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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jan 10, 2022 9:49:01 GMT -5
At 20, Rodriguez finished second in the Eastern League in strikeouts (teammate Tim Vanegmond, who was 24, led the league. The next year he led the International League in Ks as a 21 year old, and he did it while walking only 2.9 per nine innings. Wisdom of throwing 186 Triple-A innings at that age aside, there's a reason folks were excited. No question he'd have debuted that August or September if the strike hadn't happened. I looked back at Frankie Rodriguez's numbers. He had good Single A numbers that put him on the radar but my memory was confirmed that I was not bowled over by losing records and ERAs near 4 in AA and AAA. Of course that's not a completely nuanced look, but that's how I remember evaluating things back then. Looking at it now, he was doing it at a younger age, basically holding his own in AA and AAA, but not really dominating the leagues. Still, if he was doing that stuff now, I'd probably be ticked if he was traded for a rental. Too bad for those injuries. His major league numbers were kind of ugly. Guess the Sox got away with giving up their best pitching prospect for a good rental.
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Post by retiredvendor on Jan 10, 2022 12:58:29 GMT -5
Gammons introduced me to much of the world of minor league prospects. Two of the guys he pumped the hardest amounted to very little at the big league level. But I don’t think this list can be complete without least a mention of Donnie Sadler and Kevin Morton, if they were not already. Gammons had me buying in completely that these were two franchise pillars in waiting. Didn’t quite work out.
I think Ellis Burks was the most hyped prospect that I can remember. He was touted as Willie Mays 2.0. He never was that player, but he was really good and a class act to boot.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Jan 10, 2022 13:24:36 GMT -5
Gammons introduced me to much of the world of minor league prospects. Two of the guys he pumped the hardest amounted to very little at the big league level. But I don’t think this list can be complete without least a mention of Donnie Sadler and Kevin Morton, if they were not already. Gammons had me buying in completely that these were two franchise pillars in waiting. Didn’t quite work out. I think Ellis Burks was the most hyped prospect that I can remember. He was touted as Willie Mays 2.0. He never was that player, but he was really good and a class act to boot. Donnie Sadler. Haha. Little guy I had Mookie Betts dreams of. Surprise pop. Huge speed. But he never had Mookie's hit tool so they did develop a little differently, didn't they? lol. I remember - they had Wilton Veras as the next 3b. Brian Rose and Carl Pavano were the big pitching prospects. They also had Juan Pena who gave them 2 amazing starts, got hurt and never pitched again. Paxton Crawford, too, who had injuries. Rose never did become what I hoped he'd be. Pavano....well they traded him away for some rental. Some guy named Pedro.
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TearsIn04
Veteran
Everybody knows Nelson de la Rosa, but who is Karim Garcia?
Posts: 2,837
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Post by TearsIn04 on Jan 10, 2022 17:09:28 GMT -5
My recollection is that F-Rod may have gotten a bit more attention than a more conventional top prospect because of his ability to pitch and play SS. He was considered a legit prospect at either position.
Because BB talent is so hard to project, the RS have had plenty of prospects who were touted as top guys and then fizzled. I recall Theo Epstein giving Casey Kelly the Gammons treatment and declaring him "special." (Theo may have trying to pump up his trade value.)
I think overly hyped prospects may have been more common years ago before we had all the sources of rankings that we have now. Look up Otis Foster when you have a chance. He raked in the minors until he didn't.
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Post by voiceofreason on Jan 11, 2022 9:08:20 GMT -5
Being the Nick Yorke homer that I am, I will be hoping to add his name to this list by the end of 2023 when he makes his MLB debut. I understand the chances of this are slim along with the idea he will continue to rake at the same level as he moves up the ladder. But IMO that is what makes following soxprospects fun. It's when someone cruises thru the system crushing it and we get to see the whole process unfold as they become ML stars. Ala Mookie, Xander and Raffy.
Although it most likely won't happen it is simply fun to think/hope that the Sox could be adding 3 guys over the next 3 years that could all compete for a ROY award. Casas, Yorke and then Mayer in 2024. I know I should cool my jets but why not dream big, I don't let the disappointments affect me. As a long time Sox fan since "71" I have had plenty of experience in disappointments.
One of my favorite memories as a Sox fan was 1975. Fred Lynn had an amazing season, he won MVP and ROY. He came in 2nd for batting average behind Rod Carew and won the GG as a CFer. The 3 HR, 10 rbi game in Detroit was unbelievable and he just missed a 4th. Then the World Series was an all time classic with so many great memorable plays. To think Jim Rice came up the same season, had ROY numbers himself coming in 2nd and 3rd in MVP voting but was then injured for the playoffs. What a season but nothing compares to being at games 3 and 4 in St Louis to watch the curse end.
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