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steveofbradenton
Veteran
Watching Spring Training, the FCL, and the Florida State League
Posts: 1,823
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Post by steveofbradenton on Dec 29, 2012 7:29:30 GMT -5
I can't remember our AAA team having as many interesting prospects as this one. It is another reminder that "relief" is on the way. Also our depth is much better for the big club in 2013.
Can't wait to see what Rubby "Red" and Webster have! Exciting bunch. All for Kalish, Iglesias, and Bard being there for, at least, 6 weeks (and maybe Lavarnway).
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Post by larrycook on Dec 29, 2012 12:33:16 GMT -5
The logjam of outfielders in Pawtucket to start the season only makes the Hassan Rule 5 decisions all the more perplexing. If he hadn't been added to the 40-man roster, he'd be one of the outfielders I'd think would be in danger of either starting in AA or being cut from the roster. Linares and Hazelbaker both have higher ceilings and more likely futures as bench players, right? Not to mention JBJ pushing for a spot with Pawtucket by May/June. That decision continues to confuse and irritate me. I will not be surprised to see Hassan take some time at first base. He has the physical profile (defensively, at least) and it will increase his versatility. When Napoli signs, who is waived from the 40 man roster? Hassan?
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Post by mainesox on Dec 29, 2012 13:24:59 GMT -5
When Napoli signs, who is waived from the 40 man roster? Hassan? Just a guess, but I think we see a reliever (or maybe catcher) traded. As of right now we'll have Ellsbury, Victorino, Gomes, and one of Nava, or Kalish on the 25 man roster; that would leave the other of Nava/Kalish, and Hassan on the 40 man roster in AAA, so dropping Hassan would only leave them one backup in AAA without having to make room on the 40-man roster (Nava, and Gomes are really limited to LF defensively, so you can't count on either of them to back up RF, or CF for anything more than emergency purposes).
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Post by Chris Hatfield on Dec 29, 2012 14:33:32 GMT -5
When Napoli signs, who is waived from the 40 man roster? Hassan? Just a guess, but I think we see a reliever (or maybe catcher) traded. As of right now we'll have Ellsbury, Victorino, Gomes, and one of Nava, or Kalish on the 25 man roster; that would leave the other of Nava/Kalish, and Hassan on the 40 man roster in AAA, so dropping Hassan would only leave them one backup in AAA without having to make room on the 40-man roster (Nava, and Gomes are really limited to LF defensively, so you can't count on either of them to back up RF, or CF for anything more than emergency purposes). Meanwhile, relievers on the 40 (counting both Morales and Aceves): RH: Bard, Tazawa, Aceves, Bailey, Mortensen, Carpenter, Wilson, Uehara, Hanrahan LH: Morales, Miller, Breslow If you assume Uehara, Hanrahan, Bailey, and Tazawa are on the roster, then that's three spots for the rest. Bard, Carpenter, Wilson can be optioned. That's three spots for Aceves, Morales, Miller, Breslow, Mortensen. The only one of those five with options remaining is Aceves, and I think we can all agree that optioning him is probably a terrible idea. Thus, the team needs to get rid of two relievers, unless Tazawa is getting optioned, in which case they still need to get rid of one. Even if it's not a trade, that's the obvious DFA at this point, given that one isn't going to make the roster without injuries anyway.
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Post by jmei on Dec 29, 2012 14:33:42 GMT -5
Mortensen is likely the most fungible piece on the 40-man roster, given the recent additions of Uehara and Hanrahan and the continued presence of higher-upside relievers with options in Wilson and Carpenter.
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Post by James Dunne on Dec 29, 2012 22:02:30 GMT -5
Linares and Hazelbaker both have higher ceilings and more likely futures as bench players, right? Higher ceilings, maybe, but Hassan is a better player right now than both. Considering he's the youngest of the three, Hassan has a considerably greater chance of reaching his ceiling than the other two.
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Post by jmei on Dec 30, 2012 11:37:29 GMT -5
I guess my point is that given his lack of positional flexibility and defensive ability, Hassan either has to prove himself a viable MLB starter/platoon player (akin to how Nava has tentatively carved out that role for the 2013 Red Sox) whereas Linares and Hazelbaker need to improve only a little to be 4th outfielder-types.
And while Hassan is younger than those two, he'll be 25 by the time the season starts and it appears increasingly unlikely that he'll start hitting for much power given his swing mechanics (chokes up on the bat, doesn't use his lower body) and his middling bat speed. I suppose if he can turn himself into a slightly better Daniel Nava (including getting reps at 1B), he might end up as a useful player, but pretty much all Hassan has going for him is plate discipline (fringe-average hit tool, average power, fringe-average defense), and that can only carry a player so far.
