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Post by taftreign on May 31, 2014 20:49:54 GMT -5
If they send Rubby down I imagine the fans may revolt after tonights performance. I can't see anyway he doesn't deserve at minimum another 2 or 3 starts. I even suspect I'd rather give him a spot over Workman right now. Of course with Doubront and Buchholz ailing he should be with the club for awhile.
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Post by taftreign on May 31, 2014 20:37:17 GMT -5
8 K's, 8 Ground Outs, 2 Fly Outs. Nice. Continues to keep the ball on the ground. He will have all kinds of success keeping the ball on the ground especially in Fenway.
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Post by taftreign on May 31, 2014 19:51:06 GMT -5
Now thats how and when to bunt!
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Post by taftreign on May 28, 2014 22:46:31 GMT -5
If only Coyle could stay healthy for the remainder of the season to see what his batting line could look like. Just when he pops up on the prospect radar again he gets injured and falls out of mind.
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Post by taftreign on May 28, 2014 13:02:02 GMT -5
Theres no denying Gillaspie has put up impressive numbers. Baseball America also notes in his scouting report that "He'll look even better to teams that lean on analytics." I can understand that he is on the radar for Boston. While he's a 1B only player, which he plays fairly well, there is a place in the system for a prospect of his type who could bring 20+ HR potential. Personally I really like the upside of Chavis and Harrison more. I do believe Gillaspie is the higher floor player who has a higher probability to add value to the major league roster in the near future so I won't call it a bad pick if it happens. I guess I've just reached a point with this system where I'd like to infuse more high ceiling talent that could become a future cornerstone hitter or #1 type starter. Then again maybe Gillaspie turns into the next Paul Konerko and that would be incredibly valuable and I'll eat my words.
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Post by taftreign on May 28, 2014 11:28:06 GMT -5
Wouldn't have an issue with two upside HS bats. Give me Marcus Wilson at 33 to go with Chavis or Harrison.
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Post by taftreign on May 28, 2014 10:17:59 GMT -5
I expect Pederson will be roaming CF sometime in mid June ( maybe sooner with a DL stint). He makes the major league roster better OF roster crunch be damned.
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Post by taftreign on May 28, 2014 10:00:58 GMT -5
I was a little surprised when I heard this given it is generally considered a light year for college hitters. Also considering Conforto, Zimmer, Pentecost and Schwarber all very likely could be gone before the Red Sox pick. That really limits your picks to Gillespie, Fisher and Reed. I would think the value would be either in HS bats or arms. Have to wonder if there is a bit more need playing into the first pick this year considering the limited number of bats in the lower levels and lack of power in the system. Add: I will be disappointed if we pass on one of Michael Chavis or Monte Harrison if they are available at 26. I am all in on both as high ceiling bats. I get the lower risk of a college bat but I don't see star quality with whats available. I prefer to take the risk on landing a premium developmental talent. I'd probably follow up the first pick with an upside HS arm given the dozen or so available in and around the supplemental.
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Post by taftreign on May 27, 2014 15:32:23 GMT -5
Impossibly high standards. Some of this is getting out of hand. Should I be reading the original question "How strong is the system" in the context of other MLB farm systems? If so, then the system is strong, very strong. However, if the system is expected to produce 2 all-stars a year, be strong in the upper, mid and lower levels of the system, while making sure we're stocked full of high-end pitchers (potential #1s), guys who can hit for a high average, field up-the-middle positions, get on base while barely striking out, steal bases, and hit for power......then uh yeah, the system has some "holes." I've just read some ridiculous comments in multiple threads for the past week. Please take a moment and visit each and every team's top 20 prospects, and then come back and report to me that this system is weak. I never said anything about producing all stars. All I did was say 2 starters per year on average. I never said anything about high end pitchers, although it should be noted that only guy in the system that seems to be a legit top end rotation threat is Owens. My point is that I have been reading and listening to people tell me about the amazing sox farm system and the returns over the past five years have been disappointing. The only player above AA that looks exciting is Boggie (he looks potentially incredible). At AA, Owens, Betts and Swihart look like front line talent. Boggie and those three may be it for the next three years or so. After that, your looking at lots of HUGE question marks. I believe this is a conclusion drawn when you discounted the likes of Masterson, Lowrie, Reddick and so forth as major league starters because they have some deficiencies. They are clearly major league starters and have been for multiple years. If you take away the deficiencies then your left with All-Star starters. Its just the natural inclination when you draw hard lines about what a major league starter is.
