Hanley to CF?

[Zenny]

Call me crazy, but the Brewers might have a shot this year. (Not winning it all, competing)

They got an improved offense behind Carlos Lee, a solid rotation with Sheets leading it, and a potential stud closer in Mike Adams. I see them being the '04 Guardians, they'll compete but fade down the end.

Aside from Sheets, their rotation is just really bad. Yes, I know all about Doug Davis and what he accomplished last season; I just don't see him repeating that performance based on prior track record and last year's peripherals. Aside from that, they're going to be trotting out guys like Victor Santos, Wes Obermueller and more garbage like that. Jorge de la Rosa (former Sox prospect and hard-throwing lefty) and Jose Capellan (former Braves prospect and hard-throwing righty) aren't ready yet. They need refined control and improved offspeed pitches. I'm not sold on Ben Hendrickson or Chris Capuano as ever being effective (for different reasons) and Manny Parra is still a couple years away from producing while Mark Rogers needs a solid 4-5.

 

Their offense will be servicable enough, with Lee as a huge improvement over Podsednik. If Prince Fielder keeps hitting like he's hitting this spring, Lyle Overbay (who I wouldn't mind seeing as Millar's replacement, should it come to that) will be gone sooner rather than later. Junior Spivey won't be blocking Rickie Weeks for long either. J.J. Hardy is one hell of a defensive shortstop and the bat may come as well. He reminds me of Khalil Greene, maybe a little better.

 

I think their biggest glaring hole is the bullpen. Yes, Mike Adams could prove to be a nice closer due to that good fastball/slider combo, but they really have no set-up crew. Jeff Bennett, Matt Wise, Derrick Turnbow, Ricky Bottalico... they're all just bad. Just plain awful.

 

With the pitching staff they have, I don't see them finishing over .500. They may be close and they're going to be a team that no one wants to face with Big Ben going every 5 days. The biggest difference between the '04 Guardians and the '05 Brewers is that the Guardians best young talent was on the field starting in the form of Victor Martinez, Travis Hafner, C.C. Sabathia, Jake Westbrook, Cliff Lee, etc. The Brewers best young talent (Weeks, Fielder, Capellan, Jorge DLR, Brad Nelson, the list goes on and on) still need a few more years, duration of time depending on player.

[CrespoBlows]

Aside from Sheets, their rotation is just really bad. Yes, I know all about Doug Davis and what he accomplished last season; I just don't see him repeating that performance based on prior track record and last year's peripherals. Aside from that, they're going to be trotting out guys like Victor Santos, Wes Obermueller and more garbage like that. Jorge de la Rosa (former Sox prospect and hard-throwing lefty) and Jose Capellan (former Braves prospect and hard-throwing righty) aren't ready yet. They need refined control and improved offspeed pitches. I'm not sold on Ben Hendrickson or Chris Capuano as ever being effective (for different reasons) and Manny Parra is still a couple years away from producing while Mark Rogers needs a solid 4-5.

 

Their offense will be servicable enough, with Lee as a huge improvement over Podsednik. If Prince Fielder keeps hitting like he's hitting this spring, Lyle Overbay (who I wouldn't mind seeing as Millar's replacement, should it come to that) will be gone sooner rather than later. Junior Spivey won't be blocking Rickie Weeks for long either. J.J. Hardy is one hell of a defensive shortstop and the bat may come as well. He reminds me of Khalil Greene, maybe a little better.

 

I think their biggest glaring hole is the bullpen. Yes, Mike Adams could prove to be a nice closer due to that good fastball/slider combo, but they really have no set-up crew. Jeff Bennett, Matt Wise, Derrick Turnbow, Ricky Bottalico... they're all just bad. Just plain awful.

 

With the pitching staff they have, I don't see them finishing over .500. They may be close and they're going to be a team that no one wants to face with Big Ben going every 5 days. The biggest difference between the '04 Guardians and the '05 Brewers is that the Guardians best young talent was on the field starting in the form of Victor Martinez, Travis Hafner, C.C. Sabathia, Jake Westbrook, Cliff Lee, etc. The Brewers best young talent (Weeks, Fielder, Capellan, Jorge DLR, Brad Nelson, the list goes on and on) still need a few more years, duration of time depending on player.

