SB Nation - Lars Anderson

Boston Red Sox Top 20 Prospects for 2010

John Sickels — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 03:52:45 -0000

3 months ago: Boston Red Sox's Josh Reddick fouls off a pitch during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Friday, Sept. 18, 2009, in Baltimore. The Red Sox won 3-1. (AP Photo/Rob Carr)

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Boston Red Sox Top 20 Prospects for 2010.

All grades are EXTREMELY PRELIMINARY and subject to change. Don't get too worried about exact rankings at this point, especially once you get beyond the Top 10. Grade C+/C guys are pretty interchangeable depending on what you want to emphasize. Complete reports on these and over 1,000 other players will be in the 2010 Baseball Prospect Book, now available for pre-order, shipping on February 2^nd!

1) Ryan Westmoreland, OF, Grade B+: I love this guy: Five Tool/Seven Skill player who can do everything. I expect more power will come. Just needs to stay healthy.

2) Casey Kelly, RHP, Grade B+: He's not a shortstop, but he's a very good pitching prospect who could advance quickly. Possible number two/three starter.

3) Ryan Kalish, OF, Grade B: Another guy with a broad skill base. I like him slightly better than Reddick due to his superior plate discipline and he's one year younger.

4) Josh Reddick, OF, Grade B: He was rushed. Most people would rank Reddick ahead of Kalish since Reddick has more power. My instinct says Kalish but it's close.

5) Michael Bowden, RHP, Grade B: His component ratios deteriorated in Triple-A, but I still like him. Very similar minor league components to Jeff Suppan, not an ace but if Bowden ends up throwing 2411 average major league innings it counts as a success.

6) Junichi Tazawa, RHP, Grade B-: Bowden ranks a bit ahead because he's younger, but Tazawa is another guy who can be a good inning-eater. Deserves another chance despite poor pitching in Boston.

7) Anthony Rizzo, 1B, Grade B-: Great human interest story and a very solid hitter, but needs to show more power at first base. I think it will come.

8) Lars Anderson, 1B, Grade B-: A difficult grade, but I'm going to give him an injury mulligan and see what he can do with a fresh start. Like Rizzo, will he have the home run power you want in a first baseman?

9) Reymond Fuentes, OF, Grade B-: Borderline C+. Great tools, will he develop skills?

10) Stolmy Pimentel, RHP, Grade B-: Borderline C+. Still projectable, throws strikes.

11) Jose Iglesias, SS, Grade C+: Amazing glove, but I won't rank him higher than this until he shows that he can be an adequate hitter. Could be an Omar Vizquel type if he does.

12) Derrik Gibson, INF, Grade C+: Very athletic, controls the strike zone, steals bases, will he develop some pop?

13) Luis Exposito, C, Grade C+: Deserves more attention than he's received both on offense and defense.

14) David Renfroe, SS-3B, Grade C+: Great scouting reports about bat and athleticism, but need some data.

15) Alex Wilson, RHP, Grade C+: Good fastball/slider combination with sharp command, could rise through system quickly.

16) Roman Mendez, RHP, Grade C+: Breakthrough candidate with a lively arm, need to see what he can do outside the Gulf Coast League, but very intriguing.

17) Pete Hissey, OF, Grade C+: No power yet, but very athletic and projectable.

18) Yamaico Navarro, SS, Grade C+: Injury mulligan. Tools are still here but will he refine them?

19) Madison Younginer, RHP, Grade C+: Raw high school arm with immense potential.

20) Stephen Fife, RHP, Grade C+: Strike-thrower who could develop into an inning-eater type.

21) Kyle Weiland, RHP, Grade C+: Another inning-eating possiblity.

OTHERS (Grade C): Michael Almanzar, 3B; Drake Britton, LHP; Ryan Dent, INF; Felix Doubront, LHP: Tim Federowicz, C; Alex Hassan, OF; Brandon Jacobs, OF; Ryan Lavarnway, C; Che-Hsuan Lin, OF; Will Middlebrooks, 3B; Adam Mills, RHP; Daniel Nava, OF: Eammon Portice, RHP; Jason Rice, RHP; Dustin Richardson, LHP; Manuel Rivera, LHP; Oscar Tejeda, SS; Mark Wagner, C; Fabian Williamson, LHP.

Since the trade isn't final yet, I decided to put off writing about Max Ramirez until I get to the Rangers. I haven't decided on a grade for him yet, but he's somewhere in the B- range I think.

As with the Cardinals, it was really hard to knock this down to 40 players; there were at least another 10 guys I could have written up. I tried to provide a mixture of upside players, role players closer to the majors, and guys I just like for one reason or another. Other guys you could write about include Randy Conseugra, Jason Place, Jose Vinicio, and Zach Daeges, and Aaron Bates. I have to draw the line somewhere however. There just isn't room to include everyone and I could spend a week just trying to make decisions between Grade C guys.

This is a very deep system, though trades and difficult 2009 seasons for some prospects (Anderson, Navarro, Bowden to a lesser extent) reduced what the overall ranking at the top might otherwise look like. They have a good mixture of tools and skills players, polish and upside. The plan to spend money on high-upside guys with difficult signability seems to be working, although not everyone has panned out exactly as expected. A year from now things could look even better: Westmoreland and Kelly are both potential Grade A/A- prospects, and several of the C+ guys have higher grade potential.

All in all, there is a lot here for Red Sox fans to be happy about.,

Rival Hot Stoves: Red Sox

jscape2000 — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:00:31 -0000

by Stew Milne - AP

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The Red Sox are chasing the Yankees again, and once again both front offices are looking at the same assets.

1. The Lineup Right Now:

Martinez

Youkilis

Pedroia

Lowell

Lowrie

Anderson

Ellsbury

Drew

Ortiz

Beckett

Lester

Matsuzaka

Wakefield

Buchholz

Bard

Okajima

Ramirez

Papelbon

2. Prospects to Watch:

Josh Reddick- an outfielder with the speed to play all 3 spots, Reddick's bat didn't perform well in his September call up. HIs high batting average has carried him quickly through the minors (only 18 games at AAA and less than 90 games at AA). He's a see it- hit it type, and I wonder if his defense is strong enough to make Jacoby Ellsbury a trade chip in the quest for a certain high profile pitcher from North of the Border.