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Post by mredsox89 on Dec 30, 2012 15:19:22 GMT -5
I can't imagine they waive Hassan when they just protected him. If they didn't plan on holding onto him, I would assume they would have taken the risk that someone would have to keep them on the 25 man roster for the entire season as opposed to waiving him now and letting anyone have a free chance to stash him in AA/AAA
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Post by sarasoxer on Dec 30, 2012 20:09:18 GMT -5
I guess my point is that given his lack of positional flexibility and defensive ability, Hassan either has to prove himself a viable MLB starter/platoon player (akin to how Nava has tentatively carved out that role for the 2013 Red Sox) whereas Linares and Hazelbaker need to improve only a little to be 4th outfielder-types. And while Hassan is younger than those two, he'll be 25 by the time the season starts and it appears increasingly unlikely that he'll start hitting for much power given his swing mechanics (chokes up on the bat, doesn't use his lower body) and his middling bat speed. I suppose if he can turn himself into a slightly better Daniel Nava (including getting reps at 1B), he might end up as a useful player, but pretty much all Hassan has going for him is plate discipline (fringe-average hit tool, average power, fringe-average defense), and that can only carry a player so far. jmei we have disagreed on some things recently but this is not one of them. I concur.
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Post by Chris Mellen on Dec 30, 2012 21:27:51 GMT -5
Higher ceilings, maybe, but Hassan is a better player right now than both. Considering he's the youngest of the three, Hassan has a considerably greater chance of reaching his ceiling than the other two. Hassan's about at his ceiling: an up-and-down guy. He's the type of guy the Red Sox or another team can shuttle between Triple-A and the majors, if needed, with little impact on his development. Hassan's very limited overall in terms of what he brings to a roster and there's no guarantee the on base ability he's shown in the minors translates to the majors. He's a below-average-to-fringe average hitter that doesn't handle pitchers with major league stuff well at all. The guys who can pitch have handled him easily in both Double-A and Triple-A. He fights good pitching off and rarely drives the ball. That's what you face in the majors on a daily basis. Neither Hazelbaker or Hassan were going to get taken in the Rule 5 Draft. At this point for both, if you're going to shuttle a player potentially between Triple-A and the majors in 2013 it's Hassan. There's times during the year when the team will need to call someone up for a few days or a week to sit on the bench, play out the last couple of innings of a lopsided game, make one spot spot in that week, etc. Hassan is that guy as he's pretty much peaked out while Hazelbaker has some tools (hit, power) that may sharpen a bit more. Both are fringy prospects and fringy potential major leaguers that can stick on a roster year over year to begin with. Hazelbaker's the better overall player. He can run, hit a little bit, and play three outfielder positions. (CF in a real, real pinch) That's valuable on a bench, the better overall player, and points to a potential distinct role with an organization. If it were me, I'd want Hazelbaker playing everyday uninterrupted in Triple-A and have no problem with Hassan having spells of inactivity if the big league team needed a player. He sat a decent amount last year with Pawtucket too and wasn't run out there everyday like they've typically done with the legit outfield prospects in Triple-A to get them the constant ABs. (Reddick, Kalish, Ellsbury, David Murphy, Brandon Moss, etc.)
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Post by sarasoxer on Dec 31, 2012 6:53:33 GMT -5
Somewhere I read ( the source now being in the deepest recesses and it may have been attributed to a scout from another team) that Hazelbaker has the quickest bat in our minor league system.
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Post by larrycook on Jan 2, 2013 14:43:03 GMT -5
If it were me, I'd want Hazelbaker playing everyday uninterrupted in Triple-A and have no problem with Hassan having spells of inactivity if the big league team needed a player. He sat a decent amount last year with Pawtucket too and wasn't run out there everyday like they've typically done with the legit outfield prospects in Triple-A to get them the constant ABs. (Reddick, Kalish, Ellsbury, David Murphy, Brandon Moss, etc.) Is Hazelbaker one of our 3 best OF prospects at Pawtucket next season? Seems like we got a lot of bodies penciled in for AAA and that does not include Bradley, who could possibly be there by June.
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Post by Chris Mellen on Jan 2, 2013 16:27:24 GMT -5
Hazelbaker is second behind Brentz for me in terms of prospects, but there is a drop-off from Bryce Brentz to the rest of the outfield prospects projected to be there and who is showing they can get it done at the level will be a big factor.
With full health, you'd expect Brentz and Ryan Kalish to get the full-time reps. That leaves one slot and probably DH to get the other guys time so there's competition. And, you wouldn't think anyone's blocking Jackie Bradley as he is going to dictate his time table through development, progression, and making adjustments. So, its good competition and the kind that pushes.
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Post by larrycook on Jan 3, 2013 15:01:17 GMT -5
With full health, you'd expect Brentz and Ryan Kalish to get the full-time reps. That leaves one slot and probably DH to get the other guys time so there's competition. And, you wouldn't think anyone's blocking Jackie Bradley as he is going to dictate his time table through development, progression, and making adjustments. So, its good competition and the kind that pushes. Are you aware of any indications/reports/speculation/whispers that Kalish will NOT be 100% healthy come Spring Training? Does anybody else think Bradley will be in Boston on September 1st?
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Post by jmei on Jan 3, 2013 15:21:17 GMT -5
Whenever a player suffers major injury, there is always a chance that they won't return at a similar talent level as they had shown prior to the injury. Labrum surgery is serious business, and it has ended the career of many a pitcher. Kalish had continued to suffer from shoulder and neck weakness from those injuries through September 2012, and he was shut down for the last few weeks of the season because of it. The underlying tears may have been repaired and rehabbed, but he's missed such a huge chunk of games over the last two years and giving him additional minor league reps to regain the strength, endurance, and muscle memory in his throwing arm can't hurt.
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Post by elguapo on Jan 5, 2013 10:41:25 GMT -5
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