One Week of Red Sox Spring Training
A Blog By Dean
For those of you who are new here—and there are many of you—I like to write series reviews of all the Red Sox games. Since there are no series here in Spring Training, I figured I would break it up by week.
I am going to use the same format I typically use. Overall Takeaway: What I Love, What I Am Mid About, and What I Don’t Love.
Overall Takeaway
Living on X this past week, I was surprised to see how many people are taking Spring Training seriously this year. In past years, even if a player did well, the fans would come out and say, “RELAX, IT IS SPRING TRAINING.” Not this year. The second someone does something good, everyone lifts them up like it is the playoffs. I am here for it; the game will only benefit from it.
What I am not a massive fan of is that the mindset has not changed for players who are doing badly. I have posted about certain players struggling and have been hit with the “RELAX IT IS SPRING TRAINING.”
What I Loved
Marcelo Mayer and Roman Anthony Are Ready
Anthony leads the team with a .500 OBP, while Mayer is third with a .368. Both looked poised at the plate when I could watch an actual feed.
Anthony needs to show some power if he wants to be called up, but he walks a lot and has only struck out once.
Mayer is outplaying everyone, but I don’t know where he will fit on the team unless Rafael moves positions.
Garrett Whitlock Should Be Ready For Opening Day
Cora dropped that today. I am ready to see him in the bullpen. I always thought they should have molded him into their closer from day one.
Walker Buehler And Garret Crochet
Crochet has struck out seven over 3.1 innings. Buehler has downed four over two innings. Neither gave up a run. Dean likes.
Trevor Story
I have long criticized Story, but I have always wanted him to succeed. So far this Spring, he has done that.
.429 BA/ 1.110 OPS with three doubles and two runs knocked in.
What I Was "Mid" About
Kristian Campbell Might Not Be Ready
I know it was a pipe dream to think that the top three prospects could come up on Opening Day. Besides the fact that there really isn’t a spot for him right now, Campbell probably should start the season in the minors. He has struck out nine times in 14 at-bats with only one hit.
No Lucas Giolito… Yet
He will make his debut on Thursday. If he pitches well on Thursday, I might declare a World Series win.
Lack Of Plan From The Team On Masataka Yoshida
Although he only played one game, he looked great. The team needs to figure out where he fits and play him consistently. One of the more frustrating parts of last spring and early summer was Cora's decision to take Yoshida out whenever he played well. Figure it out.
What I Didn't Love
Closer Plan
I am hearing rumblings of a closer by committee. Neither Chapman nor Hendriks blew me away this week. So, someone would need to step up quickly.
Triston Casas
If you could not guess, the player I posted about on X and immediately got attacked about was Casas. If we are going to applaud Trevor Story for having a great start (which we should), then I can point out that Casas has been UNDERWHELMING.
.091 BA, .515 OPS, and five strikeouts.
If there is one bright spot, it is that he has walked four times.
Rafael Devers Drama
Currently, Devers has yet to see the field. While I am a Rafael Devers loyalist, he needs to do what is best for the team, even if I disagree with it. Right now, you have two (Anthony and Mayer) excellent prospects who I think are ready to play. You also have Masataka Yoshida, who deserves to play more games. Right now, Devers not moving off third is putting a roadblock on the team. I have to imagine by this time next week, there will be some resolution.
That is it for now; I just wanted to get back into the groove of reporting on the Red Sox. If you haven’t already, please consider subscribing below!