Michael Bowden- the 23 year old compares to IPK- high 80s to low 90s fastball, plus command of fastball and curve. He saw 16 innings of work in Boston (8G, 1 start), be he pitched very well in AAA Pawtucket (24 starts, average 5.1IP, 106H, 44BB, 88K). As a trade chip or as the first replacement starter, Bowden is a part of the Red Sox future.

Lars Anderson- the big first baseman had a terrible season in 2009, hitting a Jose Molina-esque .233/.328/.345 in 119 games in his second year at AA. He'll need a big bounce back to put his career back on track.

Matchup with the Yankees:

Victor Martinez's defense as a full time catcher will make Posada look like Bill DIckey. The right side of the infield will stand up with anybody in the league, but the Sox suffered through a season of near replacement level on the left side, so it's no surprise that the front office has wondered if their Gold Glove 2B might not play a good enough SS to sign or trade for a strong second baseman.

At the moment the Red Sox have the stronger rotation. Adding Halladay, or adding Lackey and seeing Halladay go anywhere but New York, would make the Red Sox the AL favorites.

The Quick ReLoad:

The Red Sox took $12M off the books before the start of the 2009 season. Another $40M came off at the end of season. If Boston has only $30M to spend, that's enough to make the second best team in the AL even more imposing.

A left fielder is a must-have, but there are a slew of available left fielders, and all of them could handle the small patch of grass in the shadow of the Green Monster.

Either the Red Sox have to acquire a shortstop, or they have move Pedroia and choose from the relatively stronger crop of second basemen.

Wrap-up:

The Sox got basically nothing from Matsuzaka, and replaced his quality with Brad Penny and John Smoltz. Even if a trade for Halladay weakened the Red Sox for a decade, it would make them a frightening team to face in 2010, both over the regular season and in a playoff series.

My sincerest hope is that Theo learned nothing from his lightning in a bottle 2009 approach. Another season of Nick Green at short and Tim Wakefield as the #3 pitcher would make me a happy Yankee. My fear is that the $50M that have come off the books in the last 2 seasons is on its way back into the payroll.

Over the Monster Top 20 Prospects Voting #2: Kelly Takes the Top Spot

Ben Buchanan — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:48:08 -0000

Your #1 Prospect: Casey Kelly (via snapshots.mlblogs.com)

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Throwing this up a bit early. I have faith that no voting past 3:45 AM CST is really gonna mess with the overall result too much, and I've got a very busy day ahead.

It's not exactly a revolutionary choice, but then again, why should it be? Coming in with around 34% of the vote, Casey Kelly claims the top spot on our prospect list by way of plurality. While Kelly is not quite as clear a winner as Lars Anderson was last year, he's no less deserving than the first baseman was last year. Hopefully, Kelly's followup performance won't be quite as...uninspiring.

So, let's move on to round 2. See the first post for information on the various candidates.

Over the Monster Top 20 Prospects Voting: #1

Ben Buchanan — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:03:20 -0000

Lars Anderson, last year's consensus #1, has likely fallen. Who will take over in his place? via

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It's that time of year again, folks. This year, we're going to be compiling the top 20 prospects in the farm system according to you, the Over the Monster readers, and it will likely be somewhat less cut and dry this time around given the rather seismic nature of the minors this year. We're trying out a new Google Docs based system to make the voting more open. I've provided write ups of 15 of the Sox' best prospects, but voting is not limited to them by any means. Just type in a name and submit.

Lars Anderson

Age: 22 | Position: 1B | Level: AA

2008: .317/.408/.513 (A+) | .316/.436/.526 (AA)

2009: .233/.328/.345

Considered by most to be the Red Sox' top prospect at the beginning of the year, Lars Anderson's stock has dropped significantly following a dismal 2009 campaign. Still, Anderson remains a top name in the farm system. He has huge power potential which he had displayed in earlier years, which combined with great plate patience should be the recipe for a top offensive player.

Michael Bowden

Age: 23 | Position: SP | Level: AAA

2008: 2.33 ERA, 101:24 K:BB, .92 WHIP (AA) | 3.38 ERA, 29:5 K:BB, 1.13 WHIP (AAA)

2009: 3.13 ERA, 88:47 K:BB, 1.21 WHIP

If Lars was first last year, Michael Bowden was almost always second. Like Lars, Bowden has also had something of a discouraging year, but unlike Lars, Bowden's problems came at the major league level, where he was pounded, giving up 17 runs in 16 innings. Still, Bowden is young and impressed at AAA, where for much of the year he was outshining Clay Buchholz. The righty has a low-90s four-seamer, a high-80s two-seamer, a curve with a lot of movement, a very good circle change, and a recently added mid-80s slider which has yet to come along.

Felix Doubront

Age: 22 | Position: SP | Level: AA

2008: 3.67 ERA, 118:24 K:BB, 1.21 WHIP (A)

2009: 3.35 ERA, 101:52 K:BB, 1.41 WHIP

After a breakout 2008, Prince Felix has been rocketing through the Sox system at an impressive pace. Almost entirely skipping advanced-A and making a seemingly seamless transition into AA, Doubront is poised to start 2010 at AAA—something nobody could've predicted when he posted an 8.93 ERA in Greenville in 2007. Doubront is a 3-pitch pitcher with a fastball that sits in the high 80s, a good change, and a curveball. Though his fastball is nothing special, his unique delivery can fool batters.

Luis Exposito

Age: 22 | Position: C | Level: AA

2008: .283/.328/.508 (A) | .301/.331/.509 (A+)

2009: .274/.332/.427 (A+) | .337/.371/.489

Providing much needed hope for the Red Sox behind the plate, Exposito has displayed a great deal of talent both at and behind the plate. At the plate, Expo is an above average power threat for his position, with a good power swing. He makes a fair deal of contact, but doesn't have the speed to make too much use of it. Instead, Expo would likely be better off working on his discipline, which has netted him only 48 walks in over 800 plate appearances over the last two years. Behind the plate, Luis has great defensive catching skills, but needs to work a bit on the mechanics of his throw to translate arm strength into caught baserunners. Exposito is a clubhouse favorite, notably acting as combination best friend and interpreter to fellow prospect Jose Iglesias.

