The Red Sox are embarking upon a transition from their old information system (“Carmine”) to a new one (“Beacon”) that will support all of the team’s critical analytics work, Alex Speier of the Boston Globe writes that the club . The changing nature of data, a shifting focus in analyzing it, and new means of digesting it have all occasioned the initiative, as Speier explains. Readers interested in that element of the baseball decisionmaking process, or fans of the club, will want to give the piece a full read.
Here’s more out of Boston:
- The Red Sox placed a bid on veteran reliever Koji Uehara before he signed on with the Cubs, manager John Farrell tells Evan Drellich of the Boston Herald (via Twitter). Farrell hinted that it fell shy of the $6MM guaranteed by Chicago. The offer, he said, was not “to what [Uehara] expected.” Boston acquired a new setup option in Tyler Thornburg before Uehara put pen to paper with the Cubs, but it’s unclear just when those discussions took place.
- We’ve already seen visual evidence of Pablo Sandoval‘s improved physique, but it’s not yet clear whether that’ll translate to a full turnaround. There’s hope, though, a loss of weight — along with a healthy shoulder and perhaps renewed focus — will allow the embattled veteran to return to being a productive player. Farrell said today that the expectation is for Sandoval to show an “increase in range maybe some better foot quickness, [and] better body control” in the field, as ESPN.com’s Scott Lauber reports. Of course, he’ll also need to bounce back at the plate.
- Last year’s Drew Pomeranz drama has spurred a renewed effort to address medical information on a leaguewide basis, as we’ve heard previously and MLBPA chief Tony Clark addressed yesterday with reporters including Jen McCaffrey of MassLive.com. With new “checks and balances and accountability and transparency” now in place following the recent round of collective bargaining talks, says Clark, the hope is that positive “changes are being made to the protocols and the system itself.” The Pomeranz situation itself, he said, was regrettable. “To say it’s unfortunate would be an understatement,” said Clark. “We’re hopeful here moving forward with the changes and adjustments that are being made that it won’t happen again.”
Panda looks great, considering. I hope he plays to his full potential – even if it helps those darn Red Sox.
we’ve had so many panda jokes in here the last few years. if Sandoval’s weight loss results in his playing better, it’s an upside for Boston—obviously. But at this point, anything they get from him is a bonus because I think they showed they can and will move on without him and just write him off. worst case: he gets cut.
Sandoval has lost weight before just to gain it all back, if not more.
Are you crazy? He’s more likely to get fat again and be 300 pounds, not hit for it… He’s hit 300 twice in his career, in 2011 and in 2009. In 2011 he didn’t play a full season.
That’s basically what he said? How is he crazy?
I think he meant to respond to resx18 below
don’t be a Sandoval hater he looks fantastic. if he gains his 30 pounds back again he makes enough money that he can eat a T-bone steak every night
I’m sure he doesn’t care because with all the money Boston is paying him he has doughnut money for the rest of his life. He had great playoffs in World Series right before Boston thought they were stealing an all star for the hot corner but instead got an expensive bench ornament.
You know Sam? Played LL with him
He will gain all the weight back plus another 20 pounds for spite.
Panda hits .300 this year in my opinion.
I get why Red Sox were frustrated by deal with the Padres but why is Pomeranz upset? I can’t imagine he would prefer playing for Padres over the Red Sox this season.
Padres have spots in their rotation, (the place Pomeranz wants to play, considering both the As and the Rockies never stretched him out) the Red Sox do not really have any open Rotation Spots.
Did I miss that? I didn’t hear/read he was upset. Pomeranz is very likely to make the rotation TheMichigan. Neither wright nor Erod have been 100% healthy, Erod still has an optition, they gave up alot for Pomeranz ( and didn’t undue it when given the chance), and Wright would be the most suited of the three to be in the BP if needed. I think, as long as he doesn’t bomb this spring ( and BOTH Wright and Erod excel) chances are he will be the 4 or 5 starter.I think he knows he will be in the rotation, but yea he has to pitch well enough to earn it and keep it.
My bet is wright goes to the bullpen but my only reasoning behind it is that knuckleballers are extremely inconsistent
If Sandoval hits 260 with 12 home runs and 65 RBI I’d be surprised
Was that 260 buffets, 12 home run pies and 65 ribeyes and that’s just in spring training right?
I have to imagine Red Sox fans would take that in a heartbeat
I was just thinking I would.
Panda did this before
Then got fat again by mid season
Old news
Q: “Beacon” project Panda’s performance in 2017.
A: Endangered species.
Hey you Boston people are like Trump people a lot of fake news on Pando a fair chance now is needed .he lost kinda like Trump did but he still there. Both of them need a chance.I put my loot on Panda.
Why bring politics into our only break from them?
????????!?!
Well, there’s some alternative facts for ya.
I think Pablo will do well this year. Like Jeff stated, Panda’s shoulder, focus, and weight had to contribute to his efficient decline. Seems, at least for now, all three issues are under control. I figure Panda must be embarrassed by his inability to contribute thus far in Boston, just as Hanley referenced following his mini-comeback – motivation. Best of luck to Pablo.
