The fresh vibe that accompanied the pitchers and catchers arrival to camp was quickly scuttled by some redundancy from 2015 when the rest of the position players reported. Topping the "buzz kill" list were two familiar faces: Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval.
The media quickly jumped on the fact that Hanley reported without a first baseman's glove. Michael Felger stated that he was, instead, using Mike Napoli's old one from "the bin". As it turns out, Hanley claims he ordered one with team colors, and it simply hadn't arrived yet. Actually, he was better off using a glove that was broken in anyway. We all know Felger was just trying to stir up shit as he is noted for, but the perception is what kills Hanley. His less than genuine attempts to learn his last "new position" in the outfield cost the Red Sox games and Arnie Beyeler his job. Hanley then held court and went on record saying that "not many people could play shortstop but a lot of people can play first". He wasn't concerned about the transition and pretty much inferred that it wouldn't be too difficult. Time will tell, but the problem is, Hanley wasn't a very good defensive shortstop and then became an even worse left fielder.
I laughed at one report that had legendary WBZ reporter Jonny Miller ask Hanley if he would be better than Dick Stuart. Of course, Dick was a former Red Sox first baseman who was known as a notoriously poor fielder. Such nicknames as"Stonefingers" and "Dr. Strangeglove" followed him throughout his career, and he once led the AL for most errors by a first baseman with 29 in 1963. There are a couple of other notably similarities between these two men. One is the idea that both are non-conformists. Both Stuart and Ramirez have drawn the ire of fans and teammates alike due to the impression that they didn't take the game seriously enough. Defense and attitude aside, Hanley's calling card will always be his bat as he is simply a DH in waiting after the David Ortiz farewell tour concludes at the end of the season. Again, like Hanley, Stuart could also crush a baseball, averaging 33 HR and 108 RBI in his 10 year career. Hanley's 162 game average isn't as starry, but I'll take his line of 26 HR and 85 RBI with a .296 BA. I guess that's the going rate for 22 million per year. Hanley is probably in a spot he can do the least amount of damage defensively, and if he reaches those numbers listed above, this could be a favorable transition.
I laughed at one report that had legendary WBZ reporter Jonny Miller ask Hanley if he would be better than Dick Stuart. Of course, Dick was a former Red Sox first baseman who was known as a notoriously poor fielder. Such nicknames as"Stonefingers" and "Dr. Strangeglove" followed him throughout his career, and he once led the AL for most errors by a first baseman with 29 in 1963. There are a couple of other notably similarities between these two men. One is the idea that both are non-conformists. Both Stuart and Ramirez have drawn the ire of fans and teammates alike due to the impression that they didn't take the game seriously enough. Defense and attitude aside, Hanley's calling card will always be his bat as he is simply a DH in waiting after the David Ortiz farewell tour concludes at the end of the season. Again, like Hanley, Stuart could also crush a baseball, averaging 33 HR and 108 RBI in his 10 year career. Hanley's 162 game average isn't as starry, but I'll take his line of 26 HR and 85 RBI with a .296 BA. I guess that's the going rate for 22 million per year. Hanley is probably in a spot he can do the least amount of damage defensively, and if he reaches those numbers listed above, this could be a favorable transition.
The Hanley flap was just an appetizer though (pun intended) for the main course (I can't stop myself) that was the much anticipated return of Pablo Sandoval to the fold. The Panda lumbered in looking like a biscuit away from 275 lbs and rebuked the notion that he was asked to lose weight in the off season. Back in January, John Farrell had claimed Pablo lost 20-25 pounds, so maybe he weighed around 300 lbs after the holidays? After the outcry with Pablo's girth, Farrell got the double talk started by saying there was no set number for weight loss mentioned even though the message sent at the end of 2015 was that Pablo's weight needed to be addressed. Sandoval also told the media that he didn't weigh himself. But in an effort to control this runaway PR disaster, his trainer insisted that his body fat percentage is down to 17% from 23% last year which owner John Henry parroted to the media. Tom Werner, who I have little respect for due to his dismissive attitude towards former Sawx broadcaster Don Orsillo, at least was truthful. When asked if he was disappointed by Pablo's size, he said he was, but then there must have been a group huddle by the Boston brass when this got out. Werner then followed up by saying he was satisfied with his conditioning. Sandoval also got the thumbs up from Dave Dombrowski, so its full steam ahead... for now. One thing though is certain; Sandoval will be under the microscope like no other this season.
Some of the wagon circling by the media on Pablo has been pretty silly on Twitter. Reports out of spring training like Pablo is "moving well" with fielding drills (like he never fielded a ground ball before) and that he hit a ball to the warning track in BP (All the way to the track? Amazing!) served to quell the "belly haters" Someone even had the audacity to report this gem.The concern people like myself have is put quite succinctly by Chad Finn in his take on Sandoval. One thing Sandoval said was that he didn't have to prove himself, and I always shudder when I hear that tossed out by athletes who have regressed. To a "Joe Blow" like me who never had a whiff of the talent he has to play baseball, he's right. I don't know what it takes to become a major leaguer and to maintain that level of competence. However, in the lenses of upper management and his teammates, I'd dare say they are all hoping that he has some type of desire to dish out a big "fuck you" to all those who are currently deriding him. The Boston brass is waiting for a favorable return on their investment. They shelled out big bucks for the guy who was a clutch performer as a World Series hero, and he is also a huge piece of the puzzle (literally and figuratively) for success in 2016. The Red Sox infield revolving door has shifted from shortstop to third base, and a return to form by Pablo could ease a lot of pain from these numbers post Adrian Beltre.