Reymond Fuentes

Age: 18 | Position: CF | Level: Rookie (GCL)

2009: .290/.391/.379

The new kid on the block, it's hard to mention Fuentes without drawing comparisons to Jacoby Ellsbury. Lots of speed, little pop, not much of an arm, with a tendency for the spectacular. Fuentes is currently lacking in discipline both on the basepaths, where he stole 9 bases in 14 attempts, and at the plate, where he managed only 7 walks in over 150 appearances. Still, both are areas that are likely to improve with professional experience, and Fuentes already has one key advantage over Jacoby: his ability to make good reads.

Derrik Gibson

Age: 19 | Position: SS | Level: Short Season

2008: .309/.411/.394 (Rookie) | .086/.233/.086 (Short Season)

2009: .290/.395/.380

A hidden gem of the Sox system, Derrik Gibson is an absolute on base machine. His plus speed nets him a high average along with a very good number of stolen bases (28 in 33 attempts last year), and his discipline keeps him on the basepaths. Gibson is a plus defender in the middle, and projects to remain at short or second throughout his career. The one obvious knock on Gibson is that he seriously lacks power, and may well not hit more than 2 or 3 home runs in an average year—he has yet to hit one in the minors.

Jose Iglesias

Age: 19 | Position: SS | Level: ? (A-AA)

The newer kid on the block, Jose Iglesias is already drawing attention in Arizona, where observers say there's a lot to the hype Iglesias had coming in as a top defender. Descriptions like "MLB ready" "plus" and even "Ozzie Smith like" have done nothing to lower expectations. The question with Iglesias remains if he will be able to perform offensively. While there is no doubt he is still raw, so far Jose has performed surprisingly well in a limited sample size against the elite Arizona Fall League competition, where he's currently batting .286/.344/.446 with two homers. While speed is not the reason why Iglesias is such a remarkable defender, he does bring a bit to the table, and is 3-for-3 in attempts so far.

Ryan Kalish

Age: 21 | Position: CF | Level: AA

2008: .281/.376/.356 (A) | .233/.305/.397 (A+)

2009: .304/.434/.504 (A+) | .271/.341/.440

One half of 2009's pair of breakout outfielders, Kalish started the year on fire as his power emerged for the first time. Kalish hit 5 homers in 115 at bats in Salem before being promoted to Portland, where he experienced a decent post-promotion slump. Kalish was not to be kept down, though, and ended the season making AA look as easy as A+, even if the season totals seem unremarkable. Kalish has great patience at the plate, consistently managing high OBPs, and is an above average fielder, showing a good arm, range, and glove. Kalish could pan out as either a center fielder or right fielder. One underrated aspect of Ryan's game is his speed, which has regularly netted him about 20 stolen bases a year with a high success rate.

Casey Kelly

Age: 20 | Position: SP/SS | Level: A+

2008: .173/.229/.255 (Rookie) | .344/.344/.563 (Short Season)

2009: .214/.290/.464 (Rookie) | .224/.305/.313 (A)

2009: 1.12 ERA, 39:9 K:BB, .85 WHIP (A) | 3.09 ERA, 35:7 K:BB, .87 WHIP

Perhaps the greatest source for angst in the Sox' farm system is Casey Kelly's position decision: shortstop, or pitcher? It would seem an obvious choice through 2 years, as Kelly is already pushing AA as a starter, but is clearly not ready to leave A-ball as a shortstop. Unfortunately, Kelly has stated his personal preference for shortstop a few times, and so the angst continues. As a pitcher Kelly mixes in a plus curveball and good changeup with his low-90s fastball. He's got great control over all his pitches and is not going to give up a lot of free passes or high meatballs as a result. As a shortstop, Kelly is a plus defender who has shown some potential for good power, but has yet to consistently get on base.

Yamaico Navarro

Age: 22 | Position: SS | Level: AA

2008: .280/.341/.412 (A) | .348/.393/.508 (A+)

2009: .319/.373/.543 (A+) | .185/.270/.304 (AA)

A solid defender with a potentially big bat, Navarro makes solid contact with regularity and has enough power to make a few of them leave the park. Not a hugely disciplined hitter, Navarro is going to have to continue to hit the ball or refine his approach if he wants to be productive at higher level, as his average speed will not bail him out. Navarro is not a plus defender, but will not make you uncomfortable if slotted in at second, short, or third.

Stolmy Pimentel

Age: 19 | Position: SP | Level: A

2008: 3.14 ERA, 61:17 K:BB, 1.08 WHIP (Short Season)

2009: 3.82 ERA, 103:29 K:BB, 1.39 WHIP

With a signing bonus of just $25,000, Stolmy Pimentel is looking like one of the Sox' best international bargains. The tall righty has a fastball that can reach the mid 90s with a potentially plus curve and change. Pimentel has the ability to generate swings and misses without offering up a lot of walks, which should serve him well as he moves up through the organization

Josh Reddick

Age: 22 | Position: CF | Level: AAA

2008: .340/.397/.491 (A) | .343/.375/.593 (A+) | .214/.290/.436 (AA)

2009: .277/.352/.520 (AA) | .127/.190/.183

The Sox' most MLB-ready position prospect, Reddick has cut through the Sox' farm system in a mere 3 years' time. Reddick is a versatile outfielder likely to end up in either center or right depending on who you ask. In center, Reddick would likely have around MLB average range—maybe less, given the recent rise of the position defensively speaking—but would be capable none-the-less. Reddick also has a cannon arm with great accuracy. At the plate, Reddick makes good contact and brings a good deal of power to the table with the potential for more as he matures. Josh has struggled with discipline in the past, but seems to be coming around some, improving to a BB% of around 10 last year.

Anthony Rizzo

Age: 20 | Position: 1B | Level: A+

2009: .298/.365/.494 (A) | .295/.371/.420 (A+)

After missing much of 2008 following a diagnosis of Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Rizzo has stormed back from his illness and established himself in the upper echelon of Sox prospects. Rizzo brings an advanced approach to the plate and combines it with a strong bat that, while currently being more of a doubles threat, has shown the potential to be a home run threat. Rizzo is a plus defender at first, with a great feel for the game and good range. Given his strong arm, it's not inconceivable that Rizzo could move to third down the line, though for now he projects much better as a first baseman.