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Post by taftreign on May 26, 2014 22:06:36 GMT -5
If the Sox were winning, than we would let Xander develop. Well... this is Boston, and we expect to win every year , and right now we are not, so time for some change. Next year, he should be a SS, and back up SS for the rest of this year. Drew is essentially a win now move without having to trade or lose any one of importance... Sorry Herrera, I never thought you had a fair chance in Boston. I don't hear any Orioles fans complaining they ruined Manny Machado's career by playing him for a few years at 3b to help the team. When Hardy's contract is up, he will move back to shortstop. He's a better defensive shortstop than Xander too. You play to win the game. If the Boston Red Sox are better with Xander at 3B, so be it. I don't believe it's a given Machado is moving back to SS. He was a platinum glove last year playing 3B. My personal thought is he's the Orioles 3B for the next decade and they will look at the FA or trade market to find a SS if Hardy isn't resigned.
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Post by taftreign on May 23, 2014 14:02:26 GMT -5
I have to say I wasn't overly excited by BAs new mock. Definitely different than anything we've seen before with the names attached to Boston's picks. For me it would be quite disappointing to see Michael Chavis and Foster Griffin go right before both of the Red Sox selections as I am high on both players. Using the board at the Red Sox picks I would be more likely to go Foster Griffin at 26 and look at Braxton Davidson or Marcus Wilson at 33.
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Post by taftreign on May 21, 2014 20:49:30 GMT -5
Prospect Pete O'Brien is making quite a name for himself lately. There are questions about his ability to remain behind the plate and some questions about his hit tool but he appears to have above average to plus in game power. Not to say he helps in the Samardjia discussion as clearly Gary Sanchez would be needed as part of such a deal but I thought he deserved some note for his recent "Galloesque" torrid pace.
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Post by taftreign on May 18, 2014 22:41:15 GMT -5
Yes well I didn't say it was a likely trade. He just seems to be the most blocked major league ready prospect. And I think you could argue they have somewhat similar value. Of course the Dodgers have options at 2nd although none as entrenched as Pedroia and a possible opening at SS next season. An OF position obviously doesn't make sense if you already have Pederson. So I would put long odds on anything happening on this front.
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Post by taftreign on May 17, 2014 22:00:55 GMT -5
The problem with trying to trade for a "blocked" prospect is that the positions the Red Sox most need long-term talent (RF, LF, 1B, DH) are generally ones where you don't see a ton of blocked prospects. There aren't many top prospects who project to 1B/DH roles (those that do generally just aren't very good prospects-- see, e.g., C.J. Cron or Darin Ruf), and most teams have or can make room to accommodate a top corner outfield prospect. Maybe the Cubs could be a match, as they have a ton of 1B/3B-type players (Rizzo (1B), Olt (3B), Baez (3B/SS), Bryant (3B/1B/RF), Candelario (3B), Vogelbach (1B/DH)). But that sort of illustrates my point-- they're not going to trade Baez or Bryant and can find room for them by moving them to 3B and RF, Rizzo will probably hold onto 1B, and none of their other guys comes close to approximating Betts' value. The only blocked prospect that comes to mind is Joc Pederson of the Dodgers. There is no room in that outfield right now. That becomes a matter of how you equate Betts' and Pederson's prospect value.
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Post by taftreign on May 16, 2014 13:32:41 GMT -5
If he (Wall) can play CF or at least a team believes its probable then isn't he a top 25 pick?
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Post by taftreign on May 16, 2014 12:56:13 GMT -5
Yes. Monte Harrison is my absolute favorite target at 26. I love the potential of his game and believe he will be a star. I also agree its unlikely he makes it to Boston's first selection. My second target is Foster Griffin. A lefty with a solid pitching frame and above average to plus command and has an above average change up. I like the projection he offers and is the type of pitcher you love to land in the late first. I am also intrigued by Michael Chavis and would love to land him at 33 although again probably unlikely. While he's only 5'10" he has a tremendous bat with better than expected power and I'm buying he'll hit at all levels. My concerns are if he ends up being restricted to 2B as some suggest but I think he can stick at one of C, SS, 3B or a corner OF. Similar with Forrest Wall but I'd likely pass as he almost seems certain to be locked into 2B but I do love his hitting approach and ability. I will also say I'm not turned off by Braxton Davidson and his 1B only profile. Theres still an outside shot he can pull off an OF corner but if his bat and power are legit the Red Sox system has a place for a prospect like him.
I guess I'm still a bit luke warm on the Derek Fisher, Derek Hill, Gillespie, Marcus Wilson group. I've been getting more into researching them but you know how it is with gut feels and falling for certain prospects. Sometimes it's there and other times it's not.
The group of players that likely go below 33 but probably before 67 that I have on my radar as cross your fingers and hope there available include SS TiQuan Forbes, RHP Jack Flaherty, C Jakson Reetz, RHP Garrett Fulencheck and RHP Cobi Johnson.