 

Victor Santos was also a nice surprise last year (in the first half at least), but Ben Hendrickson could surprise people, after all he did go 11-2 with a 2.22 ERA last year in triple A. But after Sheets, Davis and Hendrickson (who can't be counted on for that much) I agree with you they have nothing. Justin Lehr might help, but they really have a piss poor bullpen. But never count out Dealin Doug, he did get Kolb, Davis, and Podsidnek from nowhere.

[Zenny]

My deal with Hendrickson is that he's too hittable. His K rate in AAA last season was 6.70 and from a right-hander, that's not acceptable. So, subtract a lot of points for a major league translation and he's not going to fool anyone. His control is very good and I think he'll be an effective #4 at his peak, but nothing more than that. His AAA ERA was so good purely because of how advanced he was versus that playing field.

[sarasoxfan]

everyone's hero got optioned to portland Double AA, to play shortstop

 

what happend to pawtucket?.

[CrespoBlows]

Um, because he has more time to get better now. If we didn't sign Renteria he'd be in Pawtucket.

[sarasoxfan]

Oh I thought he was going to take over center next year for Damon--because he's already all set for the majors.

But now he need more seasoning in AA.

 

Could it be, just let's pretend to be realistic for a second..

That some of us might be getting ahead of ourselves, and that Theo (bless his little heart) is willing to give this immature kid some time to grow up and get some experience. before coming up to the majors.

Luckily we have edgar so this conversation can wait for 4 years.

[BoSox Rule]

Edgar isn't that good. We shouldn't consider ourselves lucky to have a $40 million dollar SS, who had a .728 OPS last year, can't hit right handed pitching, and is blocking the 10th best prospect in the majors.

[CrespoBlows]

Oh I thought he was going to take over center next year for Damon--because he's already all set for the majors.

But now he need more seasoning in AA.

 

Could it be, just let's pretend to be realistic for a second..

That some of us might be getting ahead of ourselves, and that Theo (bless his little heart) is willing to give this immature kid some time to grow up and get some experience. before coming up to the majors.

Luckily we have edgar so this conversation can wait for 4 years.

 

Hanley hit .389, in spring trainning, and turned a triple play. I guarentee you he'll rip up double and triple A pitching, and he'll be ready for '06.

[sarasoxfan]

I think you mean 2007.

[DOrtiz4prez]

2005- Double A, maybe a little triple A towards end

2006- Triple A, only that, no MLB

2007- MLB, Bosox Bound

[BoSox Rule]

He could make the Opening Day roster next year.

[element1151]

I doubt it.

[ProudIdiot24]

There was a story on Hanley Ramirez in this week's Sporting News. The Sox would be willing to try him at a different position because we have Renteria for the next four years. At 6'3" and 195lbs he might have the physical tools to take over for Damon eventually. Any thoughts?

Actually after this wonderful of a postseason I dont think the BoSOx are gonna take Johnny out especially to a small name like Hanley RAmirez the SOx also know the fans wouldnt like it either.

[BigPapiEnFuego]

Damon has a s***** postseason. He was the main reason we were down 0-3 in the LCS, but the only time he did anything was in game 7 of the LCS and game four of the world series, plus his arm sucks. god, does it suck.

[ahhchon]

Actually after this wonderful of a postseason I dont think the BoSOx are gonna take Johnny out especially to a small name like Hanley RAmirez the SOx also know the fans wouldnt like it either.

 

do you know anything about damon other than the fact that he's a self proclaimed idiot?

 

as much as we all like damon we understand that his asking price could be too high for the sox, especially if his production decreases (in which we know it will continue due to increasing age). damon is a fan favorite but if his asking price is too high he will be let go. hanley ramirez might be a small name right now (to some "fans") but if all goes well it'll be a household name years to come.

 

john

[RedSox4538]

Deleted for inappropriate material, plus the fact I don't think anyone wants to see that.

This is y'all when you see Hanley

[RedSox4538]

This is Zenny bracing for Hanley's blow

 

No, this is you getting banned

[yeszir]

One less annoying p.o.s we have to worry about.