Thankfully, there are many positives with the infield unit as we gravitate from the corners towards the middle. Xander Bogaerts has AL MVP type talent and gave us all a peek at that in 2015. That patent inside out swing is not a surprise when you discover that his idol growing up was Derek Jeter who made a Hall of Fame career out of that approach. His percentages for pull, center and opposite field were almost identical with each area hovering around a 33% average. As he sprayed the ball around the diamond, his BABIP was a rosy .372, with the ball finding holes to the tune of a .320 BA. The next step in his evolution as a hitter will be to see him jerk the ball for power, adding another dimension as that BABIP begins to normalize. Xander also became a prominent defender displaying more range last season which vaulted him into the conversation for a Gold Glove which was eventually awarded to the Royals' Alcides Escobar. Plenty to like with this youngster who will only get better, and I look forward to watching this progression
Some of the wagon circling by the media on Pablo has been pretty silly on Twitter. Reports out of spring training like Pablo is "moving well" with fielding drills (like he never fielded a ground ball before) and that he hit a ball to the warning track in BP (All the way to the track? Amazing!) served to quell the "belly haters" Someone even had the audacity to report this gem.The concern people like myself have is put quite succinctly by Chad Finn in his take on Sandoval. One thing Sandoval said was that he didn't have to prove himself, and I always shudder when I hear that tossed out by athletes who have regressed. To a "Joe Blow" like me who never had a whiff of the talent he has to play baseball, he's right. I don't know what it takes to become a major leaguer and to maintain that level of competence. However, in the lenses of upper management and his teammates, I'd dare say they are all hoping that he has some type of desire to dish out a big "fuck you" to all those who are currently deriding him. The Boston brass is waiting for a favorable return on their investment. They shelled out big bucks for the guy who was a clutch performer as a World Series hero, and he is also a huge piece of the puzzle (literally and figuratively) for success in 2016. The Red Sox infield revolving door has shifted from shortstop to third base, and a return to form by Pablo could ease a lot of pain from these numbers post Adrian Beltre.
Just saw Texas is trying to extend Beltre. Here's 3B since the Sox decided to go Gonzalez/Crawford instead for '11. pic.twitter.com/wLSiNJMsMi— Red Sox Stats (@redsoxstats) February 21, 2016
Whispers of decline continue to swirl around stalwart second sacker Dustin Pedroia as he enters his 11th season. The most notable evidence naysayers pointed to was the fact that his UZR value dropped off considerably to 2.1, the lowest of his career. However, an injured hamstring was undoubtedly the culprit that contributed to Dustin's lack of range. Even though he was limited to 93 games, Pedroia became re-acquainted with his power stroke hitting 12 homers and his ISO hit a three year high at .150. He remains one of the most fiery competitors in baseball, and I fully expect that the 4 time all-star's stellar defense will return. He is only one year removed from back to back Gold Glove seasons in 2013 and 2014. His presence should also provide a safety blanket for Hanley as he learns at first. When pundits start playing the ever popular armchair general manager and chide the extension Pedroia signed, they need look no further than the clip below during Panda's first spring training game. This guy is a bargain as I'll take his "heart and soul" 13 + million he's earning in 2016 against Sandoval's 17.6 million any day and twice on Sunday.
First defensive chance he gets and Sandoval can't bend over far enough to get the ball. Awesome, awesome. https://t.co/L9S1G7UNhO— Jared Carrabis (@Jared_Carrabis) February 29, 2016
To round out the infield, I'll include DH extraordinaire David Ortiz. In the interleague contests, David is a first baseman so this is an appropriate opportunity to discuss his possible contribution in his final professional season. His stats certainly have a whiff of Cooperstown immortality, but regardless of this, he's quite simply the greatest clutch hitter in Red Sox history. This nine time all-star's 162 game average reads: 36 HR/ 118 RBI/ .284 BA. In the past three season, his remarkable consistency was on display topping the 30 HR and 100 RBI plateaus in each campaign with an average OPS of .915. I have to admit, I enjoyed David's more understated years as David is as about as subtle as a sledgehammer. It seems now that the more he talks to the media the more misunderstood he becomes. but when he steps off the field for the final time in 2016, his contributions to the franchise and city of Boston will be folklore. The players have already pledged to send Big Papi out as a winner, and with management using the buzzword urgency, I believe the tank will be emptied this time around. Whether they have the horses yet for a deep run in October, one thing is certain - David will have to be a main cog in the playoff machine and bring that offensive regularity to the table one more time.So it's report card time. This crew has the potential to rate higher, but the jury is still out on defensive proficiency at the corners. It is also unlikely both Ramirez and Sandoval will have an offensive renaissance that we've been accustom to, so that leads me to the following score:
- B+
In my last preview post, I'll take a look at the bench and the outfield. To check out my take on the starting pitching, bullpen, and catchers click here.
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