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Post by taftreign on May 15, 2014 14:10:43 GMT -5
I'm still inclined to believe it would be best to have both on the MLB roster splitting catching duties with Vazquez on the heavy side for two reasons. I believe Vazquez is the better defensive option and as stated above I'm not convinced Swihart can handle 75% + of the workload with his body type. Question is if he only catches two out of every five games then where does he play best as an alternate position. First base, right field, DH?
I've been quite impressed with his defensive development but there is clearly a "good" body type and a "not so good" body type for the longevity of the position. Swihart seems to be a little more Mauer or Posey who have shown they could play the position but ultimately found it best to move off the position. If you manage Swiharts appearances behind the plate from the beginning I don't believe you run into the long term wear and tear issues. Personally I wouldn't consider moving either under any scenario because I see them as the perfect complement as a backstop duo.
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Post by taftreign on May 2, 2014 8:47:45 GMT -5
Mookie seems to be the obvious choice with the start he has had. But to some extent this can be attributed to right place right time. Xander graduates at the exact moment Betts is extremely hot. Additionally Owens just came off one of his worst starts of his minor league career. If Owens throws two straight high quality starts and Betts cools down a little I don't think this is as clear cut. Easy to be prisoner of the moment. This does of course require believing Betrs is only human which I'm still trying to verify. Ultimately though I have no problem with these rankings.
I do think at this point Cecchini can't be much higher than 4 or 5 though. Jmei is correct in his concerns for the power. If Cecchini is mostly a singles and walk guy with a handful of doubles and average defense I can't see him over Betts, Owens, Swihart, Barnes and maybe even an argument for Vazquez. Starting to seem like a high floor low/medium ceiling prospect. A good one no doubt though who has value to a Major League club. Still early so I want to see how he progresses particularly as the weather warms to see if his xbh production increases and reaccess at year end.
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Post by taftreign on May 1, 2014 9:04:50 GMT -5
I have to agree here. Give me Lester and Betts vs Price at the same cost. I don't believe people realize how much better Price is in the Trop vs on the road (2.90 vs 3.61).Then take away what is usually a top quarter defense behind him and I expect there could be a drop off depending on where he lands. Oddly enough though I see he has a 1.88 ERA in 10 starts at Fenway. Still I'll take 5 years of Lester and Betts.
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Post by taftreign on Apr 27, 2014 11:34:13 GMT -5
Interested in how Owens fairs vs the Trenton lineup who have been hitting the ball very well of late.
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Post by taftreign on Apr 26, 2014 18:49:25 GMT -5
Yes but that's why I said front runners. 9HR and 27 RBIs or 3-0 with a 2.15 era and 35 k's in 29.1 innings are no doubt ahead in the minds of many. I do expect a surge for Xander at some point as it has been his track record throughout the minors once he makes adjustments to the level. Still voters seem to love the international free agent rookies.
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Post by taftreign on Apr 26, 2014 16:54:28 GMT -5
Tanaka vs Abreau for AL ROY front runners right now. Fun to watch except one plays for the arch rivals.
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Post by taftreign on Apr 26, 2014 16:47:03 GMT -5
I think the question says "after 4/15" so the correct answer should be Light. (score!) It does say permanent so unless he pitches so poorly he's demoted but I would suspect that is very unlikely. Sometimes its necessary to take your lumps and learn plus there is a fairly crowded Greenville rotation.
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Post by taftreign on Apr 25, 2014 22:27:12 GMT -5
Serious guys, we're finally winning a game, and crickets? It is a Friday night after all. I got held up at work. : / Man is it just me or is Peavy a really easy guy to root for? It's easy for fans to pull for a player like Peavy because he's both a solid rotation contributor (minus a few past injuries) and appears to outwardly have passion when on the mound. There are worse options than Peavy if the Lester extension falls through. Obviously there are better targets (Scherzer/Shields) than Peavy but a two year deal with an option year isn't the worst idea. You could be looking to fill rotation spots for Lester, Peavy and Doubront (TBD). I imagine if Peavy throws well and provides 180 plus innings there will be the QO discussion come year end. Is he rated well enough for a team to give up a 1st or 2nd round pick for him? I could see a team give up a 2nd in the scenario where it only requires 3 years on a deal. Worst case is you have Peavy back on a 1 year slight overpay deal who adds rotation depth or trade bait during the summer.
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Post by taftreign on Apr 23, 2014 18:34:41 GMT -5
Personally I think only Margot has the chance to move JBJr off CF. I'd rather see Betts in LF and the backup 2B. RF has other alts in the short term future from Brentz to Middlebrooks to any number of FA or trade possibilities (Joc Pederson or Josh Bell for example).
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