[RedSoxFox7]

So then, *if* Damon can produce like 2004, what the hell do you do with Hanley?? Personally, I'd love for him to be at second or third. Actually, second because I hate bellhose. But that's just me. Mueller's days are numbered, but I don't see Hanley having any power against a third baseman we could probably get in a trade.

 

I agree 100% (especially about Bellhorn), but there's a good chance we wouldn't even need to trade for a third baseman, with Youk waiting in the wings.

[Manny24]

To tell you the truth id be very suprised if hanley ever played in the big leagues for the sox. he is just to big fo trade bait

[sarasoxfan]

okay, i was wrong...he'll be ready like, um,now.

 

 

Monday, April 18, 2005

 

How hot are they? A perfect 10

 

 

By JOHN NALBONE, Special to Portland Press Herald

TRENTON, N.J. — Go ahead and give them the Eastern League championship trophy right now. Seriously.

 

Have someone from the league office, conveniently located in Portland, make the mile walk to Hadlock Field and put the hardware in the Sea Dogs' trophy case. Unless this team is inexplicably dismantled, there does not appear to be a worthy opponent in the league.

 

Shortstop Hanley Ramirez, the pride of the Boston Red Sox farm system and rated the No. 10 prospect in the minors by Baseball America, showed a paid crowd of 6,522 at Waterfront Park why he is so highly regarded.

 

Ramirez keyed a five-run sixth inning with a two-run triple to power the Sea Dogs to an 11-6 victory for a four-game sweep and their 10th consecutive win to begin the season.

 

Ramirez (8 for 18) and first baseman Jeremy West (9 for 17) hit a combined .486 in the four games and reached base in 19 of their 37 plate appearances. Ramirez drove in seven runs and scored five as Portland recorded its first four-game sweep of the Thunder (3-8) since April 2000.

 

"We are just having fun playing the game every day," Ramirez said. "I was on a hot team last year at (Class A) Sarasota, but nothing like this. Everybody wants the ball, everyone wants to hit the ball and everyone wants to make every play."

 

The Sea Dogs are off to their best start in franchise history just three years after the parent Red Sox pulled up stakes after an eight-year player development partnership with the Thunder from 1995-2002.

 

How dominating was Portland in this series?

 

Consider that the Sea Dogs were retired in order only four times after the first inning of the opener on Thursday, the night all eight of Portland's runs were scored with two outs and two strikes on the hitter.

 

The Sea Dogs' bullpen allowed only six runs all weekend while Thunder relievers let in 17 - half their season total.

 

"They are a very disciplined team that is playing really well right now," Thunder right-hander Steven White said after falling to 0-3 with an 8.02 ERA after his first three Double-A starts. "You just can't make any mistakes and expect to get away with them."

 

And to think Sunday was supposed to be the Thunder's best shot at knocking off the only remaining undefeated team in professional baseball, with knuckleballer Charlie Zink working for Portland. Zink (2-0) went a combined 1-10 with a 5.75 ERA last season and never even surpassed 65 mph on the radar gun Sunday.

 

Winless in seven of their last eight, the Thunder even hit three home runs and received a big game from left fielder Kevin Thompson, who went 4 for 5 with one of those homers.

 

Portland was just too good.

 

From bloopers to long-distance shots to broken-bat flares that barely made it into the outfield, every ball seemed to find a cozy home somewhere.

 

"We ran into a hot team that just could not do anything wrong," Thunder Manager Bill Masse said. "Any fly ball that could have fell in for a hit, they caught. Every ground ball that could have gone through for a hit, they caught. They hit with runners on base and made all the big pitches when they had to. It's a lot of fun to play like that.

 

"We took our lumps this weekend but that's OK. We'll see these guys again."

 

Twelve more times to be exact. By then, the Sea Dogs should be in a league of their own.

 

If they aren't already.

 

"We're just feeding off each other," Portland second baseman Dustin Pedroia said. "We're just playing the game hard and everything is going our way."

[SuperManny]

actually i dont think the FO will trade hanley anytime soon. hes going to be phenominal and the only reason they would trade him would be for a young frontline starter. Sheets and Santana just signed extensions and I dont see the Cubs trading Prior.

 

They should advance Hanley to AAA this year if he keeps it up. I agree he would be a great 2B next year- then let him take over at SS when Renteria's contract is up and bring up Pedroia.