Junichi Tazawa

Age: 23 | Position: SP | Level: AAA

2009: 2.57 ERA, 88:26 K:BB, 1.08 WHIP (AA)

Red Sox fans got to see a lot more of Tazawa than they expected to this year. After being predicted to start anywhere from high A to the MLB, Tazawa settled in at AA Portland and pitched very well. Shortly after being called up to AAA (where he pitched 2 games looking much like he had in Portland), Tazawa was rushed to the majors as injuries and mediocrity took their toll on the Sox' rotation. Things did not go well for him there, where he was pounded for 23 runs (21 earned) in 25.1 innings. So he's not ready for the MLB yet. Tazawa still looks every bit like he's got what it takes to be an MLB starter. His fastball sits around 90 MPH with some plus potential, but it's his wide assortment of off-speed pitches that makes Tazawa special. His curveball, slider, and forkball are all above-average pitches, the last 2 with plus potential. Unlike his Japanese compatriot Daisuke, Tazawa has a tendency to attack the zone and as a result does not walk a lot of guys. Future success in the majors will depend on if he can generate swings-and-misses on his secondary stuff.

Ryan Westmoreland

Age: 19 | Position: CF | Level: Short Season

2009: .296/.401/.484

The official Wunderkind of the Red Sox system, Westmoreland is an amazing all-around player. Offensively he brings an advanced approach to the plate resulting in a BB% of over 15, a power bat good for 7 home runs this year with potential for a good few more, and intelligence and speed (perhaps the fastest player in the entire system) on the basepaths that allowed him to steal 19 bases without being caught once. That speed is also a big part of what makes him a great defensive center fielder. So far Westmoreland has had some injury troubles—a torn Labrum last year, and a broken collarbone this year—but neither are the sort of injury that makes you think he's inherently fragile.

Sea Dogs first hand: the good and the bad

Randy Booth — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 10:00:14 -0000

I had the pleasure last night to go check out the Sea Dogs in Portland. I got a call from a friend a few hours before the game and he told me he had an extra ticket. I couldn't pass up a chance to see Lars Anderson go 0 for 4.

OK, so that didn't actually happen. Lars did all right and it was a pretty good game despite the Dogs losing, 6-4. I made note of a few players that saw action last night.

Here's the boxscore for the game before we get going:

Daniel Nava, LF - This guy can play. Where did we get him? I'm not even sure, to tell you the truth. He hit leadoff for the Dogs and was really impressive, going 3 for 5. Not only can he put solid contact on the ball, but he can draw a walk with the best of him. Didn't really see much action in left field, so I can't comment there, but it'd be interesting to see how he does the rest of the season and into 2010.

Iggy Suarez, SS - Iggy, a fan favorite, made his presence known early. He had a behind-the-back flip for an out at second in the first inning and then followed it up by throwing a batter out from the grass in short left field BY A MILE. Seriously, the batter had no chance. Iggy got the ball into the glove and into it his hand so quickly and made a perfect throw to first. It was impressive. His bat, though -- well, I don't think he could hit out of a wet paper bag, unfortunately.

Jorge Jimenez, 3B - Jimenez played a solid hot corner and put good wood on the ball. He didn't do anything spectacular, though. He hit out of the three hole, but I think that's only because he has a pretty decent average on the year (.287).

Jon Still, DH - Still definitely looks like a power hitter at the plate, and 15 home runs on the year backs that up. But as a power hitter, strikeouts come with that and he K'd twice. If he wants to make it to the bigs he's going to have to hit for more power and get the average up, too. The power is there, but I'm not sure about everything else.

Lars Anderson, 1B - Laaaars. Lars went 1 for 3 with a run and two walks, while playing solid defense at first base. I really tried to figure him out at the plate and my biggest concern is that he's not aggressive at all. I really think that's why he's been struggling this year. I can't even remember him taking a good hack at the ball tonight. He had a hit, but it was in the second inning (the Dogs' first of the night) and it was an infield single. I will say, though, he's surprisingly fast for a tall guy. If he starts swinging at the good pitches -- instead of seeing the count go 3-2 almost every time -- he's going to be a better hitter.

Luis Exposito, C - After Lars, the one guy I was really going to watch. Expo did well behind the plate, blocking quite a few pitches in the dirt. He also did well at the plate, going 2 for 4 with a walk. He's hitting .361 with Portland this season. He seems like he could be a pretty good hitter in the pros, but there are definitely some weak spots with his game at the plate. But he's talented and he could go far. I'm excited to see what he does in Pawtucket, perhaps, next season.

Jason Place, RF - Oh, Mr. Place. The first round pick that has yet to pan out. But maybe tonight will be the start of something consistent? Place went 2 for 3 with a huge two-run home run in the sixth. It was dead-center and hit very well. Place seems to be a guy that maybe tries too hard. He obviously has some talent, he just hasn't put it all together yet. He also played a good right field with a jumping catch in foul territory to earn an out. I'm still waiting to see him put it all together and be a good player, but I'm worried it won't happen.

Ryan Khoury, 2B - Don't laugh, but after watching Khoury for a few innings, I thought "Dustin Pedroia Lite." Both guys are of similar size and Khoury is a lot like him: he has a huge swing and plays a dirty defense. He didn't look very comfortable at the plate (0 for 4) but he is an OBP machine. I think he needs to get comfortable at this level and then he'll play well.

Matt Sheely, CF - Sheely didn't do too much to stand out last night. He played a fine center field, but was never really challenge. At one point he hustled after a ball and then sort of hiccuped and dove for it, allowing it to get by him. The interesting thing is that he's hitting .190 on the year, but has a .369 OBP.

Kris Johnson, SP - Johnson struggled in his 5.2 innings. He couldn't find the plate and when he did, he got hit. He gave up 5 runs (4 earned), walked two and struck out three. He never hit higher than 91 on the gun. I don't really see much future for Johnson. He's struggled at almost every level and doesn't have anything special in the repertoire. Maybe he'll pick up the pace, but I wouldn't bet on it.

Chad Rhoades, RP - He had some life on his fastball, but had to work hard for outs. He worked for them and got them. Really pounded the zone. Solid reliever, but nothing too special.