Last time he got into shape dude couldn’t hit
He’s been overweight and unable to contribute before. Panda lost weight this year likely in response to Boston finally having enough of his poor conditioning and telling him to do so (which they should have done year one).
But to your point, maybe the penny finally dropped for him, but he’s shown over his years at SF that he arrogantly has defied requests for him to lose weight, once famously stating that the only year he needed to shed pounds was during a contract year.
I’ll bet that if Sandoval starts hitting, he will let his conditioning slide again as he has done before. Because he has the mindset that the only numbers that matter are his stats and how much money he makes.
He did that in sf as well and couldn’t hit
He actually hits better as a fat tub of lard
Good points, Deke, well said. Pride has to kick-in at some point, Pablo must be frustrated with his Red Sox years. I recall his physical turnaround with the Giants, short-lived as it was, but I just have to think (hope) Pablo ‘gets it’ now. Maturity? Perspective? I suppose I’m thinking more on that plain. Either way, I’ll be rooting for Pablo.
Agreed.
I never understood the deal for Sandoval to begin with….but I don’t think whether he’s good or not this year will be the difference in a World Series for Boston or not
Best case scenario for the Sox is Sandoval because a league average hitter. Worst case, he rides the bench while Holt takes over along with some stopgap they pick up on the trade market until Devers is ready sometime, hopefully, next year.
Not a big follower of the Red Sox, don’t blast me for this question… What happened with Pomeranz last year? He was traded and got injured right away? Like was he damaged goods? Didn’t the Padres get in trouble with Miami over something like that?
What happened was Preller and the Padres weren’t documenting their players injury reports. So basically they knew something was wrong with Pomeranz and didn’t tell the Sox that. And yeah, they did the same thing with a trade to the Marlins.
The league also gave the Red Sox the option of rescinding the trade when the whole Preller mess was discovered, but by that time, the trade deadline had passed and the Red Sox decided to keep Pomeranz since it was too late to attempt a trade for somebody else.
There was nothing wrong with Pom
Padres fans liked him
He never pitched that long and shortly after getting to redsox about 2 games pitched he revealed elbow soreness
He era is a direct reflection of the tiny parks in the al east
He had been pitching through elbow pain before the trade. Don’t remember when they did the mri and found the tear but it was lengthwise along the ligament not lateral.
Not sure that “bounce back” is the best choice of terms for Panda, who has a rotund shape even when healthy.
I think of Mr. Creosote bouncing around in his chair before he explodes, in the famous Monty Python sketch.
But maybe Pablo is “bursting” with health this Spring….
Funny.. Whenever i hear the name “Crosetti” it reminds me of a crotchety old coach the NYY used to have, or that’s how he was according to jim bouton.. One of his favored targets to hammer on for having a sour attitude towards players.
“Beacon, who should we draft this year?”
“Finding directions to Johnny’s Draft House…”
Panda had his best years as a giant kind of in between weights, when he was lean like the Giants wanted he didn’t play as well as when he was a little heavier, now to an extreme he has always been terrible when very heavy and “bulging”
Was gonna say this. Skinny pablo was just as bad as huge.
Nobody touched on it yet, perhaps because no one cares to, but as a Boston fan, it is sad to see Koji go,although I think they would be a lot better with Thornburg
I’ll always remember and love the huge orange glove and the high fives. Oh and seven pitch ninth innings.
I agree he will be missed
Red Sox had the opportunity to send Pomeranz back to San Diego and declined. Granted, the Padres should have been honest, but Boston seems to turn the other way when it comes to health issues. Carson Smith was rumored to have problems and the Sox rolled the dice on him anyways and lost.
I’m not sure they lost, if he makes it back mid season he and Thornburg could pair up with Kimbrell to be formidable 7/8/9 combination
There was nothing wrong with Smith when he was acquired or before. The thought was, because of the type of pitcher he is, he may need Tommy John at one point, but no one knew exactly when or if. Pomeranz has been an injury problem his whole career, but when the Padres deliberately lie and say “he’s completely healthy” when he actually has a tear isn’t turning a blind eye. If the Red Sox were given the option to reverse or rework the deal in a timely manner they probably would have but at the point they offered to do so, they had no way of replacing Pomeranz on the roster in the middle of a pennant race.
I don’t have a problem with Pomerantz, I actually think he may have some value going forward, My problem is that I would’ve probably waited on Espinoza for a couple years
Panda I think will surprise haters….I hope he plays great…He could be a good trade chip if he performs like he did in SF..
It’s going to take longer then the All-Star break for him to bring back anything in a trade too much risk, too much money
Just for the record. I don’t like Sandoval. Never really have so I guess I’m what you might classify a “hater” BUT I also think he will rebound this year and hit really well. Maybe better than he ever has because added to all the work he’s put in, he’s going to be hitting in hitter friendly parks. I just don’t think he has the discipline to keep it off and my issue with that is not that he can’t play when he’s heavy is that his range is depleted, he turns doubles into singles (or outs) and he presents a higher injury risk when heavier.
I truly believe he’s a wonderful player and will play a lot better. I am just not a fan of players who make a lot of money and don’t stay in shape.