats. Really newsworthy stuff! Spring training AB's mean nothing. Afterwards, A-Rod looked as proud as new father talking to reporters. Simmer down! Mr. Cheat has a long way to go yet.

Pace of Play Working

2 hours & 29 minutes. That's how long it took for my first spring training game yesterday. Cleveland 4, Cincinnati 2. Pace of play rule changes are working. One of the best measures is the clock between innings. As soon as the 3rd out is may, a clock in CF comes on with 2 minutes, 25 seconds & it starts counting down. Pitchers & catchers get out to the field faster so all the warm-up pitches can be thrown & by zero the 1st batter of the inning is ready to go. Several times the inning started with time left on the clock. The batters keeping 1 foot in the box helped as well. If anything, it seems as though pitchers could have worked a little quicker. But a 2 1/2 hour game was plenty fast enough to keep my attention. I think these rule changes are going to help more than people think.

Castillo Has A Strain

Everyone relax. Rusney Castillo has a strained oblique. He will be out a week or so. This kid is built like a smaller version of Yoenis Cespedes - all muscle. So a little muscle strain is not going to keep him out long. Meanwhile, JBJ will get more playing time. This is Bradley's chance to show that he has better plate discipline this year & he can hit the ball with regularity. Mookie Betts will continue to alternate in CF with Bradley. Nice to have options.

Swihart, Owens Stay Humble

Nice video on the Red Sox website from these 2 high prospects of the Red Sox. Blake Swihart & Henry Owens are saying all the right things. Both kids say that they are in camp to improve & refine their game in order to help the team win. No "I" in "TEAM." I like it! It's refreshing to see & hear from 2 level-headed kids. You don't find many in this era of "it's all about me."

Let the Games Begin

The Sox take on their usual spring training inaugural games today against Northeastern & BC. Lots of players will get their first cracks at the plate & in the field. Hanley Ramirez gets his first action as a left-fielder. Mookie & Rusney get the competition for center going. Shane Victorino gets to prove he is healthy. Pandas gets his first start in a Red Sox uniform. Lots of coveted prospects get their chances to impress as well. For battered New Englanders who made the trip to Fort Myers these games will be a welcomed sight as compared to snow piles, feet high, back home. Spring can't be far away!

More Talk About Hamels & Lee

Cliff Lee has only 2 years left on his contract, but the money is high for the oft-injured pitcher in his late 30's & you will still need to trade a package of 2nd tier prospects. Cole Hamels has 4 years plus an option year, money is do-able, but the prospect package would need to include at least 1 top tier guy like Mookie Betts. A Philly scout has been seen at the Fort Myers complex, so maybe trade talks are not altogether done yet. I can't see the Sox taking a flyer on Lee. If Hamels, now disgruntled in Philly, can be had for less than expected, then I would do it. Next year's class of free agent pitchers will command $25 mil to $30 mil a year for multiple years. Hamels would give the Sox insulation should Porcello not resign. Ruben Amaro, Jr. may have let his peak trade bait in Hamels wait too long & now he will have to take less.

What About 2016?

The 2015 season hasn't begun. Yet, the Sox management has to be thinking about 2016. Why? Shane Victorino & Mike Napoli are on the last year of their deals, combined about $27 million in salary. Chances are that neither player will be extended beyond this year for that amount of money. David Ortiz is fighting old man time. There's a chance that he could retire after this season if his performance falls off. Rick Porcello is a free agent next year. If he takes another step forward & he has a great year, Porcello may be too expensive to resign. Justin Masterson is on a 1-year deal & chances are that he is one & done. Let's assume that Napoli, Victorino, Ortiz, Porcello & Masterson all go away after 2015. Now guys like Henry Owens, Matt Barnes, Edwardo Rodriguez, Mookie Betts, JBJ, Allen Craig, Yoan Moncada, Brock Holt & Daniel Nava all become more important in 2016 than they are in 2015. So any potential trade rumors linked to these players needs to be tempered by the Sox brass as they think about the roster & their needs for 2016 & beyond. It's quite a chess game when you think about it because no one can predict the future. All I know is that the Sox are stacked at every position & their farm system gives them many more options to consider than most other teams. How can you help the 2015 team, maybe at the trade deadline, without giving up a key piece for the future? That's why Ben Cherington & his staff get paid the big bucks. I would love a challenge like that!

Rusney & Mookie to Share CF

Per John Farrell, both Rusney Castillo & Mookie Betts will share CF to start the spring season. Farrell expects each player to get equal time in the outfield so they can work on their communication with the guys in left & right. Both Castillo & Betts could use more seasoning at AAA. Both could also make the starting roster. (Quite a different scenario this year compared to last when it was Grady Sizemore & JBJ dueling for CF!) The spring competition will end with one of these 2 players being the starting CF in April. If I had to guess, I go with the bigger salary, aka follow the money, & Rusney gets the nod. Farrell & the Sox brass may not want to overexpose Mookie - like they did with JBJ & Middlebrooks - in order to keep his trade potential high. Personally, I don't see a spot in the lineup for Mookie this year unless there is an injury. How do the Sox keep Betts happy while waiting for a position to open up? It will be a juggling act for sure.

Pedroia - Just Win

Dustin Pedroia is not a stat guy. All he cares about is winning. In a WEEI interview he said he could care less about his numbers, as long as the team wins. Having said that, Pedroia does feel 100% healthy going into spring training for the 1st time in 2 years. His wrist injury is fully healed & he feels confident with his bat speed & control. A guy who plays as hard as Pedroia is going to get dinged up from time to time. But he commands respect in the dugout for taking the field for 160 games a year & he brings an attitude of winning each day to his teammates. I compare his attitude to Tom Brady or Derek Jeter. The goal each day is to win, not to rack up personal stats. How uncommon is that today with pampered pro athletes? We are lucky to have this little guy on our team. I'd pay to see him play anytime.

Napoli Considered Retiring After 2014

A story on WEEI's blog mentions that Mike Napoli was seriously considering retirement after his injury-riddled 2014 season. His offensive numbers were the worst of his career. Besiding body injuries to his finger & back Nap also suffered from sleep apneia, a condition which required a medical procedure to fix in the off-season. He is healthy now & goes on to say that the club in 2015 is starting to jive in spring training. A healthy & productive Mike Napoli will only lengthen an already good lineup. A bounce-back year from Nap, Victorino & Pedroia will spell lots of problems for opposing pitchers. We love Nap & he loves Boston. Here's to a good 2015!