Richie Lentz, RP - Lentz is probably the biggest name of the three pitchers tonight. He had a good fastball, but he nibbled a lot. The umpire had a tight strike zone, too, but Lentz didn't really blow me away. It didn't seem like he had any secondary pitches that could really get the job done. He gave up a run and struck out three in two innings of work. The best part about Lentz: he has an amazing mustache. Grade A stuff. His 'stache alone should get him a call to the big club.

All in all, a good night for baseball, despite the Dogs losing. Players I was most impressed with: Nava and Exposito. Players I'm holding out hope for: Lars and Place. Players I want to see succeed, but will probably fall through the cracks somewhere: Iggy and Khoury.

In other minor league news, I may be seeing Daisuke Matsuzaka pitch for the Sea Dogs on Saturday. That's a maybe at this point. Could catch a game on Friday, too. If I do any of the above, I will certainly report back to you, The Faithful.

In the meantime, let's hope Lars and J-Place find their swings.

Bloody Sox Laundry - 8/17/09

bs.uf15bosox9bears23 — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 05:00:11 -0000

More photos » by LM Otero - AP

Papi, publicly praising his "performance enhancers".

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The outside of the playoff picture doesn't look so pretty. Maybe it needs a fresh coat of paint? Anyway, whenever the Sox slump, the crazies come out of the woodwork to find scapegoats for the team's issues. This time around, it appears Tek has been the player that the media hit on the dart board. Let's see who can be the most radical with the Tek hate:

Surviving Grady - Things I'd Rather See Tek Doing...

The Red Sox have thrown out eight baserunners trying to steal this season, 103 have made it safely. [Saturday] night the Rangers swiped eight bases on Jason "he calls a good game" Varitek's watch.

And exactly how much of that is Varitek's fault? If you can give me a rational answer, I will personally vouch for you when they are asking for nominations for Nobel Prizes.

NESN - Time for the Red Sox to Say Goodbye to the Captain
Bill Chuck argues that Tek needs to be benched in favor of Victor Martinez for the rest of the season and next. This isn't COMPLETELY crazy, as Tek would still be able to give Vic some days off. The biggest issue I have here is that Vic has been playing less and less catcher for a reason - it's not a very easy on the body.

In fact, this issue's been on my mind a lot recently - with all the young catchers who are being converted to 1B, maybe someone should look into improving the way the position is played. I mean, I can't really think of a big innovation other than equipment upgrades that has made today's catchers any better than previous years' backstops. Anyone got any ideas?

Speaking of innovations - we've got some stories that will surprise you after the jump.

Hadn't thought of that before...

NESN - Buchholz Chimes In on Friday's Base-Running Blunder

"I was just sort of walking around in the dugout, and they were like, 'Hey, go get your jersey and cleats on because...if [Varitek] gets on second, you're going to pinch run for him,'" Buchholz told the Boston Globe on Saturday. "So I ran up in [the clubhouse] all in a frenzy and the first thing that came in my head was, 'Road game, we're away.' So I got down there and [Francona's] like, you got the wrong jersey on. I was like, 'Oh my God,' so I had to run back up here, put the blue one on. Finally I got back down there -- obviously I got back down there an at-bat late -- but I went out there anyway."

So apparently Buch doesn't think outside the box much. Might explain some of his pitching issues. Anyway, there are players who don't think about the game in conventional fashion, and they aren't always given the same treatment as other innovators of the sport. I'm talking about the players who use advanced statistics in attempts to gain an edge into understanding the game and how they can perform better:

THT Live - When players delve into advanced baseball stats

For decades fans have grasped the need for advanced analysis of the numbers behind baseball in hopes of better understanding the game. Now, there are three young pitchers who have come out and said that they use saber-esque stats in analyzing baseball, and sometimes their own game: Brian Bannister, Ross Ohlendorf, and Max Scherzer. Their similar backgrounds are intriguing (all close-aged, right-handed starting pitchers with college educations), as is the way in which they go about their analysis. However, another interesting theme is how the media has gone about reporting and portraying these players.

Even if you think stats are for tinkerbells *cough*Sandy*cough*, you should check that article out. It's also kinda interesting to see which stats each of the pitchers favor - explains a lot about how they pitch.

The Hardball Times had another interesting story, but one that requires MUCH less statistical knowledge to understand: THT Live - Your random fact of the day. Maybe Russell Martin will have some competition from Bryce Harper next season?

MLB Daily Dish - Marlins interested in John Smoltz?

We've mentioned this before in the Laundry, but now there's more talk of Smoltzie becoming a beach bum, sans retirement.

MLB Daily Dish - Padres closer Heath Bell put on waivers

They couldn't move him before the deadline, but Bell could be on the move soon. He'd have to clear the entire NL and most of the AL first, but the Sox could potentially pick up a strong bullpen arm if they would be willing to give up a good chunk of young prospects.

MLB Daily Dish - Lackey a fit in Baltimore in 2010?

Well, that would certainly make the AL East a lot more difficult next season - just what we need, right? At least he would get more chances to hurt the MFY as opposed to signing with and helping them.

Some prospects getting their first games in as Sox; one celebrated prospect finally gets a chance to show off some other tools, while another explains his lack of progression; more vets getting ready by playing with the kids

@SoxProspects

Miles Head, Brandon Jacobs, and Doug Wogee all debuted in the GCL today. #RedSox

@SoxProspects

Ryan Westmoreland finally debuted in the field tonight, starting in LF. #RedSox

Manifest Destiny claims new territory?

Fire Brand of the American League - Lars Anderson: Struggles 'part of development'

"I really dislike all of that [hype]," Anderson said with a face that could have melted ice. "It's made me more of a recluse, which I don't know if that's the right word. I don't think I embrace that kind of stuff as much as other people. I don't really think its accurate stuff."

Don't worry, Lars - just hit a couple 450 foot bombs and we'll be satisfied.

NESN - Baldelli, Byrd to Join PawSox This Week

Not entirely sure how much either will be a factor the rest of the season, but it never hurts to have depth.

I don't like this losing thing. Can we stop soon?

Extra Bases - Road worriers

For the second consecutive season, winning on the road has been a primary issue for the Red Sox. They fell to 28-33 away from home, the 14th best road record in the major leagues, compared to 38-18 at Fenway Park.

