Spring Training - Week 3

Spring Training Report 2014
Week 3 – March 10th through March 16th

RECORD – 4 - 3

TEAM RISP – 12 for 49 (.245)

TEAM LOB – 39

Batting

Majors

Dustin Pedroia has officially started hitting.  He went 4 for 12 (.333) on the week and had 2 doubles and 2 RBI.  Utility man Jonathan Herrera batted .273 and has solidified his spot as the utility infielder.

Grady Sizemore batted .222 for the week but most importantly again did not suffer any type of setbacks.  There appears to be a competition for centerfield folks and if Sizemore is healthy, my bet is, he makes the team over Bradley Jr. who they can season more in the minors.

Will Middlebrooks batted .400 with a homer, a double, a stolen base, 2 runs and 3 RBI.  He also injured his thumb but the injury does not seem problematic and he is only day-to-day.  So far this spring, Middlebrooks has shown a better plate approach and the Sox have to be happy with the early results.

Daniel Nava had 2 doubles, an RBI and batted .273 for the week and A.J. Pierzynski batted .333 for the week including hitting 2 doubles and knocking in 2 runs.

Shane Victorino went 2 for 7 (.286) in his first week of spring while scoring and knocking in a run.

Prospects

Ryan Lavarnway continues his hot hitting going 4 for 11 (.364) while homering and doubling once and knocking in 2 runs.  There are some teams scouting him and since he’s blocked at the catcher position, a trade may be on the horizon for the big righty.

Deven Marrero batted .375 with a homer, double, 3 runs and and RBI.  Brock Holt went 4 for 10 on the week while hitting a homer and 2 doubles. 

THE BAD

Big Papi is struggling (though he never hits in spring, so it’s not a big deal) as he had only 1 hit on the week (1 for 12).  The good news though, the lone hit was a homer but .083 doesn’t look all that great.

Mike Napoli also struggled this week batting .143, though again, one of his 2 hits on the week was a homer.  Gomes had only 2 hits on the week and one was a homer while Carp did the same (2 hits, 1 homer).

Rookies Bogaerts and Bradley did not fare well in week 3.  Xander went 0 for 8, but did walk 3 times and score a couple runs.  Jackie went 2 for 12 with a double and a triple.  Come on X-man and JBJ!

Pitching

Majors

Jon Lester was very impressive going 7 innings, allowing only 1 run on 3 hits while striking out 9 and walking only 2.  He was matched up both times this week against Cliff Lee of the Philadelphia Phillies in what turned out to be two really good Spring Training games with both aces putting up impressive outings.

Jake Peavy saw some spring action for the first time going 3 innings and giving up 1 run on 2 hits while walking 2 and striking out 2.

Clay Buchholz went 4 innings, giving up only 2 hits and striking out 3 while Koji Uehara and Junichi Tazawa both had scoreless innings of relief on the week.

Chris Capuano had a good week going 6 innings, giving up just 1 run on 4 hits while striking out 4.  He looks to be a good option to fill in that long relief / spot starter roster spot.

Brandon Workman faired much better this week going 3 innings and giving up no runs while striking out 3.

Prospects

Drake Britton had a rough week going just 3.2 innings and giving up 7 runs on 8 hits.  He walked 3 and struck out 3 and was putting together a solid spring before this week.

Allen Webster went 7.1 innings and gave up 4 runs on 5 hits while striking out 6.  He walked 6 too and still doesn’t seem comfortable against major league hitters yet.

THE BAD

Burke Badenhop was roughed up to the tune of 3 runs on 4 hits in just 2 innings.  Andrew Miller is still struggling going just 2/3 of an inning while giving up 2 runs on 3 hits and walking 1.  I don’t think Miller’s 100% yet and his performance is showing that.

John Lackey went 2 and 2/3 innings giving up 3 runs on 4 hits while striking out 2.

OVERALL

Week 3 saw the starters getting more action but aside from hitting a ton of homers, the power guys (Ortiz, Napoli, and Gomes) are just not hitting right now.  The competition in centerfield should bet entertaining the rest of the way and it looks like the pitching rotation is set and healthy.  I’ve been impressed so far with 3 of the starters (Lester, Doubront and Buchholz).  Peavy and Lackey I haven’t seen enough of and am hoping to see more of them in the next couple of weeks.