Fall Instructional League 2012

It's usually the top prospects in A-ball and lower, more or less. You can see past rosters here: wiki.soxprospects.com/Fall+Instructional+League

Depends on how his recovery is going. This time around, he suffered the knee injury during ST, whereas I think last time he was injured entering ST. Moves the timeline back a bit. I could be wrong on that though.

I gather games will be played at the new stadium?

This has become a nice trend in Sarasota also, as the GCL games are played on the main field instead of some back-field. I'm sure the kids appreciate playing, although in front of only 50 to 100 people, in such digs.

All of the GCL games I went to in Fort Myers and in Sarasota were played in the stadiums. It was like heaven compared to what was normally done. Now it was a little weird because the stadiums seat over 7000 to 10000 fans, and there were at best 30 or 40 people, but it was much more comfortable and you could get out of the sun.

Just got back from the Red Sox Instructional League game with the Orioles in Sarasota and wanted to share a little of what went on.

The Sox won 4 to 1!! Montas started and was fine, but I really liked Justin Haley. He may be a comer. Nice 4-seamer, decent off-speed, and repeatable smooth mechanics. Romero pitched later and is very raw....what would you expect. He is huge with BIG legs. Hope the kid can lose a little weight and improve his command. But at 17 or 18, he has a long time.

Marrero started the game off with a line shot into center for a single. He was solid and impressive in the field, stole a base, and looked very comfortable. De La Cruz hit the ball hard every time up with just one hit. Shaw was someone I really was looking forward too and he popped up every time. Very heavy in the legs and butt. I hope he can transform his physique some going forward. Cecchini was fine, but nothing stood out. He walked and stole a base (whats new).

I really liked the young Dominican catcher Suarez's swing and build. Quick bat! He will be a very interesting player to follow next year. Margot showed some speed and is built pretty well for a 18 yr old.

Really liked what I saw of Marrero, Alixon Suarez, and Haley.

I was at the BoSox vs O's game today at Jet blue. The Starting roster for the BoSox was

Cf Koback
DH Tavarez
3B Moore
1B Minnich
C Swihart
LF Perkins
DH Weems
SS Rondon
2B Lopez

Starting pitcher was Buttrey who went 4 inning and looked really good. Ty is a real nice kid who signs whatever you put in front of him.

O's starting lineup was
CF Vega
LF Reuttison
1B Kelly
C Sawyer
2B Boss
3B Veloz
DH Webb
RF Bernadina
2B Caronia

P Tim Berry

The game was 1-1 going into the bottom of the 9th, the one BoSox run was a 7th inning homer by Suarez that cleared the Green Monster, a solo shot. In the 9th with a man on 2nd with no out, Garin Cecchini (Chi-Chi) hit a double up the middle off Gene Escat. After that the BoSox kept hitting and hitting hard, Ramos hit one in the triangle that he got a 3B off of and then Suarez hit a hard double knocking in another. Andy Fox and Paul Abbott told me after the game that Suarez was the MVP of the game and is starting to open up some eyes with his big bat, although his glove still needs work.

During the game, Chi-Chi's team with Devan Marrero won HR derby (first 6 innings) while Swihart's group lost to Perkins'.

Took in the game today in Fort Myers. Beautiful day on the Gulf Coast!!

ALL of the brass was taking in the game. ALL.

Cherington, Hazen, Crockett, and Bill James (believe it or not). AND a surprise guest.....Jason Varitek!!!!!

Game was somewhat uneventful. I really liked two of the kid pitchers, Callahan and Kukuk. Both have a lot of potential going forward.

It sure looks like the front office is taking things seriously. Guess Henry and Lucchino were in Liverpool.

Are the games like XST where they have guys working on certain things, like will a pitcher sometimes throw 10 CBs in a row, or are they more like actual games?

The games are pretty much regular. Yes some guys will throw a particular pitch more than normal, but not 10 times in a row. Many are working on a specific skill with a coach before or after a game. One guy, according to a source, was working on his slide step and trying to improve his time home. Lots of them are improving techniques on such things as holding a runner, getting a better secondary lead, or recognizing an off-speed pitch quicker.

Chris' notes correspond with Margot's jump to #22 on Soxprospects.com's prospect rankings. Nice to have some continued returns from Theo's last Latin signings (also hopeful for Alixson Suarez and Raymel Flores)

Here's another report on Cody Kukuk at instrux from Kiley McDaniel (link):

That said, Kukuk impressed me with his raw stuff: a 90-93 mph sinker and slider and changeup that both flashed at least above average potential. Kukuk’s heater has above average sink and some run but his command was inconsistent. He would occasionally lose his release point and rush him arm, creating a cutter with no sink. He kept the ball down most of the time and has a chance to be a strong groundball pitcher. Kukuk’s slider has 11-to-5 tilt and shape like a curveball, but at 81-82 mph it has slider velocity. He flashed depth and occasional hard bite, but his feel waned; it’s a below average pitch now with above average potential.

Kukuk’s changeup could be a separator, as it gives him a solid three pitch mix that many his age don’t possess, and it flashes plus potential. At 80-82 mph, when he’s commanding it, Kukuk’s changeup turns over with good fade and depth but, like with all his pitches, Kukuk has trouble commanding the pitch. There are a couple things to point to for this lack of feel. First, Kukuk is a big kid at 6’4, 200 pounds with long limbs, projection remaining and a longer arm circle. Kids that size and age often need time to grow into their bodies to gain more control in their deliveries and a longer arm circle gives just another variable to keep under control.

As for more immediate, fixable issues, Kukuk tilts his body for a slight crossfire action, both complicating his timing and angle to the plate, but also giving right-handed hitters an even easier time following his arm stroke and hurting his deception. Kukuk also is a slinger with a three-quarters arm slot that he achieves by tilting his body 45 degrees toward third base. If he stood perfectly upright, he would be just above a sidearm slot. I don’t think Kukuk should start throwing at that low of a slot, but correcting his posture at release could go a long way to improving his command.

There are some obvious pluses with Kukuk’s delivery as well. He has a simple tall-and-fall delivery that’s low effort, his arm works well out front, he has good timing and natural arm speed and his front side is firm, all positive tweaks to try to gain consistency. Big lefties with this kind of stuff don’t’ come along very often and there’s middle of the rotation upside here, but plenty of things to work on and a long way to go before reaching his potential.