NESN - Tazawa's Fastball Couldn't Heat Up in Humid Texas Battle
Heidi interviewed Tito and he had some thoughts about the young Japanese pitcher. Video too, so you guys can get your Heidi fix.

Off day today, so there should be a lot of stories coming out of the crazies, given our current position - post'em in the comments.

Boston Red Sox Top 20 PRE-SEASON Prospects in Review

John Sickels — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 12:00:16 -0000

More photos » by Elise Amendola - AP

Boston Red Sox reliever Daniel Bard (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

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Boston Red Sox Pre-Season Top 20 in Review

This list was originally published December 1^st, 2008. This is a REVIEW of the PRE-SEASON list for 2009, not a revision of that list. This is a REVIEW of the old list. The grade listed is the OLD GRADE. With a few exceptions, I'm not doing new grades or new lists until I start writing the 2010 book.

1) Lars Anderson, 1B, Grade A-: WTF?? .242/.335/.361 in Double-A, still drawing walks but power has vanished, hitting .054 in the last 10 games. He tore up this level last year at this time. Now out with a hamstring injury. If anyone has seen him recently I'd love to get some input on this one. He's too young to write off given his past, but something went wrong here.

2) Michael Bowden, RHP, Grade B+: 3.23 ERA with 78/41 K/BB in 109 innings for Triple-A Pawtucket, 89 hits. Not really a lot left to prove here. Ratios have slipped this year but it hasn't hurt the bottom line much.

3) Daniel Bard, RHP, Grade B: 2.88 ERA with 44/14 K/BB in 34 innings, 25 hits. Always had the terrific stuff. Just needed to improve his command.

4) Josh Reddick, OF, Grade B: .277/.352/.520 in Double-A, has shown some pop in the majors so far, but plate discipline looks like an issue he needs to address.

5) Ryan Westmoreland, OF, Grade B: Hitting .294/.399/.469 with 16 steals in 16 attempts in the New York-Penn League. Awesome tools, looks polished for his age. Stock rising quickly.

6) Michael Almanzar, 3B, Grade B-: Combined .214/.270/.280 in rookie and short-season ball. Good tools but very unrefined, grade looks too high right now.

7) Ryan Kalish, OF, Grade B-: .266/330/.403 with 12 steals since promotion to Double-A, including .311/.388/.547 in his last 27 games. Looks good.

8) Nick Hagadone, LHP, Grade B-: Traded to Indians in V-Mart deal. Small sample size but recovery from Tommy John appears to be on track, 2.93 ERA in 31 innings, 40/16 K/BB. High ceiling, needs to throw strikes.

9) Yamaico Navarro, SS, Grade B-: 45 games at three levels, hitting combined .250/.310/.417 but just .154/.222/.277 in 17 games in Double-A. Sample size problems preclude a broad judgment here.

10) Oscar Tejeda, SS, Grade B-: .245/.303/.328 in 84 games in the Sally League. Not showing any skill growth, stock is dropping.

11) Casey Kelly, SS-RHP, Grade B-: As a pitcher, a Grade B+/A- prospect. As a hitter, a guy with great tools but poor skills, a standard high ceiling/high risk Grade C. When I made the list no one was sure which way he would end up, so I compromised. My guess is that he's never going to be an adequate hitter, but he needs to figure that out himself.

12) Bryan Price, RHP Grade B-: Traded to Indians. Pitched great in the Sally League before the trade, lousy in the Carolina League, has performed well in two starts since switching from Salem to Kinston. I'd say C+ now.

13) Kyle Weiland, RHP, Grade B-: 3.77 ERA with 88/49 K/BB in 107 innings for Salem. Good ground ball rate, other marks so-so, will be interesting to see him in Double-A next year.

14) Stolmy Pimentel, RHP, Grade C+: 3.25 ERA with 91/21 K/BB in 100 innings for Greenville, 110 hits. Love the
strike-throwing, but hittable.

15) Stephen Fife, RHP, Grade C+: 2.98 ERA with 59/8 K/BB in 63 innings combined between Greenville and Salem. Another guy who throws strikes and gets grounders. I like him.

16) Argenis Diaz, SS, Grade C+: Traded to Pirates in LaRoche deal. Hitting .243/.304/.291 between Double-A and Triple-A. Bat looks very weak, stock has dropped as a result.

17) Che-Hsuan Lin, OF, Grade C+: Hitting .263/.356/.373 with 21 steals in 29 attempts for Salem. Draws walks, steals bases, will knock an occasional extra-base hit but not sure his bat will be good enough overall. Young at age 20, has time.

18) Luis Exposito, C, Grade C+: Hit .271/.329/.424 for Salem, just promoted to Eastern League and is hot early, .412 in his first eight games though that won't last. Can't say I'm super impressed at this point.

19) Zach Daeges, OF, Grade C+: Hit .172 nine games in April for Pawtucket, out since then with ankle injury.

20) Richard Lentz, RHP, Grade C+: Command collapse in Double-A, 9.12 ERA for Portland with 32/27 K/BB in 25 innings.

The toolsy Latin American infielders aren't developing well with the bat, and Lars Anderson's 2010 reservation in the majors has vanished in a puff of smoke, though it is too early to give up on him long-term. On the positive side, Bard has been great in the pen, and some of the other arms look promising too. Kelly is obviously a pitcher but they have to get him to buy into it. Reddick needs more minor league time in my opinion but has made progress overall. Watch out for Westmoreland next year.

Stimulus Package: 5 Red Sox Prospects Whose Stocks Have Risen

Ben Buchanan — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 17:15:54 -0000

Cancer isn't about to stop Anthony Rizzo. via snapshots.mlblogs.com

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No, I am not proud of the title.

Alright, the trade deadline has passed, and the Sox are minus 2 prospects and a young graduate. But all is well in the farm system. Between Clay, Bard, Kelly, Bowden, Tazawa, and arguably Pimentel and Doubront, none of the arms the Sox shipped out were even top-5 pitchers in the system, and of course the positional depth remains untouched from Lars and Reddick, right on down to Westmoreland.

So, now that I am certain that none of these guys will be pulled out from underneath me, here's the follow-up to the "Market Crash" piece. These are the Sox farmhands who have best improved their stock over the season to date.

