Spring Training 2015
- Thread starter Hawk
- Start date
jpx7
Very Flirtatious, but Doubts What Love Is.
Went to Cubs / White Sox yesterday at Sloan Park in Mesa, Arizona; it was my first spring-training game, in either location, and—with attendance well over 15,000 (a Cactus League record, they announced at the end of the game)—it was much different than I expected. Packed with Cubs fans, as one might anticipate both for the Phoenix-area and the home park, there was still sizable and vocal Sox minority, who unfortunately left disappointed.
Samardzija looked like crap (giving up four homers), and—equally surprisingly—Hammel looked really sharp. LaStella posted some decent PAs with a single but not much else to show for it; he's probably in make-or-break mode this late in March, though, so every little thing counts. Fellow Braves cast-offs Tyler Flowers and Melky Cabrera both homered later in the game for the South-siders, to no ultimate avail.
Cubs offense looks like it could be a lot better than expected, especially with Fowler at the top. Prices on concessions at Sloan Park are actually—and quite absurdly—more expensive than those at Wrigley.
Samardzija looked like crap (giving up four homers), and—equally surprisingly—Hammel looked really sharp. LaStella posted some decent PAs with a single but not much else to show for it; he's probably in make-or-break mode this late in March, though, so every little thing counts. Fellow Braves cast-offs Tyler Flowers and Melky Cabrera both homered later in the game for the South-siders, to no ultimate avail.
Cubs offense looks like it could be a lot better than expected, especially with Fowler at the top. Prices on concessions at Sloan Park are actually—and quite absurdly—more expensive than those at Wrigley.
Julio3000
<B>A Chip Off the Old Rock</B>
EY's last couple of years have been pretty much identical to Melvin's 2014, in terms of WRC+. He'll add some value on the bases, and probably (?) be a little worse defensively. So, yeah, I guess he could, but I think that he could very easily be better than 2014 Melvin.
VirginiaBrave
Well-known member
Absolutely, I will admit when I am wrong and I won't have to think twice about it. I will tell you another thing too, I don't call out any poster on this board. I keep my comments to the Braves and don't get into school yard name calling. I am a grown man that got over ball player crushes when I was 15. There is not a player on any roster in the big leagues that is not expendable. And why exactly does everything have to be quantifiable to be considered a legit argument in baseball anymore?
So 162-0?
Unfortunately yes
50PoundHead
Hessmania Forever
Probably more than a little. Melvin is no great shakes, but if EY, Jr., was a true CF, he wouldn't be bouncing around so much. Offensively, Melvin has more potential power, but EY, Jr., probably does everything else in the same range.
What I found almost as interesting as anything he said might have been his take on Melvin. He actually sounded more positive about him than I think I've heard anyone in the organization be since he's been here. While I still want to see the difference in approach carry over for a sustained period of time, I really like what Seitzer's preaching about staying inside the ball, letting your hands work, and taking walks. It's pretty obvious many of the guys are buying into what he's selling - 19 hits against 1 K is awfully *amn impressive, even against spring training pitching. He seemed to feel that Melvin was making as big if not bigger strides with what they were working on as anyone else had.
I also thought his chat with Freeman was quite possibly a bit of a hint about next winter - that he wants him to be content in taking his walks rather than expanding his zone to try to make things happen, even if it turns out to be 130 of them. They want EVERYBODY doing that, and if Freeman does it it'll be that much easier to get the others to follow suit. He mentioned it being "this year", which makes me feel more comfortable in the belief that they are going to go get him some protection soon (before the new park opens). If Freddie walks 100+ times a year, he's Joey Votto - now get the guys behind him to make other teams pay for pitching around him.
Dalyn
Fredi Gonzalez Supporter
You just called everyone whiners and said they were butthurt sore losers who needed to grow up.
VirginiaBrave
Well-known member
The word "loser" was never in that post. I got called out first. Mess with the bull...get the horns!!! Meanwhile on the field the Braves are looking more and more respectable by the day. Good sign for this team.
Braves1976
It's OVER 5,000!
[video=youtube;pDzWyhXonMU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDzWyhXonMU[/video]
50PoundHead
Hessmania Forever
Ciriaco or Gosselin? Almonte or Cunningham? I'm still thinking that someone not currently on the team will be on the squad come next week.
Dalyn
Fredi Gonzalez Supporter
You implied they were sore losers. Mess with the bull...get the horns? Seriously?
Dalyn
Fredi Gonzalez Supporter
Ciriaco and Cunningham for me.
Uh, I would wait to see who's cut. There should be a few better than that group.
cajunrevenge
Well-known member
I was a big fan of hiring Seitzer but it's getting close to wiley coyote level crazy expecting BJ to finally get it.
Where did anyone say they were expecting anything?
"He seemed to feel that Melvin was making as big if not bigger strides with what they were working on as anyone else had."
Seitzer said he was getting "better" - he obviously had (and still will have) a long way to go, but that's about as positive a comment as anyone in the organization has made about him in quite some time.