2013 MLB Spring Training

The Boston Red Sox’s top prospects have garnered a lot of attention this spring. However, the team and its fans should be most encouraged by the performance of some of their veteran pitchers who are seeking to rebound from a disappointing 2012 season.

The Boston Red Sox got closer to finalizing their regular-season roster on Friday, when they decided the fate of their top-two pitching prospects, sending Allen Webster and Rubby De La Rosa to the minors.

The story was first reported in a tweet by the Providence Journal’s Tim Britton:

Spring training is great. It’s a relaxing, yet entertaining brand of baseball reminiscent of the 1970s and ‘80s. However, spring training obviously has a greater purpose besides the leisurely entertainment we all enjoy.

These six weeks give coaches and fans an idea of the strength of their teams and, in turn, a preview of what the coming season will hold. With the Red Sox just a few short weeks away from heading up north, it’s time to examine just how prepared they are for the upcoming season. 

So far in spring training, the Seattle Mariners have looked like world-beaters. Going into Tuesday's action, the Mariners sat in second place in the Cactus League standings at 11-5 having outscored their opponents by 25 runs while also leading all MLB clubs in home runs with 31.

With the first pitch of the 2013 regular season just 19 days away, there will surely be plenty of journalists making picks and prognostications for teams and players.

In the American League, the Angels and Blue Jays have become trendy picks with the addition of Josh Hamilton in LA and Jose Reyes, R.A. Dickey, Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle, among others, in Toronto. I'm not convinced either team will have the success they are hoping for.

When Andres Torres signed with the San Francisco Giants, the Giants set up their left field platoon of Gregor Blanco and Torres, both speedy and talented outfielders.

However, after just two weeks of spring training, some of those thoughts have significantly changed. And that's because of another left-field hopeful that has broken onto the scene.

The hottest position competition for the Oakland A's this spring is at second base, which is where one of their hottest hitters happens to play his defense.

Jemile Weeks has had an up-and-down career, having been called up from the minors in 2011, being deemed untouchable in trades that offseason and then being sent back to the minors in 2012.

With the A's trading Cliff Pennington and losing Stephen Drew in free agency, Weeks has gotten his chance to climb back to the top.  

The Boston Red Sox have had a number of young players like Allen Webster, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Rubby De La Rosa make favorable impressions this spring. Most recently, catcher Christian Vazquez is starting to emerge as a top prospect.

Baseball is a fickle mistress.

She doesn't care how much money a player makes, what the numbers on the back of his baseball card says or how many individual awards a player may have picked up along the way.

The lady has one question: "What have you done for me lately?"

Around baseball, a handful of players are struggling to answer that simple query with anything other than, "Not much, dear."

The lady grows impatient.

She has taken notice.

We should as well.