Just for clarity's sake, this does not include newly acquired guys playing their first season, improving on scouting. So that's why there's no Westmoreland or Kelly (first pitching season) sitting at the top.

5. Aaron Bates

Who he is: A 25-year-old 1^st baseman who, at this time last year, was on the fast track to nowhere. Other than his time in short-season Lowell and the ever-inflating Lancaster, Bates had never really put up big numbers. Certainly not enough for a first baseman, even one with a good glove. OPS' in the mid-high .700s. He had fair plate discipline, hit for an acceptable average, but never really found any of his advertised power. He was at his worst, in fact, in fall and winter 2008 leagues, his OPS hitting all-time lows of .670 and .714.

What's gone right: The power showed up. And with it came even better average and OBP. At .340/.405/.505, Bates emerged in AA after a change in swing mechanics before the season started. These improvements have earned him a spot in AAA, and even a short call up to the majors—an opportunity he took full advantage of, impressing in a very limited role.

Lasting concerns: He's not exactly dominated in AAA. His OPS sits well under .600, thanks largely in part to power more reminiscent of his 2008 numbers. He's still walking at a fair clip, and he's not really striking out any more. He's just not making as solid contact as he did in AA—a typical symptom of a post-promotion slump, however good his short stint in the MLB may have been. Still, for a 25-year-old in AA, this sort of breakout was quite necessary to even be considered in the future.

4. Mark Wagner

Who he is: A 25-year-old catcher who had managed to drop off the map like nothing else last year. After posting great offensive numbers (for a catcher) in his first 2 Just to ease some minds about one Lars Anderson, here are Mark Wagner's relevant lines of the last few years:

2006 (A): .301/.386/.456

2007 (A+): .318/.406/.533

2008 (AA): .219/.304/.363

2009 (AA): .301/.410/.477

One bad year and nobody had ever heard of him.

What's gone right: He returned to form. Not a whole lot more to it than that. Wagner had performed in the past, the aberration was that he DIDN'T perform last year. Call him the Red Sox minor league comeback player of the year, if you like. Given the dire catching situation at the start of the year, some folks started to take note of Wagner again (for the first time?) as he went on an early tear. Oh, and it doesn't hurt that he's throwing out about half of all base stealers for his minor league career.

Lasting concerns: Pawtucket has not been particularly kind through 61 at bats. .230/.273/.443 is not an impressive line. He also seems to lack home run pop, at least at this point, which should hurt him in any organizational battle involving Tim Federowicz or Ryan Lavarnway, who have both shown a great deal of power in the lower levels. The biggest question about Wagner has to be if he can make that jump to the majors. He's far from being a sure-thing as anything more than a backup backstop. But if he can bring his great plate discipline with him, and continue to put the bat on the ball, his lack of power shouldn't hold him back at what is, right now, an offensively bankrupt position.

3. Will Middlebrooks

Who he is: Wait, what? Some of you may remember this guy as the 5^th worst fallen stock in the Sox system about a week-and-a-half ago. Has a one-week hot streak really changed that much?

What's gone right: It's a really nice hot streak, and it's more like a 2-week, 3-week long one. Here's what I said last time about why Middlebrooks was not at all a lost cause:

Middlebrooks has managed a .850 [OPS] June and then regressed to a .702 [OPS] July. The power isn't really there, and he's still striking out plenty more than he's walking, but it's better than what he did to start the year and certainly better than '07.

Well, .702 became .949 (.337/.391/.558)—like I said, a REALLY nice hot streak. The power has shown up rather dramatically, with 5 homers in the month alone to give him a .221 ISO on the month. He's still striking out plenty, and not walking a ton, but he's 18-for-his-last-38 with no signs of slowing down (given his 3-5 game yesterday). It's also fairly telling to consider that his progression this year is fairly similar to his progression last year. If there is a trend for Middlebrooks, it's that if you give him time to adjust, he will pay dividends.

Lasting concerns: The K:BB is not good. Even in July, it's been 34:10. Middlebrooks has had some troubles in the field as well, but there was no prior indication that his fielding was anything other than good, so that should come around.

2. Yamaico Navarro

Who he is: A 21-year-old shortstop with an awesome name. Navarro has exploded onto the top-prospect scene since his 2008 time in Lancaster. Now, a sudden offensive improvement in Lancaster is often a warning flag for a sort of false boost—especially when it's followed by a pitiful showing in Fall baseball. But after a few rehab starts this year following an early injury, Navarro has been doing his best to show that he's not going away.

What's gone right: Navarro has not only replicated, but improved on his earlier results in the less-inflating Lewis-Gale Field. After a line of .348/.393/.508 in Lancaster, Navarro managed .319/.373/.543 in a rather short time in Salem this year. His K:BB ratio isn't bad at all, and is made largely irrelevant because Navarro simply puts the ball in play so often with his great ability to make contact. Navarro puts the ball in play in about 79% of all plate appearances since the start of 2008, and strikes out in less than 15% of his plate appearances. He's also shown a little pop, with 4 homers in 94 Salem at bats

Lasting Concerns: Is having a fairly typical slump since his promotion to AA. Not walking any, but he's striking out at about the same clip which means he should probably get his numbers up fairly quickly. If not this season, look for him to rebound early next season. If he doesn't, it could be a worrying sign that his sudden production was somewhat ephemeral, since guys like that tend to be exposed by AA. If there's any other concern, it's that he could end up a lot like Ellsbury at the plate—high average, low OBP, letting the pitcher off easy on short counts.

1. Anthony Rizzo

Who he is: A young first baseman whose career was threatened by Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Cancer-free for all of 8 months, Rizzo has done his damnedest to dispel all fears that it may have had some lasting effect. Hell, we've all heard this story before. We're Red Sox fans. If Jon Lester isn't enough proof that Sox players won't let cancer get in the way, here's Anthony Rizzo.

What's gone right: All Anthony Rizzo needed to do in order to be on any semblance of a track was to not look hopeless. If he was weaker, that was to be expected. If he couldn't necessarily catch up to fastballs, give him a year to get back in shape. Instead, Rizzo batted .298/.365/.494 in his first 245 cancer-free at bats, belting 9 homers and 21 doubles at the age of 19. It took him a few weeks to get acclimated to Advanced-A ball after his promotion to Salem, but he's adapted well there too. After batting .222/.323/.222 in 27 June at bats, Rizzo has basically gone back to doing what he did in Greenville, with a July line of .319/.369/.495. Rizzo is on a roll.

Lasting Concerns: Um...I suppose the plate discipline isn't fantastic. 83:38 K:BB on the year is not too bad, though, and he's still just shy of 20 with limited professional experience in A+ ball. I think that can slide. Other than that, it would be nice to see more power out of Rizzo home run wise, but this early both in his career and back from cancer, it's remarkable he's on pace for 15, so that's more of a thing to watch for going forward. There's just not a lot to dislike about Anthony Rizzo.

As it turns out, my list stayed the same before and after the deadline—a good thing by my estimation. Gotta love Theo and the $100 million player development machine.

Theo's Strategy: All UR 1st Basemen R Belong to Us

0157H7 — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 16:55:34 -0000

More photos » by Morry Gash - AP

New Sox acquisition Casey Kotchman is a lot like Youkilis - underrated (at the start of his career), plays great defense, and gets on base.

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After yesterday's excitement, we now have two new additions to the Red Sox: Victor Martinez and Casey Kotchman. Randy's already broken down some of their numbers. The bigger question is why acquire these players.

With LaRoche for Kotchman, Theo traded an average-fielding first baseman with good power for a slick-fielding one with less power who is under control for longer. In the Martinez deal, Theo got a great MLB hitter for two prospects in A-ball, one of whom was coming off Tommy John surgery, and Justin Masterson. Unless Nick Hagadone becomes the next CC or Cliff Lee, or Masterson learns to get out lefties, the deal probably favors Boston. In a vacuum, the trades are reasonable and make sense.

However, baseball is not played within a vacuum (if it was, it would suck). Victor Martinez can play 1B/DH/C, but we already have starters at all of those positions, and a backup 1B in Kotchman. On most teams, VMart and Kotchman would be starting at first base, not platooning or coming off the bench. I'm concerned that these guys won't get enough playing time, and that it will affect both their performance and value. Big league hitters can lose their timing if given too much time off. There simply aren't enough at-bats to give to all these players, so someone's going to end up seeing too much of the bench. My guess: Kotchman.

Furthermore, the presence of Kotchman creates a potential logjam long-term at first base. Lars Anderson has had a disappointing year, but he's still a top prospect (#3 on Soxprospects). Even if Youk moves to third, Kotchman is still blocking Lars for the next two years.

So if Theo can't get full value from both new players, and they are blocking a top hitting prospect, why did he do these trades? I think the cries of anguish on Draysbay.com suggest one motive: to block the Rays from getting Victor Martinez. VMart would have been a major upgrade over the one-year wonder Dioner Navarro, and could have helped them substantially in the division race. Kotchman might also have benefitted them by spelling the slumping Carlos Pena.

Another reason is draft picks. VMart is a type A free agent, and if he leaves at the end of the year, he could net some great talent.

What do you think about the trades? Leave your thoughts in the comments and on the poll.

Poll

What is your reaction to yesterday's trades?

Bafflement. Confusion. Consternation. The trades still make no sense.

79 votes

Satisfaction. Theo made the team better, both in the short-term (VMart) and long-term (Kotch, draft picks).

524 votes

Anger. We traded valuable resources for players that we didn't need and won't make much of a difference.

27 votes

Greed. I still think we need more first basemen.

67 votes

697 votes | Poll has closed

Around the Yankee Universe: Picking on the Red Sox

Ed Valentine — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 10:00:29 -0000

Considering the way things have gone the past few seasons, and the arrogance of Red Sox fans we have had to put up with since 2004, I can never pass up an opportunity to have fun at the expense of Boston fans.

That said, I have to begin today's look Around the Yankee Universe with this little ditty from Ryan Parker.

No one knows for sure what will happen with Roy Halladay today. The National Post knows where it does not want Halladay to end up, though.

The Toronto Blue Jays cannot trade Roy Halladay to the Red Sox, or to the Yankees. They just can't.

That doesn't mean they won't, though. Sure, it's a given that division rivals would have to pay a premium. Yahoo! reported that the Red Sox had offered pitcher Clay Bucholz, along with their choice of reliever Justin Masterson, Triple-A pitcher Michael Bowden, or Double-A first baseman Lars Anderson and lesser prospects. That's a tempting package; Bucholz has a no-hitter on his resume, and Anderson was recently rated by Baseball America as a top-50 prospect in the minors.

But it just can't happen. Trading Roy Halladay to one of the twin beasts of the American League East — and to a slightly lesser extent, to the third beast in Tampa Bay — would be such a flagrant gesture of surrender that Jays fans might just give up hope entirely. It would be a crushing blow not just to lose Halladay, but to have him come back for some of those 18 games per year in which you get your head beaten in by the rich, powerful boys on the block.

New York would have a top three of Halladay, C.C. Sabathia and former Jay A.J. Burnett; Boston would go Halladay, Josh Beckett and Jon Lester. And he would keep coming back, throwing his heart out against the team that used to own his heart, year after year after year.

With the non-waiver trade deadline looming tonight, WFAN's Sweeny Murti says expect the unexpected.

But know this…George Steinbrenner is not running the Yankees anymore. If he were, Roy Halladay would have been a Yankee before the second half began. Hank Steinbrenner may have the impetuous gene, but he is now only visible via a fake (but very funny) Twitter account. Hal Steinbrenner is the man in charge and while he shares some attributes with The Boss, he doesn't seem to share the same obsessive desire to win at all costs....

So think smaller, folks. Think Jarrod Washburn for the rotation or think Scott Downs for the bullpen. Whatever you think, realize that this team is already really good. And realize that hitting July 31st is kind of like hitting the sign on the highway that tells you your exit is five miles away…there's still time to get where you're supposed to be. Deals will be made after that deadline and we'll play this game again at the end of August to beat the postseason roster eligibility rule.

And remember -- don't expect Roy Halladay. But don't be surprised if he shows up.

Stay tuned. Today promises to be a wild, roller-coaster of a day. Even if nothing ends up happening wth the Yankees. Remember, check in with MLB Daily Dish to keep up with the latest happenings.

One Massachusetts newspaper says the Red Sox might do better if they were more like ... gasp! ... the Yankees.